Mystery05Mystery of the Missing Necklace, TheBlyton, Enid. Oh, for a Mystery!

Pip and Bets sat in their garden, in the very coolest place they could find, They had on sun suits and nothing else, for the !ugust sun "as #la$ing hot. %! "hole &onth of the su&&er hols gone already'% said Pip. %!nd e(cept that "e)ve #een a"ay to the seaside for t"o "eeks, a#solutely nothing else has happened. Most #oring.% %The #oringest hols "e)ve ever had,% said Bets. %Not even the s&ell of a &ystery to solve * !nd not even +arry, ,aisy, -atty, or Buster to play "iththey)ve #een a"ay at the sea for ages'% +arry and ,aisy "ere friends of Pip and Bets, and so "as -rederickor -atty as everyone called hi&. Buster "as his .cottie dog, loved #y all the children. The five children called the&selves the -ive -ind /uters and ,og, #ecause for the last four holidays they had tackled curious &ysteries and solved the& all&uch to the annoyance of the village police&an, Mr. 0oon. %But no" it see&s as if you and *, Pip, are the only -ind /uters left,% said Bets. %* don)t feel as if the others "ill ever co&e #ack' .oon the hols "ill #e over, you)ll all #e #ack at #oarding school again, e(cept &e, and "e shan)t solve any &ystery at all these hols.% %There are still four "eeks left, so cheer up, #a#y'% said Pip. %!nd the others co&e #ack this "eekand * #et old -atty "ill have heaps of ne" disguises to try out on us' 1e)ll #e on the look out for hi& this ti&e, thoughand "e 2olly "ell "on)t #e taken in'% Bets laughed. .he re&e&#ered ho" -atty had disguised hi&self as a -rench #oy, and deceived the& all #eautifully. !nd in the last holidays he had produced all kinds of disguises, "hich he "ore "ith a red "ig and eye#ro"s. There "as no kno"ing "hat old -atty "ould #e up to ne(t' %But this ti&e he "on)t deceive us,% said Pip again. %* shall #e very suspicious of any peculiar looking stranger "ho tries to talk to &e, or co&es to call on us. * shall say to &yself, )*t)s you all right, -atty,) and * shan)t listen to a "ord'% %,o you think there "ill #e a &ystery for us to solve these hols3% asked Bets. %* do so like looking for clues, and &aking out lists of .uspects, and crossing people off the list "hen "e)ve &ade en4uiriesand finding the real .uspect at the end'% %1e)ve #een 2olly lucky so far,% said Pip, sitting up and looking round for the #ottle of le&onade he had #rought out. %1e)ve #een a#le to solve every single &ystery. 1e can)t al"ays #e successful, though. * don)t e(pect even real detectives are al"ays successful. Bets, you pig, you)ve finished the le&onade. 0o and ask 0ladys for so&e iced "ater.% Bets "as too la$y to &ove. .he rolled over out of Pip)s reach, and ya"ned loudly. %*)& #ored' * "ant the others to co&e #ack so that "e can have ga&es "ith the&. * "ant a &ysterya really good one. !nd * "ant to solve it #efore /ld 5lear /rf does'% /ld 5lear /rf "as Mr. 0oon the police&an. 6e told children and dogs to %clear orf% "henever he sa" the&. 6e disliked all the -ind /uters intensely, and never had a good "ord to say for the&. Pip and Bets hadn)t seen &uch of hi& in the su&&er holidays, and "ere very glad, for he had often #een to their parents to co&plain of the #ehaviour of the -ive -ind /uters. Bets "as afraid of hi&, #ecause "hen he lost his te&per he shouted, and "as very unpleasant indeed. %Bets, didn)t you hear &e tell you to go in and fetch so&e iced "ater3% said Pip crossly. %0o on'% %*)& not going to #e ordered a#out #y you,% said Bets, rolling a #it farther a"ay. %* suppose you order all the little #oys a#out in your school, and then "hen you co&e ho&e you think you can order &e a#out too. 1ell, * shall soon #e ten, and you)re not to'% %,on)t you cheek &e, young Bets'% said Pip, sitting up. %7ou)re &uch younger than * a&, and you)ve got to do as you)re told' 0o and get that iced "ateror *8ll catch you and give you a 2olly good s&acking.% %* think you)re a horrid #rother to have,% said Bets. %*)d &uch rather have -atty. 6e)s al"ays kind to &e'%

%6e "ouldn)t #e, if you "ere his sister,% said Pip. %6e hasn)t got any sistersif he had, he)d kno" "hat a nuisance they are. No"are you going to go and ...% %7es, *8ll get it'% said Bets, getting up, %#ut only #ecause I'm thirsty, and I "ant so&e to drink, see3 * don)t &ind #ringing you out a little too, as *)& going to get so&e for &yself, #ut *)& really going for &yself, and...% Pip pretended to #e getting up, and Bets fled. *f only the others "ould co&e #ack' .he and Pip "ere getting tired of one another. Bets hadn)t long to "ait #efore the others ca&e #ack. *n t"o days) ti&e +arry, ,aisy, -atty, and Buster all turned up together, looking so #ro"n that Pip and Bets had to ga$e earnestly at the& to &ake sure they really "ere their friends. Buster "asn)t #ro"n, of course he "as still 2et #lack, and he flung hi&self on Pip and Bets in 2oy and delight, #arking and licking and "hining as if he had gone &ad. %Buster, darling' 7ou)re fatter' /h, +arry, *)& glad you)re #ack' ,aisy, you)re terri#ly #ro"n. !nd oh, -atty you)ve grown'% -atty certainly had gro"n in the last four &onths. 6e "as still plu&p, #ut he "as taller, taller even than +arry no", and &uch taller than Pip, "ho didn)t see& to have gro"n at all in the last year. %6allo, every one'% he said, and Bets gave a cry of surprise. %-atty' 7ou)ve got a different voice' *t)s a gro"n up voice' !re you putting it ondisguising it, * &ean3% %No,% said -atty, pulling Bets) hair teasingly. %*t)s 2ust #roken, that)s all.% %1ho #roke it3% said Bets, in alar&, and the others roared at her till their sides ached. %.he)ll never #e anything #ut a #a#y'% said Pip. %Never.% Bets looked so upset and pu$$led that -atty put his ar& round her and gave her a s4uee$e. %Bets, don)t #e silly. 7ou kno" that "hen they gro" up, #oys get deep voices like &en)s, don)t you3 1ell, "hen #oys) voices change Eke that "e say that their voices breakthat)s an. 1e don)t &ean #roken in half, or s&ashed to pieces'% %/h, -atty* don)t kno" you "ith such a deep voice,% said Bets, half alar&ed. %7ou don)t sound the sa&e. 7ou look like -atty#ut you don)t sound like hi&' * "ish you had your old voice.% %Bets, you)ve no idea "hat a difference it &akes to &e, no" *)ve got a proper gro"n up voice,% said -atty earnestly. %*t &eans that * can disguise &yself as a gro"n up instead of al"ays like so&e kind of #oy' *t gives &e &uch &ore scopeand *)ve got so&e fine gro"n up disguises'% Bets i&&ediately changed her &ind a#out not liking -atty)s ne" voice. More disguises * No" life "ould #e e(citing and thrilling and une(pected things "ould happen. -atty "ould disguise hi&self as all kinds of gro"n up peoplethe -ind /uters "ould have a si&ply gorgeous ti&e. .he stared at -atty happily. %/h, -atty' 7ou)ve only #een a#le to dress up as telegraph #oys or #utcher #oys or &essenger #oys #efore' No" you can #e all kinds of thingsold &en "ith #eardsa post&ana dust&ana "indo" cleaner "ith a laddereven a s"eep' /h, -atty, do #e all those things and let)s see you'9 Every one laughed. %0ive &e a chance'% said -atty. %*)& going to practise a #it these hols. * didn)t have &uch chance "hilst * "as a"ay, #ecause Mother "ouldn)t let &e take &uch luggage#ut * don)t &ind telling you *)& going to collect a fe" things no"' *)ve got taller too, so * can al&ost "ear gro"n ups) things. By the ti&e our ne(t &ystery co&es along * shall #e a#le to tackle it in "hatever disguise is necessary.% %7ou do sound gro"n up,% said Bets. %,oesn)t he, every#ody3% %1ell, as a &atter of fact,% said -atty, s"elling up a little "ith pride, %*)& the tallest #oy in &y for& no", and you should 2ust see the &uscles in &y ar&s. *)ll sho" you'9 %.a&e old -atty'% said +arry. %Best in everything, aren)t you3 No#ody to #eat you'% -atty grinned and peeled off his shirt. 6e #ent his ar& and sho"ed the& ho" his &uscles ca&e up in a #ig lu&p. Bets looked on in a"e, #ut +arry and Pip did not see& to #e &uch i&pressed.

%-air'% said +arry. %*)ve seen #etter ones on a #oy of t"elve'9 %6uh' 7ou)re 2ealous'% said -atty, good hu&ouredly. %No" thenlet)s hear any Peters"ood ne"s, Pip and Bets. The village see&ed pretty cro"ded "hen * ca&e through it 2ust no".% %Too 2olly cro"ded for anything'% said Pip. %This hot "eather is dra"ing the people to the river in their hundreds' 1e get &otor coaches all day longand do"n #y the river there are all sorts of sho"s to a&use the people "hen they get tired of the river, or it)s raining.% %1hat sort of sho"s3% asked -atty, lying do"n on the grass, and tickling Buster on his tu&&y. %!ny good3% %Not &uch,% said Pip. %There)s a 1a("ork .ho"pretty dull reallyyou kno", figures &ade of "a(, all dressed upand there are those Bu&ping Motor 5arsthey)re 4uite fun for the first t"o or three ti&es you go in the&....% %!nd a 6oopla ga&e,% said Bets. %7ou #uy three "ooden rings for t"opence, and you try to thro" the& over any of the things arranged on a #ig round ta#leand if the ring goes right over anything, you can have "hatever you)ve ringed. * like that ga&e.% %7ou "ould'% said Pip. %.he spends a "hole shilling on hiring the "ooden ringsand then "ins a &ouldy little #rooch "orth a penny, that Mother can)t #ear and "on)t let her "ear'9 %1ell, Pip, you spent tenpence once, and you didn)t "in a thing'% #egan Bets hotly. But -atty interrupted. %.ounds as if Peters"ood is going 4uite gay'% he said. %1ell have to &ake up a party and go do"n to all these sho"s one "et afternoon. *f it ever is "et again'% %-atty, "in you go in one of your ne" gro"n up disguises3% asked Bets e(citedly. %/h, do' *t "ould #e lovely to see you acting like a gro"n up, and taking every#ody in'% %*ll see,% said -atty. %*)d like to take in /ld 5lear /rf, * &ust say' 6e)s up to all &y #oy disguises no"he)d see through the& at once#ut * #et he "ouldn)t see through a gro"n up disguise'% %1hat "ill you go as3% asked ,aisy. %,on)t kno",% said -atty. %!nd listen, all of youif you can get any old things of your fathers)you kno", old hats they don)t "ant, or #oots, or even old coatsthey)d co&e in &ighty useful for &e. *)& afraid if * take too &any of &y father)s things, he)ll #e annoyed. Mother doesn)t let hi& keep any of his old things, she gives the& a"ayso he)s only got rather ne"ish clothes.% %1e)ll do "hat "e can,% pro&ised +arry, and Pip nodded too. !nything to help old -atty to disguise hi&self' Bets sighed "ith 2oy to think that -atty "as #ack again. No" life "ould really #e e(citing once &ore. !nd oh, if only a &ystery turned up, ho" heavenly the rest of the hols "ould #e'

Mr. Goon is Very Annoying.

*t "as lovely to #e all together again, day after day. The -ive #athed in the river, "ent for long #icycle rides, la$ed in the garden, s4ua##led, drank pints of iced drinks, and ate hundreds of ices. Buster liked #oth le&onade and ices and had his full share. 6e got rather fat and Pip teased hi&. %7ou)re too fat to go after ra##its, Buster'% he said. %1hy, even a &ouse "ould escape you no". 7ou don)t "alk any &ore, you "addle. 7ou don)t #reathe, you "hee$e' 7ou...% %/h, don)t tease hi& so,% said Bets, "ho "as al"ays 4uite certain that Buster could understand every single "ord said to hi&. %6e doesn't "addle. * #et if he sa" /ld 5lear /rf this very &inute he)d #e after hi& like a shot'% %By the "ay, "hat)s happened to 0oon3% asked -atty. %* sa" hi& yesterday, in a great hurry and looking frightfully i&portant.% %Pro#a#ly solving so&e Mystery "e don)t kno" anything a#out,% said +arry gloo&ily. %There have #een a lot of #urglaries lately, and perhaps 0oon is getting at the #otto& of the&. %7es#ut the #urglaries haven)t #een in his district,% said -atty. %They)ve &ostly #een &iles a"ay. *)ve read a#out the& in the paper. +ady :e(ha&)s 2e"els "ere stolen only last "eekand so&e#ody else)s fa&ous dia&onds the "eek #efore. *t)s a clever gang of thieves #ut they)re not "orking this district, as far as * kno".% %* "ish they "ere'% said Bets. %Then "e could catch the&. 7ou could put on one of your ne" disguises, -atty, and track the& do"n.%

%*t)s not as easy as all that, little Bets, and you kno" it'% said -atty, "ith a laugh. %7ou 2ust think of all the difficulties "e had in our other &ysteries.% %1e haven)t seen you in any gro"n up disguise yet, -atty,% said ,aisy. %,o put one on, so that "e can spot you in it, if "e can.% %*)ve #een practising in &y #edroo&,% said -atty. %* don)t "ant to try anything out on you till *)& perfect. *)ll try it on you "hen *)& ready, * pro&ise. !nd *)ll give &y second #est propelling pencil to any one of you that spots &e first, see3% %/ooh, -attythe pencil that can "rite in lead, or in red, or in #lue3% said Bets. %5an you really spare it3% %*)ll certainly give it to any of the -ind /uters if they)re #right enough to spot &e in &y first gro"n up disguise,% said -atty. %*t)s a #argain'9 %* #et *8ll spot you first,% said +arry. %The girls "on)t, *)& sure. Pip &ight#ut *)ll #e first'% %1e)ll have to leave Buster #ehind "hen "e try to do the spotting,% said Pip. %/r hell si&ply rush up to you and #ark &adly to tell every one it)s you'% %7es. Buster)s out of this,% said -atty, and Buster cocked up his ears at his na&e. %.orry, Buster, old #oy #ut to&orro" you &ust stay at ho&e "ith the cat.% %/h, -attyare you going to dress up tomorrow? asked Bets, in delight. %:eally to&orro"3 1ell, you "on)t deceive me! * shall look at every one "ith an eagle eye'9 %:ight,% said -atty. %But all the sa&e* have a feeling that &y propelling pencil "ill still #e safely in &y pocket to&orro" night' 7ou &ay #e 4uite good -ind /uters#ut *8& a #it cleverer than any of you'% %7ou)re certainly #est at #oasting'% said +arry. %That tru&pet of yours &ust #e 4uite "orn out #y no".% %1hat tru&pet3% said Bets, in curiosity. %*)ve never seen -atty "ith a tru&pet.% %No, #ut surely you)ve heard hi& #lo"ing his o"n tru&pet3 % said +arry. %*t)s deafening at ti&es' *t)s...% !nd then -atty sat up and flung hi&self on +arry and there "as a great deal of shouting and yelling and s4uealing, "ith Buster plunging into the &iddle of the #ra"l and getting "ildly e(cited too. Mrs. 6ilton, Pip)s &other, appeared. %5hildren' 7ou do kno" *)ve visitors in the garden, surely3 *f you "ant to yell and s4ueal and fight, "ill you go so&e"here else3 1hat a#out a nice "alk3% %/h Motherit)s too hot for a "alk'9 groaned Pip. %1ell, * should have thought it "as &uch too hot to fight,% said Mrs. 6ilton disapprovingly. %:eally, +arry and -rederick, you look very dirty and untidy'% %.orry, Mrs. 6ilton,% said -atty &eekly, and +arry tried to s&ooth his hair do"n. %1ell go for a "alk. * forgot you #ad people to tea in the garden. * really do apologi$e.% -atty had &arvellous &anners "ith gro"n up people, and Mrs. 6ilton #egan to s&ile again. %0o do"n to the dairy and get yourselves an ice crea& each,% she said. %That "ill get rid of you for a #it. 6ere)s the &oney, Pip.% %/h thanks, Mother,% said Pip, and they all got up, pleased. *t "as the fourth ice crea& that day, #ut it didn)t see& "orth "hile &entioning that to Mrs. 6ilton. -atty)s &other had already provided ice crea&s and so had +arry)s, and -atty had generously given the& one each as "ell. No" this "as the fourth lot. 0oody' They "alked sedately do"n the garden and round the drive to the gates. They "ent to the dairy, "hich &ade real crea& ices that "ere &ost delicious, and sat do"n at the little ta#le in the "indo" to eat the&. Mr. 0oon passed #y on his #icycle as they sat there. 6e pedalled furiously, his face hot and red. %.pot of hard "ork for 0oon,% said -atty, letting a cold spoonful of ice crea& slide as slo"ly do"n his throat as possi#le. %+ooks #usy, doesn)t he3% Before they had finished their ices, 0oon ca&e pedalling #ack again, as furiously as #efore. The police station "as 2ust opposite the dairy, and the children "atched the police&an go s&artly up the steps. Then they sa" his head #ehind the frosted "indo" pane of one of the roo&s in the police station, talking to so&e#ody else. 0oon "as talking the &ost and "as nodding vigorously. %Never seen 0oon so #usy #efore'% said -atty, in astonish&ent. %,o you think he)s really got a case to "ork ona &ystery to solve that "e don)t kno" anything a#out3%

%0olly, here he co&es again'% said Pip, as 0oon scuttled out of the police station, #uttoning a #ig sheaf of papers into his #reast pocket. %6e)s si&ply #ursting "ith i&portance.% %6e)s feeling 2olly pleased a#out so&ething,% said -atty. %* sho!ld #e &ad if so&ething had cropped up in Peters"ood "hilst *)ve #een a"ay, and "e don)t kno" anything a#out it'9 0oon 2u&ped on to his #icycle and pedalled a"ay again. *t "as &addening to sit there and "atch hi& so #usy and i&portant and not kno" "hy. -atty felt as if he "as #ursting "ith curiosity. %6e)s on to so&ething'% he said. %6e really is. * kno" that look on his face. 1e m!st find out "hat it is'% %1ell, you find out then,% said +arry. %!nd if he tells you, you)ll #e lucky' *t)s "hat 0oon has drea&ed of for &onthsa &ystery all to hi&self, that the -ive -ind /uters don)t kno" anything a#out'9 %* can)t #ear it'9 said -atty, and let the last spoonful of ice crea& go do"n his throat. Then he looked dis&ayed. %/h * saydo you kno", * "as so pu$$led a#out /ld 5lear /rf and his &ystery that * ate that ice crea& "ithout tasting it. 1hat a fearful "aste. *)ll have to have another.% The others looked at hi&. %There)s no &ore &oney,% said Pip. %1e spent it all.% %*)ve got so&e,% said -atty, and dug his hand into his pocket. 6e al"ays had plenty of &oney, &uch to the envy of the others, "ho had pocket &oney each .aturday and had to &ake that do for the "eek, like &ost children. But -atty had plenty of rich relations, "ho see&ed to pour &oney into his pockets in a &ost lavish "ay. %Mother says it)s #ad for you to have so &uch &oney,% said Pip. %.he)s al"ays saying that.% %*t pro#a#ly is #ad for &e,% said -atty, %#ut *)& not going round telling &y relations to stop giving &e tips. No", "ho "ants another ice crea&3 Bets3% %/h, -atty, * couldn)t,% sighed Bets sadly. %*)d love to, #ut * kno" * can)t. * feel a #it sick already.% %1ell, go outside,% said Pip unfeelingly. %No thanks, -atty. * don)t feel sick, #ut * shan)t eat any supper if * have another, and then Mother "ill stop all ice crea&s for a "eek, or so&ething a"ful.% +arry and ,aisy said they couldn)t possi#ly eat another either, so -atty had a second one all #y hi&self, and this ti&e he said he tasted every spoonful, so it "asn)t "asted as the first one had #een. Mr. 0oon ca&e #ack on his #icycle, 2ust as the children left the shop. %There he is again'% said -atty ad&iringly. %*)ve never seen hi& &ove so 4uickly. 0ood evening, Mr. 0oon'% Mr. 0oon "as 2ust getting off his #icycle to go into the police station again. 6e glanced at -atty, and took no notice of hi&. -atty "as annoyed. %7ou see& e(tre&ely #usy, Mr. 0oon,% he said. %.olving another &ystery, * suppose3 Nice to get the old #rains to "ork, isn)t it3 * could do "ith a #it of that &yself, after la$ing a"ay &ost of these holidays.% %/h3 7ou got so&e #rains then3% said Mr. 0oon sarcastically. %That)s good hearing, that is. But *)& #usy no", and can)t stop to talk a#out your #rains, Master -rederick. There)s Big Things going on, see, and *)ve got plenty to do "ithout "asting &y ti&e talking to you.% %Big Things3% said -atty, suddenly interested. %1hat, another Mystery, Mr. 0oon3 * saythat)s...% %7es, another Mystery,% said Mr. 0oon, al&ost #ursting "ith i&portance. %!nd *)& *N 56!:0E of it, see3 *)& the one that)s tackling it, not you interfering kids. !nd not a "ord do * tell you a#out it, not one "ord. *t)s .ecret and *&portant, and it)s a Matter for the police'% %But Mr. 0oonyou kno" ho" "e ...% #egan -atty an(iously; #ut the police&an, feeling for once that he had got the #etter of -atty, interrupted loftily. %!ll * kno" a#out you is that you)re a conceited, interfering kid "hat ought to #e put in his place and kept thereyou and your nasty #arking dog' This here case is &ine, and *)& already getting on "ith it, and "hat)s &ore *8ll get Pro&otion over this as sure as &y na&e is Theophilus 0oon,% said the police&an, &arching up the steps to the police station. %7ou clear orf no"'% %1hat a #lo"'% &uttered poor, disappointed -atty, as 0oon disappeared through the door. 6e and the others "alked ho&e slo"ly, discussing all that 5lear /rf had said. )To &ink of that fat police&an at "ork on a perfectly gorgeous ne" &ystery that "e don)t kno" a thing a#out'% said -atty, looking so &isera#le that Bets put her ar& through his. %*t)s &addening. !nd the "orst of it is that * si&ply don)t see ho" "e are going to find out a thing, if 0oon "on)t tell us.%

%Even Buster)s upset a#out it,% said Bets. %6e)s got his tail right do"n. .o have you, poor -atty. Never &indyou)re going to try out your gro"n up disguise to&orro"that "ill #e a #it of e(cite&ent for you, -atty. !nd for us too'% %7es, it "ill,% said -atty, cheering up a little. %1ell*)ll #e getting #ack ho&e no". 0ot to practise &y disguise a #it #efore * try it out on you all to&orro". .olong'%

"atty #isg!ises $imself. Ne(t &orning +arry had a note fro& -atty.
%0o do"n to the side sho"s #y the river this afternoon. *)ll &eet you so&e"here in disguise. Bet you "on)t kno" &e' %-atty.% +arry sho"ed the note to Pip and Bets "hen he "ent to see the& that &orning. Bets "as thrilled. %1hat will -atty #e dressed in3 * #et *)ll kno" hi&' /h, * can)t "ait for this afternoon to co&e'% +arry)s &other gave hi& so&e &oney to spend at the side sho"s "hen she heard they "ere all going there that afternoon. They set off at t"o o)clock, ready to spot -atty, no &atter ho" "ell he "as disguised. !s they "alked do"n the village street an old #ent &an ca&e shuffling up to"ards the&. 6e stooped #adly and dragged his feet, "hich "ere in old #oots, the toes cracked and the heels "orn do"n. 6e "ore a straggly sandy grey #eard, and had shaggy grey eye#ro"s, and he looked e(tre&ely dirty. 6is coat sagged a"ay fro& his #ent shoulders, and his corduroy trousers "ere tied up "ith string at the knees. 6is hat "as too large for hi& and "as cra&&ed do"n over his head. 6e had a stick in his hand and used it to help hi&self along. 6e shuffled to a #ench and sat do"n in the sun, sniffing loudly. %That)s -atty' * kno" it is'% said Bets. %*t)s 2ust the sort of disguise he)d put on. *sn)t he clever3 % The old &an took a pipe out of his pocket and #egan to stuff it "ith to#acco. %-ancy -atty even thinking of #ringing a pipe'% said Pip. %* #et he)s "atched his father stuffing to#acco into his pipe. 0ollydon)t say he)s even going to s&oke it'% !pparently he "as' 0reat puffs of rather evil s&elling, strong s&oke ca&e "afting out fro& the old &an. The children stared. %* shouldn)t have thought -atty %o!ld s&oke,% said +arry. %6e oughtn)t to. 6e)s not old enough. But * suppose if he)s in disguise...% The old fello" sniffed loudly and then "iped his hand across his nose. Bets giggled. %/h dear' -atty is really si&ply &arvellous. * do think he is. 6e &ust have #een practising that a"ful sniffle for ages.% +arry "ent over to the old &an and sat do"n #eside hi&. %6allo, -atty'% he said. %<olly good, old #oy' But "e all recogni$ed you at once'% The old &an took a#solutely no notice at all. 6e "ent on puffing at his pipe and clouds of the s&oke floated into +arry)s face. %-atty' .top it' 7ou)ll &ake yourself sick if you s&oke like that'% said +arry. The others 2oined hi& and sat there, giggling. Pip gave the old &an a punch in the ri#s, %6ey, -atty' 7ou can stop pretending no". 1e kno" it)s you'% The old &an felt the punch and looked round indignantly, his eyes al&ost hidden under his shaggy eye#ro"s. 6e &oved a little "ay a"ay fro& +arry and Pip and "ent on s&oking. %-atty' .hut up s&oking and talk to us, idiot'% said Pip. The old &an took his pipe out of his &outh, put his hand #ehind his ear, and said %1assat3% %6e)s pretending to #e deaf no"'9 said Bets, and giggled again. %!h3 % said the old &an, looking pu$$led. %1assat3 % %1hat does )1assat) &ean3% asked Bets. %*t &eans )1hat)s that) of course,% said +arry. %6ey, -atty, stop it no". 0ive up, and tell us "e)re right. 1e all spotted you at once.% %1assat3% said the old &an again and put his hand #ehind his ear once &ore. *t "as a very peculiar ear, large and flat and purple red. Bets ga$ed at it and then nudged ,aisy.

