Mystery of the Invisible Thief
Short Description
Invisible thief...
Description
The Mystery of the invisible thief One Hot Summer’s Day “Do you know,” said Pi, “this is the fourth week of the summer holidays ! the fourth week, mind ! and we haven’t even heard of a mystery"” “Haven’t even smelt one,” a#reed $atty% “&osh, this sun is hot% 'uster, don’t ant so violently ! you’re makin# me feel even hotter"” 'uster (rawled into a at(h of shade, and lay down with a thum% His ton#ue hun# out as he anted% 'ets atted him% “Poor old 'uster" )t must be fri#htful to have to wear a fur (oat in this weather ! one you (an’t even unbutton and have han#in# oen"” “Don’t su##est su(h a thin# to 'uster,” said $atty% “He’d look awful%” “Oh dear ! it’s too hot even to lau#h,” said Daisy, i(turin# i(turin# 'uster tryin# to undo his (oat to leave it oen% “Here we are ! all the $ive $ind!Outers ! and Do#,” said *arry, “with “with nothin# to find out, nothin# to solve, and ei#ht weeks to do it in" $atty, it’s a waste of the hols% Thou#h even if we had a mystery ) think )’d be too hot to think about +lues and Suse(ts and what!nots%” The five (hildren lay on their ba(ks on the #rass% The sun oured down on them% They all wore as little as ossible, but even so they were hot% obody (ould bear oor 'uster near them for more than two se(onds, be(ause he absolutely radiated heat% “-hose turn is it to fet(h the i(ed lemonade.” said *arry% *arry% “/ou know 0olly well it’s yours,” said Daisy% “/ou always ask that 1uestion when it’s your turn, hoin# somebody will #et it out of turn% &o and #et it, you la2y thin#%” *arry didn’t move% $atty ushed him with his foot% “&o on,” he said% “/ou’ve “/ou’ve made us all feel thirsty now% &o and #et it%” 3 voi(e voi(e (ame u the #arden% #arden% “'ets" Have you #ot your sun!hat on. 3nd 3nd what about Pi.” Pi.” 'ets answered hastily% “/es, Mother ! it’s 1uite all ri#ht% )’ve #ot mine on%” Pi was frownin# at her to warn her to say nothin# about him% He had, as usual, for#otten his hat% 'ut his mother was not to be ut off% “-hat about Pi. Pi, (ome and #et your sunhat% Do you want sunstroke a#ain.” “'low"” said Pi, and #ot u% *arry immediately said what everybody knew he would say% “-ell, you mi#ht as well brin# ba(k the i(ed lemonade with you, old (ha%” “/ou’re “/ou’re 0olly #ood at #ettin# out of your turn,” #rumbled Pi, #oin# off% “)f )’d been 1ui(k enou#h )’d have told you to #et my hat when you #ot the lemonade% 3ll 3ll ri#ht, Mother% )’m +OM)&"” +OM)&"” The i(ed lemonade revived everyone at on(e% $or one thin# they all had to sit u, whi(h made them feel mu(h more lively% 3nd 3nd for another thin# Pi brou#ht them ba(k a bit of news% “) say ! do you know what Mother 0ust told me.” he said% “)nse(tor 4enks is (omin# to Peterswood this afternoon"” “)s he.” said everyone, intensely interested% )nse(tor 4enks was a #reat friend of theirs% He admired the $ive $ind!Outers very mu(h, be(ause of the many (urious mysteries they had solved% “-hat’s he (omin# for.” asked $atty% “) say ! there’s not a mystery on, is there.” “o, )’m afraid not,” said Pi% “3arently his little #od!dau#hter is ridin# in that #ymkhana in Petter’s $ield this afternoon, and he’s romised to (ome and see her%” “Oh ! what a disaointment,” said Daisy% Daisy% “) thou#ht he mi#ht be on the tra(k of some e5(itin# (ase or other%” other%” “) vote we #o and say ho w do you do to him,” said $atty% 6veryone 6veryone a#reed at on(e% They all liked the burly, #ood!lookin# )nse(tor, )nse(tor, with his shrewd twinklin# eyes and teasin# ways% 'ets ese(ially liked him% e5t to $atty, she thou#ht he was the (leverest erson she knew% They be#an to talk of the mysteries they had solved, and how )nse(tor 4enks had always heled them and en(oura#ed them% “Do you remember the Missin# e(kla(e and how we found it.” said *arry% “3nd that hidden house mystery ! that was suer"” “The most e5(itin# one was the mystery of the Se(ret 7oom, ) think,” said Pi% “&osh ! ) shall
