Evening star., 1925-07-18
NST MASHER ARMY HERE LACKS
NERVE PRESCRIBED BY CAVE NAN
Reporter, Trailing Pretty PoIice,conan, in Profes.
sional Capacity, Tabs Ten Sheiks Who Use Eyes
Instead of Clubs.

Washington's streets are full of
amateur mashers. but as for big, bad
men who boldly grab innocent women
by the arm and drag them into cur.
talned limousines or such as that, they
are conspicuously absent.
In other words, a respectable WON.
an may walk alone at night on any OF
the CapitaFs downtown thoroughfares
without fear of being insulted, touch.
ed on the arm, annoyed with persistent
attentions of strange men or kidnapped
providing she doesn't carry a chip on
her shoulder and does mind her own
business.
At least this is the conclusion
drawn by reporter for The Star, who
spent two hours last night trailing
one of Lieut.. Nina Van Wrinkles most
comely policewomen in her nightly
rounds of the theater district.
The reporter frankly was expecting
to see daring acts committed last
night. he was prepared to hear shrill
screams of frightened women echo
ing adown the narrow canyon of F
street, to see leering faces OF brutal
men lurking in dark Railways, to
glimpse high powered motor cars max.
ink off with their bobbed- haired prey.
F1irts' Methods Genteel.
But he had to be satisfied. after
long waiting, with tabbing half a doZ
en- so-called f1irts on foot and four In
automobiles. Only one Of the men
went so far as TO venture q remark to
the pOlicewoman. and he made a
harmless little query as to whether
she were out for a walk One young
man, more persistently interested than
the others, followed the policewoman
ht,f
ed his innocent little chase when a
wise guy" tapped him, on the arm
and whispered, She's a policewom
an"
All set for the excitement, the re.
porter began his rounds at Four.
teenth and + streets at s o'clock
Keeping a respectful distance behind
the policewoman, he followed her as
she strolled nonchalantly along F
street, pausing now and then to look
in the shop windows. She was dress
ed conservatively, but attractively, in
small green hat, tan silk dress and
white shoes, and swung a purse care
lessly on her arm.
At Thirteenth street there stood q
young man. He was evidently look
ing em over" AS our police lady
meandered past he Strengthened his
tie and started after her. For hall
block he kept close behind, slowing
up as she did and continuing his
pursuit when she walked on. Be
tween Thirteenth and Twelfth streets
he doubled his speed and passed her
sneaking curious glance at her face
as he went by.
Look Is Reassuring.
Apparently reassured, he went ahead
to the corner of Twelfth street and
stopped ever so casually to await hel
approach, meantime occupying him
self by reading the street sign on the
lamp-post as though he never before
had seen one.
Aha" unused the eager reporter
Something is going to happen"
But nothing did. The policewomar
kept looking right ahead as she came
abreast of her pursuer, and her in
different manner seemed to fabber
CAST the young man so much that he
didn't have the courage to speak, il
he intended to do SO. He did not lei
this setback long deter him, however
He went through exactly the sam,
process again, and then again. and G
fourth time, never mastering up suffi
! cient nerve to venture word.
Came Ninth street and the villain
still pursued her. BY this time, albeit
ne was more determined imam eVel
to make a catch. it was noted. TIL,
reporter believed he sensed this man.
feelings. Here was a young woman
alone on the downtown streets will
undoubtedly no particular objectiv,
/ in mind. Her very attitude bespok,
that. 1t was most singular. What
! ever had been the young mans orig
inal intentions, his paramount i'm
| pulse now was to find out just wha
this young woman was doing down
town alone. Curiosity had taken pos
session of him. She wouldn't be fiirt
ed with, she didn't seem to be goin,
any place in particular and she ap
/ peared to be absolutely unafraid ant
composed. He was going to find on
what it was all about.
Stranger Is Samaritan.
! He started forward with renewed
determination effervescing at ever,
stride. He had almost caught UP will
| her, was taking his hat off in hi
most polite manner and was on tn
verge Of blurting out II beg pardon
when he felt a tap on the arm. H
looked round quickly and saw
stranger at his elbow. The reporte
ambled by in time to hear tn
stranger say:
Better lay off. brother. She's
And to hear the startled, curious on
exclaim;