%,aisy * 1e)ve &ade a frightful &istake' *t)s not -atty. +ook at his ears'9 Every one ga$ed at the old fello")s ears. Nonot even -atty could &ake his ears go like that. !nd they "ere not false ears either. They "ere 4uite real, not very clean, and re&arka#ly hairy. *n fact, they "ere &ost unpleasant ears. %0olly' *t isn&t -atty'% said Pip, ga$ing at the ears. %1hat m!st the old &an think of us3% %1assat3% said the old &an again, evidently e(tre&ely pu$$led at the children)s fa&iliar #ehaviour to"ards hi&. %1ell, thank goodness the poor old thing is deaf,% said ,aisy, feeling asha&ed of their &istake. %5o&e on +arry, co&e on, Pip, 1e)ve &ade an idiotic &istake' 6o" -atty "ould laugh if he kne"'% %6e)s pro#a#ly hiding so&e"here around and grinning to hi&self like anything,% said Pip. They left the pu$$led old &an sitting on his #ench and "ent off do"n the street again. They &et the #aker, and Bets gave hi& a long and piercing stare, "ondering if he could #y any chance #e -atty. But he "asn)t. 6e "as &uch too tall. Then they &et the "indo" cleaner, and as he "as rather plu&p, and 2ust a#out -atty)s height, they all "ent and pretended to e(a&ine his #arro" of ladders and pails, taking cautious glances at hi& to find out "hether or not he could #e -atty in disguise. %6ere' 1hat)s the &atter "ith you kids3% said the "indo" cleaner. %6aven)t you ever seen ladders and pails #efore3 !nd "hat are you giving &e the& looks for3 !nything "rong "ith &e today3 % %No,% said +arry hurriedly, for the "indo" cleaner sounded rather annoyed. %*t)s 2ust thaterthese sliding ladderserare rather interesting'% %/h, are they3% said the "indo" cleaner dis#elievingly. %1ell, let &e tell you this...% But the children didn)t listen to "hat he had to tell the&. They hurried off, rather red in the face. %* say' 1e shall get into trou#le if "e go s4uinting at every one to find out if they really are -atty,% said +arry. %1ell have to look at people a #it &ore carefully* &ean, "ithout the& kno"ing it.% %There he is*)& sure of it'% said Bets suddenly, as they "ent over the level crossing to the river side, "here the side sho"s "ere. %+ookthat porter "ith the &oustache. That)s -atty, all right'9 The porter "as "heeling a #arro" up the platfor&, and the others stood and ad&ired hi&. %6e "heels it e(actly like a real porter,% said Bets. %1hy do porters al"ays "ear "aistcoats and no coats at rail"ay stations3 *)& sure that)s -atty. *t)s 2ust the "ay he "alks. !nd he)s plu&p like -atty too.% .he raised her voice and hailed the porter. %6ey, -atty * -atty'% The porter turned round. 6e set his #arro" do"n on the ground and "alked to"ards the&, looking angry. %1ho are you calling -atty3% he de&anded, his face red under his porter)s cap. %7ou hold your tongue, you cheeky kids'% The children stared at hi&. %*t is -atty,% said Bets. %+ook, that)s 2ust ho" his hair sticks out "hen he "ears a hat. -atty * 1e kno" it)s you'9 %No" you look here'% said the porter, co&ing nearer, %if you "asn)t a little girl *)d co&e over and shake you good and proper. 5alling &e na&es' 7ou ought to #e asha&ed of yourself, you did'% %*t isn't -atty, you idiot,% said Pip angrily to Bets. %-atty isn)t as short in the ar&s. 'ow you)ve got us into trou#le'% But very luckily for the&, a train ca&e thundering in at that &o&ent and the porter had to run to open and shut doors and see to luggage. The children hastily left the level crossing and ran do"n to the river. %7ou st!(id, Bets' 7ou)ll get us all into trou#le if you keep on i&agining every one is -atty,% said Pip. %5alling out )-atty) like thatespecially as the porter "as fat. 6e &ust have thought you "ere disgustingly rude.% %/h dearyes, * suppose it did sound a"fully rude,% said Bets, al&ost in tears. %But * did think it "as -atty. *)ll #e &ore careful ne(t ti&e, Pip.% They ca&e to the side sho"s, "hich &ade a kind of

-air alongside the river road. There "as a :ounda#out, the 6oopla ga&e, the Bu&ping Motor 5ars, and the 1a("ork .ho". The children looked at the people cro"ding in and out of the -air, and tried to see anyone that &ight #e -atty. Bets "as scared no" to recogni$e any one as -atty. .he kept seeing people she thought &ight #e -atty and follo"ed the& around till she kne" they "eren)t. The others did the sa&e. .o&e people sa" that they "ere #eing follo"ed and didn)t like it. They turned and glared. %1hat you doing, keeping on &y heels like this3% one &an snapped at +arry. %Think *)& going to give you &oney for the :ounda#out3% +arry "ent red and slipped a"ay. 6e i&agined -atty so&e"here near, tickled to death to see the -ind /uters trying in vain to spot hi&. 1here %o!ld he #e3 %* think *)ve found hi&'% "hispered Bets to Pip, catching hold of his ar&. %6e)s the &an selling the :ounda#out tickets' 6e)s 2ust like -atty, only he)s got a #lack #eard and thick #lack hair, and gold ear rings in his ears, and an al&ost #lack face.% %1ell, he doesn)t sound )2ust like -atty) to me!% said Pip scornfully. %*)& tired of your spotting the "rong people, Bets. 1here)s this fello"3% %* told you. .elling :ounda#out tickets,% said Bets, and though Pip felt 4uite certain that not even -atty "ould #e allo"ed to sell :ounda#out tickets, he "ent to see. The &an flashed a grin at hi& and held up a #unch of tickets. %! lovely ride'% he chanted. %! lovely ride on the :ounda#out. /nly si(pence for a lovely ride'9 Pip "ent and #ought a ticket. 6e looked hard at the &an, "ho gave hi& another cheeky grin. Pip grinned #ack. %.o it is you' % he said. %<olly good, -atty'% %1hat you talking a#out3% said the :ounda#out &an in surprise. %!nd "ho are you calling -atty3% Pip didn)t like to say any &ore so&eho", though he really "as 4uite certain it "as -atty. 6e got on the :ounda#out, chose a lion that "ent &iraculously up and do"n as "ell as round and round, and en2oyed his ride. 6e "inked at the ticket &an as he got off and the &an "inked #ack. %-unny kid, aren)t you3% said the &an. Pip "ent to the others. %*)ve found -atty,% he said. %!t least, * suppose it "as Bets "ho did, really. *t)s the &an "ho sells the tickets for the :ounda#out.% %/h no it isn)t,% said +arry. %,aisy and * have found -atty too. *t)s the &an "ho stands and shouts to people to co&e and have a go at the 6oopla. .eeover there'% %But it %an't #e'% said Pip. %6e)d never #e allo"ed to have a 2o# like that. No, you)re "rong. * don)t think that can #e -atty.% %1ell, and I don)t think the :ounda#out ticket &an is right, after all,% said Bets une(pectedly. %* kno" * did think so. But * don)t any &ore. 6is feet are &uch too s&all. 6e)s got silly little feet. -atty)s got enor&ous feet. 6o"ever &uch you disguise yourself you can)t &ake #ig feet into s&all ones'% %* #et -atty could'% said ,aisy . %6e)s a &arvel.9 %!nd * think he)s the ticket &an at the :ounda#out,% said Pip, o#stinately. %1ell"e)ll see. 1e)ll have so&e fun, get tea over there, and "ait for -atty to sho" hi&self in his o"n good ti&e'%

"!n at the "air.

6aving &ore or less decided the 4uestion of -atty)s disguise, though Bets "as very dou#tful indeed, the four children had so&e fun. Bets #ought so&e of the "ooden 6oopla rings fro& the &an that +arry and ,aisy "ere certain "as -atty in disguise, and &anaged to ring a dear little clock. .he "as really delighted. .he held out her hand for the clock, her eyes shining "ith 2oy. %*t "ill do nicely for &y #edroo& &antelpiece,% she said happily. %.orry,% said the 6oopla &an. %The ring didn)t go 4uite over the clock, Miss.% %But it did,) said poor Bets. %*t did. *t didn)t even touch the clock. *t "as the #est thro" *)ve ever done'9

%7ou didn)t ring it properly, Miss,% said the &an. The other 6oopla &an, that +arry and ,aisy thought "as -atty, looked on, and said nothing. ,aisy, certain that it was -atty, appealed to hi&, sorry to see little Bets #eing cheated out of the cheap little clock. %.he did "in it, didn)t she3 Make this &an let her have it'9 %.orry, Miss. .he didn)t ring it properly,% said that + too. !nd then Bets "alked off, dragging the others "ith her. )'ow do you think that &an is -atty3% she said fiercely. )$e "ould have let &e have the clock at once' -atty is never unkind. 6e can)t #e -atty'% %1ellhe &ight ha*e to say a thing like that,% argued +arry. %The other &an &ight have got angry "ith hi& and given hi& a punch. * still think it)s -atty.% They "ent on the :ounda#out, and in the Bu&ping 5ars. Pip took Bets, and +arry "ent "ith ,aisy, and "ith &any s4ueals and yells they crashed into one another, and shook the&selves and the little cars al&ost to pieces. *t really "as fun. %No" let)s go into the 1a("ork .ho",% said +arry. %/h, it)s too hot,% said ,aisy. %:eally it is. Besides, * don)t &uch Eke "a("ork figuresthey scare &e a #it they look so real, and yet they never even #link'% %I "ant to see the&,% said Bets, "ho had never #een inside a 1a("ork .ho" in her life, and "as longing to. %They)ve got =ueen Eli$a#eth in there, all dressed up #eautifully, and Napoleon, "ith his hand tucked into his "aistcoat, and Nelson "ith one ar& and one eye, and...% %/h "ell, let)s go in and see all these "onderful persons,% said ,aisy. %But it)s a &arvel to &e they don)t all &elt in this "eather. * feel as if *)& &elting &yself. 1e)d #etter have ice crea&s after this.% They paid their &oney and "ent in. The sho" "as in a s&all hall. ! red headed #oy took their &oney, scratching his head violently "ith one hand as he handed the& tickets "ith the other. Bets stared at hi&. 5ould he #e -atty3 -atty had a red headed "ig and eye#ro"s, and he could put freckles all over his face, 2ust like the ones this #oy had. But -atty had said he "ould #e in a grown+!( disguiseso he couldn)t #e this dirty looking #oy. .tillBets couldn)t help staring hard at hi&. The #oy put out his tongue at her. %.tare a"ay'9 he said. %Never seen red hair #efore, * suppose'% Bets "ent red and 2oined the others. !ll round the little hall, arranged on steps that raised each ro" of figures up #ehind the others, "ere the "a( people. They stood there, still and silent, fi(ed looks on their pink faces, staring "ithout #linking. Pip and +arry liked the&, #ut the t"o girls felt unco&forta#le to have so &any strange figures looking at the&. %There)s =ueen Eli$a#eth'% said Pip, pointing to a very grand looking "a( figure at the end of the little hall. %!nd there)s .ir 1alter :aleigh putting do"n his cloak for her to "alk on. They)re 2olly good.% %1hat grand clothes she "ears,% said Bets, %and * like her #ig ruff. !nd look at all her #eautiful 2e"ellery. *)& surprised people don)t steal it'% %Pooh' !ll #ought at 1ool"orth)s'% said Pip. %* sayhere)s Nelson. * didn)t kno" he "as such a little chap.% %/hand here)s 1inston 5hurchill,% said Bets in delight. .he had a terrific ad&iration for this great states&an, and kept a photo of hi& on her &antelpiece. %1ith his cigar and all. 6e looks the #est of the lot'9 %+ookthere)s a girl selling s"eets,% said +arry suddenly, "inking at Pip. %6ere, Bets, go and #uy so&e chocolate for us.% 6e gave the little girl so&e &oney and she "ent to the s"eet girl, "ho stood near#y "ith a tray of #ags and #o(es. %*)ll have so&e chocolate, please,% said Bets, and held out her &oney. The girl didn)t take it. .he looked steadily over Bets) head and said nothing. %./ME 56/5/+!TE, P+E!.E,% said Bets loudly, thinking that perhaps the girl "as deaf. The girl took a#solutely no notice at all, and Bets "as pu$$led.

Then she heard the others e(ploding #ehind her, and guessed in a flash the trick they had played. %/h' This girl is a "a("ork too' 7ou #easts' *)ve #een trying to #uy chocolate fro& a "a("ork figure.% %/h, Bets' !nyone can take you in, si&ply anyone'% said Pip, al&ost crying "ith laughter. To think you)re one of the -ind /uters, too' 1hy, you can)t even spot "hen so&e#ody is a "a("ork'% Bets hardly kne" "hether to cry or to laugh, #ut fortunately she decided to laugh. %/h dear' * really did think she "as a proper person. +ook at that horrid redheaded #oy over there laughing at &e'% They e(a&ined all the "a( figures closely. There "ere a good &any of the&. !&ong the& "as a police&an rather like Mr. 0oon, #ut taller and not so fat. %*)d like to stand /ld dear /rf in here'% said Pip, "ith a giggle. %6e looks 2ust a#out as stolid and stupid so&eti&es. !nd * saylook at this post&an. 6e)s 4uite good, e(cept for his idiotic grin.% *t "as really very hot in the 1a("ork .ho" and the children "ere glad to go out. The red headed #oy at the entrance put out his tongue at Bets again; and she tried not to look. %1hat a horrid #oy'% she said. %* can)t think ho" * thought he could #e -atty. -atty "ouldn)t #ehave like that, even in disguise.% %+et)s go and have so&e tea,% said ,aisy. %+ook, this place has got ices and ho&e &ake cakes.% %5akes and an iced le&onade for &e,% said Pip. %*)ll have an ice later if * can &anage it. * "ish old -atty could 2oin us. 1onder if he)s looking on at us, in his disguise. *8& sure he)s the ticket &an at the :ounda#out. That &an)s &op of curly #lack hair is too good to #e true.% They had a very nice tea, and ate t"enty four cakes #et"een the&. They finished up "ith ices, "ashed do"n #y a rather s"eet le&onade, and then felt a#le to go out into the sun once &ore. %+et)s go and sit do"n #y the river,% said Bets. %*t "ill #e cooler there. There)s al"ays a #ree$e #y the "ater'% They &ade their "ay out of the -air. Bets suddenly caught sight of a lovely patch of gay colour, and she stopped. %Pip' +ook at those air #alloons' * do love a #alloon. 6ave you got enough &oney to #uy &e one3% %,on)t #e a #a#y,% said Pip. %-ancy "anting a #alloon like any three year old kid'% %1ell, * do,% said Bets o#stinately. They all "ent over to "here the old "o&an sat, holding her #unch of gay #alloons. .he "as a shapeless old da&e, "ith a red sha"l over her shoulders and head, though the day "as hot. >ntidy hair hung in "isps over her #ro"n, "rinkled face, #ut she had surprisingly #right eyes. %Balloon, young sir3% said she to Pip, in a cracked old voice. %No thanks,)) said Pip. But Bets pulled his ar&. %/h, do #uy &e one, Pip. /h, * "ish -atty "as here. $e'd #uy &e one. They)re so pretty'% %1ell, #ut they)re si(pence each'% said Pip, looking at the price la#el hanging fro& the string of #alloons. %.i(pence' *t)s ro##ery. No, * can)t lend you si(pence for that. Mother "ould think * "as &ad.% %.he can have one for half price,% croaked the old "o&an kindly. Bets looked at Pip. %/h, all right,% he said, and pulled out three pennies. %But &ind you give &e the &oney #ack "hen you get ho&e, Bets.% %/h thank you, Pip,% said Bets, and took the &oney. .he looked at all the gay #alloons, s"aying gently in the #ree$e, and couldn)t &ake up her &ind "hich one to #uy. The reds "ere so nice and #right, the greens "ere so pretty, the #lues "ere like the sky, the yello"s "ere like sunshineoh, "hich should she have3 %1ell, co&e on after us "hen you)ve &ade up your &ind,% said Pip i&patiently. %1e)re not going to stand here all evening "aiting for you, Bets.% The others "ent off to the river #ank. Bets stared at the lovely #alloons. %Pretty, aren)t they, young &iss3% said the old "o&an. %7ou take your ti&e in choosing. * don)t &ind'% Bets thought "hat a kind old "o&an she "as. %*t "as so nice of you to let &e have one at half price,% she said. %:eally it "as. ,o you &ake a lot of &oney, selling #alloons3% %Not &uch,% said the old da&e. %But enough for an old lady like &e.% Bets chose a #lue #alloon and the old "o&an held out her hand for the &oney. *t "as a very dirty hand, and it closed over the &oney 4uickly. Bets "ondered "hy all the -air people had such dirty hands and faces.

Then she noticed so&ething that &ade her stare. The old "o&an)s hand "as certainly e(tre&ely dirty#ut the nails on it "ere re&arka#ly clean' Much cleaner than Bets) o"n nails' %6o" 4ueer'% thought Bets, still staring at the clean, "ell kept nails. %1hy should this old "o&an keep her nails so clean, and her hands so dirty3% Bets then looked hard at the old "o&an)s dirty #ro"n face, all "rinkled up. .he looked into the surprisingly #right, t"inkling eyesand she sa" that they "ere -atty)s eyes' 7es, there "asn)t an ato& of dou#t a#out it they "ere -atty)s o"n #right, intelligent eyes'% %/h, -atty'% "hispered Bets. %/h, it really is you, isn)t it3 /h, do say it is3% The old "o&an looked round 4uickly to &ake sure no one "as listening. %7es. *t)s &e all right,% said -atty, un"rinkling his face as if #y &agic, and straightening his #ent #ack. %<olly good disguise, isn)t it3 But 6/1 did you kno" it "as &e, Bets3 7ou)re too cute for anything'9 %.h' There)s so&e#ody co&ing,% "hispered Bets. *8ll go. 1here "ill you &eet us3% %0o ho&e at si( and *)ll &eet you so&e"here,% said -atty hurriedly, and scre"ed his face up into all kinds of "rinkles again. Bets sa" that he had cleverly painted the places "here the "rinkles ca&e, so that no one could possi#ly see that they "ere not al"ays there. -atty "as si&ply &arvellous' %,on)t tell the others'% said -atty. %?eep it dark for a #it.% Then he raised his voice and, in a fee#le croak, called %Balloons' .i(pence each' -ine strong #alloons'% Bets "ent off, her eyes shining. .he had found -attyand oh, wasn't he clever' 6e really, really "as.

,he Old -alloon+.oman.

Bets "ent to 2oin the others, very pleased "ith herself. 6er #lue #alloon floated #ehind her, tugging at its string. %6ere she is at last'% said Pip. %1e thought you "ere never co&ing, Bets. 1hat)s up "ith you3 7ou look #ursting "ith so&ething.% , %,o *3% said Bets. %-ancy that' By the "ay, *)ve a &essage fro& -atty. 1e)re to go ho&e at si( and he "ill &eet us so&e"here.% %1ho gave you that &essage3% said Pip, at once. %That)s &y secret,% said Bets annoyingly. %,id you speak to -atty hi&self3% de&anded +arry. %*s he the 6oopla &an3% %* shan)t tell you,% said Bets. %*)& going to keep &y secret for a #it'% !nd she "ouldn)t say another "ord, "hich annoyed the others very &uch. -ancy young Bets kno"ing so&ething they didn)t kno"! !t si( o)clock they &ade their "ay #ack through the -air, across the level crossing, and up the lane fro& the river. .itting on a #ench, "ith her #alloons, "as the old Balloon "o&an, "aiting for the&. .he got up as they ca&e. %Balloons'% said she. %.trong #alloons'% %No thanks,% said Pip, and "alked on. The old "o&an "alked "ith hi&. %Buy a #alloon'% she said, %<ust to help &e, young sir'% %No thanks,% said Pip again, and "alked a little faster. But the old da&e could "alk surprisingly fast too. .he kept up 4uite easily "ith Pip' )#o #uy a #alloon'9 she said, her voice cracking 4ueerly. 6o" long she "ould have pestered Pip no#ody kne"#ut Bets suddenly e(ploded into a series of helpless giggles that took the others #y surprise. They stared at her. %1hat is the &atter3% said Pip, e(asperated. %/h dear'% gasped Bets. %/h dear*)& sorry. But * can)t help it. *t)s all so f M funny'% ).hat's funny3% shouted Pip. !nd then he staredfor the old Balloon "o&an, pulling her skirts a#ove her knees, and sho"ing sand shoes and #are legs, "as doing a lively 2ig in front of hi& and round hi&, &aking peculiar noises all the ti&e. %,on)t, -atty, don)t' * shall die of laughter'% said Bets, holding her aching sides. The others stared as if their eyes "ere a#out to fall out. %1hatit)s "atty!) said Pip. )"atty! *t isn)t. * can)t #elieve it'9

But it "as, of course. !s soon as -atty %unscre"ed% his face, as Bets called it, and got rid of his lines and "rinkles, every one could see 4uite "ell it "as -atty. +arry and ,aisy "ere speechless. .o -atty hadn)t #een the 6oopla &an, or the :ounda#out &an either. 6e "as the old Balloon "o&an instead. Trust -atty to think out a disguise that no#ody "ould guess' /r had little Bets guessed it3 The others looked at her s&iling face. +arry dragged the Balloon "o&an to a "ayside seat, and they all sat do"n. %*s it really you, -atty3% said +arry. The old "o&an nodded. %/f course' 0olly, this disguise &ust #e super if * could take you all in as "ell as that'9 %,id Bets guess3 % de&anded Pip. %.he did,% said -atty. %.he suddenly guessed "hen she "as #uying her #alloon, and you had all gone off "ithout her.% %But ho" did she guess3% said Pip, annoyed. %0oodness kno"s'9 said -atty. %6o" did you guess, young Bets3% %/h, -attyit "as such a silly thing* don)t really like to tell you,% said Bets. %*)& sure you)ll think it "as a silly "ay to guess.% %0o ontell &e,% said -atty, "ith &uch interest. %1ell, -attyyou see, you had very dirty hands, like all the rest of the -air people,% said Bets. %But * couldn)t help seeing that you had nice, clean nailsand it did see& to &e a #it funny that so&e#ody "ith dirty hands should #other to keep their nails so clean.% %1ell, *)& #lessed'% said -atty, looking do"n at his dirty hands, and e(a&ining the "ell kept nails. %1ho "ould have thought of any one noticing that3 @ery very careless of &e not to get so&e dirt into &y nails "hen * &ade &y hands filthy. * never thought of it. Bets, you are very clever. Most intelligent.% %/h, -attynot really,% said Bets, glo"ing all over her face at such generous praise. %1ell, * &ust say * think it "as 2olly cute of young Bets to notice a thing like that,% said +arry. %* really do. 1e all had a chance of noticing, #ecause "e all stood in front of you. But it "as Bets "ho spotted it. <olly good, Bets'% %.he "ins &y second #est propelling pencil,% said -atty. %*)ll give it to you "hen * get ho&e, Bets. *n fact *)& not sure that * oughtn)t to give you &y #est one. That "as a really s&art #it of "ork. Bright enough for a first class detective'9 ,aisy praised Bets too, #ut Pip "as rather sulky. 6e "as afraid his little sister "ould get s"ollen headed. %*f you say &uch &ore, Bets "ill "ant to #e head of the -ind /uters,% he said. %/h no, * shan)t,% said Bets happily. %* kno" it "as only a #it of luck, really, Pip. 7ou see, * actually put the pennies into -atty)s hands, and that)s ho" * noticed the clean nails. Pip, *8ll lend you the propelling pencil whene*er you "ant it. .ee3% That "as so like Bets. Not even a cross elder #rother like Pip could sulk for long "ith Bets. 6e grinned at her. %Thanks, Bets. 7ou)re a good -ind /uter, and a good little sport too'% %* saylook outhere)s 0oon'9 suddenly said +arry, in a lo" voice. %Better pretend "e)re not "ith -atty, or 0oon "ill "onder "hy "e are ho#no##ing "ith an old -air "o&an'% .o they all got up, and left -atty #ehind on the seat, "ith his string of #alloons #o##ing over his head. Mr. 0oon "as on his #icycle as usual. 6e pretended not to notice the children at all. 6e al"ays see&ed #usy and i&portant these days' But he got off his #icycle "hen he sa" the old "o&an. -atty "as drooping over, pretending to #e asleep. %6ere, you'% said 0oon. %Move on' !nd "here)s your licence to sell #alloons3% The others heard this, and looked alar&ed. ,id you have to have a licence to peddle #alloons3 They "ere sure -atty hadn)t got one. -atty took no notice, #ut gave a gentle snore. Mr. 0oon shook the shoulder of the Balloon "o&an, and -atty pretended to a"ake "ith a 2erk. %1here)s your licence3% said 0oon. 6e "as al"ays rude and arrogant to people like the old Balloon "o&an.

%1hat did you say, sir3% said -atty, in a "hining voice. %1ant to #uy a #alloon, sir3 1hat colour do you fancy3% %* don)t "ant a #alloon,% said 0oon angrily. %* "ant to see your licence.% %/h, ah, &y licence3% said -atty, and #egan to pat all over his e(tre&ely volu&inous skirts, as if to find "here a licence "ould possi#ly #e hidden. %.o&e"here a#out, sir, so&e"here a#out. *f you can 2ust "ait a fe" &inutes, kind sir, *)ll find it in the pocket of one of &y petticoats. !n old "o&an like &e, sir, she "ants plenty of petticoats. .leeping out under hedges is cold, sir, even on a su&&er night.% %0ah'% said 0oon rudely, &ounted his #icycle and rode off, ringing his #ell furiously at a s&all dog that dared to run across the road in front of hi&. 1as he, the 0reat 0oon, in charge of a -irst 5lass 5ase, going to "ait "hilst an old pedlar "o&an fished for ages in her petticoats for a licence he didn)t really "ant to see3 0ah' 1hen 0oon "as safely out of sight the others "ent #ack to -atty, a&used and half alar&ed. %/h, -atty' 6o" %an you act like that "ith 0oon3 *f only he)d kno"n it "as really you'% %* en2oyed that,% said -atty. %0ood thing 0oon didn)t "ait to see &y licence though, #ecause * haven)t got one, of course. 5o&e onlet)s get #ack ho&e. *)& dying to take off these hot clothes' *8ve got layers of petticoats on to &ake &e fat and shapeless'9 /n the "ay up the village street they passed the #ench "here they had spoken to the old &an on their "ay to the -air that afternoon. Bets pointed hi& out to -atty. %-atty. ,o you see that old fello", sleeping on that #ench over there3 1ell, "e thought he "as yo!! !nd "e "ent and called hi& -atty, and Pip gave hi& a poke in the ri#s'9 -atty stood and looked at the old chap. %7ou kno", it "ould #e 4uite easy to disguise &yself like hi&,% he said. %*)ve a good &ind to try it. 6onestly, * #elieve * could.% %But you couldn)t &ake your ears like his,% said Bets. %6e)s got a"ful ears.% %No, * couldn)t. But * could pull &y cap do"n lo"er &an he does, and hide &y ears a #it,% said -atty. %7es, that "ould #e a very good and easy disguise indeed. *)ll try it one day. ,id Pip really .poke hi& in the ri#s3% %7es. !nd the old fello" kept on saying, )1assat3 1assat3)% said Pip, "ith a giggle. %6e)s deaf, poor old thing.% The old &an suddenly opened his eyes and sa" the children looking at hi&. 6e thought they &ust have spoken to hi&. 6e cupped one of his ears in his hand and croaked out his favourite "ord, %1assat3% The old Balloon "o&an "inked at the children and sat do"n #eside the old fello". %-ine evening,% she said, in the cracked voice the children "ere #eginning to kno" "ell. %1assat3% said the old &an. Then #e sniffed, and "iped his nose deftly "ith the #ack of his hand. -atty did e(actly the sa&e, "hich &ade Bets giggle in delight. %-*NE E@EN*N0,% said -atty. %!N, ! -*NE M/:N*N0 T//'% %,on)t kno" nothing a#out &ornings,% said the old &an surprisingly. %!l"ays sleep till &idday, * do. Then * gets up, has &y #it of dinner, and co&es out into the sun. Mornings don)t &ean nothing to &e.% 6e sniffed again, and then took out his pipe to fill it. -atty "atched all he did. 7es, it "ould #e a &arvellous thing to do, to disguise hi&self as this old fello". Pipe, sniffs, deafness, and all-atty could do it'% %5o&e on, -atty'% said Pip, in a lo" voice. %1e really "ill have to get #ack. *t)s getting late.% -atty got up and 2oined the&. They soon parted and "ent their different "ayPip and Bets do"n their lane, and +arry and ,aisy up theirs. -atty "ent in at his #ack gate, and his &other caught sight of the old Balloon "o&an, as she stood in the garden, cutting s"eet peas for the ta#le. %! friend of 5ook)s, * suppose,% she thought; %or is she trying to sell #alloons here3% .he "aited for the Balloon "o&an to co&e #ack again, #ut she didn)t. .o, rather curious, Mrs. Trotteville "ent to the kitchen door and looked in. There "as no Balloon "o&an to #e seenonly 5ook, red in the face, cooking the dinner.

%1here did that old Balloon "o&an go3% said Mrs. Trotteville, in "onder. But 5ook didn)t kno". .he hadn)t seen any old "o&an at all. !nd no "onderfor at that &o&ent the old Balloon "o&an "as stripping off layers of petticoats do"n in the shed at the #otto& of the gardento co&e forth as a very hot and rather untidy -atty. %1hat a peculiar thing for a Balloon "o&an to vanish into thin air'% thought Mrs. Trotteville. !nd so it "as.

A Visit to Ins(e%tor /enks.

-atty had &uch en2oyed his fun as the old Balloon "o&an, and so had the others. 6e gave Bets the silver propelling pencil and she "as really delighted. %*)ve never had such a lovely pencil,% she said. %*t "rites in red and #lue, as "ell as in ordinary lead. Thank you a"fully, -atty.% %The holidays are going too fast,% said Pip, rather gloo&ily. %!nd "e still haven)t got a &ystery to solve, though "e kno" that 0oon has.% %7es, * kno",% said -atty, looking "orried. %* can)t #ear to think of 0oon getting #usy on his &ystery, and "e haven)t the least idea "hat it is. Though it may #e all those #urglaries that are cropping up all over the place, you kno"* e(pect &ost of the police are keeping their eyes skinned for the gang that is operating such #ig thefts.% %5an)t "e keep our eyes skinned too3% said Bets eagerly. %1e &ight see the gang so&e"here.% %*diot' ,o you suppose they go a#out in a cro"d together, all looking like #urglars3% said Pip scornfully. %They)re too 2olly clever. They have their o"n &eeting places their o"n "ay of passing on &essages, their o"n "ays of disposing of the 2e"els they stealhaven)t they, -atty3 !nd they are not "ays we "ould #e likely to find out, even if "e did keep our eyes skinned'% %/h,% said Bets, disappointed. %1ellcan)t "e ask *nspector <enks if there really is a &ystery here, and ask hi& to let us help3% %7es"hy can)t "e3% said ,aisy. %*)& sure he)d tell us. 1e)ve helped hi& such a lot #efore.% *nspector <enks "as their very good friend. 6e "as "hat Bets called %a very high up police&an,% and he #elonged to the ne(t #ig to"n. *n the four &ysteries the children had solved #efore, *nspector <enks had co&e in at the end, and #een very pleased indeed at all the children had found out. Mr. 0oon, ho"ever, had not #een so pleased, #ecause it "as &ost annoying to hi& to have those %interfering children &essing a#out "ith the +a"%especially "hen they had actually found out things he hadn)t. %* think it)s a very good idea of Bets,% said -atty. %@ery good indeed. *f he kno"s "hat the &ystery is that 0oon is "orking onand he)s sure to* don)t see "hy he can)t tell us. 6e kno"s "e)ll keep out &ouths shut and do all "e can to help.% .o the ne(t day the -ive -ind /uters, "ith Buster in -atty)s #asket, rode on their #icycles to the ne(t #ig to"n, "here *nspector <enks had his head4uarters. They "ent to the police station there, and asked if they &ight see hi&. %1hat' .ee the *nspector hi&self'% said the police&an in charge. %?ids like you' * should think not. 6e)s a Big Man, he is, too #usy to #other "ith kids. .auce, * call it'% %1ait a #it,% said another police&an, "ith a nice face, and very #right #lue eyes. %1ait a #itaren)t you the kids that helped "ith one or t"o difficult cases over in Peters"ood3% %7es, "e are,% said -atty. %1e "ouldn)t "ant to #other the *nspector if he)s #usy, of course#ut "e "ould like to ask hi& so&ething rather i&portant. *&portant to us, * &ean.% %.hall * go in and tell the *nspector then3% said the first police&an to the other one. %,on)t "ant &y head #itten off, you kno", for interrupting "ithout due cause.% )I'll tell hi&'% said the #lue eyed police&an. %*)ve heard hi& talk a#out these kids.% 6e got up and "ent out of the roo&. The children "aited as patiently as they could. .urely their old friend "ould see the&' The police&an ca&e #ack. %6e)ll see you,% he said. %5o&e on in.% The children follo"ed hi& do"n a long stone floored passage, and then do"n another. Bets looked a#out her half fearfully. 1as she any"here near prisoners in their cells3 .he hoped not.

