Proud Policemen

For many weeks owners of genteel geisha houses in the vicinity of Tokyo have suffered robberies. Cash boxes were rifled, many of the young ladies' valuables were stolen. The geisha houses complained bitterly.

Spurred, Tokyo's Central Police Station assigned a squad of detectives to the case. Last week the mystery was solved. Detective Tokuda of the Central Office discovered a gold ring and wrist watch belonging to one of the robbed houses in a pawn shop. Quickly he summoned a cordon of police, rushed at dawn into the home of Toyoshi Nakamura, a young chauffeur. Faced by scowling gendarmerie, Chauffeur Nakamura confessed all. His duties kept him busy from 5 p. m. until dawn, he said. He had robbed the geisha houses for money with which to attend dance halls and amuse himself in his spare time.

Chauffeur Nakamura was incarcerated. Such joy reigned in Tokyo's Central Police Station that a banquet to Detective Tokuda was arranged. A long table was set up in the station house. Detective Tokuda, in a handsome grey kimono, sat at the head while smiling policemen and bespectacled detectives sat down to rice, pineapple and many a bottle of strong Japanese beer. Even the stern, shaven-headed Captain of Police condescended to drink a foaming glass or two to honor his subordinate.

In due time a photograph of the festive scene appeared in Tokyo's English news paper, The Trans-Pacific. Read the caption: "Life in the Central Police Station always assumes a jolly air following any outstanding piece of robber-nabbing."