DREAMS DISTURBED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17031, 3 May 1923, Page 7

DREAMS DISTURBED.

CHINESE LAUNDRY INCIDENT. Long clay pipes were drawing well, and the mind of Old John was possibly engaging itself with meditations upon happy days spent in green rice fields along the banks of some great slumbering Cninese river. The thousand ’ and one symbols on the packages of collars that mounted to ..the ceiling were dancirg crazily before his eyes as his stalwart sons were strumming out love songs on a onestring guitar. Tilings were well with him, so why should he worry? Did he not have one of the finest “American” laundries in the city ? That surely was enough for any man. Money was accumulating, and it would not be very long before «the giant Dolphin that was paid with gold would take him back to the home of liis fathers. Crash! All three sprang to their feet, and rushed towards the door, just in time to see the silent messenger, a beer bottle, land on the-floor after making its entry through a pane of glass. A thick assertive voice outside was demanding collars. “ Gimme my collars, John, or I’ll be in aftei- ’em.” “You go away. Come back tomoller, and you get ’em then.” But this was not erough. The owner of the voice, assisted by friends, had opened the door, and cast inside some mouldy oranges and banana skins. The faithful Wing, as rival in business but a brother in blood, fluttered m from next door. He stood aghast, as he saw the cause of the commotion, but it was too late for retreating and as he tried to get to his friend John the demander of the collars hit him in the face. Screaming, he found shelter in John’s shop, and the four of them were able to drive the attackers out, and in a short time peace had come once more upon the little family. The guitar was tinkling as before, and Old John as he sent a cloud of smoke roof wards, looked at Wing and said : “ The beggar—lie’ll get his collars.”