The police&an opened a door "ith a glass top to it, and announced the&. %The children fro& Peters"ood, sir.% The *nspector "as sitting at an enor&ous desk, piled "ith papers. 6e "as in unifor& and looked very #ig and grand. 6is eyes t"inkled, and he s&iled his nice s&ile. %1ell, "ell, "ell'% he said. %The "hole lot of you at onceand Buster too, * see * 1ell, ho" are you3 5o&e to tell &e you)ve solved the &ystery that)s #een "orrying us for &onths, * suppose'% 6e shook hands "ith the& all, and put Bets on his knee. .he #ea&ed at hi&. .he "as very fond of this #ig 6igh >p Police&an. %No, sir, "e haven)t co&e to tell you "e)ve solved any &ystery, unfortunately,% said -atty. %These are the first hols for ages that "e haven)t had a &ystery to solve. But sir, "e kno" that Mr. 0oon has got one he)s "orking on, and "e thought perhaps "e could "ork on it too. But "e don)t kno" "hat it is.% %7es, 0oon)s on it,% said the *nspector. %*n fact, &ost of the police force of the country see& to #e on it too' But it)s not one that you can #e &i(ed up in. * don)t think you could help at all, first rate detectives though you are'9 %/h'9 said -atty, disappointed. %*s itis it all these #ig #urglaries, sir3% %7es, that)s right,% said the *nspector. %@ery clever, they are. The thieves kno" 2ust "hat 2e"els to steal, "hen to get at the&, and lay their plans very carefully. !nd "e don)t kno" one single one of the &en' Not one. Though "e have our suspicions, you kno"' 1e al"ays have')A 6e t"inkled at the listening children. -atty felt desperate. .urely the *nspector could tell the& &ore than that. .urely 0oon kne" &ore3 Else "hy "as he so #usy and i&portant these days3 %Mr. 0oon looks as if he kne" 4uite a lot, sir,% said -atty. %*s there anything going on in Peters"ood at all3% The *nspector hesitated. %1ell,% he said at last, %as * said, this is not a thing for children to #e &i(ed up in. ,efinitely not, and * a& sure you "ould agree "ith &e if you kne" "hat * kno". Peters"ood is not e(actly &i(ed up in it#ut "e suspect that so&e of the gang go thereto &eet perhapsor to pass on &essages"e don)t kno".% The children)s eyes #rightened i&&ediately. %.ir'% said -atty, at once, %can)t "e 2ust keep our eyes open, then3 Not snoop round too &uch, if you don)t "ant us to#ut "atch and see if "e hear or spot anything unusual. 5hildren can often see and hear things that gro"n ups can)t, #ecause people suspect other gro"n ups, #ut they don)t notice children &uch.% The *nspector tapped "ith his pencil on his desk. -atty kne" that he "as "eighing up "hether or not to let the& keep a "atch on things in Peters"ood, and his heart #eat an(iously. 6o" he hoped they "ould #e allo"ed 2ust to have a little hand in this Mystery' *t see&ed a pretty hopeless one, and Mr. 0oon "as sure to do #etter than they could, #ecause he kne" so &uch &ore#ut -atty si&ply couldn)t bear to #e left out of it altogether' %!ll right,% said the *nspector at last, and put his pencil do"n. %7ou can keep your eyes open for &e#ut don)t plunge headlong into anything foolish or dangerous. <ust keep your eyes open. *t)s #arely possi#le you children &ight spot so&ething, si&ply be%a!se you)re children. :eport to &e if you find anything suspicious.% %/h, thank you'% said every one at once, delighted. %*t)s 2olly good of you, sir,% said -atty. %1e "ill find out so&ething' !nd "e)ll #e as careful as Mr. 0oon'% %1ell, *)& afraid he "ill co&e out on top this ti&e,% said the *nspector, his eyes t"inkling. %6e kno"s so &uch &ore than you do. But * can tell you no &ore than * have done. 0ood #yeand it)s #een so nice to see you'% The children "ent. They got on their #icycles and rode #ack ho&e, thrilled and pleased. They all "ent to Pip)s garden, and sat do"n i&portantly in his su&&er house, right at the top of the garden. %1ell"e)ve got a Mystery after all'% said -atty. %1ho are the gang that steals all these 2e"els3 0oon)s on the 2o#, and he)s got a flying startand no" "e)ll #e on it too. 6as any#ody noticed anything suspicious in Peters"ood lately3%

They all thought hard. But no#ody could think of anything in the least suspicious. Things see&ed to #e pretty &uch as usual, e(cept that the hot "eather had #rought cro"ds of people into the little riverside village. %* can)t think of a thing,% said +arry. %*t)s not a very easy Mystery,% said ,aisy, fro"ning. %There doesn)t see& any"here to #egin.% %5an)t "e do it the usual "ayfind clues, and &ake a list of .uspects3 % said Bets. %:ight'% said Pip scornfully. %7ou tell us "hat clues to look for, and "ho to put do"n on a list of .uspects'% %There are no clues to look for, and "e don)t even kno" "here to look for .uspects,% said +arry &ournfully. %* "onder "hat 0oon kno"s.% %6e)s pro#a#ly got a list of &en he)s suspicious of,% said -atty thoughtfully. %!nd he)s also pro#a#ly got all details of all the #urglaries co&&itted lately. *)d #etter get so&e #ack nu&#ers of the ne"spapers and read the& up. Not that it "ill help us very &uch, really.% There "as a long pause. %1ell,% said Pip, at last. %1hat)s the plan3 1hat are "e going to do3% There si&ply didn)t see& anything to do' !ll they kne" "as that it "as possi#le that the thieves so&eti&es &et in Peters"ood. %* think it "ouldn)t #e a #ad idea for &e to disguise &yself as that old deaf fello", "ho sits on that sunny #ench in the &iddle of the village,% said -atty. %1e kno" he isn)t there in the &ornings, so that "ould #e the ti&e for &e to go and sit there. * &ight #e a#le to spot so&ething suspicious. Men passing notes to one another as they &eetor &aking re&arks in lo" voicesor even sitting on that #ench and talking.% Every one looked dou#tful. *t didn)t see& at all likely, really. Bets guessed that -atty "anted the fun of disguising hi&self again. %7ou had certainly #etter not #e there in the afternoon'% she said. %People "ould #egin to "onder, if they sa" two old fello"s, e(actly alike, sitting on the sa&e #ench'% %7es. 0oon "ould have a fit'% said +arry, and every one laughed. %,on)t you think it "ould #e #etter if you chose so&e other disguise, not disguise yourself like that old fello"3% said Pip. %<ust in case you did #oth "ander along at the sa&e ti&e3 There doesn)t really see& any point in dressing up like that dirty old &an.% %There isn)t, really. * 2ust feel *)d like to, that)s all,% said -atty. %7ou kno", if you)re as good an actor as * a&, there are certain parts or characters that appeal to you &uch &ore than others. * loved #eing that old Balloon "o&anand * shall love to #e that old &an. * can act hi& e(actly right.% 6e gave a realistic sniff and "iped his nose "ith the #ack of his hand. The others laughed, and did not tease hi& over his #oasting of #eing such a good actor. %7ou)re disgusting'% said ,aisy. %,on)t for goodness sake start doing that sort of thing in front of your parents' They)ll have a fit'% -atty got up and ho##led out into the garden, shuffling like the old &an. 6e #ent his #ack and dropped his head. 6e really "as an e(tre&ely good actor. Then he gave another frightful sniff and "iped his nose on his sleeve. ! horrified voice spoke to hi&. %-rederick' 6aven)t you a handkerchief3 1hat disgusting #ehaviour'% !nd there "as Pip)s &other, co&e to fetch the& in to a &eal, as they all see&ed co&pletely deaf to the gong. Poor -atty' 6e "ent red to the ears, and produced an enor&ous handkerchief at once. 6o" the others laughed'

0omething 1ather 2!eer.

1ith, the help of the others, -atty &anaged to get together so&e old clothes very like the old &an on the #ench had "orn. Pip produced a very old gardening hat #elonging to his father. +arry found an old coat hanging in the garage. %*t)s #een there for years, as far as * re&e&#er,% he said. %No#ody ever "ears it. 7ou &ight as "ell have it. *t)s got &ilde" inside the pockets, so #e careful ho" you put your hands in the&'% *t "as easy to get an old shirt and &uffler. -atty produced a torn shirt of his o"n, and found a &uffler do"n in the garden shed, "hich he &ust have left there &onths #efore.

6e dragged the shirt in the dirt, and it "as soon as filthy as the old &an)s. 6e dirtied the &uffler a little &ore too. %1hat a#out the shoes3% he said. %1e "ant frightfully old ones. That old &an)s "ere all cracked open at the toe.% The shoes "ere a real pro#le&. No#ody8s father had shoes as old as that. The children "ondered if they could #uy a pair fro& so&e tra&p, #ut "hen they "ent out to find a tra&p, the only one they &et had perfectly good shoes on. Then ,aisy had a #rain "ave. %+et)s look in all the ditches "e pass'% she said. %There are al"ays old #oots and shoes in ditches, * don)t kno" "hy. 1e &ight find so&e there.% .ure enough they did' +arry ca&e across a dirty, da&p old pair, open at the toes and "ell "orn at the heels. 6e tossed the& to -atty. %1ell, if you think you really do "ant to "ear such horri#le things, there you are' But you)ll have to dry the& or you)ll get a"fully da&p feet, and have a strea&ing cold.% %6e)ll #e a#le to sniffle properly then,% said Bets. .he too had #een practising the old &an)s sniff, &uch to her &other)s annoyance. %*ll put the& under the tank in the hot cup#oard,% said -atty. %They)ll soon dry there. They)ll a#out fit &e. * don)t at all like "earing the&, #ut, after all, if it)s i&portant to solve the Mystery, it)s i&portant to put up "ith little things like this'% The trousers see&ed 4uite i&possi#le to get. No#ody)s father "ore the kind of coarse corduroy that the old &an "ore. 5ould they possi#ly #uy a pair in the village shop and &ake the& torn and dirty for -atty to "ear3 %Better not #uy the& in Peters"ood, in case the ne"s gets round,% said -atty. %* "ouldn)t "ant old 0oon to kno" *)d #ought "ork&an)s corduroyshe)d #e sure to snoop round and find out "hy. 6e)s got &ore #rains lately, so&eho".% %1e)ll "alk across the fields to .heepridge,% said ,aisy. %1e &ight #uy a pair there.% 6alf "ay across the fields Pip gave a shout that &ade every one 2u&p. 6e pointed to an old scarecro" standing forgotten in a field. *t "ore a hat "ithout a #ri&, a ragged coatand a pair of dreadful old corduroy trousers' %<ust "hat "e "ant'% said -atty 2oyfully, and ran to the scarecro". %1e)ll give the& #ack to hi& "hen "e)ve finished "ith the&. 0olly, aren)t they holey3 * hope they)ll hang together on &e.% %*)d #etter give the& a "ash for you,% said ,aisy. %They really are a"ful. *f you "ear your pair of #ro"n flannel shorts under the&, -atty, the holes "on)t sho" up so &uch. There are really too &any to &end.% <oyfully the -ind /uters "ent #ack to +arry)s. ,aisy "ashed the trousers, #ut not &uch dirt ca&e out of the& #ecause the rain had "ashed the& &any a ti&e. Bets couldn)t i&agine ho" -atty could #ear to put on such horrid old clothes. %,uty calls'% said -atty, "ith a grin. %0ot to do all kinds of unpleasant things, Bets, "hen duty calls. !nd a really good detective doesn)t stick at anything.% The ne(t day they held a dress rehearsal and dressed -atty up in the old clothes. 6e had already got a ragged, sandy grey #eard, "hich he had cut &ore or less to the shape of the old &an)s. 6e had shaggy grey eye#ro"s to put on too, and "isps of straggly grey hair to peep out fro& under his hat. 6e &ade hi&self up carefully. 6e put in so&e "rinkles "ith his grease paints, and then scre"ed up his &outh so that it looked as if he hadn)t &any teeth. %/h, -attyyou)re &arvellous'% cried Bets. %* si&ply can)t #ear to look at you, you look so a"ful. ,on)t stare at &e like that' 7ou give &e the creeps' 7ou)re an old, old &an, not -atty at all'% %1assat3% said -atty, putting his hand #ehind his ear. 6e had very dirty hands indeedand this ti&e he had re&e&#ered to #lacken his nails too. 6e really looked appalling. %1hat)s the ti&e3% he asked, for he had taken off his "rist "atch, in case it sho"ed. %/h, t"elve o)clock. 1ell, "hat a#out shuffling off for a snoo$e in the sun, on that #ench3 My dou#le "on)t #e there, #ecause he said he never goes out till the afternoon. 5o&e on. *)ll see if * can play &y part all right'9

%1e)ll all co&e,% said Pip. %But "ell not sit near you. 1ell go and have le&onade in that little s"eetshop opposite the #ench. 1e can keep an eye on you then, and see "hat happens.% -atty, after sending +arry do"n his garden path to the #ack gate, to see if the coast "as clear, shuffled do"n, hoping that no#ody in his house "ould spot hi&. 6e didn)t "ant his &other to get curious a#out the odd old &en and "o&en that see&ed to haunt her #ack entrance. /nce out in the road, the other four children kept near to -atty, #ut not near enough to &ake any one suspect they "ere "ith hi&. 6e shuffled along, dragging his feet, #ent and stooping, his hat "ell do"n over his ears. %6e)s 2ust e3a%tly like that old fello" "e sa"'% "hispered Bets to ,aisy. %*)d never kno" the difference, "ould you3% -atty did a loud sniff and the others grinned. 6e ca&e to the sunny #ench and cautiously sat hi&self do"n, giving a little sigh as he did so. %!aaah'% 6e "as certainly a &arvellous actor. 6e sat there in the sun, #ending over his stick, the very picture of a poor old &an having a rest. The others &ade their "ay to the little le&onade shop, and sat do"n at the ta#le in the "indo" to "atch hi&. <ust as they "ere finishing their le&onade a &an ca&e #y on a #icycle, "histling. 6e "as a perfectly ordinary &an, in a perfectly ordinary suit and cap, "ith a very ordinary face. But, "hen he caught sight of the old &an, he #raked very suddenly indeed, and looked at hi& in so&e astonish&ent. 6e got off his #icycle and "heeled it over to the #ench. 6e leaned it against the seat and sat do"n #y -atty. The children, "atching fro& the shop opposite, "ere surprised and rather alar&ed. 6ad this &an seen so&ething 4ueer a#out -atty)s disguise3 6ad he guessed it "as so&e#ody pretending3 1ould he give -atty a"ay3 -atty, too, felt a little alar&ed. 6e had #een en2oying hi&self thoroughly, getting right %under the skin% of the old &an, as he put it to hi&self. 6e had seen the look of surprise on the &an)s face. No" here he "as sitting #eside hi&. 1hy3 %1hat you out here for, in the &orning3% said the &an suddenly, in a very lo" voice. %Thought you never ca&e till the afternoon. !nything up3 E(pecting any one3% -atty "as taken a#ack to hear this lo" and confidential "hisper. /#viously the &an thought hi& to #e the old fello", and "as a&a$ed to see hi& out in the &orning. But "hat did all the 4uestions &ean3 <ust in ti&e, -atty re&e&#ered that the old &an "as deaf. 6e put his hand to his ear and put his ear to"ards the &an, so that he should not look directly into his face. 6e "as afraid that he &ight #e recogni$ed as a fraud if the &an looked into his eyes. %1assat3% said -atty, in a croaking old voice. %1assat3% The &an gave an i&patient e(cla&ation. %/f coursehe)s deaf'% 6e gave a 4uick look round as if to see if any one "as near. Then so&e#ody else cycled slo"ly #y and the &an sidled a little "ay a"ay fro& -atty, and took out a cigarette to light. The cyclist "as 0oon, perspiring freely in the hot sun. 6e sa" the t"o &en at once, and got off his #icycle. 6e pretended to ad2ust the chain. The four children in the shop "atched hi& "ith interest, hoping that he "ouldn)t go and say anything to -atty. Buster sa" 0oon, and "ith a delighted yelp he tore out of the s"eet shop, and danced round the police&an)s feet. +arry rushed after hi&, afraid that Buster "ould go and lick -atty)s face, and give the sho" a"ay to 0oon. But Buster "as fully engaged "ith the angry police&an, and "as having a perfectly lovely ti&e, dodging kicks, and getting in little snaps and snarls "henever he could. -atty got up hurriedly and shuffled a"ay round the nearest corner "ithout #eing noticed #y Mr. 0oon, "ho "as rapidly losing his te&per. !ll the others, seeing -atty "anted to get a"ay #efore 0oon noticed he "as gone, #egan to 2oin in the fun, pretending to call Buster off, #ut only succeeding in e(citing the little .cottie &ore than ever' 1hen at last Buster "as safely in +arry)s ar&s, and 0oon could look round at the #ench, it "as e&pty' Both the &en had gone. Mr. 0oon looked e(tre&ely angry.

%That there dog'% he said, dusting his trousers do"n violently. %*)ll report hi&, * "ill. *nterfering "ith &e doing &y duty, that)s "hat he did. !nd no" "here are the& t"o fello"s gone3 * "anted to put a fe" 4uestions to the&'% %They)ve disappeared,% said ,aisy. Mr. 0oon did one of his snorts. %No need to tell &e that. *)ve got eyes in &y head, haven)t *3 * &ay have lost a Most *&portant 5lue' .ee3 1here)s that fat #oy that)s al"ays "ith you3 * #et he)s at the #otto& of this'% %6e isn)t here,% said +arry truthfully. %7ou)ll pro#a#ly find hi& at ho&e if you #adly "ant to see hi&, Mr. 0oon.% %* "ouldn)t care if * never set eyes on hi& again, the cheeky toad'% said Mr. 0oon, &ounting his #icycle rather ponderishly and "o##ling a little. %No, nor any of you neither. !s for &at dog'% 6e "as a#out to ride off, "hen he stopped, "o##led again, and spoke to +arry. %1here "ere you 2ust no"3% %*n the s"eet shop, having le&onade,% said +arry. %6o,% said Mr. 0oon. %!nd did you see that old fello" sitting on that #ench3% %7es, "e did,% said +arry. %6e see&ed half asleep and 4uite har&less.% %!nd did you see that other fello" talking to hi&3% de&anded Mr. 0oon. %1ellhe &ay have spoken to hi&. * don)t kno",% said +arry, "ondering "hy the police&an "as asking all these 4uestions. %7ou)d #etter co&e alonga &e,% said Mr. 0oon, at last. %*)& going to call on that old fello", see, and * "ant you to #ack &e up "hen * tell hi& * "ant to kno" a#out the other fello".% The children felt distinctly alar&ed. 1hat' Mr. 0oon "as going to visit the real old &an"ho "ould pro#a#ly #e in #edand ask hi& 4uestions a#out the other &an, "ho& he hadn)t #een there to see' 1hatever "ould the poor old fello" say3 6e "ouldn)t in the least kno" "hat Mr. 0oon "as talking a#out'

,he "irst 4l!e.

%* don)t think "e)ve got ti&e to ...% #egan +arry. But Mr. 0oon pooh poohed hi&. %*t)s &y orders,% he said po&pously. %7ou &ay #e "itnesses. 7ou co&e alonga &e.% .o the children "ent "ith Mr. 0oon, Buster struggling "ildly against the lead to get at the police&an)s ankles. They turned one or t"o co&ers and ca&e to a dirty little pair of cottages at one end of a lane. Mr. 0oon "ent to the first one and knocked. There "as no ans"er at all. 6e knocked again. The children felt unco&forta#le and "ished they "ere at ho&e. No ans"er. Then Mr. 0oon pushed hard at the door and it opened into a roo& that "as plainly half sitting roo& and half #edroo&. *t "as very dirty and s&elt horrid. *n the far corner "as a s&all #ed, piled high "ith dirty #edclothes. *n it, apparently asleep, his grey hairs sho"ing a#ove the #lanket, "as the old &an. 6is clothes "ere on a chair #eside hi&old coat, corduroy trousers, shirt, &uffler, hat, and shoes. %6ey, you'% said Mr. 0oon, &arching in. %No good pretending to #e asleep, see3 * sa" you a fe" &inutes ago in the village street, on the #ench.% The old &an a"oke "ith a 2u&p. 6e see&ed to #e e(tre&ely surprised to see Mr. 0oon in his roo&. 6e sat up and stared at hi&. %1assat3% he said. *t really did see& to #e a#out the only thing he could say. %*t)s no good pretending to #e in #ed and asleep,% roared Mr. 0oon. %7ou "ere on the #ench in the &iddle of the street 2ust no". * sa" you'% %* ain)t #een out of this roo& today'% said the old &an, in a cracked voice. %* al"ays sleeps till dinner, * do.% %7ou don)t,% shouted Mr. 0oon. %7ou didn)t today. !nd * "ant to kno" "hat that fello" said to you "hen he ca&e and sat #eside you on the #ench. No" you tell &e, or it)ll #e the "orse for you'% Bets felt sorry for the old &an. .he hated it "hen Mr. 0oon shouted so. The old fello" looked &ore and &ore pu$$led. %1assat3% he said, going #ack to the "ord he loved. %.ee these children here3% said Mr. 0oon, #eside hi&self "ith annoyance at the old &an)s stupidity. %1ell, they sa" you there too. .peak up no", you kids. 7ou sa" hi&, didn)t you3 %

%1ell,% said +arry, hesitating. %"ell ...% 6e really didn)t kno" "hat to say. 6e kne" 4uite "ell it hadn)t #een the old &an on the #enchand yet ho" could he say so "ithout giving -atty a"ay3 Pip sa" his difficulty and rushed in "ith a fe" clever "ords. %7ou see, Mr. 0oon, it)s difficult to say, isn)t it, #ecause an old &an in #ed and an old &an dressed don)t look a #it the sa&e.% %1ell, look at his clothes then,% said Mr. 0oon, pointing to the clothes. %!ren)t those the very clothes he "as dressed in3% %They &ight not #e,% said Pip. %.orry, Mr. 0oon, #ut "e can)t help you in the &atter.% +arry thought it "as a#out ti&e to go, for Mr. 0oon)s face "as turning a fa&iliar purple. .o he and the others hurriedly "ent #ack up the lane and &ade their "ay to -atty)s, longing to tell hi& all that had happened. They found -atty in the "ood shed at the #otto& of his garden, trying to &ake hi&self a #it respecta#le. !ll his old &an clothes "ere in a sack, ready for use again. 6e "as 2ust s&oothing do"n his hair "hen the others poured in. %* say'% #egan -atty, his eyes #right. %That "as a #it 4ueer, "asn)t it3 * &eanthat &an #eing so surprised to see &eand sitting do"n and saying things to &e. * al&ost forgot * "as deaf and shouldn)t hear the&'% %1hat did he say3% asked Pip, and -atty told hi&. The others listened #reathlessly. %!nd then up co&es 0oon, spots this fello", and &akes an a"ful to do a#out ad2usting his #ike chain, in order to have a good s4uint at the chap,% said +arry. B+ooks suspicious to &e. * &eanit looks as if 0oon kne" the fello" and "anted to kno" "hat he "as up to.% %*s it a clue3% asked Bets eagerly. %7ou and your clues'% said Pip scornfully. %,on)t #e silly, Bets.% %* don)t think she is silly,% said -atty thoughtfully. %* think it is a cluea clue to so&ething that)s going on&ay#e even so&ething to do "ith the Mystery. 7ou kno" "hat the *nspector saidthat it is thought that Peters"ood &ay #e the &eeting place of the thief gangthe place "here &essages are passed on, perhaps, fro& one &e&#er to another.% %!nd perhaps the old &an is the fello" "ho takes the &essages and passes the& on'% cried ,aisy. %/h, -atty' *s he the chief #urglar, do you think3 % %5ourse not,% said -atty. %5an you i&agine a poor fee#le old thing like that doing anything violent3 No, he)s 2ust a convenient &essage #earer, * should think. No#ody "ould ever suspect hi&, sitting out there in the sun, half asleep. *t "ould #e easy enough for any one to go and "hisper anything to hi&.% %But he)s deaf,% o#2ected ,aisy. %.o he is. 1ell then, &ay#e they slip hi& &essages,% said -atty. %0olly* feel "e)re on to so&ething'% %+et)s think,% said +arry. %1e shall get so&e"here, * feel, if "e think'% They all thought. Bets "as so e(cited that not a single sensi#le thought ca&e into her head. *t "as -atty as usual "ho ca&e out "ith everything clear and si&ple. %*)ve got it'% he said. %Pro#a#ly Peters"ood is the head4uarters of the gang, for so&e reason or other, and "hen one &e&#er "ants to get into touch "ith another, they don)t co&&unicate "ith each other directly, "hich "ould #e dangerous, #ut send &essages #y that old fello". !nd, -ind /uters, if * go and sit on that #ench day in and day out, *)ve no dou#t so&e of the &e&#ers of the gang "ill co&e along, sit #y &e, and deliver &essages in so&e "ay, and...% %!nd you)ll learn "ho they are, and "e can tell the *nspector, and hell have the& arrested'% cried Bets, in great e(cite&ent. %1ell, so&ething like that,% said -atty. %The thing isthe old &an al"ays sits there in the afternoon, and that)s really "hen * ought to sit there, #ecause it)s then that any &essages "ill co&e. But ho" can * sit there, if he's there3% %That)s "hy that &an "as so surprised this &orning,% said ,aisy. %6e kne" the old &an never "as there in the &orningsand yet it see&ed as if he "as, this &orning * 6e never guessed it "as you. 7our disguise &ust have #een perfect.%

%*t &ust have #een,% said -atty &odestly. %The thing iscan "e possi#ly stop the old fello" fro& going there in the afternoons3 *f "e could, * could sit on that #ench, and you could all sit in the s"eet shop and "atch.% %1e can)t drink le&onade for hours,% said Bets. %7ou could take it in turn,% said -atty. %The thing is, "e m!st take notice of "hat the &essengers are like, so that "e should recogni$e the& again. * shan)t dare to look at the& too closely, in case they suspect so&ething. .o you "ould have to notice very carefully indeed. * shall take "hatever &essages they pass on to &e, and leave it to you to see e(actly "hat the &en are. * kno" ho" "e could do it too' 1e could go round a corner and toot a hooter' Then 0oon "ould think to hi&self, )6a, hooter on a #ike' May#e the &an * "ant') and go scooting round the corner.% %7es, that)s 4uite "ell "orked out,% said -atty. %The thing is0oon .pro#a#ly hasn)t noticed the hooter on the &an)s #ike.% %1ell, tell hi& then,% said +arry. %6ell #e a"fully #ucked at that. +et)s go and tell hi& no".% %5o&e on then. 1ell go and look for hi&,% said -atty. But 2ust then +arry looked at his "atch and gave an e(cla&ation. %0olly' 1e)ll #e frightf!lly late for lunch * 1ell have to tell 0oon this afternoon.% %* "ill,% said -atty. %.ee you later'% That afternoon Mr. 0oon, en2oying a #rief afternoon dinner nap, "as surprised to see -atty co&ing in at the door, and even &ore surprised "hen the #oy presented his #it of infor&ation a#out the hooter on the #icycle. %* don)t kno" if it "ill #e of any use to you, Mr. 0oon,% he said, earnestly. %But "e thought you ought to kno". !fter all, it)s a clue, isn)t it3% %6o' ! clue to "hat3% de&anded Mr. 0oon. %7ou aren)t interfering again, are you3 !nd any"ay, * noticed that there hooter &yself. !nd if * hear it tooting, *)ll soon #e after the cyclist.% %1hat do you "ant hi& for3% asked -atty innocently. Mr. 0oon stared at hi& suspiciously. %Never you &ind. !nd look here, ho" is it you kno" all a#out this here hooter, "hen you "asn)t "ith the others3 7ou tell &e that.% %/h, they told &e,% said -atty. %*)& afraid you)re angry "ith &e for trying to give you a clue, Mr. 0oon. *)& sorry. * didn)t kno" you had already noticed the hooter. * "on)t trou#le you "ith any of our infor&ation again.% %No" look here, there)s no har& in ...% #egan Mr. 0oon, afraid that perhaps -atty &ight "ithhold further infor&ation that &ight really #e of use. But -atty "as gone. 6e visited a shop on the "ay ho&e and #ought a very nice little ru##er hooter. Mr. 0oon "as going to hear it 4uite a lot' *n fact, he heard it a fe" &inutes later, 2ust outside his "indo", as he "as finishing his nap. 6e shot upright at once, and raced to the door. But there "as no cyclist to #e seen. 6e "ent #ack slo"lyand the hooter sounded again. ,rat it' 1here "as it3 6e looked up and do"n the road once &ore #ut there really "as no sign of a #icycle. There "as only a #oy a good "ay do"n, sauntering along. But he hadn)t a #icycle. 6e had a hooter, though, under his coat, and his na&e "as -atty'

"atty #eli*ers $is Message.

