Page:The moods of Ginger Mick.djvu/25

Then Ginger clinched 'is bargin, an', as down the room 'e came,
'E seen the toff jump frum 'is seat, an' call the girl a name.

That done it. Less than 'arf a mo, an' 'ell got orf the chain;
    An' the swell stopped 'arf a ducklin' wiv 'is neck.
As Ginger guv the war-cry that is dreaded in the Lane.
    An' the rest wus whirlin' toff an' sudden wreck.
Mick never reely stoushed 'im, but 'e used 'im fer a mop.
Then someone doused the bloomin' glim, an' Foo run fer a cop.

Down the stairs an' in the passidge come the shufflin' feet uv Chows,
    An' a crash, as Ah Foo's chiner found it's mark.
Fer more than Mick 'ad ancient scores left over frum ole rows.
    An' more than one stopped somethin' in the dark.
Then the tabbies took to screamin', an' a Chow remarked "Wha' for?"
While the live ducks quacked blue murder frum their corner uv the floor.

Fer full ten minutes it wus joy, reel willin' an' to spare,
    Wiv noise uv tarts, an' Chows, an' ducks, an' lash;
An' plates uv fowl an' bird's-nest soup went whizzin' thro' the air,
    While 'arf-a-dozen fought to reach Foo's cash.
Then, thro' an open doorway, three Chows' 'eads is framed in light.
An' sudden in Mick's corner orl is gentle peace an' quite.