never for#et how ) felt when ) (limbed that tree by the bi# emty house ! looked into a room at the to and found it all furnished"” “-e’ve had some fun,” said $atty% “) only hoe we’ll have some more% -e’ve never been so lon# in any holidays without a mystery to solve% The old brains will #et rusty%” rusty%” “/ours (ould never #et rusty, $atty,” said 'ets admirin#ly% “The thin#s you’ve thou#ht of" 3nd your dis#uises" /ou /ou haven’t done an y dis#uisin# at all these hols% /ou /ou aren’t tired of it, are you.” “&osh, no,” said $atty% “'ut for one thin# it’s been too hot ! and for another o ld &oon’s been away, and the other bobby in his la(e is su(h a stod#e% He never looks surrised at anythin#% )’ll be 1uite #lad when &oon (omes ba(k and we hear his familiar yell of 8/ou (lear!orf"’ (lear!orf"’ Old 'uster’ll be leased too ! you miss your ankle!hunt, don’t you, 'uster.” 'ets #i##led% “Oh dear ! the times 'uster has dan(ed round Mr &oon’s ankles and been yelled at% 'uster really is wi(ked with him%” “9uite ri#ht too,” said $atty% “) hoe &oon (omes ba(k soon, then 'uster (an have a bit of e5er(ise, (aerin# round him%” 'uster looked u at his name and wa##ed his tail% He was still antin#% He moved near to $atty% “:ee off, 'uster,” said $atty% “/ou s(or(h us when you (ome near% ) never knew su(h a hot do# in my life% -e ou#ht to fi5 an ele(tri( fan round his ne(k or somethin#%” “Don’t make 0okes,” be##ed Daisy% “)t’s honestly too hot to lau#h% ) don’t even know how )’m #oin# to walk to Petter’s $ield this afternoon to see the )nse(tor%” “-e (ould take our tea, and ask the )nse(tor, )nse(tor, lus #od!dau#hter, to share it,” said $atty% “'rilliant idea"” said Daisy% Daisy% “-e (ould really talk to him then% He mi#ht have a bit of news% /ou never know% 3fter 3fter all, if there’s any (ase on, or any mystery in the air, he’s the one to know about it first%” “-e’ll ask him,” said $atty% “&et away, 'uster% /our ton#ue is driin# down my ne(k%” “-hat we want, for a bit of e5(itement,” said Pi, “is a ni(e 0ui(y mystery, mystery, and &oon to (ome ba(k and make a mess of it as usual, while we do all the solvin#%” “One of these days &oon will do all the solvin# and we’ll make a mess of it,” said Daisy% “Oh no,” said 'ets% “-e (ouldn’t ossibly make a mess of it if $atty’s in (har#e%” The others looked at her in dis#ust ! e5(et for $atty, of (ourse, who looked suerior% “Don’t set $atty off, for #oodness sake,” said Pi% “/ou’re “/ou’re always hero!worshiin# him% He’ll be tellin# us of somethin# wonderful he did last term, now%” “-ell, as a matter of fa(t, ) for#ot to tell you, but somethin# rather e5traordinary did haen last term,” said $atty% “)t was like this%%%” “) don’t know the b e#innin# of this story but )’m sure ) know the end,” said *arry, #loomily% #loomily% $atty was surrised% “How (an you know the end if you don’t know the be#innin#.” he asked% “6asily, “6asily, if it’s to do with you,” said *arry% “)’m sure the end would be that you solved the e5traordinary haenin# in two minutes, you (au#ht the (ulrit, you were (heered and (laed to the e(ho and you had 83s brilliant