The ne(t afternoon -atty did not dress up as the old &an, #ut instead, put on his Balloon "o&an)s petticoats and sha"ls again. The others "atched hi&, do"n in the shed at the #otto& of -atty)s garden. Bets thought she could "atch hi& for days on end, &aking hi&self up as different people. There "as no dou#t at all that -atty had a perfect gift for dressing up and acting. %*)ll go and sit on the seat #eside the old &an,% said -atty. %6e)s sure to #e there this afternoon, "aiting for any possi#le &essagesand you can snoop round and see if 0oon is any"here a#out. *f he isn)t, *)ll take the chance of telling the old &an not to appear for a fe" afternoons as the police are "atching. That should &ake hi& scuttle a"ay all right if he)s in "ith the %*8ll co&e and #uy another #alloon fro& you,% said Bets eagerly. %That "ill &ake it all see& real.% %/h, it)ll #e real enough,% said -atty. %!ll * hope is that 0oon "on)t co&e and ask &e for &y licence again.%

%6e "on)t, if you are sitting in the &iddle of the village street, and he thinks you)ve got to hunt all through your petticoats for it, and &ake hi& look silly,% said +arry. %6e can)t #ear to #e &ade to look silly. !nd any"ay, he "on)t "ant to dra" attention to hi&self if he)s "atching for any possi#le gang &e&#ers. 6e "on)t think yo!'re one.% %=uite right,% said -atty. %1ell reasoned out, +arry. No"a& * ready3% %7ou look si&ply &arvellous,% said Bets ad&iringly. %7ou really do. * can)t think ho" you &anage to &ake your face go so different, -atty. *t doesn)t look a #it like you.% %/h, * practise in front of a &irror,% said -atty. %!nd %*)ve got so&e &arvellous #ooks a#out it. !nd, of course, *)ve got the giftyou see...% %/h, shut up, -atty,% said +arry good hu&ouredly. %1e all kno" you)re &arvellous, "ithout yo! telling us'% The Balloon "o&an suddenly scre"ed up her face, and her &outh "ent do"n at the corners in a &ost pathetic &anner. .he fished out a #ig red handkerchief, decidedly dirty, and #egan to "eep &ost realistically. %,on)t #e so unkind to &e,% she "ept, and the others roared "ith laughter. -atty peeped out at the& fro& the corner of his hanky. %! pore old "o&an like &e'% he "ept. %.leeping out under hedges at night...% %1ith layers of petticoats to keep you "ar&'% chuckled +arry. Then he stopped and looked 4uickly out of the "indo" of the shed. %=uick' There)s your &other, -atty. 1hat shall "e do3% There "asn)t ti&e to do anything. Mrs. Trotteville "as even then looking in at the door. .he had co&e to speak to the children, #ut "hen she sa" the old Balloon "o&an, she "as very &uch astonished. %1hat are you doing here3% she asked sharply. %* sa" you going do"n the garden path the other day.% Bets spoke up #efore -atty could ans"er. %.he sells lovely #alloons,% she said. %* "ant to #uy one, Mrs. Trotteville.% %There)s a#solutely no need to #uy one in the garden shed,% said Mrs. Trotteville. %7ou can #uy one in the street. * don)t "ant pedlars or tra&ps in the garden. * a& surprised that Buster did not #ark.% Buster "as there, of course, sitting at the Balloon "o&an)s feet. 6e looked as if she "as his #est friendas indeed she "as, if only Mrs. Trotteville had kno"n it. %1here)s -rederick3% asked Mrs. Trotteville, looking all round for -atty. %Ernot far a"ay,% said +arry truthfully. %Ershall * go and look for hi&, Mrs. Trotteville3 % %/h no. * suppose you are all "aiting for hi&,% said Mrs. Trotteville, %1ell, *)& afraid this "o&an and her #alloons &ust goand please do not co&e into the garden again'% %No, Mu&,% said the Balloon "o&an, and #o##ed a funny little curtsey that nearly sent Bets into fits of laughter. They all "ent out of the shed and up the path to the front gate. %That "as a narro" s4ueak,% said +arry, "hen they "ere safely out in the road. %Narro" s4ueaks are e(citing' % said Pip. They &ade their "ay to the &ain street of the village. There, on the sunny #ench, "as the old &an as usual, #ent over his stick, looking half asleep. %*)ll go and sit do"n #y hi&,% said -atty, s"inging his volu&inous skirts out around hi& as he "alked. %7ou "alk #ehind &e no", and keep a "atch out for 0oon. Bets can tell &e if he)s any"here a#out "hen she co&es to #uy a #alloon. 7ou can all go and have le&onade in that shop, to #egin "ith.% The Balloon "o&an sat do"n on the #ench "ith her #unch of gay #alloons. The old &an at the end of the seat took no notice of her at all. The #alloons #o##ed in the "ind, and passers #y looked at the& "ith pleasure. ! &other stopped to #uy one for her #a#y, and the four "atching children giggled as they sa" -atty #end over the #a#y in the pra& and tickle its cheek. %6o" does he kno" ho" to do things like that3% chuckled +arry. %*)d never think of those things.% %But it)s those little touches that &ake his disguises so real,% said ,aisy, in ad&iration. They "ent into the le&onade shop and sat do"n to have a drink. ! &an "as sitting at a ta#le near#y, lost in a #ig ne"spaper. +arry glanced at hi&, and then gave Pip a kick under the ta#le. Pip looked up and +arry "inked at hi&, and nodded his head slightly to"ards the &an.

The others lookedand there "as old 5lear /rf, in plain clothes, pretending to read a ne"spaper, and keeping an eye on the #ench across the road, 2ust as they too intended to do' %0ood &orning, Mr. 0oon,% said +arry politely. %6aving a day off3% Mr. 0oon grunted #ad te&peredly. Those children again' They see&ed to turn up every"here. %7ou having a le&onade too3% said Pip. %6ave one "ith us, Mr. 0oon. ,o.% Mr. 0oon grunted again, and returned to his ne"spaper. 6e "as in plain clothes and looked rather strange. The children couldn)t re&e&#er ever having seen hi& in anything #ut his rather tight fitting unifor& #efore. 6e "ore flannel trousers, a crea& shirt open at the neck, and a #elt that he had pulled too tight. Bets thought he didn)t look like Mr. 0oon at all. .he finished her le&onade. %*)& going to #uy a #alloon,% she said. %The one * #ought at the -air has gone pop. /rder &e an ice, Pip, and *)ll #e #ack to have it soon. 1e are all going to have ices, aren)t "e3% %1here)s that fat #oy3% asked Mr. 0oon, as Bets got up. %-at #oy3 1hat fat #oy3% said +arry at once, pretending to #e pu$$led. Mr. 0oon gave a snort. %That #oy -rederick. -atty, you call hi&. 7ou kno" 4uite "ell "ho * &ean. ,on)t act so daft.% %/h, "atty! 6e)s not far off,% said +arry. %,o you "ant to see hi&3 *)ll tell hi&, if you like.% %I don)t "ant to see hi&,% said Mr. 0oon. %But * kno" he)s al"ays up to so&ething. 1hat)s he up to no"3% )Is he up to so&ething no"3% said +arry, a surprised look on his face. %6o" &ean of hi& not to tell us'% Bets giggled and "ent out. .he crossed the road to "here the old Balloon "o&an sat, her skirts al&ost filling half of the #ench. %May * have a #lue #alloon, please3% she said. .he #ent over the #unch of #alloons and "hispered to -atty. %Mr. 0oon is in the le&onade shopin plain clothes. 6e looks so funny. * think he)s "atching the old &an. 7ou)ll have to "atch till you see Mr. 0oon go off, and then give your &essage.% %6ave this #alloon, little Miss'% said the Balloon "o&an, "inking at Bets to sho" that her &essage had #een heard. %This is a fine strong one. +ast you for "eeks'% Bets paid for it, and "ent #ack to the shop. +arry had 2ust ordered ices. 6e raised his eye#ro"s at Bets to ask her if she had delivered the &essage all right. .he nodded. They #egan to eat their ices slo"ly, "ondering if the police&an &eant to stay in the shop all the afternoon. They had al&ost finished their ices "hen the telephone "ent at the #ack of the shop. The shop "o&an ans"ered it. %-or you, please, Mr. 0oon,% she said. Mr. 0oon got up, "ent to the dark corner at the #ack of the shop, and listened to "hat lie telephone had to say. +arry took a look at hi&. 0oon could not possi#ly see across the street to the #ench fro& "here he stood. No" "ould #e -atty)s chance to give his &essage to the old &an' %*t)s hot in here,% said +arry, suddenly standing up. %*)& going out for a #reath of air. 7ou co&e "hen you)ve finished your ices.% 6e "ent out of the shop and shot across to the #ench. 6e sat do"n #eside the Balloon "o&an. %0oon)s telephoning,% he said. %No")s your chance. 6e can)t see across the street fro& "here the telephone is.% %:ight,% said -atty. 6e &oved nearer to the old &an and nudged hi&. The old fello" looked round at once. -atty slipped a note to hi& and then &oved #ack to his end of the #ench. The old &an deftly pocketed the note and sat for a fe" &inutes &ore. Then, "ith a grant, he got up and shuffled off round the corner. +arry follo"ed hi&, at a sign fro& -atty. !s soon as he "as safely round the corner the old fello" opened the slip of paper and looked at it. Then he took a &atch, lighted the paper, and let it drop to the ground, "here it #urnt a"ay. 6e did not go #ack to his #ench. *nstead, he shuffled off in the direction of his ho&e. +arry "ent #ack to the #ench and stood #eside the old Balloon "o&an, pretending to choose a #alloon. %,id he read the note3% said -atty, in a lo" voice. %7es. !nd he)s gone off ho&e no", * think,% said +arry. %1hat did you put in the note3% %* 2ust put that he)d #etter not co&e to this seat for three afternoons as the police "ere "atching it,% said -atty. %6e)ll think it "as fro& a &e&#er of the gang, * e(pect. 6e "ill think they)d asked &e to pass the

&essage to hi&, as they "ouldn)t "ant to #e seen doing it the&selves, if the seat "as "atched. 1ell, let)s hope "e)ve got hi& out of the "ay for a fe" days'% %*)ll have this #alloon,% said +arry, as so&e people passed. %6o" &uch3% Taking the #alloon "ith hi&, he "ent #ack to the door of the shop. Mr. 0oon "as still telephoning. 0ood' The others got up and "ent out. They all sauntered do"n the road, thinking ho" cross Mr. 0oon "ould #e "hen he stopped telephoning and found that the old &an "as gone. The Balloon "o&an "ent too. *t had #een decided that she should go to Pip)s garden, in case Mrs. Trotteville, -atty)s &other, should spot her again, going do"n her garden path, and &ake trou#le. Pip)s &other "as out for the day, so it "ould #e safe for -atty to go there and change #ack to hi&self. .oon all the -ind /uters, and Buster, "ere in Pip)s su&&er house. -atty changed as 4uickly as he could. %* shan)t use this disguise &ore than * can help,% he said, pushing all the petticoats and skirts into the sack he kept the& in. %*t)s too hot. * shall get as thin as a rake if * keep getting so &elting hot'% %/h, don)t do that'% said Bets, in alar&. %7ou "ouldn)t #e -atty any &ore, if you "ere thin. !nd * do like you 2ust e(actly as you are'%

5*erybody #oes 0omething.

Plans "ere laid for the ne(t fe" days. %These &ay #e very i&portant days,% said -atty. %1e &ay #e a#le to learn a lotright under 0oon)s nose, too, if he)s going to do this "atch dog act of his'% %1hat e(actly are "e going to do3% said ,aisy, thrilled. %7ou)re going to disguise yourself as that old &an, "e kno", and take his place, hoping for a &essage fro& one of the gang. But "hat are we to do3 1e &ust have so&ething interesting so that "e can do our share as -ind /uters.% %1oof,% said Buster. %6e "ants a 2o# too,% said Bets, "ith a laugh. %Poor Buster' 6e can)t understand "hy you have to dress up as so&e#ody different, -atty. 7ou don)t look or sound the sa&e to hi&you only smell the sa&e. !nd "hen you go out as the Balloon "o&an or the old &an, "e have to lock Buster up and leave hi& #ehind, and he hates that.% %Poor old Buster ,og,% said -atty, and at once Buster rolled hi&self over on his #ack to #e tickled. 6is tongue ca&e out, and his tail "agged so violently that it "agged his "hole #ody and &ade it shake fro& end to end. %No",% said -atty, taking out his note #ook and opening it. %+et)s 2ust have a look at "hat "e kno". Then "e)ll &ake our plansand you shall each have so&ething to do.% %0ood,% said +arry. %* kno" you)ve got to do all the i&portant "ork, -atty, #ecause you really are a #orn detective#ut "e do "ant so&ething as "ell.% %1e don)t kno" very &uch yet,% said -atty, looking at his notes. %1e kno" that 0oon is "atching the old &an #ecause he suspects "hat "e dothat he receives &essages to pass onand "e feel certain that for so&e reason or other the head4uarters are here in Peters "ood. 1e have also seen one of the &e&#ers of the gangthe fello" "ith a hooter on his #ike#ut that)s a#out all "e do kno".% %*t)s not very &uch,% said +arry. %Not a scrap &ore than "e kne" the other day.% %1e also kno" that the old fello" is likely to keep a"ay fro& that seat for a "hile,% said -atty. %0oon doesn)t kno" that. 1e)re ahead of hi& there. .e kno" that the old &an "ho "ill #e sitting on the #ench this afternoon, and to&orro" and pro#a#ly the ne(t day too, "ill #e meand not that old fello".% %7es, that)s one up to us,% said Pip. %No",% said -atty, shutting his note #ook and looking round, %to&orro" afternoonin fact, each afternoon that * sit out on that #ench, one or &ore of you &ust #e in that s"eet shop, "atching carefully to see if any one gives &e a &essageand it)s your 2o# to notice every single detail a#out hi& very carefully indeed. .ee3 That)s &ost i&portant.% %:ight,% said +arry. %!nd the other thing for you -ind /uters to do is to try and discover "hich cyclists have hooters on their #ikes, instead of #ells,% said -atty. %*t "ould #e a help if "e could discover "ho that &an "as that ca&e and

spoke to &e on the #ench the other &orning. 1e could "atch hi&, and find out "ho his friends "ere, for instance.% %* don)t see ho" "e can possi#ly find out "ho has a hooter on his #icycle,% said Pip. %1e can)t go and look into every one)s #icycle sheds'% %7ou could go to the shop that sells hooters and get into talk "ith the shopkeeper, and ask hi& if he sells &any hooters, and &ay#e even get hi& to tell you the na&es of the #uyers,% said -atty. %/h yes,% said Pip. %* hadn)t thought of that.% %* thought of it the other day "hen * "ent to #uy that hooter,% said -atty. %But * hadn)t ti&e to talk to the &an then"ell, actually it)s a #oy in the shop * "ent to. * should think he)d love to have a good old 2a" "ith you.% %*)d like to go and talk to hi&,% said Bets. %1ith ,aisy.% %7ou and ,aisy and Pip can go, if you like,% said +arry. %!nd *8ll "atch the seat fro& the s"eet shop. Then, "hen you co&e #ack "ith all the infor&ation you can get you can take your turn at sitting in the shop and having le&onade, and *)ll go and try and find out so&ething else.% %Buster can go "ith the ones "ho are going to the hooter shop,% said -atty. %But he &ustn)t go to the s"eet shop. 6e "ould s&ell &e all across the road, and co&e #ounding out, #arking. 0oon "ould soon think there "as so&ething funny a#out Buster &aking up to a dirty old &an'% The ne(t afternoon +arry "ent out to the s"eet shop opposite the #ench, and ordered a le&onade. Mr. 0oon "as there again, reading his ne"spaper. 6e "as once &ore in plain clothes, and he sco"led at +arry "hen he ca&e in. %1hy, Mr. 0oon' 6ere again'% said +arry, pretending to #e &ost surprised. %7ou are having a nice holiday' ,o you spend all your ti&e in here3% Mr. 0oon took a#solutely no notice. 6e felt very angry. 6ere "as he, forced to spend his afternoons in a hot, s&elly, little shop, "atching a #ench out there in the sunand he couldn)t even have peace' Those children had got to co&e and poke fun at hi&. Mr. 0oon eyed +arry)s #ack gri&ly, and thought of all the things he "ould like to do to hi& and the other -ind /uters. Then Mr. 0oon straightened up a little, for the old &an "as co&ing shuffling along to his #ench. +arry "atched hi&. 6e kne" it "as -atty, of course, #ut Mr. 0oon didn)t. +arry &arvelled at the "ay -atty lo"ered hi&self slo"ly do"n on to the #ench. That "as 2ust e(actly the "ay #ent old people did sit do"n' -atty never &ade a &istake in his acting. -atty took out a pipe and #egan slo"ly to fill it. Then he coughed. *t "as a horri#le, hollo" cough, and #ent hi& dou#le. +arry grinned. The cough "as ne". 6e supposed -atty &ust have heard the old &an, and had practised the cough till it "as 4uite perfect. The old &an put his pipe a"ay "ithout s&oking it. Evidently he "as afraid of its &aking hi& cough too &uch * +arry turned to Mr. 0oon. %There)s that old &an you &ade us go and see the other day, Mr. 0oon. -unny a#out hi&, "asn)t it3 ,id you ever find out "hat you "anted to kno"3% Mr. 0oon again took no notice, #ut rustled the paper noisily. +arry "inked at the shop "o&an. %Must have got a cold,% he said sy&pathetically. %0one 4uite deaf'% %No", you look )ere'% said Mr. 0oon, going red and rising 4uite suddenly, %if you don)t...% But 2ust then t"o &en ca&e along, stopped #y the #ench and sat do"n. !t once Mr. 0oon su#sided, and #egan to "atch the &en "ith &uch concentration. .o did +arry. 1ere they going to pass a &essage to -atty3 The &en had papers. They opened the& and #egan to discuss so&ething. /ne of the& lighted a pipe. They stayed there for 4uite a ti&e, #ut neither 0oon nor +arry could spot any &essage #eing given or received. The old fello" at the end of the #ench still leaned over his stick, his head nodding occasionally. Then he sat upright, gave a loud sniff and "iped the #ack of his hand across his nose. +arry "as a&used to

see the t"o &en give hi& a disgusted look. They folded their ne"spapers, got up, and, still talking, "alked off do"n the street. Mr. 0oon leaned #ack and "rote do"n a fe" notes. +arry "ondered if he thought they "ere the &e&#ers of the gang. 6e "as certain they "eren)t. -or one thing he "as sure that one of the& "as a friend of his father)s. +arry #egan to #e #ored. 6e had finished his le&onade. 6e really didn)t "ant another, and he felt that he couldn)t possi#ly eat an ice at that &o&ent. The shop "o&an ca&e up to hi&. %!nything else, sir3% she asked. +arry said no thank you. %1ell, you go, then,% said Mr. 0oon)s voice. %No need for you to hang a#out here if you)ve finished your everlasting le&onade, see3% This "as a"k"ard. +arry "as supposed to "atch the #ench and -atty until the others ca&e #ack. 6e couldn)t very "ell leave his post. But 2ust at that &o&ent the others did co&e #ack * They clattered in, chattering. +arry stood up at once. %6allo, you others' *)& glad you)ve co&e for &e. * suppose Pip "ants to stay and have a le&onade as usual. 1ell, you girls and * "ill go and leave hi& gu$$ling'% -or a "onder even Bets sensed that +arry "anted to leave only one of the& #ehind. .o the girls "ent off "ith +arry, and left Pip to seat hi&self at the "indo" ta#le, "ith a glo"ering Mr. 0oon near#y. 1as he ne*er going to get rid of these children' +arry took the girls off, and "hen they "ere safely round the corner, he told the& ho" Mr. 0oon had ordered hi& to go. %.o * thought "e)d #etter only 2ust leave Pip #ehind,% he said, %and then that still leaves t"o &ore of us to go in singly and drink le&onade or eat ices. * think 0oon is getting suspicious of us'9 %+arry' 1e had a &ost interesting ti&e at the shop "here the hooters are sold,% said Bets. %+isten'% .he told +arry all a#out it. .he and Pip and ,aisy had gone into the shop, "hich sold #icycles, tyres, pu&ps, #ells, hooters, torches, toys, pra&s, and &any other things. There "as a cheeky looking #oy in charge. %!fternoon,% he said, "hen they all trooped in. %!nd "hat &ay * do for yo!! 1ant a pra&, perhaps3% Bets giggled. %No,% she said. %1e "ant a hooter. My #ell isn)t very good, and * thought a hooter "ould &ake 4uite a change.% %1ell, you)re lucky,% said the #oy, going over to a shelf and getting do"n a ru##er hooter. %1e only had these in last "eek. -irst "e)ve had for &onths'% The children tried it. *t hooted very nicely indeed. Parp parp' Parp parp' %,o you sell &any3% asked Pip, "hilst the t"o girls a&#led round the shop, pretending to look at everything. %/nly sold three this "eek,% said the #oy. %!ll to cyclists3% asked Pip. %6o" should * kno"3% said the #oy. %The custo&ers don)t "heel their #ikes into the shop "ith the&'% Pip didn)t 4uite kno" "hat to say ne(t. 6e 2oined the girls, and they all e(a&ined the contents of the rather interesting shop. %7ou)ve got an a"ful lot of things here,% said ,aisy. %,o you re&e&#er all the prices and everything3% % )5ourse. *)ve got a good &e&ory,% said the #oy. %!t the end of the day * re&e&#er every #lessed thing *)ve sold'% %0racious'% said ,aisy ad&iringly. %* #et you don)t re&e&#er every custo&er too'% %/h yes, * do,% said the #oy proudly. %Never forget a thing, * don)t'% %1ell* #et you don)t re&e&#er the custo&ers "ho #ought the three hooters'% said ,aisy, 4uick as a flash. Pip and Bets thought ho" clever she "as' % )5ouse * do,% said the #oy. %/ne "as the fello" that lives do"n the road at ?osy ?ot. The second one "as a fello" "ith rather 4ueer eyesone #lue and one #ro"n* don)t kno" his na&e and never sa" hi& #efore. But *)d kno" hi& again all right. !nd the third one "as a fat #oy "ho see&ed in a #it of a hurry.% %That "as -atty,% thought the three children. ,aisy s&iled at the shop #oy. %1hat a &e&ory you)ve got'% she said. %7ou really are a &arvel. 1ell, "e &ust #e going. 0ot your hooter, Bets3 1ell, co&e on, then'% They hurried out of the shop, re2oicing. The &an at ?osy ?otand a &an "ith odd eyes. They &ight #e 5lues, they really &ight'

6ooking "or More 4l!es.

Pip "as having a #oring ti&e in the s"eet shop. There "as nothing to see outside, e(cept the old &an on the #ench. No#ody "ent near hi& at all. Mr. 0oon #reathed heavily #ehind Pip, evidently finding the shop a very hot place to #e in on this #la$ing day. Pip &ade his le&onade last out a long ti&e and then, to Mr. 0oon)s annoyance, asked for an ice. %7ou children see& to live here,% said Mr. 0oon, at last. %7ou see& to, as "ell,% said Pip. %Nice shop, isn)t it3% Mr. 0oon didn)t think so at all. 6e "as sick and tired of the shop#ut it "as the #est place to "atch that old &an fro&, no dou#t a#out that' %7ou look hot,% said Pip sy&pathetically. %1hy don)t you go for a ro" on the river, Mr. 0oon3 *t "ould #e cool there. .ee&s a pity to spend all your holiday cooped up here.% Mr. 0oon gave one of his snorts. 6e "asn)t on holiday. 6e "as on a case, a &ost i&portant case. !nd for reasons of his o"n he had to "ear plain clothes. But he couldn)t e(plain all that to this irritating #oy. Mr. 0oon "ished Pip "as a &os4uito. Then he "ould slap at hi&, and finish hi& off. Bets ca&e in ne(t, and Pip "as very glad to see her. %0oing to have an ice3% he said. %1ell, sorry * can)t "ait "ith you, Bets. .o long'% 6e "ent out and, to Mr. 0oon)s annoyance, yet another of those children, Bets this ti&e, settled do"n at the "indo" ta#le, o#viously intending to #e there for so&e ti&e. Bets "as afraid of the police&an, so she kept her #ack to hi& and said nothing at all, #ut kept a sharp eye on the old &an opposite on the #ench. .he thought ho" #ored poor -atty &ust #e' -atty had a coughing fit, and Bets "atched in alar&. The cough see&ed so very real that she felt sure poor -atty &ust #e getting a terri#le cold. Then -atty had a fit of the sniffles, and hunted all over hi&self for a handkerchief, at last producing a violent red one. Then he got up and ho##led round a #it, as if he had got stiff "ith sitting. No#ody in the "orld "ould have guessed he "as anything #ut a poor, stiff old &an. Bets en2oyed the perfor&ance i&&ensely. .he kne" that -atty "as putting it on for her #enefit. -atty liked little Bets) ad&iration, and he "as pondering "hether or not he should actually light the pipe he had filled, and try s&oking it. That "ould send Bets into fits' But he didn)t dare to. 6e had tried already and it had &ade hi& feel very sick. .o he contented hi&self "ith putting the filled pipe in his &outh unlighted, and keeping it there. !ll the -ind /uters "ere glad "hen that day "as over. *t really #egan to #e very #oring, taking turns at sitting in the s"eet shop, and "atching for so&ething that didn)t happen. !s for -atty, he "as terri#ly #ored. %To&orro" *)& going to supply &yself "ith plenty of ne"spapers to read,% he said. %* si&ply can)t spend hours filling pipes and coughing and sniffing. !nd all for nothing too. Not a soul passed &e a &essage or anything.% %1e found out so&ething interesting at the hooter shop, though,% said Bets, and she told -atty a#out the t"o &en "ho had #ought hooters that "eek. %/ne "ho lives at ?osy ?ot, and one &an "ith odd eyes,% she said. %The #oy didn)t kno" "here he lived. !nd the third person "ho #ought a hooter "as you, of course.% %6as that shop only sold three hooters all these &onths, then3% said -atty, surprised. %1ell, they)ve only 2ust got the& in,% said Pip.% %That)s "hy. .o, if that fello" "ho spoke to you the other day on the #ench is a &e&#er of the gang, he)s either living at ?osy ?otor he)s "andering a#out so&e"here "ith odd eyesone #lue and one #ro"n'% %1e)d #etter try ?osy ?ot first,% said -atty, pleased. %7ou did "ell, -ind /uters. 6o" did you get all this infor&ation3% %1ell, ,aisy did, really,% said Pip and he told -atty ho" it had happened. -atty #anged ,aisy on the #ack. %<olly good,% he said. %@ery 4uick "itted. No""ho)s going to tackle ?osy ?ot3% %*sn)t it a frightful na&e3% said Pip. %1hy do people choose na&es like that3 5an)t "e go do"n into the village and find it to&orro" &orning3 *t)s too late no".%

%:ight,% said -atty. %1e "ill. * shan)t have to &as4uerade as that old fello" till the afternoon, so * can co&e "ith you. Meet at Pip)s to&orro" &orning, ten o)clock sharp.% .o, at ten o)clock, they "ere all there, Buster too. They set off to find ?osy ?ot. They &et a post&an and he told the& "here it "as. They soon found it. *t "as a little #ungalo" set in a tri& little garden. !t the #ack "as a shed. %* #et that)s "here they keep the #icycles,% said -atty. %No"ho" can "e get a peep inside3% %* kno"'% said Pip. %*)ve got a #all. * could chuck it into the garden, and then "e could go and ask if "e &ight get it #ackand you could peep into the shed, -atty. *f a #ike is there "ith a hooter on, "e)ll "ait a#out for the &an "ho lives here, and see if "e recogni$e hi& as the one "ho spoke to you, and had a #ike "ith a hooter. 1e &ight recogni$e the #ike too, if "e see it.% This see&ed a good and si&ple plan. .o Pip proceeded to carry it out. 6e thre" the #all "ildly, and it fle" into the garden of ?osy ?ot, actually hitting against the #icycle shed. %Blo"'% said Pip loudly. %My #all)s gone into that garden.% %1e)ll go and ask if "e &ay get it,% said ,aisy. .o into the gate they "ent and up to the front door. ! "o&an opened it. %Please, our #all has gone into your garden,% said Pip. %May "e get it3% %7es, #ut don)t tread on any of the #eds,% said the "o&an, and shut the door. The children "ent round to the #ack of the house. To their annoyance they sa" a &an there, digging. 6e stared at the&. %1hat do you kids "ant3 % %/he(cuse us, please, #ut your "ife said "e &ight co&e and get our #all,% said -atty, politely. %* hope you don)t &ind.% %1ell, get it, then,% said the &an, and "ent on digging. -atty &ade for the shed and pretended to hunt round a#out. The door "as open and he looked inside. *t "as full of garden tools and old sacks#ut there "as no #ike there at all. 6o" annoying' %6aven)t you found it3% said the &an, and ca&e over to look too. Then -atty gave an e(cla&ation and picked up the #all. 6e looked at the neat little shed. %>seful sheds those, aren)t they3% he said. %<olly good for #ikes. 1ish * had one like that.% %/h, * don)t use it for #ikes,% said the &an. %1e haven)t any. * use it for &y garden tools.% %/h,% said -atty. %1ellthank you for letting us get our #all. 1e)ll #e going no".% They "ent out into the road and crossed over to talk. %6asn)t got a #ike' But that #oy at the shop distinctly said that the &an at ?osy ?ot #ought a hooter,% said Bets indignantly. %6e m!st have got a #ike. 1hy should he pretend he hasn)t got one3 % %*t)s a #it suspicious,% said Pip. They "alked on, pu$$led. .uddenly, round the corner, they heard the noise of a hooter' Parp parp' Parp parp' The children clutched at one another, thrilled. ! hooter' Perhaps it #elonged to tihe &an "ith odd eyes' Perhaps it "ould #e his #icycle co&ing round the corner! But, round the corner, ridden at a tre&endous pace, ca&e a child on a tricycle. 6e ran right into -atty, "ho gave a yell, and hopped round on one leg, holding his right foot in his hand. %7ou little idiot' 1hat did you co&e round the corner like that for3% yelled -atty. %1ell, * hooted'% said the little #oy indignantly. %,idn)t you hear &e3 * hooted like this.% !nd he pressed the ru##er hooter on his tricycle and it parp parped loudly. %*t)s a ne" hooter,% he said. %My ,addy #ought it for &e. 7ou should have got out of the "ay "hen you heard &e co&ing round the co&er.% %1e "eren)t e(pecting a tricycle,% said Pip. %1e thought the hooter "as on a #ike, co&ing along the road, not on the pave&ent.% %1ell, *)& sorry,% said the little #oy, #eginning to pedal again. %But * did hoot. * hoot at every corner. +ike this.% Parp parp "ent the hooter and the five children "atched the little #oy pedal s"iftly do"n the pave&ent then cross the road, and disappear into the gate of ?osy ?ot. %* feel like saying )0ah')% said poor -atty. %1asting our ti&e looking for a hooter that)s on a child)s tricycle and getting &y foot run over'% %Never &ind,% said Bets consolingly. %7ou)ll #e a#le really to li&p this afternoon, "hen you)re the old &an again.%

They all "ent #ack to Pip)s. *t didn)t see& any use trying to find the o"ner of the other hooter. They couldn)t possi#ly go round looking at every one in Peters"ood to see "ho had odd eyes. *t "as very disappointing a#out the tricycle. %* think this is a very slow sort of &ystery,% said Bets. %*t "ill #e ti&e to go #ack to school again #efore "e)ve even beg!n to solve it'% %1hat)s the date3% said Pip. %+et &e seeit &ust #e the seventh of .epte&#erno, the eighth. 0racious, "e really haven)t &uch &ore ti&e'% %Perhaps so&ething "ill happen soon,% said +arry hopefully. %7ou kno" ho" so&eti&es things sort of #oil up and get terri#ly e(citing all of a sudden.% %1ell, it)s ti&e this one did,% said -atty. %*t)s #een in the refrigerator long enough'% Every one laughed. %* "ouldn)t &ind sitting in a frig &yself,% said ,aisy. %+et)s get our #athing things and go and #athe in the river. *)& so a"fully hot.% .o do"n to the river they "ent, and "ere soon splashing a#out happily. -atty, of course, "as a very fine s"i&&er, and could s"i& right across the river and #ack. Bets splashed happily in the shallo" "ater. The others s"a& a#out la$ily 2ust out of their depth. Bets thought she "ould s"i& out to the&. .o off she "ent, striking out valiantly. .he didn)t see a punt co&ing s&oothly through the "ater, and #efore she could save herself, she felt a sharp #lo" on her shoulder, and screa&ed. The punt slid on, una#le to stop, #ut a #oat follo"ing #ehind, s"ung round, and a &an caught hold of her and held her. %7ou)re all right, aren)t you3% he said, #ending over her. %5an you s"i&3% %7es,% gasped Bets, striking out again. %-atty' -atty' 5o&e here 4uickly'% The others s"a& over to the frightened little girl. They helped her to the shore and she ga$ed after the distant #oat, and gulped. %/h,% she said, %oh, *)ve &issed the &ost "onderful 5lue' But * couldn)t help it' /h, -atty, the &an in that #oat had odd eyesone #lue and one #ro"n. * couldn)t help noticing the& "hen he caught hold of &y shoulder. !nd no" the #oat is goneand * never even noticed its na&e'% %/h, -ets!% said every one, and Bets looked ready to cry. %,idn)t you notice "hat colour it "as, or anything3% asked +arry. Bets shook her head. %No* suppose * "as too frightened. /h, *)& so sorry. *t "as such a "onderful 5lue and a .uspect, tooand *)ve lost the& #oth'%

0omething $a((ens At 6ast.

