West Hongkew Presented With a Pretty Problem A pretty. problem presented itself to law and order in West Hongkew yesterday morning—in more senses than one. Through one of the houses on the boundary to the Settlement barbed wire came four Chinese paoantui escorting two little flowers of Chinese womanhood. It seemed that the four wished to get their attractive companions into the Settlement, but whether it was through their own desire or whether the girls had used their charms to wheedle the Chinese men into making the attempt on their behalf was not disclosed.
The Loyals, alert and on the job, were nonplussed. Their chivalry rose to the surface, and retired defeated in the face of their stern orders to Prevent all ingress through their lines. A puzzled and, it must be told, somewhat embarrassed N.C.O. appealed to one of the First Division Specials passing on his beat. This stalwart minion of the law went over and gently: explained to the paoantui and their lovely companions that it was definitely "no can do." Their request became a bit more urgent—and still the Special explained that it Was quite out of the question.
The argument continued. All Teasons, orders, strict injunctions, were trotted forth and patiently paraded for the paoantui. Still they! persisted. Thinking it a crowning] argument, Shanghai's own ventured! that not only he but others would be) only too pleased to have two such charming members of the fair sex within their lines, and he really could not understand the urgency of the Paoantui's desire to get rid of them, however temporary that might be.
Even this failed, and hot words started flying across the barbed wire. One paoantui, and an N.C.O. at that, started pounding his fist on the nearest object which, unfortunately for him, was the barbed wire. Diplomatic Tecourse was finally suggested as the only solution, and the six Chinese retreated to their own lines where, no doubt, recriminations of a more velvety barbed sort were heaped on the heads of the four defeated men,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.