as ever ’ on your reort% 6asy"” $atty fell on *arry and soon they were rollin# over and over on the #rass with 'uster 0oinin# in e5(itedly% “Oh shut u, you two,” said Pi, rollin# out of the way% way% “)t’s too hot for that% *et’s de(ide about this afternoon% 3re 3re we #oin# to take our tea or not. )f we are )’ll have to #o and ask my mother now% She doesn’t like havin# it srun# on her at the last minute%” *arry and $atty stoed wrestlin#, and lay antin# on their ba(ks, tryin# to ush 'uster off% “/es, “/es, of (ourse we’re #oin# to take our tea,” sa id $atty% $atty% “) thou#ht we’d de(ided that% There’ll be tea in the mar1uee in Petter’s $ield, of (ourse, but it’ll be stewin# hot in there, and you know what mar1uee teas are like% -e’ll take ours and find the )nse(tor% He won’t like mar1uee teas any more than we do, )’m sure%” “There’s a do# show as well as the #ymkhana,” said 'ets% “+ouldn’t we enter 'uster ! or is it too late.” “The only ri2e he’d win today is for the hottest do#,” said $atty% “He’d “He’d win that all ri#ht% 'uster, 'uster, kee away from me% /ou’re like an ele(tri( fire%” “-e’d better #o,” said *arry, #ettin# u with a #roan% “)t takes twi(e as lon# to #et ba(k home in this hot weather ! we simly (rawl alon#" +ome on, Daisy, stir yourself"” Daisy and *arry went down the drive and u the lane to their home% Pi and 'ets didn’t have to move be(ause they were already at home" $atty found his bi(y(le and ut his foot on the edal%
“'uster"” he (alled% “+ome on% )’ll ut you in my bike!basket% /ou’ll /ou’ll be a # rease!sot if you have to run all the way home%” 'uster (ame slowly u, his ton#ue out as usual% He saw the (ook’s (at in the hed#e nearby, but he felt 1uite unable to (hase it% )t was 0ust as well, be(ause the (at felt 1uite unable to run away% $atty lifted 'uster u and ut him in his basket% 'uster was 1uite used to this% He had travelled miles in this way with $atty and the others% “/ou’ll have to take some of your fat off, 'uster,” said $atty, as he (y(led down the drive% “/ou’re #ettin# too heavy for words% e5t time you see &oon you won’t be able to dan(e round him, you’ll only waddle"” 3 bell ran# in Pi’s Pi’s house% “*un(h,” said said Pi sittin# sittin# u slowly% slowly% “+ome on ! ) hoe it’s it’s salad and 0elly ! that’s about all ) want% Don’t let’s for#et to ask Mother about a i(ni( tea for this afternoon% She’ll robably be #lad to #et rid of us%” She was" “That’s a #ood idea"” she said% “Tell “Tell +ook what you want ! and if you take drinks lease leave some i(e in the frid#e% /ou /ou took it all last time% /es /es ! (ertainly a i(ni( is a very #ood idea ! ) shall have a lovely ea(eful afternoon"”
3t the &ymkhana The five (hildren, and 'uster of (ourse, met in Petter’s $ield at about three o’(lo(k% The #ymkhana had already be#un, and horses were dashin# about all over the la(e% 'uster ket (lose to $atty% He didn’t mind assin# the time of day with one or two h orses in a field, but thirty or forty #alloin# about were too mu(h% “3nyone seen the )nse(tor.” asked Daisy, Daisy, (omin# u with a bi# basket of food and drink% “o, not yet,” said $atty, #ettin# out of the way of a (olossal horse ridden by a very small boy% “)s there any la(e in this field where there aren’t horses tearin# about. 