That afternoon things really #egan to happen. -atty disguised hi&self once &ore as the old &an C"ho "as keeping re&arka#ly out of the "ayD, and "ent to the #ench in the village street as usual. 6e li&ped &ost realistically this ti&e, #ecause his foot had s"ollen up fro& #eing run over #y the tricycle. 6e had provided hi&self "ith plenty of ne"spapers to read, and he sat do"n as carefully as ever, letting out a little groan as he did so. *n the s"eet shop opposite sat Mr. 0oon, clad as usual in flannel trousers and a crea& shirt open at the neck. 6e looked e(tre&ely hot, and "as #eginning to long for so&e #ad "eatherfrost and sno" if possi#le' Mr. 0oon had never felt so hot in his life as in this #la$ing su&&er. +arry "ent into the shop and sat do"n to order le&onade. Mr. 0oon "as getting used to the fact that one or other of the -ind /uters al"ays see&ed to #e there. 6e took no notice of +arry. 6e 2ust propped his paper up in front of hi&, and kept a "atchful eye on the old fello" nodding on the #ench across the street. *t looked as if -atty had gone sound asleep. +arry ya"ned and "ished he could go to sleep too. Then he noticed so&ething. ! &an "as standing in the shady door"ay of a near#y shop, and he see&ed to #e "atching the old &an. 1as he thinking of giving hi& a &essage3 Mr. 0oon also spotted the &an, and sat up straight. The &an looked up and do"n the street, and lighted a cigarette, puffing hard at it. The village "as e&pty and deserted on this hot afternoon. ! car drove #y and disappeared. ! dog a&#led round a corner, lay do"n, and fell asleep. +arry and Mr. 0oon "atched the silent &an #reathlessly.

The &an sauntered across the road and stood for a fe" &inutes looking in the "indo" of a "ireless shop. Then he strolled over to the #ench and sat do"n near the old &an. -atty "as pretending to #e asleep, #ut he spotted the &an out of the corner of his eye, and so&ething told hi& that the &an "as no chance co&panion. 6e "as there for a purpose. -atty 2erked hi&self upright as if he had suddenly a"akened, and sniffled loudly. 6e "iped his nose "ith his sleeve and then leaned over his stick again. Then he coughed his dreadful cough. %!"ful cough you)ve got'% said the &an. -atty took no notice, re&e&#ering that he "as deaf. 6e coughed again. %!1->+ 5/>06 7/>)@E 0/T'% repeated &e &an. -atty turned, put his hand #ehind his ear and croaked out a fa&iliar "ord, %1assat3% The stranger laughed. 6e took out his cigarette case and offered the old &an a cigarette. There "as only one left in the case. !s soon as -atty had taken it, the &an filled his case fro& a packet. %Thank you, sir,% croaked -atty, and put the cigarette into his pocket. 6is heart #eat fast. 6e felt sure that there &ust #e so&e kind of &essage in the cigarette. 1hat "ould it #e3 6e did not dare to look closely at that &an, #ut hoped that +arry "as taking note of all his clothes and everything. +arry "as. !nd so "as Mr. 0oon' Both "ere &entally repeating the sa&e things. %0rey flannel suit. Blue shirt. Black shoes. No tie. 0rey felt hat. Moustache. Tall. .li&. +ong nose. .&all eyes.% The &an got up to go. 6e disappeared 4uite 4uickly round the corner. -atty thought that he, too, had #etter disappear 4uickly, #efore Mr. 0oon could get hold of hi& and get the cigarette &essage, "hatever it "as, a"ay fro& hi&. .o he, too, got up, and "ith &ost surprising agility in such an old &an, he shot round another corner. !nd then he sa" so&ething &ost aggravating' 5o&ing ing to"ards hi& "as the real old &an, corduroy trousers, dirty &uffler and all' 6e "as out for a "alk, though he did not &ean to go and sit on the #ench. -atty could not risk #eing seen #y the old &an, for he guessed he "ould #e a&a$ed and alar&ed at the sight of his dou#le. .o he popped into the nearest gate and hid hi&self under a #ush. 6e "as only 2ust in ti&e' Mr. 0oon ca&e round the corner "ith a rushand al&ost #u&ped into the real old &an' 6e clutched hi& tightly. %6a' 0ot you' No" you give &e that cigarette right a"ay'% The old &an looked &ost alar&ed. 6e shrank a"ay fro& the red faced Mr. 0oon, not in the least kno"ing "ho he "as, for he did not recogni$e the police&an dressed in plain clothes. %1here)s that cigarette3% panted Mr. 0oon. %1assat3% croaked the old &an. 0oon heard footsteps #ehind hi& and sa" +arry. +arry "as horrified to see "hat he thought "as -atty in the clutches of the police&an. 6e stayed near#y to see "hat "as going to happen. The old &an tried fee#ly to get a"ay fro& 0oon, #ut the police&an held on gri&ly. %7ou let go,% said the old fello". %*)ll get the police, see3 5atching hold of &e like this' *)ll get the police'% %*t)s the police that have got yo!,) said 0oon, shaking hi&. )*8& 0//N' 0//N the P/+*5EM!N' !nd * "ant that 5*0!:ETTE'% This "as too &uch for the poor old &an. 6e al&ost fell do"n in fright. 6e hadn)t the faintest idea "hat 0oon "anted hi& for, nor did he kno" "hy 0oon kept on shouting for a cigarette. %6ave &y pipe,% said the old fello", trying to get it out of his pocket. %6ave &y pipe and let &e go. * ain)t done nothing.% Mr. 0oon snorted, caught hold of the old fello" #y the collar of his coat and &arched hi& do"n the street. %7ou can co&e to the police station "ith &e,% he said. %!nd *)ll search you there and get that cigarette' .ee'% +arry "atched the& go, feeling rather scared, for he still thought it "as -atty that Mr. 0oon had got. 6e had the fright of his life "hen he suddenly sa" another old &an peering out fro& under a #ush at hi&' %+arry' 6ave they gone3% said this old &an, in -atty)s voice. +arry al&ost 2u&ped out of his skin. )"atty! * thought it "as yo! that 0oon "as taking a"ay' 0olly, *)& glad it "asn)t.%

-atty ca&e out fro& under the #ush. %The real old &an happened to co&e "alking up here 2ust as * "as hurrying to get a"ay fro& 0oon'% said -atty, "ith a grin. %.o * hopped in at this gate and hid, and 0oon gra##ed the old fello" and ordered hi& to give up the cigarette he hadn)t got. Phe"' That "as a 2olly narro" shave'% %-atty' *s there a &essage in that cigarette3% said +arry eagerly. %5an "e find out3 * sa" that fello" give you one. * "atched hi& for a long ti&e. .o did 0oon.% %+et)s go to Pip)s,% said -atty. %1e)re safer there than any"here, #ecause his garden is so #ig. ,on)t "alk "ith &e. 0o in front, and "hen you co&e to a corner, "histle if you "ant to "arn &e.% +arry "alked on in front. 6e did not "histle at any corners, #ecause there see&ed to #e no#ody a#out in Peters"ood at all that hot .epte&#er afternoon. *n ten &inutes -atty "as safely in Pip)s su&&er house. 6e did not strip off his old clothes, #ecause he had no others to change into. 6e "aited there "hilst +arry "ent off to collect the others, and he hoped that no gro"n ups "ould think of poking their noses into the su&&er house that afternoon. They "ould not #e pleased to find a dirty old tra&p there' -atty longed to e(a&ine the cigarette and see "hat "as inside it. But he "aited patiently till the others ca&e tearing up the path, pouring into the little su&&er house "ith e(cited faces. %-atty' +arry)s told us all a#out it' 1hat)s the &essage3 *s there one in the cigarette3 6ave you looked3% %/f course not. * "aited for you all,% said -atty. 6e took the cigarette fro& his pocket. *t "as rather a stout, fat one. *t had to#acco at each end#ut "hen -atty had scraped out as &uch to#acco as he could, he found that the &iddle of the cigarette "as not &ade of to#acco at all#ut "as stuffed "ith a tight roll of paper' %/h'% said Bets, al&ost too e(cited to #reathe. %! secret &essage' /h, -atty'% -atty unrolled the paper. 6e flattened it "ith his hand. The five of the& leaned over it, their #reaths hot against one another)s cheeks. Buster tried in vain to see "hat all the e(cite&ent "as a#out, #ut for once in a "ay no#ody took the slightest notice of hi&' The &essage proved to #e very pu$$ling and disappointing. !ll it said "asE %/ne tin #lack #oot polish. /ne pound rice. /ne pound tea. T"o pounds syrup. /ne #ag flour.% %1hy' *t)s only a grocery list'% said ,aisy. %<ust like Mother often gives &e and +arry "hen "e go shopping for her. 1hatever does it &ean, -atty3% %* don)t kno",% said -atty. %*t &ust &ean so&ething. * hope it)s not in a secret code.% %1hat)s a secret code3% asked Bets. %/h, a "ay of "riting &essages so that only the persons receiving the& kno" "hat they &ean,% said -atty. %But so&eho" * don)t think this is a code. !fter all, that old &an had got to read it and understand it, and *)& 4uite sure he hasn)t #rains enough to understand a code.% %Then could there #e another &essage, #ut "ritten in secret ink3% said Pip suddenly. %7ou kno" ho" you taught us to "rite secret &essages, in #et"een the lines of an ordinary letter, don)t you, -atty3 1ell, could there #e a &essage "ritten #et"een these lines, in secret ink3% %7es, there could,% said -atty. %!nd that)s "hat * think "e shall find * 0ood for you, Pip. 5an you go and get a "ar& iron3 *f "e run it over the paper, the secret &essage "ill sho" up.% Pip ran off. 0ladys "as actually ironing in the kitchen, and though she "as very surprised to think that Pip should "ant to #orro" the "ar& iron to take into the garden for a &inute, she let hi&. 6e ca&e tearing up to the su&&er house "ith it in his hand. %*)ve got it'% he said. %6ere you are. Put the paper out flat on the "ooden ta#le. That)s right. No" *)ll run the iron over it.% 6e ran the "ar& iron over the spread out #it of paper. Then he lifted it off and looked at the &essage. %There)s another one co&ing up, look#et"een the lines of the other'% s4uealed ,aisy, in e(cite&ent. %*ron it again, Pip, 4uick' /h, this is too thrilling for "ords'% Pip ironed the paper againand this ti&e another &essage sho"ed up very clearly indeed. The "ords ca&e up, looking a 4ueer grey #ro"n colour, and #egan to fade al&ost as soon as the children had &ade the& out. %Tell Nu&#er F. 1a("orks, Tuesday, nine p&.Nu&#er 5.%

%0olly'% said Pip. %+ook at that' Tell Nu&#er Fthat &ust #e one of the gang. !nd Nu&#er 5 &ust #e another.% %1a("orks, Tuesday, nine p.&.% said -atty, and his eyes glea&ed. %.o that)s one of their &eeting places. ,o"n in the 1a("orks 6all, "here all those figures are. 'ow "e kno" so&ething'% %1e really do,% said Bets. %1hat are they &eeting a#out, -atty3% %* don)t kno"#ut * shall find out,% said -atty. %Because* shall #e there on Tuesday night'%

In Mr. Goon's 4l!t%hes.

The children "ere full of e(cite&ent "hen they heard -atty say this. %1hat' 0o do"n to the 1a("orks, and attend the gang &eeting'% said +arry. %7ou "ouldn)t dare' 7ou)d #e discovered, ho"ever "ell you hid yourself'% %*t)s the only "ay of finding out "ho all the gang are,% said -atty. %* shall see the&, hear the& talk and plan&y "ord, this is a #it of luck'% %No "onder 0oon "anted to get hold of that cigarette fro& the old &an,% said ,aisy. %6e "ould give anything to have this &essage'% %6e)ll "onder "hat the old chap)s done "ith it'% said -atty, "ith a grin. %6e)ll have searched hi& fro& top to toe#ut he "on)t have found that cigarette'% They talked e(citedly for so&e ti&e and then -atty said he really &ust go ho&e and get out of his hot, s&elly old &an clothes. The others "alked do"n to the gate "ith hi&, leaving an angry Buster tied up in the su&&er house. Mean"hile Mr. 0oon had had a &ost disappointing ti&e. 6e had found no cigarette at all on the old &an. 6e "as angry and pu$$led, and he shouted at the old fello", getting redder and redder in the face. %7ou can stay here till you tell &e "hat you did "ith that cigarette, see3% he yelled. %*)ll lock you up till you do. No" thenare you going to tell &e3% The old chap had turned sulky. 6e kne" nothing of any cigarette, he hadn)t #een sitting on the #ench, he didn)t kno" "hat the #ad te&pered police&an "as talking a#out. .o he sulked and said nothing at all, "hich &ade 0oon &adder than ever. %:ight'% said 0oon at last, getting up. %*)ll talk to you so&e &ore to&orro".% 6e "ent ho&e and changed into his unifor&. Then he decided to go and see %that #oy +arry% and ask hi& if he, too, had noticed the &an giving the old fello" a cigarette that afternoon. Mr. 0oon couldn)t help #eing pu$$led #y the old chap)s fir& denials of any kno"ledge of a cigarette. But +arry &ust have seen the gift, and "ould #ear "itness to it. But +arry "as out. %Try at the 6ilton)s,% said +arry)s &other. %/h, * do hope the children haven)t #een &is#ehaving the&selves, Mr. 0oon.% %Er nofor a "onder, no, Ma&,% said Mr. 0oon, and "ent off &a2estically. 6e arrived at Pip)s 2ust as the children "ere escorting -atty, still disguised as the old &an, out of the front gate. -atty stared at 0oon, and 0oon stared #ack dis#elievingly. 1hat' 6adn)t he 2ust locked that old &an up3 !nd here he "as again, free, and "alking a#out' Mr. 0oon #egan to feel as if he "as in a peculiarly unpleasant drea&. %Ergood evening, Mr. 0oon,% said +arry. Mr. 0oon took no notice of hi&. %6ere, you'% he said, gra##ing at -atty)s ar&. %6o" did you get out3 6aven)t * 2ust locked you up3 1hat are things a co&ing to, *)d like to kno"' 6ere *)ve 2ust locked you up and * &eet you "alking into &e, #old as #rass'% Mr. 0oon looked so a&a$ed and dis#elieving that -atty #adly "anted to laugh. 6e "as at a loss to kno" "hat to say. %1assat3 % he said at last, putting his hand #ehind his ear. That "as too &uch for Mr. 0oon. 6e caught hold of -atty)s collar and &arched hi& 4uickly up the lane. %7ou)ve #een G"assating) &e long enough'% said the annoyed Mr. 0oon. %* don)t kno" ho" you got out#ut * do kno" you)re going in againand this ti&e *)ll lock the door on you &eself' !nd there you)ll stay )till you see sense if it takes you a &onth'% -atty didn)t like this at all. 6e de#ated "hether or not to let Mr. 0oon into the secret of his disguise. But

#efore he had &ade up his &ind, he "as at the police station. Mr. 0oon "as unlocking a door, and -atty "as #eing pushed into the dark, narro" little roo& #ehind. !nd in it "as the real old &an' 6e stared at -atty and -atty stared at hi&. The old chap let out a ho"l. 6e "as #eginning to feel he &ust #e &ad. 1hy, here "as hi&self staring at hi&' 1hat "as happening3 Mr. 0oon heard the ho"l and looked into the roo&and then he sa" the two old &en' E(actly alike. !s like as peas in a pod. Mr. 0oon sat do"n heavily on a chair and &opped his forehead "ith a #ig handkerchief. 6e felt da$ed. 1hat "ith vanishing cigarettes, &en that got locked up and then got outand no" t"o old &en e(actly alike"ell, Mr. 0oon #egan to feel that he &ust #e lying asleep and drea&ing in his o"n #ed at ho&e, and he fervently hoped that he "ould soon "ake up. %+e&&e get out of here'% said the real old &an, and tried to push past Mr. 0oon. But the police&an caught hold of hi&. 6e "asn)t going to have any &ore disappearings. 6e "as 0oing to 0et to the Botto& of Things. -atty sa" that things had gone far enough, and he did not like the thought of his parents kno"ing that he "as locked up at the police station. .o he spoke to Mr. 0oon in his ordinary voice, and gave the poor &an another terri#le shock. %Mr. 0oon' *)& not really an old &an. *)& -rederick Trotteville.% Mr. 0oon)s &outh fell open. 6e gulped once or t"ice, staring at -atty as if he couldn)t #elieve his eyes. -atty t"itched off his #eard, and then Mr. 0oon did indeed see that it "as -atty. 6e dragged hi& out of the dark little roo&, sla&&ed and locked the door, and took -atty into an office. %No" you 2ust tell &e the &eaning of all this here'9 he said. %1ell,% said -atty, %it)s a long story, #ut *)ll tell you everything, Mr. 0oon,% and he launched into the tale of all that the -ind /uters had done, and ho" he had disguised hi&self as the old &an, and sat there to trap a &essage fro& the gang. %1hat a#out that cigarette3% said Mr. 0oon "hen he had got his #reath #ack a #it. %1hat a#out that3 That)s a &ost i&portant thing'% %*s it really3% said -atty, in pretended surprise. %1ell, "e i&did the cigarette, of course, Mr. 0oon, and inside "e found nothing of i&portance at all, really2ust a silly grocery list. 1e "ere terri#ly disappointed.% -atty did not &ean to tell Mr. 0oon "hat he and the others had discovered in the &essagethe fe" lines in secret ink. No, he "ould keep that to hi&self, and go to the &eeting on Tuesday night, and see "hat he could find out. $e "anted to solve the Mystery, he, -atty, the 5hief of the -ind /uters. 6e did not stop to think "hether it "as dangerous or not. Mr. 0oon gra##ed hold of the &essage. 6e spread it out. 6e fro"ned. 6e read it through t"o or three ti&es. %Must #e a code,% he said. %*)ll look up &y code #ook. 7ou leave this to &e.% %Er"ell*)ll #e going no",% said -atty, after "atching Mr. 0oon fro"ning at the list of groceries for a fe" &inutes. %*f you hadn)t given &e this here #it of paper, *)d have locked you up,% said Mr. 0oon. %*nterfering "ith the +a". That)s "hat you)re al"ays doing, you five kids. 6o, yes, * kno" you think you)ve got a fine friend in *nspector <enks, #ut one of these days you)ll find he)s fed up "ith you, see3 !nd *)ll get &y pro&otion and #e a Big Noise, and then 2ust you look out'% %/h, * will look out,% said -atty earnestly. %Thanks for "arning &e, Mr. 0oon. Er"hat a#out that old fello"3 !re you still going to keep hi& locked up3% %7es, * a&,% said Mr. 0oon. %!nd your o"n co&&on sense "ill tell you "hythat)s al"ays supposing you)ve got any, "hich * very &uch dou#t* don)t "ant hi& "arning the gang that *)& on their track. *f he)s here, under &y nose, he can)t do &uch "arning.% %* think you)re 4uite right, Mr. 0oon,% said -atty sole&nly. %* couldn)t agree "ith you &ore. * think% %*)& tired of you,% said Mr. 0oon. %7ou clear orf dou#le 4uick, #efore * change &y &ind a#out locking you up. *)& :ight ,o"n Tired of you. Messing a#outinterferingdressing up0ah'9 -atty scuttled off. 6e "ent ho&e and 4uickly changed out of his old &an clothes, and then shot up to Pip)s to tell every one "hat had happened. %* had to give hi& the cigarette &essage, "orse luck,% he said. %*t "as the only thing to keep hi& 4uiet. But * don)t #elieve he)ll &ake head or tail of it, and * #et he "on)t test it for a secret &essage as "e did. 7ou should

have seen his face "hen he pushed &e into the sa&e roo& as the real old &an, and sa" t"o of us there' * thought he "ould go up in s&oke'% The others roared. They "ere &ost relieved to see -atty #ack safe and sound. Bets had #een i&agining hi& locked up in a dreary cell, "ith only #read and "ater. %6e)s keeping the old &an under his eye for a fe" days,% said -atty, %in case he gets the "ind up a#out all this, and "arns the other &e&#ers of the gang. *)& pleased he)s doing that. * e(pect the Meeting "ill "onder "hy Nu&#er F doesn)t turn up on Tuesday, "hoever he is. 1ell, they)ll have to "onder'% %* think it)s a"fully dangerous for you to go do"n to the 1a("orks on Tuesday,% said ,aisy. %* do, really. * think you ought to go and tell the *nspector a#out it, -atty.% %/h no,% said -atty. %* "ant us to solve this Mystery #efore "e see the *nspector again. * shall #e 4uite safe.% %* don)t see ho" you can say that,% said +arry, "ho agreed "ith ,aisy that it &ight #e dangerous. %The &en "ill surely not #e fools enough to hold their Meeting "ithout #eing certain there)s no spy there.% %They "on)t discover me,) said -atty. %* shall "ear a disguise'% %* don)t see ho" that "ill help you,% said +arry. %Even if you are in disguise, you)ll #e a stranger to the &en, and they)ll "ant to kno" "ho you are.% %* shan)t #e a stranger to the&,% said -atty, e(asperatingly. %Nor to you, either.% The others stared at hi&. %1hat do you &ean3% said Pip at last. %1hat are you getting at3% %* shall #e so&e#ody the gang have seen often enough #efore, if they have held their other &eetings in the 1a("orks 6all. They)ll kno" &e so "ell they "on)t even look at &e'% %1hat do you &ean3% said ,aisy, getting annoyed. %,on)t talk in these silly riddles.% %1ell,% said -atty, and he lo"ered his voice to a &ysterious "hisper, %"ell* shall #e disguised as one of the "a("orks, silly * Napoleon, * think, #ecause *)& pretty plu&p, and so "as he'% There "as a co&plete silence. !ll the -ind /uters stared at -atty in the greatest ad&iration. 1hat an idea' No &e&#er of the gang "ould suspect any of the "a("ork figures' Bets could 2ust i&agine -atty standing stiff and straight as the "a("ork Napoleon, staring fi(edly in front of hi&seeing and hearing everything. %1hat a really &arvellous idea'% said +arry, at last. %/h, -atty* should never have thought of that if *8d thought for a &onth. 7ou)ll #e right in the lions) denand they "on)t even smell you'% %*t is rather a good idea, isn)t it3% said -atty, s"elling up a little. %That)s one thing a#out &e, you kno"*)ve al"ays got plenty of ideas. My for& &aster said only last ter& that &y i&agination "as...% But the others didn)t in the least "ant to hear "hat -atty)s for& &aster had said. They "anted to talk a#out Tuesday night and "hat -atty "as going to do. Tuesday night' Bets thrilled every ti&e she thought of it. This Mystery "as really getting too e(citing for "ords. /oohTuesday night'

A Very -old Idea.

