BURGLAR SURPRISED BY HOUSEHOLDER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18959, 4 January 1930, Page 2

BURGLAR SURPRISED BY HOUSEHOLDER.

CURIOUS STORY OF THIEF WHO REMAINED TO DRINK HOSTS HEALTH. As with most people on New Year’s Eve burglars and burglaries were very far from the mind of Mr Frederick Ploone as he mounted the stairs to his bedroom. Mr Ploone had just been downstairs for a drink, and it being a good drink, had put an extra bottle under his arm to finish off later. In fact, as he afterwards remarked, it was such a good drink that it needed extreme self-control not to finish it off on the stairs. Opening the door of his room Mr Ploone received the shock of his life to see a burglar bending over an opened drawer of his dressing table. “Looking back to it,” said Mr Ploone, “ I find it very difficult to determine who was the more surprised—the burglar or the burgled ! ” “A burglar! Eh” was all Mr Ploone could say. “ Whatyer think I was—a boomin’ Santa Claus? ” replied the intruder. “ Well—er—no— ” “ And now I suppose you’ll go an’ ring up the police, and think yourself a second Sherlock? ” “ Well—l was thinking about it—but say—you haven't got a revolver, have “Nope—** laconicallv. “It might go off.” “Seeing you haven't stolen anything —so far. anyway—and seeing it’s the New Year, why not let us declare a pax—l suppose you drink? ” “Nope! Not safe. Not in my trade anyhow.” “Don’t drink? What! Not even this? ” and Mr Ploone produced the bottle from under his arm. “ Orange Smile! ” the burglar’s face lit up *‘Oh-h-h.” he licked his lips; “that’s different! ” So they sat on the edge of the bed—drank each other’s health in Orange Smile, and exchanged reminiscences. Mr Ploone learnt how to open a window from the outside without making a sound—his visitor learnt how to tie a batswing bow-tie and so on ad infinitum. Later Mr Ploone popped downstairs and brought up some more Orange Smile. Picture them then clinking glasses with the healthiest drink in Christchurch and toasting—“To the right drink bv the Wright firm! ” Unpleasant experiences are mndp pleasant with Orange Smile. 1555.