'uster will have a heart atta(k soon%” “*ook over there,” said 'ets, with a #i##le% “See the woman who’s in (har#e of that hoola stall, or whatever it is. She mi#ht be $atty dressed u"” They all looked% They saw what 'ets meant at on(e% The stall!woman had on a bi# hat with all kinds of flowers round it, a voluminous skirt, very lar#e feet and a silk shawl inned round her shoulders% “$atty (ould dis#uise himself like that beautifully"” said Daisy% “)s she real ! or somebody in dis#uise.” “)nse(tor 4enks in dis#uise"” said 'ets, with a #i##le, and then 0umed as somebody tou(hed her on the shoulder% “-hat’s that you’re sayin# about me.” said a familiar voi(e% 3ll five of them swun# round at on(e, their fa(es one bi# smile% They knew that voi(e" “)nse(tor 4enks"” said 'ets, and swun# on his broad arm% “-e knew you were (omin#"” “&ood afternoon, sir,” said $atty, $atty, beamin#% “) say, before anyone else #ets ho ld of you ! would you (are to have a i(ni( tea with us ! and brin# your #oddau#hter too, of (ourse% -e’ve brou#ht lenty of food%” “So it seems,” said )nse(tor 4enks, lookin# at the three bi# baskets% “-ell, ) wondered if ) should see you here% /es, )’d love to have tea with you ! and so would Hilary ! that’s my small #od! dau#hter% -ell, -ell, $ind!Outers ! any more mysteries to reort. -hat e5a(tly are you workin# on now.” $atty #rinned% “othin#, sir% sir% ot a mystery to be seen or heard in Peterswood 0ust now% $our weeks of the hols #one and nothin# to show% 3wful waste of time%” “3nd &oon is away, isn’t he.” said the )nse(tor% “So you (an’t bait him either ! life must indeed be dull for you% /ou wait till he (omes ba(k thou#h ! he’ll be full of beans% He’s been takin# some kind of refresher (ourse, ) believe%” “-hat’s a refresher (ourse.” asked 'ets% “Oh ! rubbin# u his oli(e knowled#e, refreshin# his memory, learnin# a few new dod#es,” said the )nse(tor% “He’ll be a smart fellow when he (omes ba(k ! burstin# to try out all he’s learnt% /ou look ut out, $rederi(k"” “)t does sound funny when you (all $atty by his ri#ht name,” said 'ets% “Oooh, $atty ! let’s hoe
we don’t have a mystery after all, in (ase Mr &oon solves it instead of us%” “Don’t be silly,” said Pi% “-e (an always #et the better of Mr &oon% )t’s a ity somethin# hasn’t haened while he’s been away ! we (ould have solved it before he (ame ba(k, without any interrutions from him%” “Here’s my small #od!dau#hter,” #od!dau#hter,” said the )nse(tor, turnin# round to smile at a small #irl in 0odhurs and ridin# 0a(ket% 0a(ket% “Hallo, Hilary% Hilary% -on any ri2es ri2es yet.” Hilary sat on a fat little ony that didn’t seem ab le to stand still% 'uster ket well out of the way% “Hallo, ;n(le,” said Hilary% Hilary% “)’m #oin# to ride now% now% ) haven’t won anythin# yet% Do you want to (ome and wat(h.” “Of (ourse,” said the )nse(tor% “*et me introdu(e you to five friends of mine ! who have heled me in many a diffi(ult (ase% They want you and me to have a i(ni( tea with them% -hat about it.” “/es, “/es, )’d like to,” said Hilary, tryin# to sto her ony from ba(kin# on to an old #entleman nearby% “Thank you%” The ony narrowly missed walkin# on 'uster% 'uster% He yeled, and the restless little animal reared% Hilary slaed him and he tossed his head and kno(ked off the )nse(tor’s trilby hat% “Oh ! sorry,” said Hilary, with a #as% “'onny’s a bit fresh, )’m afraid%” “) 1uite a#ree,” said the )nse(tor i(kin# u his hat before 'onny (ould tread on it% “3ll ri#ht, Hilary ! )’ll (ome and wat(h you ride now ! and we’ll all have tea to#ether when you’ve finished%” Hilary (antered off, bumin# u and down, her hair flyin# out under her 0o(key (a% 'uster was most relieved to see her #o% He ventured out from behind $atty, $atty, saw a friend he knew and trotted over to ass the time of day< but what with horses