That "eek end dragged along very slo"ly indeed. Tuesday "as such a long ti&e in co&ing' The only thing that enlivened it at all "as that on the t"o or three occasions "hen the children &et Mr. 0oon, -atty had his hooter tucked under his coat, and sounded it as soon as they passed the police&an. This &ade hi& 2u&p, and he looked round in hope of seeing the cyclist "ho had once stopped and spoken to the old &an. But he never did, of course. 6e hailed the children suspiciously the third ti&e it happened. %,id you hear that hooter3% he asked. They all nodded vigorously. %,id you see a #ike going #y then3% said the police&an. %! #ike3 !ll #y itself "ith a hooter3% asked Pip, and the others grinned. %0a#.'% said Mr. 0oon, enranged as usual. %7ou clear orf' * "ouldn)t put it past you to carry one of the& hooters a#out, 2ust to annoy &e, like'9 %6e)s getting 4uite #right, isn)t he3% said +arry, as they "alked off. %* shouldn)t #e surprised if he does get pro&otion one of these days. 6e)s really trying to use those #rains of his a #it. 1e)d #etter not hoot any &ore

"hen "e pass hi&. 6e)s 4uite likely to go and co&plain a#out us if "e doand ever since he "ent up to &y house and asked for &e the other day, Mother)s #een "arning &e not to get into trou#le.% -atty "as preparing hi&self very earnestly for Tuesday night. 6e kne" ho" i&portant it "as, and he also kne" that, unless all his details "ere a#solutely perfect, he &ight #e in considera#le danger. 6e and the others spent a long ti&e in the 1a("orks, &uch to the surprise of the red headed #oy, for it "as very hot in there, and not &any people visited the little hall these #la$ing days. But -atty had to study the figure of Napoleon very carefully indeed. 6e &eant to get into the hall so&eho" on Tuesday evening, and dress hi&self up in Napoleon)s clothes. 1ould they fit hi&3 6e asked ,aisy "hat she thought. %7es, * should think they)d fit you very "ell,% she said, considering first Napoleon and then -atty. %7ou had #etter take a fe" safety pins in case so&ething doesn)t 4uite &eet. The hat "ill #e fine2ust your si$e, * should think. 1hat a#out hair, -atty3% %* can &anage that all right,% said -atty. %* rather think &y o"n "ill do, if * s&ar& it do"n a #it, and pull a fe" pieces out in front, like old Napoleon has got. !n er* don)t kno" "hat you think#uter*)& not really !nlike Napoleon in features, a& *3% The others stared at hi&. %1ell,% said Pip honestly, %* can)t see any likeness at all. Not the slightest.% %E(cept that you)re #oth fat,% said ,aisy. %,o you want to look like Napoleon3% said Bets in surprise. %* don)t think he looks very nice, really. !nd * don)t like those &en that go a#out thinking they "ant to con4uer the "hole "orld. Napoleon &ust have #een very #rainy, of course, and yo!'re #rainy, -atty. But, e(cept that you)re fat and #rainy, * don)t see that you)re very like Napoleon.% -atty gave it up. 6e stared once &ore at the figure of Napoleon, in its grand unifor&, cocked hat, &edals, epaulettes, and stars. *t "as a fine unifor& and -atty "as longing to get into it. 1ell, he hadn)t got long to "ait no". 6e tried to &e&ori$e e(actly at "hat angle Napoleon "ore his hat, e(actly ho" he held his hands, e(actly ho" he stared so #lankly in front of hi&. Napoleon fortunately stood in the very front ro" of figures, so -atty, as Napoleon, "ould #e a#le to hear and see everything very "ell indeed. ! little shiver "ent do"n his #ack "hen he thought of standing there, perfectly still, listening to the plans of the gang, and &e&ori$ing their appearance. *t "as a very #old idea indeed. Not one of the other -ind /uters "ould have dared to do it. But -atty, of course, "ould dare anything. Bets thought that he "ouldn)t even turn a hair if he &et a roaring lion, the kind she &et in her #ad drea&s, and "hich scared her terri#ly. -atty "ould Cpro#a#ly speak to it kindly and pat it, and the lion "ould lie do"n and roll over for -atty to tickle it on its tu&&ylike Buster did! The red headed #oy, curious at their sudden intense interest in Napoleon, ca&e over and 2oined the&. %1hat)s e(citing a#out 1&3% he said. %1ho is he3 /hNapoleon. 1hat "as he3 .o&e sort of soldier3 % %,on)t you know? said Bets, in astonish&ent. %,idn)t you learn history at school3% %*)ve never #een to school,% said the red headed #oy. %* #elong to the -air, and us kids hardly ever go to school unless "e have to. 1e &ove a#out fro& place to place, you see, and #efore "e)re popped into so&e school, "e)ve &oved on again. * can read, #ut * can)t "rite.% %1hy are you in the 1a("ork .ho"3% asked -atty. %,oes this hall #elong to the -air people3% %/h nothey)ve only hired it,% said the #oy. %The 1a("orks #elong to &y uncle. 6e)s the fello" that runs the 6oopla. * used to help hi& "ith that, #ut no" * have to do the 1a("orks, and it)s 2olly dull.% -atty "ondered if any of the -air people "ere in the gang of thieves. *t see&ed very likely. 1ell, he "ould kno" on Tuesday night. The children "ent and studied other figures carefully too, so that the red headed #oy "ouldn)t get suspicious a#out their sudden interest in Napoleon. They had a good look at the "a( figure of the police&an as "ell. 6e really did look a #it like Mr. 0oon' There he stood, on the second step, not far fro& Napoleon, his hel&et on perfectly straight, the strap round the chin, and the #elt a little tight.

The red headed #oy disappeared out of doors for a &inute. -atty at once "ent #ack to Napoleon and studied the clothes "ell, to &ake sure that he could take the& off the "a( figure fairly easily. %6ope they)re not st!%k on in any "ay,% he said to the others an(iously. ,aisy pulled at the&. %/h no,% she said. %They are put on 2ust like oursand look, the trousers are held #y #races. 7ou)ll #e all right, -atty. But you)ll have to #e here long #efore nine, or you)ll never have ti&e to undress yourself and Napoleon and then dress yourself up again.% %* "ish you "ouldn)t, really, -atty,% said Bets, looking up at hi& "ith scared eyes. %* shall hate to think of you standing so near the gang"hatever "ould they do to you if they discovered you3 % %They "on)t,% said -atty. %* shan)t give &yself a"ay, you &ay #e sure of that. *)ve already #een practising standing still for ages, in &y #edroo&, in e(actly that position. Buster si&ply can)t understand it. 6e does all he can to &ake &e &ove'% The others laughed. They could 4uite "ell picture -atty standing sole&nly in his roo&, perfectly still, "ith a &ost astonished Buster trying in vain to get a &ove&ent or a sound out of hi&' %5o&e onlet)s go no",% said -atty. %*t)s &ost frightfully hot in here. 6allothere)s 0oonand in unifor& again' 6e looks #etter in unifor& than in plain clothes, * &ust say. Not that he)s &uch to look at in either'% Mr. 0oon "as standing 2ust outside the 1a("orks 6all, apparently a#out to go in. 6e sco"led "hen he sa" the children. -unny ho" those kids al"ays see&ed to turn up every"here' %1hat are you doing here3% he asked, in a suspicious voice. %Passing the ti&e a"ay, Mr. 0oon, 2ust passing the ti&e,% said -atty airily. %1hat are yo! doing here3 *s your holiday over3 7ou &ust &iss your little trips to the s"eet shop.% Buster "as on the lead, or he "ould certainly have darted at his ene&y. But -atty, seeing the #lack look on Mr. 0oon)s face, hastily dragged hi& a"ay. %1onder "hat he)s done "ith that grocery list'% said ,aisy, "ith a giggle. %Put it "ith his 5lues, * e(pect. 1ell, "e kno" &ore a#out that than he does'% Bets "anted to go do"n #y the river, so the others "ent, too, &eaning to "alk ho&e #y the river path. Bets stared hard at every one in #oats, and Pip noticed her. %1hy ever are you glaring at every one "ho)s in a #oat3 %he asked. %*)& not glaring,% said Bets. %*)& 2ust looking to see if * can spot anyone "ith odd eyes, that)s all. * did see the odd eyed &an in a #oat, you kno", "hen that punt knocked against &eand * &ight 4uite "ell see hi& again.% %1hat "ould you do if you did3% de&anded Pip. %<u&p in and arrest hi&3 % %*t)s 4uite a good idea of Bets,% said -atty, al"ays 4uick to defend the little girl. %!fter all, if the &an "as here, he &ight #e again. !nd if "e sa" hi& on the river "e could get the na&e of the #oat, and, if it "as privately o"ned, "e could find out the na&e of the o"ner.% %The only thing ispeople go #y so 4uickly that it)s difficult to see if their eyes are odd or not,% said Bets. %* say, -atty, ho" are you going to get your face all pink like Napoleon)s3% asked +arry looking at -atty)s very #ro"n face. %Easy,% said -atty. %* shall put a little layer of pink "a( all over &y face and let it set. * kno" ho" to do it. *t)s in a #ook *)ve got.% -atty had the &ost e(traordinary collection of #ooks. 6e see&ed to #e a#le to find out fro& the& anything he "anted. %7ou)ll have to do that #efore you set out, "on)t you3% said ,aisy. -atty nodded. %7es. +arry "ill have to go "ith &e if the night isn)t dark enough to hide &e, and "arn &e if any one is co&ing "ho &ight #e likely to spot &e. But no" that there)s no &oon, * ought not to #e noticed &uch in the t"ilight.%

%* do "ant Tuesday to co&e'% said Bets. %* really can hardly "ait' * "ish * "as going to see you all dressed up as Napoleon, -atty. 7ou)ll look si&ply grand. /h, Tuesday, hurry up and co&e'%

,!esday 'ight At 6ast.

Tuesday night did co&e at last. -or once in a "ay it "as a cloudy night, and it al&ost looked as if the longed for rain "as co&ing. *t "as a little cooler, and every one "as thankful. %6o" are you going to &anage a#out your father and &other tonight3% asked Pip. %* &eanyou "ant to set off a#out HEF0, don)t you3 !nd that)s the ti&e you have dinner "ith the&.% %They)re a"ay for a couple of nights,% said -atty. %Bit of luck, that. +arry, you co&e to dinner "ith &e, and "e)ll have it at seven, together. Then you can "alk do"n "ith &e to the 6all, to &ake sure no one "ill see &e.% %:ight,% said +arry. %* "ill. 1ish * "as going to co&e into the 6all "ith you, too, and see everything. 1ill you co&e #ack and tell us "hat)s happened, -atty, even if it)s a"fully late3 *)ll keep a"ake.% %!ll right. But *)d #etter not go to Pip)s,% said -atty. %Mrs. 6ilton is sure to hear &e if * call up to Pip. 6er roo& is 2ust near#y.% %/h, "atty! 1e can)t possi#ly "ait till the &orning' %cried Bets. %7ou)ll have to,% said -atty. %* can)t go round to you all and tell you "hat)s happened. !ny"ay, you)ll #e fast asleep, little Bets'% %* shan)t. * shan)t sleep a "ink all night,% said Bets. The day dragged #y very slo"ly. !t half past si( -atty left Pip)s, "ith +arry, and the t"o of the& "ent to -atty)s house. They "ere to have dinner early, at seventhen their adventure "ould #egin. !ll the children felt e(cited, #ut only -atty did not sho" it. 6e appeared to #e as cal& as ever. The t"o #oys &ade a very good &eal indeed. Then -atty put the pink stuff on his face and after that they set out to go do"n to the river. They &eant to take the path over the fields, then go #y the "ater side, and so co&e to the -air "ithout &eeting a lot of people. They arrived at the 1a("orks 6all. %6o" are you going to get in3% "hispered +arry, suddenly seeing that the place "as shut and in darkness. %,idn)t you spot &e undoing the catch of one of the "indo"s "hen "e "ere here this &orning3% "hispered -atty. %*)& going to get in there. * say"hat a#out you co&ing in too, in case * get into difficulties over dressing3 7ou can easily hop out of the "indo" after"ards.% %7es, * "ill,% said +arry, pleased at the idea of "atching -atty dress hi&self as Napoleon. %1here)s the "indo"3% %*t)s this one,% said -atty, and looked cautiously round. %!nyone a#out3 Not a soul * 6ere goes, then'% 6e opened the "indo" 4uietly, hauled hi&self up and dropped do"n into the hall. +arry follo"ed. The #oys shut the "indo" carefully, in case any one noticed that it "as open. The hall "asn)t dark, #ecause a la&p fro& the -air near#y shone into it, and gave a fint and rather eerie light to the still "a("orks. The #oys looked round the&. The figures so&eho" see&ed &ore alive than in .the dayti&e, and +arry gave a little shiver. .illy fancies crept into his head. .uppose "a( figures ca&e alive at night and "alked and talked' 1hat a dreadful shock it "ould give hi& and -atty' %They all see& to #e looking at us,% "hispered +arry. %They &ake &e feel 4uite creepy. +ook at Nelson he)s "atching us all the ti&e'% %*diot'% said -atty, "alking over to Napoleon. %5o&e onhelp &e to undress hi&, +arry.% *t "as a 4ueer #usiness, undressing the rather plu&p figure of the "a( Napoleon. *t "asn)t easy, either, #ecause Napoleon didn)t help in any "ay' *n fact, it al&ost see&ed as if he 4uite deli#erately tried to &ake things difficult for the t"o #oys! %*f only he)d raise his ar&s a #it, or give a "riggle, or so&ething,% "hispered +arry. %1e could get his things off easily then. But he 2ust &akes hi&self as stiff as possi#le'% -atty chuckled. %*)d get a shock if he did raise his ar&s or "riggle'% he said. %*)d 2ust as soon he didn)t. There his coat)s off, thank goodness#ut *)ve torn his high collar a #it. No" for his trousers.%

.oon poor Napoleon stood stiff and straight in nothing #ut so&e kind of shapeless under gar&ent. The #oys lifted hi& up and carried hi& to a cup#oard. They put hi& inside and shut the door. Then -atty proceeded to undress hi&self very 4uickly. 6e stuffed his o"n clothes into the cup#oard "ith Napoleon. Then, "ith +arry)s help he put on Napoleon)s clothes. They fitted hi& 4uite "ell, and he only had to use one of ,aisy)s safety pins. 6e pulled on the coat, and the &edals &ade a little 2ingling noise. %-atty' 7ou look &arvellous in that unifor&'% said +arry, in ad&iration. %7ou honestly do' No" the hat golly, it fits you as if it "as &ade for you'% -atty &ade +arry hold up a s&all &irror and looked at face in it. *t "as all covered "ith pink, and looked very like the faces of the "a( figures around. -atty pulled a strand of hair on to his forehead, 2ust like the one the "a( Napoleon had had. Then he put his hand under his coat, stood a#solutely still and stiff, and stared straight in front of hi&. +arry couldn)t find enough "ords of praise. %No#ody, nobody could possi#ly guess you "eren)t a "a( figure'% he said. %7ou)re &arvellous, -atty' 6onestly, you)re &ore of a "a( figure than Napoleon "as #efore' * "ish you could see yourself, * really do. 0olly, it)s "onderful'% -atty "as pleased. 6e #ea&ed &odestly at +arry, #ut not too #roadly in case the "a( on his face cracked a #it. %*t)s only your eyes that are different fro& the other "a( figures,% said +arry. %They)ve got a proper light in the&the others haven)t. 7ours shine.% %1ell, * hope they "on)t shine too &uch'% said -atty. %No", you)d #etter go, +arry, old #oy. *t)s a#out half past eight, isn)t it3 The &en &ight #e here early.% %:ight,% said +arryand then he suddenly stood stock still in fright. *t sounded as if so&e one "as fu&#ling at the door of the hall' %0o, 4uickly'% said -atty, in a "hisper, and +arry fled, threading his "ay carefully #et"een the silent figures till he ca&e to the "indo" at the #ack of the hall. 6e opened it cautiously, cli&#ed up and dropped out, shutting it again at once. 6e dived under a #ush and sat there, hardly daring to #reathe, &opping his forehead "ith his handkerchief. 6e pictured the gang "alking in silently, and he felt glad he "as not -atty, all alone there, hidden in the ro"s of "a("ork figures. 0olly, he)d only got out 2ust in ti&e' -atty "as "aiting in the greatest e(cite&ent for the hall door to open. 1ho "ould co&e in3 The leader of the gang3 !ll the &en3 1ould he kno" any of the&3 The fu&#ling at the door "ent on. .o&e#ody see&ed to #e having difficulty "ith the key. But at last it turned and the door opened 4uietly. .o&e#ody stepped in, and shut the doorand locked it' 1hy lock it3 -atty "as pu$$led. 1eren)t the others co&ing in too, then3 The silent footed person &oved do"n the hall, and the light fro& the -air la&p outside shone do"n on hi&. -atty got a &ost tre&endous shock. *t "as Mr. 0oon' %0oon'% thought -atty, and he al&ost fell off his step. %/ld 5lear /rf' Goon! Butis he one of the gang then3 0oon here, "ith the thieves' 1hat)s it all &ean3% Mr. 0oon proceeded to do a fe" very peculiar things. 6e "alked #ehind -atty until he ca&e to one of the "a( figures. -atty did not kno" "hich one, for he dared not &ove or turn round to see "hat 0oon "as doing. Mr. 0oon then lifted up the figure, and, panting noisily, carried it to a #ig "indo", "here a volu&inous curtain hung. Then -atty "as a#le to see "hich figure Mr. 0oon "as carrying. *t "as the "a( police&an' Mr. 0oon carefully placed hi& #ehind the curtain, and then creaked #ack to the place "here the "a( figure had stood. !nd, in a flash, -atty understood everything. 6e al&ost groaned in disappoint&ent. %/f course0oon has read the secret &essage in that grocery list after allhe found out, as "e did, that a &eeting of the 0ang "ill #e held here tonightand he *8ll

got the sa&e #rain "ave too. 6e thought he)d co&e and #e one of the "a( figures, and listen in to everything' 0ollyhe)s got &ore #rains and pluck than *)d have thought he had'% Poor -atty' *t "as a great shock and disappoint&ent to hi& to kno" that the police&an "ould hear everything, and #e a#le to solve the Mystery after all. 6e "ould kno" the 0angand their plansand "ould #e a#le to arrest the "hole lot of the& at once' But surely he "ouldn)t dare to tackle the "hole gang single handed3 Nothat couldn)t #e his plan. Then "hat "as it3 -atty stood and pu$$led his #rains, angry and &isera#le to think that 0oon should have #een clever enough to think of e(actly the sa&e idea as the -ind /uters. %But it "as &uch &ore difficult for me) thought -atty. %* had to undress the figure of Napoleon and dress &yself up again0oon only had to go and stand in the place of the "a( police&an. 1e al"ays did think that the "a( figure "as like 0oon' Blo"' Everything)s spoilt.% -atty "ould have given anything to turn round and see "hat 0oon looked like, standing stiffly there so&e "ay #ehind hi&. 0oon "as #reathing very heavily, as he al"ays did "hen he "as e(cited. -atty "ondered if he "ould re&e&#er to #reathe 4uietly "hen the 0ang ca&e in' Then 0oon did a little cough, and cleared his throat. %/f course, he thinks there)s no#ody here at all,% thought -atty. %.o it doesn)t &atter "hat noises he &akes. * "ant to cough, &yself#ut * daren)t, #ecause 0oon "ould #e very suspicious at once. 1hat a shock it "ould give hi&, to hear one of the "a("orks cough. * "onder if he)d get scared and go flying out of the hall at once' No, * don)t think he "ould'% Mr. 0oon shuffled his feet a little and sniffed. Then he got out his handkerchief and #le" his nose. -atty i&&ediately "anted to #lo" his too' *t "as &ost irritating "anting to sniff and cough and #lo" his nose "hen he dared not &ake a single &ove&ent. .poiling everything' En2oying hi&self sniffing and coughing. 1aiting for his Big Mo&entand thinking of Pro&otion' There ca&e the sound of voices outside. Then a key "as put into the door, and it opened. %6o'% thought -atty, %Mr. 0oon had a duplicate key, had he3 6e &ade his plans "ell. +ocked the door after hi&, too, so that the &en shouldn)t get suspicious, as they "ould have if the door had #een unlocked'% -our &en ca&e in. -atty strained his eyes to try and see "hat their faces "ere like. But one and all "ore soft hats pulled "ell do"n over their foreheads. They did not light a la&p, nor did they even use torches. The faint light fro& the -air la&p outside see&ed to #e enough for the&. They got chairs and sat do"n. They "aited for a "hile, saying nothing. -atty "ondered "hy. Then he kne". %1here)s Nu&#er Three3% said one of the &en i&patiently. %6e ought to #e here. ,idn)t you "arn hi&, Nu&#er -ive3% %7es, * sent hi& a &essage,% said another &an. %*n a cigarette * gave to old <ohnny. 6e)ll turn up soon.% They "aited in silence again. /ne of the &en pulled out a "atch and looked at it. %5an)t "ait any longer,% he said. %The 2o#)s on tonight.% )Tonight3% said another &an. %1here3 !ll of us in it this ti&e, or not3% %!ll of us,% said the first &an. %E(cept Nu&#er Three, as he)s not here. *t)s the 5asfleton pearls tonight.% %1he"'% said t"o of the &en. %Big stuff'% %@ery #ig,% said the first &an. %No" see herethese are the plans. 7ou, Nu&#er T"o, have got to drive the car, and you...% -atty and Mr. 0oon "atched and listened intently. Mr. 0oon re&e&#ered not to #reathe loudly, and as for -atty, he "as so e(cited that he hardly #reathed at all. They heard all the details of the ne" ro##ery to #e pulled off that night. But try as he "ould -atty could not see clearly the face of any of the &en at all. 6e #egan to think hard. The &en "ould soon #e gone. /nce they "ere gone he "ould get to the telephone and tell the *nspector all he kne"and the ro##ery could #e stopped. Then he re&e&#ered Mr. 0oon. Blo"' 0oon "ould #e in charge of this, not -atty. Poor Mr. 0oon "as not feeling very happy 2ust at that &o&ent. 6e "anted to snee$e. 6e could feel it co&ing 4uite distinctly. 6e s"allo"ed violently and "riggled his nose a#out. Nothat snee$e &eant to co&e. 1hoooshooo'

Mr. Goon 7lays a Mean ,ri%k.

*t "asn)t a very #ig snee$e, #ecause Mr. 0oon had tried &ost valiantly to stop it, and it ca&e out in 4uite a gentle&anly &anner. But it "as enough to startle all the &en, and -atty too, al&ost out of their skins' The &en sprang to their feet at once, and looked all round the hall. %1hat "as that3 There)s so&e#ody here' .o&e#ody spying on us'% -atty "as suddenly frightened. The &en)s eyes glea&ed under their hats, and he could hear a savage tone in the voice of the &an "ho spoke. The #oy kept a#solutely still. .illy, idiotic old 0oon, to give the ga&e a"ay like that' %There)s so&e#ody here' 1ho is it3 .ho" yourself'% shouted one of the &en. Neither 0oon nor -atty &ade any &ove&ent, and all the "a( figures stared stolidly at the group of &en. %*t)s creepy in here, "ith all those figures looking at us,% said the first &an. %But one of the&)s real' No dou#t a#out that' 5o&e on"ell soon find out. *)ve got a torch.% -atty)s heart #eat fast. 6e hoped and hoped that the &en "ould find 0oon #efore they found hi&. But &ost unfortunately -atty "as in the front ro", and 0oon "asn)t. /ne of the &en had a po"erful torch. 6e "alked over to Nelson and flashed it in his face. Nelson stared un#linkingly in front of hi&. %6e)s "a( all right,% said the &an, and passed to the ne(t figure, a tall soldier. 6e flashed the torch in his face. The soldier didn)t &ake a &ove&ent at all. *t "as o#vious that he "as "a(, for there "as a little crack do"n one cheek, "here he had once struck his face, "hen #eing carried fro& one place to another. /ne after another the "a( figures had the torch flashed into their faces, and one after another they stared un#linkingly past the &an)s head. -atty #egan to tre&#le a little. 1ould he #e a#le to stare "ithout #unking too3 6e hoped so. 6is turn ca&e. The torch "as flashed suddenly in his face, and the #oy could not help a sudden #link. 6is eyes did it auto&atically, although he did his #est not to. 6e hoped the &an hadn)t noticed. But there "as so&ething a#out -atty)s #right, shining, living eyes that caught the &an)s attention at once, as "ell as the #unk. 6e gra##ed at -atty)s ar&, and felt it to #e "ar& and soft. %6ere he is'% he said. %6ere)s the spy. .tanding here staring at us, listening to everything'% Poor -atty "as dragged do"n off his steps and pulled into the &iddle of the hall. 6e "as frightened, #ut he &eant to put a #old face on it. %1ho are you3% said the first &an, and shone his torch into -atty)s face. %Napoleon,% said -atty, trying to #rave things out. %<ust doing it for a 2oke'% %6e)s only a #oy,% said one of the &en, pulling off Napoleon)s hat. %6o" old are you3 % %-ourteen,% said -atty. The &en stared at hi&. %1hat are "e going to do "ith hi&3% said one. %5an)t take hi& off in the car "ith us too risky. !nd "e can)t "aste ti&e du&ping hi& any"here, #ecause if "e)re not on ti&e "ith this 2o#, "e8ll fail. 1hat he "ants is a 2olly good 4uestioning and a good thrashing, and he)ll get it#ut not no". *t)s ti&e "e "ent.% %1e)ll #e #ack here again tonight "ith the stuff,% said another &an. %1ell tie hi& up, gag hi&, put hi& into the cup#oard over there, and lock hi& in. 6e can)t give the ga&e a"ay then. 1ell deal "ith hi& "hen "e co&e #ack. 6e can)t kno" anything a#out the 2o# tonight, e(cept "hat he)s 2ust heard, so he "on)t have "arned any one.% %:ight,% said the other &en, and then #egan a #ad ti&e for poor -atty. 6e "as rolled up in a curtain, "ith his hands and feet tied, and a #ig handkerchief "as #ound across his &outh. Then he "as popped into the cup#oard "ith Napoleon, and the door "as shut and locked on hi&. 6is only co&fort "as that Mr. 0oon "as still there, posing stolidly, 4uite unsuspected. !s soon as the &en had got a"ay, 0oon "ould surely co&e to his rescue and untie hi&. Then he, -atty "ould #e in at the last, after all. 6e could hear nothing in the cup#oard. 6e did not hear the &en go out of the hall and lock the door. 6e did not see 0oon "ait on his step for a fe" &o&ents and then rela( and give a deep sigh. Mr. 0oon had

had a &ost surprising and unpleasant ti&e hi&self fro& the &o&ent he had snee$ed to the &o&ent the &en had at last gone. 1hen he had snee$ed, he had felt certain that the &en "ould search the figures and find hi&. 6e had no idea at all, of course, that -atty had #een one of the figures too. 1hen the #oy had #een found and hauled off his stand, Mr. 0oon)s eyes had al&ost fallen out of his head. 1hatso&e#ody else in the hallso&e#ody "ho &ust have #een there "hen Mr. 0oon hi&self had co&e in and changed places "ith the "a( police&an3 1ho "as it! Mr. 0oon recogni$ed -atty)s voice as soon as the #oy had spoken. 6e "ent purple "ith rage. That interfering #oy again' .o he, like 0oon hi&self, had read the secret &essageand he hadn)t told the police. The #ad, "icked ... "ell, "ords failed Mr. 0oon as he stood there thinking a#out -atty. The police&an shook "hen he thought that the &en "ould pro#a#ly find hi& ne(t. 1hen they did not think of looking any further, his heart #eat a little less fast. 1ell, serve that #oy right, if he got caught' 6e deserved to' ?eeping infor&ation fro& the police' Mr. 0oon)s face "ent red again. 6e had #een so very pleased "ith hi&self at thinking of this ideaposing as the "a( police&an, and listening in to the gang and their plans. 1ell, he kne" a lot no", he didand if only those &en "ould go off to the 2o# and leave hi& alone, he)d soon do a spot of telephoning, and arrange to catch the& all neatly red handed, too' Mr. 0oon glo"ed "hen he thought of it. But the &en hadn)t gone yet. They "ere tying up that fat #oyhadn)t even given hi& a clip over the ear, as Mr. 0oon "ould hi&self have very &uch liked to do. The police&an "atched "ith pleased eyes the efficient "ay in "hich the &en rolled -atty up in the curtain, his hands and legs "ell and truly #ound, and a handkerchief over his &outh. 6a' That "as the "ay to treat people like -atty' Mr. 0oon "atched the &en pop -atty into the cup#oard and turn the key on hi&. 0ood' No" that #oy "as properly out of the "ay. *f only the &en "ould go, Mr. 0oon could step do"n and get #usy. 6e s&iled as he thought of ho" #usy he "ould get. *nspector <enks "ould #e surprised at his ne"s. 7es, and pleased, too. The door closed and the &en "ere gone. Mr. 0oon heard the sound of a car starting up. 6e thought it "ould #e safe to step do"n into the hall, and he stood there, looking round, feeling e(tre&ely pleased "ith hi&self. -atty "as struggling hard in the cup#oard. 6e had read #ooks that told hi& the #est "ay to "riggle free of #onds, #ut, e(cept that he had &anaged to get his &outh a"ay fro& the handkerchief, he "asn)t having &uch luck "ith his hands and feet' 6e did all the things the #ooks had advised hi& to, #ut it "as no good. 6e couldn)t get his hands free. *n his struggles, he fell against Napoleon, and that gentle&an over #alanced, and struck his head against the #ack of the cup#oard. 6e then rolled on to -atty, "ho yelled. Mr. 0oon, a#out to open the door to go out, heard the yell. 6e paused. 6e didn)t &ean to set -atty free. Not he' That #oy had got "hat he deserved, at last, and he, Mr. 0oon, "asn)t going to ro# hi& of it. No let hi& stay in the cup#oard and think a#out things. May#e he)d think it "as #est not to interfere "ith the +a" again. But "hen Napoleon fell "ith such a crash, Mr. 0oon felt a stirring of his conscience. .uppose that #oy "as #eing suffocated3 .uppose that handkerchief stopped his #reathing3 .uppose he)d "riggled a#out, and fallen and hurt hi&self3 6e "as a friend of the *nspector)s, "asn)t he, though goodness kne" "hy the *nspector should #other hi&self "ith a #oy like that. .till. ... Mr. 0oon thought he &ight spare half a &inute to investigate. But he "asn)t going to unlock that cup#oard. No, not he' 6e "asn)t going to have that there #oy rushing out on hi&, all untied, and playing so&e &ore of his tricks. No, -atty "as safer locked up in a cup#oard. .o Mr. 0oon "ent cautiously to the cup#oard and knocked s&artly on the door. -atty)s struggles ceased at once. %1ho)s that3% %Mr. 0oon,% said the police&an.

