Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-14
BY REX COLLIER.

A PARTLY curtained automobile,
| ~ long and powerful, glided slow
"A ly along the Southwest water
4 u front section.
Beside the chauffeur sat a
man huddled in heavy overcoat, with
collar up to his ears and felt hat over
his eyes. The curtains at the front
were down. and the passenger gaZeo
casually through the nocturnal gloom at
a few passing automobiles and one OF
two pedestrians.
AS the car passed a street lamp, the
form of another man could be discerned
through the celluloid window at the
! rear.
Suddenly, although none in the car
| moved his lips, deep voice, apparently
| emanating from nowhere, runIbled an
electrifying order
Cruiser No. 1-Go to one-three-O-
nine G, as in George street, northwest
burglar alarm!"
Before the order was completed, the
big car began to accelerate and the
weird whine of siren pierced the night
with blooc-curdling crescendo.
Dashes BY Red Light.
An automobile just ahead swung
sharply to the curb and stopped.
A pedestrian stood watching-trans-
fixed, beWildered.
Under the railroad viadrct and
around the corner into Fourteenth street
veered the rakish automobile with the
mysterious trio.
A moment ago this car was a quiet,
unobtrusive thing, whose passengers
seemed bent on no particular mission,
Now the car was veritable screaming
streak of blackness, trailed by a shower
of sparks from a 1oaring muffier.
A traffic signal light guarding an in
tersection near the Department of Ag-
riculture Haunted its warning red. The
siren of the speeding car shrieked its
derision as the car dashed by.
A block ahead at Fourteenth street
and Pennsylvania avenue, another red
signal glowed, and a stream of traffic
flowed menacingIy. The officer on duty
heard the familiar wall of the siren,
! however, and jumped into action. The
red light changed to green and the off,
Ger was in the middle of the intersec-
ton waving his white-gloved hand and
blowing sharp blasts on the whistle
gripped between his teeth.
An opening appeared In the line of
cars almost at the instant collision
seemed inevitable. The car, momen-
driver, shot forward through the
breach, missing bumpers almost by
inches.
Pedestrians Brushed BY.
There remained the hazards of F
street and G street at theater time. The
car swung to the car tracks as it passed
the Willard, to the left of the safety
zone and, motioned onward by the F
without an appreciate slackening Of
velocity
Fortunately, the green light showed
at @ street, and the car swerved around
the corner with a diScord of grinding
brakes, screeching tires and dying notes
of the siren.
The destination, 1909 G street, was on
the left side, near the middle of the
block. The car headed diagonally to
the wrong side of the street, and skidded
to stop in front of fashionable dress
shop.
The two passengers jumped out and
ran to the store, brushing aside sur
prised passersby. There was no indig-
nation when it was seen that one of
the men was a policeman in uniform.
Simultaneously more policemen arrived
from various directions. They came in
a conventional patrol wagon, in another
large touring car and in brand-new
"hivvers."
There's some one in there" one of
the policemen whispered, as he peered
through the plate-glass door. The in
truder could be seen coming boldly to-
ward the front entrance. Hands were
| frightened on pistols and nightsticks
but the. grips concertedly were relaxed
when the approaching figure was dis
| closed as a uniformed private detective
The man inside turned the bolt and
opened the door. He nodded familiarly
| to several of the horde of officers who
trooped in.
Short Circuit Blamed.
Fling anything?" he was asked.
Nothing SO far, but I just got here
| and haven't yet looked the place over
| completely" he replied.
The policemen and detectives de-
! ployed, some going to the base
ment, some to the second floor and
others poking flashlights into corners
closets and wardrobes filed with fenli-
nine finery. Windows and doors were
| sclut.nized closely. Nothing was found
disturbed and after or 10 minutes OF
search it was agreed that short-cir-
| Quilted wires had set the alarm off.
The policemen began to file out of
the store, to find a growing circle of
| curious spectators gathered on the
| sidewalk. The detective in the SLOUGH
hat and his uniformed companion
| pushed their way unceremoniously to
their incorrectly parked car and
climbed in
False alarm" queried the driver,
who had remained at the wheel
Yep" the detective responded
Crossed wires again. Those darned
alarms are too sensitive. They go off
every time street car passes"
"Oh, well, maybe something better
will come along to break the monot-
ony," the policeman remarked.
Monotony?
The men who ride in the city's new
radio police cars may call it that, but
a reporter of The Star who was priv
ileged to take four-hour cruise in the
Detective Bureaus Cruiser No. l" the
other night found thrills a-plenty.
No Wires Visible.
At the wheel was a veteran driver,
Policeman Robert j. Tompkins. who
learned about driving in the taXicab
/ Detective Jim Tolson, in plain clothes
In the rear seat, hidden by the cur
tains, were Policeman G. E. Van Mater
of No. precinct and the reporter.
A box just back of the front seat
concealed the radio receiving equip
| ment, with exception of the loud speak
er, which was microphonelike gadget
attached to the top of the car No
wires of any kind were visible, inside
or out of the car.
The Detective Bureau has two radio
equipped cruisers" one operating east
of Seventh street and the other west
of that line. Each of the precincts
also has radio car. The receiving