Mike O'Shea conducts a little barber shop and does very poor business because Heine Schwartz, the barber across the street, gets nearly all the trade. Mrs. O'Shea suddenly has an inspiration, and the result of her thought is that the next day Mike takes leave of her and departs. Heine is very happy, for he believes that he will have the entire field to himself. His happiness is short lived, for Mrs. O'Shea hangs out a sign, "Lady Barbers Here," and with a lady assistant soon draws all the trade to her shop. Heine is hard pressed and then he, too, has an inspiration. A tramp with a cur dog is enlisted in his cause, and the dog, his mouth covered with a generous lather of shaving soap, runs into Mrs. O'Shea's shop to the accompaniment of cries of "mad dog." A riot ensues, and in the confusion it is discovered that Mrs. O'Shea's "lady assistant" is none other than Mike himself, disguised to draw trade to his shop. The wrath of the customers is turned on poor Heine when they discover that he is the instigator of the "mad dog" scare. Mike and his wife are left in peace.