%Thank goodness'% said -atty fervently. %>nlock the door and untie &e, Mr. 0oon. 1e)ve "ork to do' 6ave those &en gone3% Mr. 0oon snorted. ,id this fat #oy really think he "as going to let hi& help hi&' !fter he had deli#erately not told hi& a#out that secret &essage, too' %7ou)re all right in there,% said Mr. 0oon, %you don)t "ant to co&e &essing a#out "ith thieves and ro##ers, you don)t'% -atty couldn)t #elieve his ears. ,id Mr. 0oon really &ean he "as going to leave hi& there, in the cup#oard, "hen all the fun "as going on3 6e "riggled a#out in agony at the thought, and spoke #eseechingly. %Mr. 0oon' Be a sport' >nlock the door and let &e out'% %1hy should *3% de&anded Mr. 0oon. %,id you tell &e a#out that secret &essage3 No, you didn)t. !nd * kno" your parents "ouldn)t "ant you &i(ed up in this #usiness tonight, see3 They)ll thank &e for leaving you here. *)ll co&e and get you later, "hen "e)ve done all the arresting and everything.% -atty "as desperate. To think of 0oon doing it all, "hilst he "as shut up in this s&elly cup#oard' %Mr. 0oon' ,on)t #e &ean. *t "as yo!r snee$e gave the sho" a"ayand instead of catching yo!, they caught me. *t)s not fair.% Mr. 0oon laughed. *t "as rather a nasty laugh. -atty)s heart sank "hen he heard it. 6e kne" then that the police&an &eant to leave hi& "here he "as. 6e could &ake all kinds of e(cuses for itthat he hadn)t ti&e to free -attythat he &eant to co&e #ack al&ost at onceanything "ould do. Blo" Mr. 0oon' %1ellsee you later,% said Mr. 0oon, and he "alked over to the door. -atty groaned. No" he "ould have to stay in the cup#oard till the fun "as over. *t "as too #ad. !fter all his fine plans, too' 1hat "ould *nspector <enks say3 6e "ould #e very pleased "ith 0oon, "ho certainly had used his #rains in this Mystery, and "orked hard on it. Poor -atty * 6e lay in the cup#oard in great disco&fort, "ith rope #iting into his "rists and ankles. *t "as all 0oon)s fault. 1hat did he "ant to go and snee$e like that for, and give the ga&e a"ay3 6e had co&e out of it very "ell hi&self#ut he had &essed everything up for poor old -atty. .uddenly -atty heard a slight sound and he pricked his ears up. *t sounded like the "indo" opening. 1as there so&e#ody co&ing in3 1as one of the gang co&ing #ack3 Then -atty heard a lo" voicea voice he kne" very "ell indeed. %-atty' !re you here any"here3 -atty'% *t "as +arry' -atty)s heart #eat for 2oy and he struggled to a sitting position in the cup#oard. %+arry' *)& locked up in the cup#oard "here "e put Napoleon' +et &e out * =uick, let &e out'9

Mr. Goon Gets a "ew 0ho%ks.

+arry rushed over to the cup#oard. The key "as still in the lock. 6e turned it and the door opened. !nd there "as poor -atty, still "rapped up in the curtain. %-atty' 1hat)s happened3% cried +arry. %!re you hurt3% %Not a #ite(cept that &y "rists and ankles are aching "ith the rope round the&,% said -atty. %0ot a knife, +arry3 5ut the rope.% +arry cut the ropes, and soon -atty "as un"rapping hi&self fro& the curtain. 6e tossed it into a corner "ith the cut ropes. 6e took off Napoleon)s unifor&, and put on his o"n clothes. Then he shut and locked the cup#oard door. %/h +arry'9 he said, %"asn)t * glad to hear your voice' But don)t let)s talk here. +et)s get #ack ho&e, 4uick'% %My people think *)& in #ed,% said +arry. %*)ll co&e to your house, if you like. 7our people "on)t #e there, "ill they3 5o&e on.% %:ight. 1ell tell a#out everything "hen "e get #ack,% said -atty. They &ade their "ay #ack over the fields as fast as they could, though poor -atty)s ankles "ere painfully s"ollen no", through #eing so tightly #ound. They soon got to -atty)s house and let the&selves in cautiously. They "ent up to his roo& and -atty flung hi&self on the #ed, ru##ing his ankles ruefully. %+arry' 6o" did you &anage to co&e #ack and rescue &e3% he asked. %*)d have #een there for hours, if you hadn)t. That #east 0oon "ouldn)t let &e out. No"you tell &e your story first.%

%There isn)t really anything to tell,% said +arry. %* "ent #ack ho&e and told ,aisy all "e)d done. !nd then, a#out half past nine, "hen * "as in #ed, Pip turned up, and thre" stones at &y "indo".% %1hatever for3 % said -atty. %1ell, Bets sent hi&,% said +arry. %Pip said she "as a"fully upset, and "ouldn)t go to sleep, and kept crying and saying she kne" you had got into danger. 7ou kno" the silly feelings Bets gets so&eti&es. .he)s only a #a#y.% %.o Pip, thinking it "ould #e fun to hear ho" you)d got on, dressing &e up as Napoleon, told Bets he)d go round and see you,% said -atty. %*t "ould &ake Bets feel #etter, and #e a #it of e(cite&ent for old Pip. * see that#ut "hat &ade you co&e along do"n to the 1a("ork 6all3% %* don)t e(actly kno",% said +arry. %7ou kno", once #efore Bets got the idea that you "ere in danger, and it turned out she "as right. !nd * 2ust thought"ell, * thought it &ight #e a good idea if * slipped do"n to the 1a("ork 6all and 2usit had a snoop round to see "hat "as happening.% %0olly' *)& glad Bets had one of her feelings,% said -atty thankfully. %!nd *)& glad you ca&e do"n, +arry, old #oy.% %.o a& *,% said +arry. %1hen * got there, the 6all "as in darkness and there "as no#ody a#out at all. .o * opened that "indo", got in, and called your na&e. That)s all.% There "as a silence. -atty suddenly looked e(tre&ely gloo&y. %1hat)s up3% said +arry. %7ou haven)t told &e "hat happened yetor "hy you got locked up. 1ere you discovered after all3% -atty #egan his tale. +arry listened in astonish&ent. .o 0oon had #een there too' 1hen -atty ca&e to 0oon)s snee$e, and related ho" he, -atty, had #een caught #ecause of it, and not 0oon, +arry "as &ost sy&pathetic. %Poor old -atty' .o 0oon got all the infor&ation, left you there, the #east, and has gone to do the arresting and reporting. =uite a #usy evening for hi&'% %6e said he)d co&e #ack and let &e out of that cup#oard "hen the fun "as over,% said -atty, #eginning to grin. %6ell #e surprised to find *)& gone, "on)t he3% %6e "ill,% said +arry. %6e "on)t kno" "hat)s happened. +et)s pretend to hi& that "e don)t kno" "here you are, shall "e3 1e)ll go and ask hi& a#out you to&orro"hell have t"enty fits if he thinks you)ve vanished. 6e "on)t kno" what to think'% %!nd he)ll feel &ost unco&forta#le #ecause hell kno" he 2olly "ell ought to have let &e out,% said -atty. %1ell, *)& going to #ed, +arry. 7ou)d #etter go and get so&e sleep too. /h, * do feel so disappointedafter all our "ork and disguises and plansfor 0oon to solve the Mystery and get all the credit'% The #oys parted and +arry ran s"iftly ho&e. 6e "ondered "hat 0oon "as doing. 6e thought a#out the 5astleton Mansion and "ondered if the thieves "ere at "orkif the house "as #eing 4uietly surrounded if 0oon "as doing so&e arresting. 1ell, &ay#e it "ould all #e in the papers to&orro". 0oon had certainly done so&e good "ork that night. 6e had surrounded the &ansion "ith &en "hilst the thieves "ere actually inside. 6e had arrested all four of the&although one, alas, had got a"ay in the struggleand 0oon "as feeling very pleased "ith hi&self indeed. Not a dou#t of that. *t "asn)t until past &idnight that Mr. 0oon suddenly re&e&#ered that he had left -aitty locked up in the cup#oard in the 1a("orks 6all. %,rat &at #oy'% he thought. %* could go to #ed no", and sleep easy, if it "asn)t for getting hi& out of that cup#oard. 6e)s had a nice long ti&e there to think over all his &isdeeds, he has. 1ell, *)d #etter get along and let hi& outand give hi& a fe" good "ords of advice too. 6e)s &issed all the fun this ti&eand I'*e solved this Mystery, not hi&' 6a'% Mr. 0oon cycled do"n to the 1a("orks 6all and, leaving his #icycle outside, "ent into the 6all. 6e s"itched on his torch and "alked to the cup#oard. 6e rapped s&artly on it. %6ey, you'% he said. %:eady to #e let out yet3 1e)ve done everything, and no" that the fun)s over, you can co&e along out'% There "as no ans"er. Mr. 0oon rapped loudly again, thinking that -atty had gone to sleep. But still there "as no ans"er. ! little cold feeling crept round Mr. 0oon)s heart. .urely that #oy "as all right3

6urriedly Mr. 0oon turned the key in the lock and opened the door. 6e shone his light into the cup#oard. Napoleon looked #ack at hi&, standing there in his under gar&ent#ut no -atty' Mr. 0oon)s hands #egan to tre&#le. 1here "as that #oy3 6e couldn)t get out of a locked cup#oard' /r could he3 Mr. 0oon re&e&#ered ho" -atty had apparently passed &ysteriously through a locked door in the last Mystery. Mr. 0oon poked Napoleon in the ri#s to &ake sure he "as "a(, and not -atty. Napoleon did not flinch. 6e looked straight at Mr. 0oon. 7es, he "as "a( all right. Mr. 0oon shut the door, pu$$led and upset. No" "here "as that #oy3 6ad so&e#ody carried hi& off3 6e had seen hi& #ound and gagged, so he couldn)t have escaped #y hi&self. 1ell, then, "hat had happened3 Mr. 0oon "ent ho&e slo"ly, pedalling "ith heavy feet. 6e ought to have let that #oy free #efore he had gone after the gang. .uppose he didn)t turn up in the &orning3 1hat e(planation could he give to the *nspector3 6e "as seeing hi& at ten o)clock. Mr. 0oon gave a heavy sigh. 6e had #een looking for"ard to that intervie"no" he "asn)t so sure. That fat #oy "as very friendly "ith the *nspector. *f it ca&e out that anything had happened to hi&, *nspector <enks &ight ask so&e very very a"k"ard 4uestions. ,rat the #oy' -atty slept soundly that night, tired out "ith his adventures. Mr. 0oon slept too, #ut not so soundly. 6e drea&t a#out his great success in arresting the gang#ut every ti&e he "as a#out to receive "ords of praise fro& the *nspector, -atty ca&e into the drea&, tied up, #egging for help. *t "as &ost distur#ing, #ecause he "oke Mr. 0oon up each ti&e, and then he found it hard to go to sleep again. !t nine o)clock the -ive -ind /uters "ere all together in Pip)s garden, going over and over the happenings of the night #efore. !ll of the& "ere &ost indignant "ith 0oon for leaving -atty in the cup#oard. %1e)re going to &ake hi& think -atty)s #een spirited a"ay,% said +arry, "ith a grin. %1e)ll "ait a#out the village for hi&, and each ti&e he passes any of us "e)ll ask hi& if he)s heard anything of -atty.% .o, at half past nine the children, "ith the e(ception of -atty, of course, hung a#out near 0oon)s house, "aiting for hi& to co&e out. +arry "as at the corner, Pip "as near the house, and ,aisy and Bets "ere not far off. +arry gave a "histle "hen he sa" 0oon co&ing out, "heeling his #icycle, ready to ride over to see the *nspector. 6e looked very s&art indeed, for he had #rushed his unifor&, cleaned his #elt and hel&et and shoes, and polished his #uttons till they shone. 6e "as the very picture, he hoped, of a .&art Police&an !"aiting Pro&otion. %* say, Mr. 0oon'% called Pip, as the police&an prepared to &ount his #icycle. %,o you kno" "here our friend, -rederick, is3% %1hy should *3% sco"led Mr. 0oon, #ut his heart sank. .o that #oy had vanished' %1ell, "e 2ust "ondered,% said Pip. %* suppose you haven)t seen hi& at all3 % Mr. 0oon couldn)t say that. 6e &ounted his #icycle and rode off, his face red. 6e hoped that #oy -atty "asn)t going to cause a lot of trou#le, 2ust as he, 0oon, had got things going so very nicely. 6e passed ,aisy and Bets. ,aisy called out. %/h, Mr. 0oon' 6ave you seen -atty3 ,o tell us if you have'% %* don)t kno" "here he is,% said Mr. 0oon desperately, and cycled on. But at the corner, there "as +arry' %Mr. 0oon' Mr. 0oon' 6ave you seen -atty3 ,o you kno" "here he is3 ,o you think he)s disappeared3 Mr. 0oon, do tell us "here he is. 6ave you locked hi& up3% %5ourse not'% spluttered Mr. 0oon. %6e)ll turn up. 6e)ll turn up like a #ad penny, you &ay #e sure'% 6e rode on, feeling &ost unco&forta#le. 1here %o!ld the #oy #e3 6ad that thief "ho escaped gone #ack to the 6all, and taken -atty3 No, that couldn)t #e, surely. But 16E:E 1!. that #oy3 The *nspector "as "aiting for Mr. 0oon in his office. /n his desk "ere various reports of the happenings of the night #efore, sent in, not only #y Mr. 0oon, #ut #y t"o other police&en "ho had helped in the arrests, and #y plain clothes detectives "ho had also #een on the case. 6e also had reports on "hat the three prisoners had said "hen 4uestioned. .o&e s&art "ork had #een done, there "as no dou#t a#out that#ut so&ething "as "orrying the *nspector. Mr. 0oon sa" it as soon as he got into the office. 6e had hoped and e(pected to find his superior officer full of s&iles and praise. But nothe *nspector looked rather sole&n, and a #it "orried. 1hy3

%1ell, 0oon,% said the *nspector, %so&e good "ork appears to have #een done on this case. But it)s a pity a#out the pearls, isn)t it3 % Mr. 0oon gaped. %The pearls, sir3 1hat a#out the&3 1e)ve got the&, sirtook the& off one of the gang.% %!h, #ut you seethey are not the stolen pearls,% said the *nspector gently. %No, 0oonthey are 2ust a cheap necklace the &an "as going to give his girl' The real pearls have vanished'%

,he Mystery is not yet 5nded.

Mr. 0oon)s &outh opened and shut like a goldfish. 6e si&ply couldn)t #elieve his ears. %But, sir"e got the thieves red handed. !nd the one that escaped "as only the one on guard in the garden, sir. 6e hadn)t anything to do "ith the thieving. *t "as the three upstairs "ho did thatand "e)ve got the&.% %7es, you)ve got the&, and that "as a very good #it of "ork, as * said,% said the *nspector. %But *)& afraid, 0oon, that one of the upstairs thieves, "hen he kne" the ga&e "as up, si&ply thre" the pearls out of the "indo" to the &an #elo". 6e &ust have pocketed the&, and then, "hen he "as arrested, struggled so violently that he &anaged to escapewith the pearls. Pity, isn)t it3% Mr. 0oon "as &ost dis&ayed. True, they had got three of the gang#ut the pearls "ere gone. 6e had "aited to catch the &en red handedand actually let the& take the pearls, #ecause he felt so certain he could get the& #ack, "hen the &en "ere arrestedand no", after all, the ro##ery had #een successful. /ne of the gang had got the&, and "ould no dou#t get rid of the& in dou#le 4uick ti&e. %*t)sit)s &ost unfortunate, sir,% said poor Mr. 0oon. %1elllet)s hear your tale,% said the *nspector. %7ou only had ti&e to send in a very short report"hat)s all this a#out posing as a "a("ork3% Mr. 0oon "as proud of this #it, and he related it all in full to the interested *nspector. But "hen he ca&e to the part "here he had snee$ed, and the &en had caught -atty, instead of hi&self, *nspector <enks sat up straight. %,o you &ean to tell &e that -rederick Trotteville "as there3% he said. %Posing too3 1hat as3% %Napoleon, sir,% said 0oon. %*nterfering as usual. That #oy can)t keep his nose out of things, he can)t. 1ell sir, "hen the &en had gone to do the ro##ery, * crept out after the&, and * "ent to the telephone #o( and...% %1ait a #it, "ait a #it,% said the *nspector. %1hat happened to -rederick3% %6i&3 /h "ellnothing &uch,% said 0oon, trying to gloss over this #it as 4uickly as possi#le. %They 2ust tied hi& up a #it, sir, and chucked hi& into a cup#oard. They didn)t hurt hi&. /f course, if they)d started any rough stuff "ith hi&, *)d have gone for the&, sir.% %/f course,% said the *nspector gravely. %1ell * suppose you "ent and untied hi& and let hi& out of the cup#oard #efore you rushed off to telephone.% Mr. 0oon "ent rather red. %1ell, sirto tell you the truth, sir, * didn)t think * had the ti&eand also, sir, it "as a dangerous #usiness last night, and * didn)t think that #oy ought to #e &i(ed up in it. 6e)s a terror for getting into the &iddle of things, sir, that #oy is, and ...% %0oon,% said the *nspector, and the police&an stopped a#ruptly and looked at his superior. 6e "as looking very grave. %0oon. ,o you &ean to say you left the #oy tied up in a locked cup#oard3 * can hardly #elieve it of you. 1hat ti&e did you let hi& out3% Mr. 0oon s"allo"ed nervously. %* "ent #ack, sir, a#out &idnightand * unlocked the cup#oard door, sir andand the cup#oard "as e&pty.% %0ood heavens'% said the *nspector, startled. %,o you kno" "hat had happened to -rederick3 % %No, sir,% said Mr. 0oon. The *nspector reached out for one of his five telephones. %* &ust ring his ho&e to see if he is all right,% he said. Mr. 0oon looked &ore do"ncast than ever. %6e)s"ell, he see&s to have vanished, sir,% he said. The *nspector put do"n the telephone, and stared at Mr. 0oon. %@anished' 1hat do you &ean3 This is very serious indeed.% %1ell, .irall * kno" is that the other kidsthe ones he)s al"ays "iththey keep on asking &e if * kno" "here their friend is,% said Mr. 0oon desperately. %!nd if they don)t kno""ell, he &ight #e any"here'% %* &ust look into the &atter at once,% said the *nspector. %*)ll get into touch "ith his parents. No" finish your story 4uickly, so that * can get on to this &atter of -rederick Trotteville at once.%

.o poor Mr. 0oon had to cut short his "onderful story, and #lurt out 4uickly the rest of the night)s happenings. 6e felt very do"n in the &outh as he cycled #ack ho&e. The pearls had gone after all' 1hat a #lo"' !nd no" this "retched #oy had disappeared, and there "ould #e no end of a fuss a#out hi&. Privately Mr. 0oon thought it "ould #e a very good thing if -atty disappeared for good. /h, "hy hadn)t he let hi& out of that cup#oard last night3 6e had kno"n that he ought to#ut it had see&ed such a very good "ay of paying out that interfering #oy' 1here could -atty #e3 Mr. 0oon pondered the &atter deeply as he turned into the village street. 6ad the escaped thief gone #ack to the 6all, and taken -atty prisoner, &eaning to hold hi& up for ranso&, or so&ething3 Mr. 0oon "ent cold at the thought. *f such a thing happened, he "ould #e held up to scorn #y every one for not having freed -atty "hen he could. 6e "as so deep in thought that he did not see a s&all dog run at his #icycle. 6e "o##led, and fell off, landing "ith a #u&p on the road. The dog fle" round hi& in delight, #arking lustily. %5lear orf'% shouted Mr. 0oon angrily, and suddenly recogni$ed Buster. %1ill you clear orf'% 6e looked round to see "ho "as in charge of Busterand his &outh fell "ide open. 6e "as so astonished &at he couldn)t get up, #ut "ent on sitting do"n in the road, "ith Buster &aking little darts at hi&. -atty "as standing there, grinning do"n at hi&. "atty! Mr. 0oon stared at hi&. 6ere he)d #een reporting to the *nspector that -atty had vanishedand the *nspector had gone all hot and #othered a#out itand no" here "as that sa&e #oy, grinning do"n at hi&, large as life and t"ice as natural. %1here)ve you #een3% said Mr. 0oon at last, fee#ly pushing Buster a"ay. %6o&e,% said -atty. %1hy3% )$ome?) said Mr. 0oon. %7ou)ve #een at ho&e3 1hy, the others kept asking &e "here you "ere, see3 !nd * reported your disappearance to the *nspector. 6e)s going to start searching for you.% %But Mr. 0oon"hy3% asked -atty innocently. %*)& here. !nd * got ho&e all right last night, too. !ll the sa&e, it "as 2olly &ean of you to leave &e in that cup#oard. * shan)t forget that in a hurry.% Mr. 0oon got up. %6o" did you get out of that there cup#oard3% he asked. %!ll tied up you "ere, too. ,o you &ean to say you untied yourself, and unlocked that cup#oard and got out all #y yourself3% %7ou never kno", do you3% said -atty. %1ell so long, Mr. 0oonand do telephone the *nspector to tell hi& not to start searching for &e. *)ll #e at ho&e if he "ants &e'% 6e "ent off "ith' Buster, and poor Mr. 0oon "as left to cycle ho&e, his head spinning. %That #oy' -irst he)s locked up, then he disappears, then he co&es #ack againand no#ody kno"s ho" or "hen or "hy.% Mr. 0oon couldn)t &ake head or tail of it. 6e didn)t en2oy ringing up the *nspector and reporting that he had 2ust &et -atty. %But where had he #een3% said the *nspector, pu$$led. %1here "as he last night3% %Erat ho&e, sir,% said poor Mr. 0oon. %*t "as the other children put &e off, sirasking &e if * kne" "here he "as, and all that, sir.% The *nspector put do"n his receiver "ith an i&patient click. :eally, 0oon "as too idiotic at ti&es' The *nspector sat looking at his telephone, thinking deeply. 6e had had reports fro& all kinds of people a#out this 5ase#ut not fro& one person, "ho appeared to kno" 4uite a lot a#out itand that "as Master -rederick Trotteville' .The *nspector &ade another telephone call. -atty ans"ered it. %* "ant you to cycle over here this &orning and ans"er a fe" 4uestions, -rederick,% said the *nspector. %5o&e straight along no".% .o, "ith Buster in his #asket, -atty rode off to the ne(t to"n, "ondering a little fearfully "hat the inspector "anted to kno". 1ould he think he had #een &i(ing hi&self up in this Mystery a #it too &uch3 6e had "arned the -ind /uters not to get &i(ed up, #ecause it &ight #e dangerous. The *nspector "as friendly, #ut #usiness like, and he listened ito the "hole of -atty)s tale "ith the greatest interest, especially to the tale of -atty)s various disguises. %Most interesting,% he said. %7ou)ve got a gift for that kind of thing, * can see. But don)t over do it. No" you)ve heard all a#out Cthe arrests, * suppose3 %

%* only kno" "hat)s in the paper this &orning, sir,% said -atty. %* kne" it "as no good asking Mr. 0oon anything. *)& a #it fed up that he &anaged the Mystery after all, "hilst * "as locked up in the cup#oard.% %6e should have let you out,% said the *nspector shortly. %@ery re&iss of hi&. Not the kind of thing * e(pect fro& a police officer. 1ell, -rederick, three arrest "ere &adeas you kno"#ut the &an on guard in the garden #elo" escaped. !nd, &ost unfortunately, he appears to have escaped "ith the 5astleton pearls'% %But the papers said they "ere found in one of the arrested &en)s pockets'% said -atty. %1e)ve got later ne"s,% said *nspector <enks. %Those pearls "ere only cheap ones, #ought #y one of the &en as a gift for his "ifeor stolen fro& so&e"here else pro#a#ly. They)re only "orth a fe" pounds. The real pearls have gone.% %* see,% said -atty, and he cheered >p considera#ly. %.othe Mystery isn)t 4uite over, sir. 1e)ve got to find out "here the pearls are3 5an you find the &an "ho escaped, do you flunk3 6e &ight split, and tell "here he put the pearls.% %1e ha*e got hi&,% said the *nspector gri&ly. %The ne"s ca&e in ten &inutes ago. But he hadn)t got the pearls, and "on)t say "here he)s put the&' But "e happen to kno" that Nu&#er Three of the gang is usually the one "ho disposes of the stolen 2e"elsand its likely that this fello" "e)ve 2ust arrested has put the pearls in so&e agreed place, for Nu&#er Three, "hoever he is, to fetch "hen all the hue and cry dies do"n.% %7ou don)t kno" "ho Nu&#er Three is, do you sir3% asked -atty. %6aven)t any idea,% said the *nspector. %1e &ore or less had our suspicions of the other four#ut Nu&#er Three "e)ve never #een a#le to guess at. No", -rederick, *)& not altogether pleased at the "ay you &i(ed yourself up in this, "hen * "arned you not to, #ecause it "as dangerousno" you 2ust see if you can)t solve the rest of the Mystery, and find those pearls #efore Nu&#er Three does. There)s no danger no"so you -ive -ind /uters can go ahead.% %7es, sir,% said -atty, looking rather su#dued. %1ell do our #est. 1e)ve got 2ust a fe" things to go on. *)ll "ork the& out and see "hat can #e done. Thanks for giving us a chance to solve the Mystery of the Missing Pearls' 0ood #ye, sir'%

'!mber ,hree Again.

-atty "ent straight to Pip)s. 6e felt sure he "ould find the rest of the -ind /uters there, "aiting for hi&. They "ere outside the su&&er house, &aking +arry tell the& over and over again all that had happened. %6ere)s -atty'% cried Bets. %1hat did the *nspector say, -atty3 1asn)t he angry "ith 0oon for leaving you in that cup#oard3% %6e "asn)t very pleased "ith hi&at least he didn)t so!nd very pleased,% said -atty. %6e didn)t sound very pleased "ith &e either' .ee&ed to think * oughtn)t to have got so &i(ed up in this Mystery. But ho" %o!ld I keep out of it3% %* e(pect he Cthought it "as dangerous,% said Bets, %and so it "as, last night. /h, -atty, * kne" you "ere in danger. * really, really did.% %0ood old Bets'% said -atty, giving her a hug. %*)& 2olly glad you had one of your funny feelings a#out &e if you hadn)t sent Pip to +arry, and +arry hadn)t co&e along to the 1a("orks 6all, goodness kno"s ho" long *)d have #een shut up in that cup#oard. By the "aythe Mystery is still not 8!ite ended'9 Every one sat up at once. %1hat do you &ean3% said ,aisy. -atty e(plained a#out the &issing pearls and Nu&#er Three. %The *nspector thinks that Nu&#er -ive, "ho escaped "ith the pearls last night, had ti&e to put the& in so&e safe place, #efore he "as caught this &orning. 6e "ill pro#a#ly try and get a &essage to Nu&#er Threethe gang &e&#er "ho "asn)t there last night and so is still at largeand till Nu&#er Three gets that &essage a#out the pearls and finds the&, any one &ight find the&' !nd it)s up to us to do it'% %* see,% said +arry slo"ly. %But ho" in the "orld can any one find the& if they don)t even kno" "here to look3 *t)s i&possi#le.%

%Nothing)s i&possi#le to a really good detective,% said -atty. %* agree that it)s a frightfully difficult &ystery to solve#ut * think if only "e can get hold of Nu&#er Three so&eho", and shado" hi&, he &ight lead us to the necklace'% %1hat do you &eanshado" hi&3% asked Bets. %-ollo" hi&, sillyal"ays keep hi& in sight,% said Pip. %.pot "here he goes, or "here he hangs a#out. 6e)s sure to hang a#out the place "here the pearls are, "aiting for a chance to get the&.% %That)s right,% said -atty. %The thing iswho is Nu&#er Three and ho" can "e get hold of hi&3% There "as a silence. No#ody kne" the ans"er. %1hat do "e kno" a#out Nu&#er Three3% said -atty, considering. %1e kno" he rides a #ike that has a hooter on it. 1e kno" he has odd eyes, one #lue and one #ro"n. !nd "e kno" he ro"s a #oat. * rather think, as "e)ve seen hi& in Peters"ood t"ice that he &ust live here.% There "as another silence. None of the things they kne" a#out the odd eyed &an see&ed to #e of any help in finding hi&. Then Pip suddenly gave an e(cla&ation. %* think * kno" "hat to do'% %1hat3 % said every one eagerly. %1ell, "e)re sure that Nu&#er -ive hid the pearls so&e"here, and "e)re pretty certain he)ll get a &essage to Nu&#er Three, somehowhas pro#a#ly sent one already, in case he hi&self got caught #y the police and put into prison. No" "ho "ould he send that &essage to, to deliver to Nu&#er Three3 % %The old &an, <ohnny, of course'% said -atty. %6e)s the one they al"ays use, apparently, "hen they "ant to send &essages to one another. .oif "e "atch old <ohnny againsooner of later "e)ll see Nu&#er Three go 4uietly up to hi&....% %.it do"n #eside hi&and receive the &essage'% said +arry. %!nd if "e shado" hi&, after that, "e shall spot "here he goes. May#e hell lead us straight to the necklace'% Every one felt &uch &ore cheerful and hopeful. %That)s a #rain "ave of yours, Pip,% said -atty. %*)& surprised * didn)t think of it &yself. @ery good.% !ll the -ind /uters loved a "ord of praise fro& their leader. Pip "ent 4uite red "ith pleasure. %* suppose that &eans "e &ust go and sit in that s&elly little le&onade shop again,% said ,aisy. -atty considered. %/nly one of us had #etter shado" Nu&#er Three closely,% he said. %*f he sees five of us tailing hi& he)s #ound to get a #it suspicious. *)ll do the shado"ingif you don)t &ind, Pip, though it was your ideaand you can all follo" &e at a safe distance.% %* don)t &ind a #it,% said Pip generously. %*)& sure you)ll #e &uch #etter at shado"ing than * shall. 1here "ill you "ait3 !nd shall "e have #ikes or not3% %Better have #ikes,% said +arry. %6e "as on a #ike last ti&e he "ent up to the old &an. *f he)s "alking "e can al"ays leave our #icycles so&e"here, and "alk after hi&.% %7es, that)s a sound idea,% said -atty. %1hat)s the ti&e3 !l&ost dinner ti&e. The old fello" doesn)t co&e out till the afternoon, so "ell &eet 2ust #efore t"o, at the #otto& of &y lane, "ith #ikes.% %But, -atty, do you think the old &an "ill co&e out and sit on your seat, after your "arning, and after "hat he "ill have read in the papers today3% asked +arry. %1ont he #e afraid3% %7es, pro#a#ly he "ill,% said -atty. %But if he has a &essage to deliver, * think he)ll risk it. * #et the gang pay hi& "ell for this go #et"een #usiness.% No" that there "as so&ething to do9 /uters felt very cheerful. They "ent to their dinners pleased that there "as still a Mystery to solve. *f only they could find those pearls #efore 0oon did' Mr. 0oon, of course, "as e(ercising his &ind too, a#out the &issing pearls. 6e too kne" that if only he could spot Nu&#er Three, he &ight #e led to the pearls. But he had not got as far as reckoning out that it "ould #e a good idea to "atch old <ohnny again, to see if Nu&#er Three ca&e to receive a &essage' That afternoon four of the -ind /uters sat in the little s"eet shop, on the opposite side of the road to the #ench "here the old &an so often sat. -atty "as not "ith the&. 6e "as leaning against a tree not far off, apparently deep in a paper, his #icycle #eside hi&. 6e "as "atching for the old &an to co&e. 6o" he hoped he "ould'

