PETER, PATTY, AND MR PIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 4074, 12 April 1932, Page 70

PETER, PATTY, AND MR PIP.

ROLLER SKATING.

(Special for tue Otago Witness.)

“Oh! Look ar those roller skates,” cried Patty one -lay. seeing a pile of skates behind the hall door “Let’s try them on.” “It says - Not to l>? touched,’” remarked Peter, reading a notice above the skates. “Well, one little run round wouldn't hurt them,” Patty urged. “Come on, Peter, be a sport!” “Well, just once round the hall,” said Peter, “come along, Pip and Kittv—get your skates fixed” In a moment the four were busily putting on their skates ready for just one turn round the hall.

to!” -<1 tCCI bit Un:, ‘ Ca ' ,y ’” sai<l Patty ' 'f'-ling about from side to side. “The skates won't go where I want them “I don't feel altogether safe myself,” admitted Fetor, who also was wobbling badly and liamunv on to the doorknob. ‘ ° ° “Perhaps it would be easier on the stairs,” suggested Patty at last. “We can at least try. Come on!” They tried the stairs, and Patty slid from top to bottom with one single glide—how she' did it she could never explain. 1 ext: camo Mr Pip. who had strapped himself to his skates in a most marvellous manner his knees he came floating down like an expert. ,ul ' ( '■ “How on earth do you do it?” inquired Peter anxiously. “Easily!” boasted Mr Pip, but he did not give any more info; mation. “Your turn now, Peter,” called Patty, “come along!”

Peter “ eame along.” Before he knew what was happening he was at the foot of the stairs clutching the banister post. Lp went his feet, out flew his hands, and he eracked his head an awful bang on the post Those skates simply would not behave nicely! I u • “Look out!” screamed a voice from the head of the stairs. Next moment Kittv came hurtlin'* down at a terrific speed. She did not stop, either—on and on she fled— ( >n and on and on! ‘ s “Wait for us!” yelled Peter and Patty and Mr Pip. But Kittv still sped round the hall' “I’d like to take the horrid things off,” sighed Patty. “I would, too, if only I could get to a chair But I daren’t move! ” “Nor dare I,” admitted Peter, clutching the post more firmly. Pip also was having a little trouble. He was so jealous of Kittv that he tried more than he could m-imo-e ■>»,! kept falling backwards. “How do you do it?” he shouted at last. ' and “ Oh, just keep on hanging on! ” called Kittv.

Pip seized Kitty’s tail when she passed him for the fiftieth time, and he hung on! So did Peter and Patty. “That’s better!” smiled Patty, “now I think I ean manage. Go on, Kit, take us for a run in the street!” “All right,” said Kitty obligingly, and through the door she dashed, on to the pavement, and away up the street like lightning! Kitty was so proud of herself that I am afraid she did not look where she was going Slap! Bang! she went, right into an old gentleman who was taking his wife for a walk. Down went the old gentleman, down went Mr Pip, Peter, and Patty, and on fled Kitty! Everyone saw stars, and the old gentleman’s wife started screaming “Police!”

“Police! Pirc! Help!” the old lady continued to scream. “ Think we’d better get away out of this! ” muttered Mr Pip, and with a mighty effort he skated off after Kitty. “Don’t leave us! Please don’t leave us!” implored Peter and Patty, wobbling about all over the place now that they had no tail to hang on to. “You’d better come the best way you can!” advised Mr Pip, turning round for a moment, “the police are coming! ” The police seemed to put new life into Peter and Patty. Forgetting everything but the need to get away quickly, they joined hands and shot forward like a pair of experts. “ After them, constable,” boomed the old gentleman, who was now sitting up. “ They're a lot of young hooligans—that’s what they are! ” “I’ll get them, Sir, don't you worry,” boasted the policeman.

“ I’ll get them, sir, don’t you worry,” boasted the preat dash forward. And he ran so fast that when Peter and Patty skidded and fell he couldn’t stop, but had to jump right over them! On and on and on he went, leaving the four culprits sitting on the ground. “ Saved! ” they all murmured. And still the policeman ran on. Out of the door came Nanny to look for the children. Bang into Nanny ran the policeman, and Nanny was so surprised that she hugged him like an old friend! “Well! Upon my word!” roared the old gentleman, “is that how they catch criminals? I —-I—l ” but he couldn’t say any more, he was so angry. Peter, Patty, Mr Pip, and Kitty roared and rocked with laughter—-until they saw daddy’s face peering round the door. Daddy's face did not look at all pleased, and he had a eane in his hands —so you can guess the rest of the story!