KEEPING COOL.

North Otago Times, 6 September 1906, Page 2 (Supplement)

KEEPING COOL.

The guestsof the hotel were aroused by the ringing of the fire alarm. Mr. Smart sprang out of bed and lit the gas. "Don't be alarmed, Ponelope," ho said to the frightened Mrs. Smart'; "keep perfectly, cool, perfectly cool. That's the only thing to do in a case of this kind, Dress yourself, my dear, and I will pack the trunk."Mrs.- Smart rose and tremblingly proceeded to do as she was bidden. Her husband, hurried to the window and looked out. A crowd was gathering in the street below, and the engines were arriving., "There is no immediate danger," he. said ; "the one thing to do is, as I said before, to keep perfectly ,cool. You attend to your dressing, and I Will look out for. everything else." Mr, Smart bustled about, jamming garments into a trunk, and carefully looking through each drawer-in tho dresser to sco that nothing had been forgotten. There-'was a great hubbub and screaming in the corridor out'slde. "Idiots I" ejaculated Mr, Smart, "I would be willing to bet that twothirds of the guests in this hotel will rush out without saving one single item of their personal property, besides making spectacles of.themselveß I have always said that should oc» casion arise, I would endoavour to preservo both property and dignity by keeping perfectly, cool—pcr-fcct-ly cool. All ready, Penelope ?" lie inquired. "Yes, Mortimer." Hero Mrs Smart threw open ; the door.

• "But, Mortimer—-" said Mrs. Smart. ''Well, what is it, my dear? Anything you've left behind ?" "No-Ojbut, Mortiihcr.t don't you think we should appear more dignified if you had remembered to dress yourself ?"