The #icycles #elonging to the others "ere piled against the side of the s"eet shop. The four children in the shop "ere eating ices, and "atching the #ench opposite as keenly as -atty "as. .o&e one ca&e shuffling round the corner. 6urrah' *t "as the old &an, co&plete "ith sniffle and pipe and cough. 6e sat hi&self do"n gingerly on the #ench "ith a little groan, 2ust e(actly as -atty used to do. Then he #ent hi&self over his stick handle and see&ed to go to sleep. The children "aited, "hilst their ices &elted in the saucers. 6ad <ohnny got a &essage to deliver fro& Nu&#er -ive to Nu&#er Three3 ! noise &ade the& 2u&p violently. *t "as the sound of a hooter' -atty 2u&ped too. 6e lifted his head cautiously fro& his paper, and sa" a &an riding do"n the 6igh .treet on a #icycle.. *t had a hooter instead of a #ell. The &an rode to the #ench, hooted, and got off his #icycle. 6e stood his &achine against the ker# and "ent to sit do"n on the #ench close to the old &an. The old fello" did not even look up. 6o" "ould he kno" if it "as Nu&#er Three or not then3 6e "as deaf and "ould not hear a "hisper. -atty pu$$led his #rains to think. %/f course'% he thought suddenly. %That loud hooter al"ays tells the old &an "hen Nu&#er Three is co&ing to sit on the #ench #eside hi&. /f course' 0osh, that)s clever.% The old &an took a#solutely no notice of the other &an. -atty "atched very carefully, #ut he could not see any &ove&ent of the old &an)s &outh, nor could he see the giving of any paper &essage. -or a fe" &o&ents the t"o &en sat together, and then old <ohnny sat up a little straighter, and #egan to dra" patterns in the dust "ith the end of his stick. -atty "atched &ore carefully to see if the old &an "as talking, under cover of his &ove&ents. But he could not &ake out that he "asunless he could talk "ithout &oving his lips, as a ventrilo4uist can' !fter a &inute or t"o the other &an got up and "ent to his #icycle. 6e got on it, hooted, and rode slo"ly over to the s"eet shop. The four children in there stiffened "ith e(cite&ent. 1hat "as he co&ing over there for3 Bets gave a gasp as he ca&e in, and Pip kicked her under the ta#le, afraid she &ight give the& a"ay. Bets took one look at the &an and then #egan to finish her ice, &aking rather a noise "ith her spoon. %Bo( of &atches, please,% said the &an, and put a penny do"n on the counter. No#ody liked to look at hi& in case he #eca&e suspicious of the&. 6e "ent out, lighting a cigarette. %6e)s got odd eyes!) said Bets. %6e)s the one' 6ooter on his #ikeand odd eyes' /oohit)s getting e(citing.% -atty, "aiting #y the tree outside, sa" the &an go in and out of the shop. The #oy folded up his paper 4uickly, and &ounted his #ike as the &an "ent s"iftly #y hi&. 6e follo"ed hi& at a discreet distance, "ondering if he had had any &essage, and if he "as going to lead hi& to the pearls' %5o&e on,% said +arry, going out of the shop 4uickly. %1e)ve got to follo" too.% The &an rode do"n to the -air. 6e "andered round a #it and then "ent to the 6all of 1a("orks. But he only 2ust put his head inside, and ca&e out. -atty popped his head inside too, #ut e(cept that it "as full of people looking at the "a("orks, there "as nothing different to see. Napoleon "as dressed and #ack in his place, and the red haired #oy "as relating an e(traordinary tale of ho", in the night, Napoleon had apparently got out of his place, undressed and put hi&self to #ed in a cup#oard. %.tory teller'% said so&e listening children. %1hat a fi#'% %!nd "hat)s &ore,% said the red headed #oy, thoroughly en2oying hi&self, %that "a( police&an over theredo you see hi&3 1ell, he got up in the night and "ent and stood hi&self #ehind that curtain. .uch goings on'% -atty longed to hear &ore of this, #ut the &an he "as follo"ing had gone, and -atty had to go too, or lose hi&. The &an had put his #icycle #eside the hedge and pad locked the #ack "heel, so -atty kne" he &eant to stay around for a "hile. The other -ind /uters ca&e up, and -atty "inked at the&. %+ooks as if "e)re going to spend an hour or t"o in the -air'% he said. The &an "andered a#out &ost ai&lessly. 6e didn)t even have a ride on the rounda#out, or try for a 6oopla gift, or go in a Bu&ping 5arhe 2ust trailed a#out. Every no" and then he passed the 1a("orks 6all, and looked inside. But he didn)t go in at all. -atty "ondered if he "as "aiting for so&e#ody to &eet hi& there.

%* don)t #elieve he kno"s "here the pearls are'% thought -atty. %/r surely he)d go straight to the&' My "ord "hat a cro"d there is at the -air today'% The &an evidently thought the sa&e. 6e asked a 4uestion a#out it of the &an at the 6oopla stall. %=uite a cro"d today * 1hat)s up3% %/h, it)s a trip fro& .heepsale, a kind of outing,% said the &an. %They)re going at four o)clock, then the place "ill e&pty a #it. 0ood trade for us, though'% The &an nodded. Then he &ade his "ay through the cro"d to his #icycle, and unpadlocked it. -atty follo"ed hi&. *t "as clear that the &an couldn)t do "hatever he "anted to do, #ecause the place "as too cro"ded. Pro#a#ly he "ould #e co&ing #ack. *t "as up to -atty to follo" hi&. 6e "ould leave the others do"n in the -air, #ecause he "as sure that he and the &an "ould #e #ack there sooner or later, "hen the trippers had gone. 6e had ti&e to give a 4uick &essage to +arry. Then off he "ent over the level crossing on his #icycle, follo"ing the &an as closely as he dared. :ound the corner they "ent, the &an hooting "ith his little hooter parp parp. !nd round the corner on his #icycle ca&e 0oon' The t"o al&ost collided. 0oon, "ho had heard the hooter, glued his eyes on the &an at once. 1as he Nu&#er Three3 6e &ust #e' 6e see&ed to #e the only &an "ithin &iles "ho had a hooter on his #icycle, instead of a #ell, for so&e peculiar reason that 0oon couldn)t guess. 0oon &ade up his &ind to follo" Nu&#er Three at once, and keep hi& in sight. @isions of pearl necklaces floated in front of his eyes. Nu&#er Three kne" "here those pearls "ere, 0oon "as sure of it. /ff he "ent after Nu&#er Three. !nd #ehind hi& "ent -atty, annoyed and angry. 1as 0oon going to get in first again! 0oon heard so&e one #ehind hi& and turned. 6e sco"led. That fat #oy again' 1as he after Nu&#er Three too. %0ah'% said 0oon to hi&self. %The interfering Toad'%

A 'i%e 6ong 1ide.

!nd no", of course, Mr. 0oon spoilt si&ply everything' Nu&#er Three couldn)t possi#ly help guessing that he "as #eing shado"ed #y the fat, panting police&an' -or one thing, 0oon didn)t keep a fair distance a"ay, #ut pedalled closely to Nu&#er Three)s #icycleso close to it that if Nu&#er Three had to #rake suddenly, his %shado"% "ould al&ost certainly #u&p into hi&' -atty cycled on, so&e "ay #ehind the other t"o, thinking hard. *t "as too #ad of /ld 5lear /rf to #utt in like this, 2ust as the -ind /uters had really got going again. -or one &o&ent -atty kne" "hat Mr. 0oon felt like, "hen others interfered' 6e, -atty, had often interfered "ith the police&an)s "orking out of a &ystery and no" here "as 0oon doing the sa&e thing. !nd he)d done it the evening #efore, too, in the 1a("orks 6all. *t "as &ost e(asperating. Nu&#er Three, giving occasional sco"ling glances #ehind hi&, sa" that 0oon "as hot on his trail. 6e didn)t really need to look round hi& to see the police&an, #ecause he could hear hi& "ell enough too0oon)s puffs and pants "ere terrific. ! little grin curled the corners of Nu&#er Three)s lips. 0oon "anted a #icycle ride, did he3 !ll right then, he could have it, "ith pleasure. Nu&#er Three "ould take hi& for a long, long ride through the countryside, on this hot, sultry afternoon' -atty soon #egan to have an inkling of the "ay in "hich Nu&#er Three)s &ind "as "orking, for the &an suddenly see&ed to have a tre&endous desire to cycle up all the steep hills it "as possi#le to find. 6e "as a strong, &uscular fello", and he sailed up the hills easily enough#ut poor 0oon found it terri#ly hard "ork, and -atty "asn)t very happy either. 6e #egan to puff too, and to "ish that he had given +arry or Pip the 2o# of shado"ing this e(tre&ely active fello". %The "retched &an kno"s that 0oon is follo"ing hi& #ecause he suspects hi& of kno"ing "here the pearls are, and he going to lead hi& a fine old dance, up hill and do"n dale'% thought -atty, his legs going round and round furiously, and the perspiration dripping into his eyes. %6e)s either going to tire old 0oon out, and &ake hi& give upor else he)s going to give hi& the slip so&eho".%

.till the three "ent on and on, and -atty)s clothes stuck to hi& horri#ly, he "as so hot. Nu&#er Three didn)t see& to tire in the least, and had a &ost uncanny kno"ledge of all the nasty little hills in the district. Poor Mr. 0oon "ent fro& red to scarlet, and fro& scarlet to purple. 6e "as in his hot unifor&, and even -atty felt a #it sorry for hi&. %6ell have a fit if he goes up any &ore hills at top speed,% thought -atty, "iping his forehead. %.o shall *' 0olly, *)& a#solutely &elting. * shall have lost pounds and pounds in "eight soon. Phe"'9 Mr. 0oon "as a#solutely deter&ined that he "asn)t going to #e shaken off #y Nu&#er Three. 6e kne" that -atty "as #ehind hi&, and that if he, Mr. 0oon, failed in the chase, -atty "ould go triu&phantly on. .o Mr. 0oon gritted his #ig teeth and kept on and on and on. ! #ig hill loo&ed up in front. Mr. 0oon groaned fro& the #otto& of his heart. Nu&#er Three sailed up as usual. Mr. 0oon follo"ed valiantly. -atty, feeling that this "as a#solutely the last stra", "ent up it too. !nd then he felt a peculiar #u&ping fro& his #ack tyre. 6e looked do"n in alar&. Blo", #lo", #lo"' 6e)d got a puncture' Poor -atty. 6e got off and looked at his tyre. *t "as a#solutely flat. No good pu&ping it up, #ecause it "ould #e flat again al&ost at onceand, in any case, if he stopped to pu&p it up he "ould lose Nu&#er Three and Mr. 0oon. *f he had #een Bets he "ould have #urst into ho"ls. *f he had #een ,aisy he "ould have sat on the #ank and shed a fe" 4uiet tears. *f he had #een +arry he "ould have shaken his fist at the tyre and kicked it. *f he had #een Pip he "ould pro#a#ly have yelled at it and then 2u&ped on it in fury. But #eing -atty, he did none of these things at all. 6e took a 4uick look up the hill and caught sight of a triu&phant Mr. 0oon looking #ack at hi& "ith a grin on his face. Then he and Nu&#er Three disappeared over the top of the hill. -atty "aved to 0oon. %* "ish you a nice long ride'% he said pleasantly, and &opped his forehead. Then he "aited for a car to co&e along over the top of the hill. *t "asn)t long #efore he heard one. *t "as a lorry, driven #y a young &an "ith a cigarette hanging out of the corner of his &outh. -atty hailed hi&. %6ie' .top a &inute, there)s a good chap.% The lorry stopped. -atty took a half cro"n out of his pocket. %1ould you &ind stopping at the ne(t garage and asking the& to send out a ta(i for &e3% he said. %*)ve got a puncture, and *)& &iles fro& any"here, and don)t "ant to have to "alk ho&e.% %Bad luck, &ate,% said the driver. %1here do you live3% %Peters"ood,% said -atty. %* don)t kno" ho" far *)ve ridden this afternoon, #ut * i&agine it &ust #e a#out t"enty &iles a"ay'% %/h, not so far as that, &ate'% said the driver. %*)& going near Peters"ood. 5huck your #ike in the #ack of the lorry, cli&# up here #eside &eand put your &oney a"ay' * can give a chap a lift "ithout #eing paid for it'% %/h, thanks a"fully,% said -atty, and put a"ay his half cro"n. 6e lifted his #icycle into the lorry, and then cli&#ed up #eside the driver. 6e "as very hot and tired, and terri#ly thirsty, #ut he chatted a"ay in a friendly &anner, glad to have this une(pected lift #ack. %6ere you are,% said the driver, "hen they had rattled through the countryside for a#out t"enty &inutes. %Peters"ood is not a#ove a &ile fro& here. 7ou can "alk that.% %@ery &any thanks,% said -atty, and 2u&ped do"n. 6e took his #icycle and "aved to the departing lorry. Then he "alked s&artly off in the direction of Peters "ood. 6e "ent ho&e and put a"ay his punctured #ike. 6is father)s #ike "as in the shed, so -atty #orro"ed that, and off he "ent, 4uite cheerful, on his "ay to the -air to see "hat the others "ere doing. They "ere "ondering "hat had happened to -atty. They hadn)t liked to leave the -air, so they had had tea there, and "ere no" conversing "ith the red headed #oy at the 1a("orks, hearing for the t"entieth ti&e, the e(traordinary tale of Napoleon)s escapade in the night. %/h, "atty!% cried Bets, "hen she sa" hi&. %7ou)ve co&e #ack at last' 1hatever happened3 !nd ho" frightfully hot you look'%

Buster "elco&ed -atty uproariously. 6e had #een left #ehind "ith +arry, in case -atty had to do so&e 4uick shado"ing. -atty looked at hi&. %* feel as if &y tongue)s hanging out like Buster)s, *)& so hot and thirsty,% he said. %* &ust have an iced ginger#eer. 5o&e and sit "ith &e "hilst * have it, and *)ll tell you "hat)s happened'% %,id Nu&#er Three lead you to the &issing pearls3% asked Bets e(citedly, as -atty "ent to the ginger#eer stall. 6e shook his head. %5o&e on over to the grass here,% he said, and led the "ay. 6e flung hi&self do"n and drank his ginger#eer in long, thirsty gulps. %0olly' This is the very #est drink *)ve ever had in &y life'% .oon he "as telling the others a#out the "ild goose chase that Nu&#er Three had led #oth hi& and Mr. 0oon. They listened eagerly. 6o" annoying of 0oon to #utt in like that' They laughed "hen they thought of the poor, hot, fat police&an pedalling valiantly up hill and do"n after Nu&#er Three. %1hat a sha&e you had a puncture,% said Bets. %.till, -atty, *)& sure Nu&#er Three "ould never lead you or 0oon to "here the pearls "ere, once he kne" he "as #eing follo"ed' 6e &ight not have kno"n that yo! "ere shado"ing hi&#ut he si&ply couldn)t hel( kno"ing that 0oon "as'% -atty finished his iced ginger#eer and ordered another. 6e said he had never #een so thirsty in his life. %1hen * think of poor, hot 0oon, pedalling a"ay still for dear life, and feeling as thirsty as * a&"ell, all * can say is that *)& 2olly glad * got a puncture'% said -atty, drinking again. %* should think 0oon "ill end up so&e"here in .cotland, #y the ti&e he)s finished this #ike ride'% %!ll the sa&e,% said +arry, %it)s a #it sickening that "e aren)t any nearer solving the &ystery of "here those pearls are hidden. *nstead of the &an leading us to the&he see&s #ent on going as far fro& the& as he can'% %* "onder if that old fello" did give hi& a &essage,% said Pip, fro"ning. %7ou)re sure you didn)t see any sign of a &essage at all3 +et)s think no". !ll that old <ohnny did "as to &ess a#out in the dust, dra"ing patterns "ith his stick. Nothing else.% -atty "as drinking his ginger#eer as Pip said this. 6e suddenly choked and spluttered, and Bets #anged hi& on the #ack. %1hatever)s the &atter3% she said. -atty coughed, and then turned a pair of #right eyes on the -ind /uters. %Pip)s hit it'% he said. %1hat a lot of #lind donkeys "e are' /f coursewe saw that old %ha( gi*ing the message to '!mber ,hree !nder o!r *ery nosesand "e "eren)t s&art enough to spot it'% %1hat do you &ean3% said every one, in surprise. %1ellhe &ust have #een "riting so&e kind of &essage "ith his stick, in the dust, of course, for Nu&#er Three to read'% said -atty. %!nd to think it "as there for us to read, too, if only "e)d gone over and used our eyes. 1e)re #ad -ind /uters. @ery #ad indeed.% The others looked e(cited. Pip slapped -atty on the shoulder. %1ell, co&e on, let)s go and see if the &essage is still there, idiot' *t &ight #e'% %*t &ight. But it)s not very likely no",% said -atty, getting up. %.till, "e)ll certainly go and see. /hto think "e never thought of this #efore. 1here are &y #rains3 They &ust have &elted in this heat'% The -ind /uters, "ith Buster in -atty)s #asket, set off #ack to the village street. They ca&e to the #ench. *t "as e&pty#ut o#viously people had #een sitting there, for there "ere paper #ags stre"n a#out. The children looked eagerly at the dust in front of the seat. 1ould there still #e a &essage they could read3

$!nt+,he+'e%kla%e.
There "ere certainly so&e &arks in the dust, #ut not &any, for so&e#ody)s feet had evidently scuffled a#out 2ust there. -atty sat hi&self do"n in e(actly the sa&e place in "hich the old &an had #een. 6e stared hard at the dust. .o did the others. %That looks like a letter 1,% said -atty, at last, pointing. %Then there)s a letter half ru##ed out. !nd then that looks like an I. Then all the rest of the letters have #een #rushed out "here people have "alked on the&. Blo"'% %1so&ethingI,% said +arry, "ho "as good at cross"ords, "ith their &issing letters. %1!I it &ight #e that.% !nd then e(actly the sa&e thought struck all the -ind /uters at the sa&e &o&ent.

%1!I"orks' That)s "hat the "ord "as'% They stared at one another in the greatest e(cite&ent. 1a("orks' 1ere the pearls hidden so&e"here in the 1a("orks 6all3 *t "as a very likely place, a place that all the gang kne" "ell. !nd Nu&#er Three had kept looking in at the door that afternoon. %6e kept peeping in#ut he couldn)t go and get the pearls, #ecause there "ere too &any people there'% said -atty. %0olly, "e)ve got the idea no"' No" "e)ve only got to go there and hunt, and "e)ll find the pearls so&e"herein the cup#oard, perhaps, or under a floor#oard.% %+et)s go and look for the& straighta"ay,% said +arry, getting up. %5o&e on.% %1e can)t very "ell, under the nose of that red haired #oy,% said -atty. %.till, "e)ll go do"n to the 6all any"ay.% They set off and soon ca&e to the -air again. %There)s the red headed #oy over therehe)s gone to his tea or so&ething,% said Bets, pointing. %6as he left the 6all e&pty for once3% They hurried to see. There "as a #adly "ritten notice stuck on the locked door. %0one for tea. Back soon.% %!ha'% said -atty, his eyes glea&ing. %This couldn)t #e #etter for us. 1e)ll get in at that "indo", +arry. *t)s sure to #e open still.% *t "as still unfastened, and the children cli&#ed in e(citedly, al&ost tu&#ling on to the floor in their eagerness to go hunting for the pearls. %Behind the curtains, in the cup#oards, up the chi&ney, every place you can think of'% said -atty, in a thrilled voice. %0o to it, -ind /uters. .olve the &ystery if you can'% Then such a hunt #egan. Every cup#oard, every shelf, every nook and cranny in that 6all "ere searched #y the #right eyed -ind /uters. Buster, eager to help, though "ithout the faintest idea of "hat they "ere looking for, scra##led a#out too, having a vague hope that it &ight #e ra##its. -atty even e(a&ined the floor #oards, #ut none of the& "as loose. !t last, "hen it see&ed as if every single place had #een searched, the five children sat do"n to rest and discuss the &atter. %* suppose it is here, that necklace'% said ,aisy. %*)& #eginning to think it isn)t.% %I feel as if *)& playing 6unt the Thi&#le,% said Bets. %1here is the thi&#le3 *t &ust #e in so&e 2olly good place, that necklace'9 -atty stared at Bets. %Bets,% he said, %supposing "e "ent out of the roo&, and you had to hide a pearl necklace so&e"here here, "hat difficult place "ould you think of3% Bets looked round the 6all and considered. %1ell, -atty,% she said, %*)ve al"ays noticed that "hen people play 6unt the Thi&#le, the &ost difficult hiding places to find are the easiest ones really.% %1hat do you &ean3 % de&anded Pip. %1ell,% said Bets, %* re&e&#er looking every"here for the thi&#le onceand no#ody found itand yet "here do you think it "as3 /n Mother)s finger'% -atty "as listening hard to Bets. %0o on, Bets,% he said. %.uppose you had to hide that pearl necklace here, in this 6all"here "ould yo! hide it3 *t "ould have to #e a good place, easy to get atand yet one "here ordinary people "ould never drea& of looking for a valua#le necklace.% Bets considered again. Then she gave a little s&ile. %1ell, I kno" "here *)d put it'% she said. %/f course *)d kno"' !nd it "ould #e under the noses of every one, and yet no#ody "ould notice it'% %1here3 % cried every one. %*)ll tell you,% said Bets. %.ee =ueen Eli$a#eth over there, in her grand clothes and 2e"els, standing looking so proud and haughty3 1ell, *)d put the pearl necklace round her neck "ith all the other necklaces, of course and no#ody "ould ever guess that a&ong the false 1ool"orth ones there "as a :E!+ one'% -atty leapt to his feet. %Bets, you)re right. *)d got that idea half in &y o"n &ind, and no" you)ve said all that, *)& sure you)re right' * #et the necklace is there' 5lever old Bets'% They all ran to the stately "a( figure of =ueen Eli$a#eth "hose neck "as hung "ith #rilliant necklaces of all kinds. !&ong the& "as a dou#le necklace of #eautifully graded pearls, "ith a dia&ond claspat least, the children felt sure it "as a dia&ond one. -atty lifted the necklace carefully off the figure)s neck, undoing the clasp first.

The pearls shone softly. *t "as clear even to the children)s eyes that they "ere not cheap ones, #ought at a store. They "ere lovely, really lovely. %These &ust #e the &issing pearls'% said -atty, e(ultantly. %They really &ust' 0olly, "e)ve found the&. .e'*e solved that &ystery' 1hat "ill the *nspector say3 +et)s go and ring hi& up.% They cli&#ed out of the "indo" and hurried to their #icycles. -atty had the "onderful necklace safely in his pocket. 6e couldn)t #elieve that they really had found itand in such an easy place too' %But a 2olly clever one,% said -atty. %To think it "as under the eyes of scores of people todayand no#ody guessed' *t "as safer on =ueen Eli$a#eth)s neck than any"here else'% %+ook outthere)s 0oon'% said +arry. %!nd *nspector <enks "ith hi&'9 cried Bets in delight. %.hall "e tell hi&3% %+eave it to &e,% ordered -atty. %0ood evening, *nspector. 5o&e to hunt for the necklace too3% %-rederick,% said the *nspector. %* #elieve you "ere #icycling after the &e&#er of the gang called Nu&#er Three this afternoon, "eren)t you3% %7es, sir,% said -atty. %1ith Mr. 0oon, as "ell, sir.% %1ell, unfortunately he gave Mr. 0oon the slip,% said the *nspector. %Mr. 0oon rang &e up, and * ca&e over #ecause it is i&perative that "e keep an eye on Nu&#er Three, if "e can, o"ing to his kno"ledge of "here the pearls are hidden. ,id you #y any chance see the &an, after you had got your puncture3% %No, sir,% said -atty. %6aven)t set eyes on hi&.% The *nspector gave an annoyed e(cla&ation. %1e m!st get Nu&#er Three. 1e)ve found out that he is the ring leader, and the &an "e "ant &ost of all' !nd no" if he get those pearls, "herever they are, and clears off, sooner or later these #urglaries "ill start all over again. 6e "ill find it 4uite easy to start a ne" gang.% Mr. 0oon looked very do"n in the &outh. 6e also looked hot and tired. %6e)s a clever fello", sir,% he said to the *nspector. %@ery clever. * don)t kno" ho" he &anaged to give &e the slip, sir.% %Never &ind, Mr. 0oon,% said -atty co&fortingly. %I can tell the *nspector "here the pearls are, and ho" you can catch Nu&#er Three if you "ant to.% Mr. 0oon stared dis#elievingly at -atty. %0ah'% he said. %7ou &ake &e tired. Talking a lot of to&&y rot' * don)t #elieve a "ord of it'% %1hat do you &ean, -rederick3% said the *nspector, startled. -atty dre" the pearl necklace out of his pocket. Mr. 0oon gasped and his eyes #ulged &ore than ever. The *nspector stared in a&a$e&ent too. 6e took the pearls fro& -atty. !ll the children cro"ded round in e(cite&ent. %-rederick' ,hese are the &issing pearls' ! dou#le ro" of the very finest graded pearls there are,% said the *nspector. %My dear #oy"here did you get the&'% %/h"e played a little ga&e of 6unt the Thi&#le "ith Betsand she told us "here they "ere,% said -atty, and Mr. 0oon gave a dis#elieving snort. %They "ere round =ueen Eli$a#eth)s neck, in the 1a("orks 6all, *nspectora very clever placeand Bets thought of it'% %5ertainly a very clever place,% said the *nspector, %and a very clever thought of yours, little Bets, if * &ay say so'% he said, turning to the delighted little girl. %They &ust have #een shining there under the noses of hundreds of people todayand no#ody so &uch as guessed' But no", -rederickho" do you propose that "e lay hands on Nu&#er Three39 %1ell, sirhe kno"s that the pearls "ere hidden in the 1a("orks 6all,% said -atty, %and &ay#e kno"s too that they "ere on =ueen Eli$a#eth)s neckso he)s #ound to go #ack for the&, sir, "hen every one has gone, and the 6all is dark and e&pty. /h, sircould * co&e and hide in the 6all tonight "hen you do your spot of arresting'% %No,% said the *nspector. %*)& afraid not. *)ll have three &en posted there. .ee to that straight a"ay, please, 0oon. Er*)& sure "e can congratulate the -ind /uters on solving our pro#le&s for us in such a praise"orthy "aydon)t you think so, 0oon3 % 0oon &ur&ured so&ething that sounded suspiciously like %0ah'% %1hat did you say, 0oon3% said the *nspector. %7ou "ere agreeing "ith &e, * i&agine3%

%Eryessir, yessir,% said 0oon hurriedly, and turned a fa&iliar purple. %*)ll get the &en no", sir.% 6e hurried off, and the children sa" that even the #ack of poor 0oon)s neck "as #right purple too. The *nspector slipped the pearls into his pocket and #ea&ed all round. %1ell, once &ore, you)ve done re&arka#ly "ell,% he said, %though * &ust confess * "as a little annoyed "ith you, -rederick, for running heedlessly into danger. .till, as usual, you)ve used your #rains, and have helped a great deal. Especially little Bets, if she really did think "here the necklace &ight #e.% %/h, she did,) said every one, even Pip, and Bets "ent as red as a to&ato "ith pride. .he &ight #e the youngest of the -ind /uters#ut she "as 2ust as good as any of the&' %No"* can take it that you "ill respect &y "ishes and not go near the 1a("orks 6ail tonight3% said the *nspector, raising his eye#ro"s at the& all. They nodded vigorously. %7ou can trust us, *nspector. But tell us in the &orning if you)ve got Nu&#er Three, "on)t you3% said -atty. !nd in the &orning the -ind /uters heard "hat had happened. Nu&#er Three had let hi&self into the 6all at &idnight. 6e had "alked to =ueen Eli$a#eth, and had fu&#led at the 2e"ellery round her neckand 2ust as he "as fu&#ling, out stepped three #urly &en and caught hi&' %No" he)s in a cell thinking sadly over his sins,% said the *nspector, over Cthe telephone. %1e)ve got the "hole gangand the necklace too. 0ood "ork' 1e certainly couldn)t have done "ithout you -ind /uters. 1hat a#out you all 2oining &y police force3 1e could do "ith you'% %/h, ho" * "ish "e could'% said Bets, after"ards. %* suppose he didn)t really &ean it, did he3 % %!nd no" to think "e)ve got to help "ith our packing and go #ack to school'9 said Pip, in disgust. %!fter ail our fine detective "ork, "e)ve got to go and learn the chief rivers of the "orld, and the date "hen =ueen Eli$a#eth ca&e to the throne, and ho" &uch "heat 5anada gro"s, and...% %Never &ind"ell have another Mystery to solve ne(t hols,% said Bets happily. %1on)t "e, -atty3% -atty grinned at her. %* hope so, little Bets,% he said. %* really do hope so'% * hope so too. *t "ould #e most disappointing if they didn)t'