of all si2es and (olours rushin# about he didn’t feel at all safe% )t was really a very leasant afternoon% The oli(eman who had rela(ed &oon while he was on holiday stood stolidly in a shady (orner, and didn’t even re(o#ni2e the )nse(tor when he assed% )t is true that )nse(tor 4enks was in lain (lothes, but 'ets felt that she would re(o#ni2e him a mile off even if he was wearin# a bathin# (ostume% “3fternoon, Tonks,” Tonks,” said the )nse(tor, )nse(tor, as they assed the stolid oli(eman% He leat to attention at on(e, and after that (ould be seen walkin# about very busily indeed% The )nse(tor there" -as there anythin# u. -ere there i(k!o(kets about ! or some kind of hanky!anky anywhere. Tonks was on the look!out at on(e, and for#ot all about standin# (omfortably in the shade% Hillary didn’t win a ri2e% 'onny really didn’t behave at all well% He took fri#ht at somethin# and ba(ked heavily into the 0ud#es, whi(h made them look at him with mu(h dislike and disfavour% Hilary was very disaointed% She met them in a shady (orner for tea, brin#in# 'onny with her% 'uster #rowled% -hat ! that awful horse a#ain" 'onny nosed towards him and 'uster hastily #ot under a tent nearby, s1uee2in# beneath the (anvas% Hilary was very shy% She would hardly say a word% She ket 'onny’s reins hooked round one arm, whi(h was 0ust as well, as 'onny was really a very nosey kind of horse% Daisy ket a shar eye on the baskets of food% The )nse(tor talked away (heerfully% The The (hildren were disaointed that he had no (ases to offer them, and no mystery to su##est% “)t’s 0ust one of those times when nothin# whatever haens,” said )nse(tor 4enks, mun(hin# a n e##!and!lettu(e sandwi(h hun#rily% hun#rily% “o robberies, no swindlin#s, no (rimes of any sort% =ery ea(eful%” He waved his sandwi(h in the air as he soke and it was neatly taken out of his hand by 'onny% 'onny% 6veryone roared at the )nse(tor’s surrised fa(e% “7obbery #oin# on nearby after all"” said Daisy% Daisy% Hilary s(olded 'onny, who ba(ked away into the ne5t i(ni( arty% arty% 'uster ut his nose out from under the tent (anvas, but de(ided not to (ome out and 0oin the arty yet% )t was while all this was #oin# on that the ne5t mystery loomed u in the very middle of the i(ni( tea" obody e5e(ted it% obody reali2ed it at first% Pi haened to be lookin# down the field, where Mr Tonks, Tonks, the oli(eman, was standin# beside the 7ed +ross Tent, Tent, havin# seen to somebody who had fainted in the heat% He stood there, moin# his forehead, robably feelin# that he would be the ne5t one to faint, when a man (ame 1ui(kly u to him% He looked like a #ardener or handyman% He soke to Mr Tonks, who at on(e took out his bla(k note!book, li(ked his thumb and fli(ked
over the a#es till he (ame to an emty one% Then he be#an to write very earnestly% Pi saw this, but he didn’t think anythin# of it% 'ut then Tonks walked over to where )nse(tor 4enks was sittin# with the $ive $ind!Outers and Hilary% Hilary% “65(use me for interrutin#, sir,” he said% “'ut there’s been a dayli#ht robbery in Peterswood% )’ll have to #o and investi#ate, sir% sir% Seems retty serious%” “)’ll (ome with you,” said the )nse(tor, )nse(tor, mu(h to the disaointment of the (hildren% He #lan(ed round% “Sorry,” “Sorry,” he said% “Duty (alls, and all that" ) may not see you a#ain, if ) have to # o strai#ht ba(k to my offi(e% Thanks for a very fine tea% &ood!bye Hilary% /ou rode very well%” He steed strai#ht ba(k on to 'onny, who also ba(ked and ulled Hilary ri#ht over with the reins% )n the #eneral muddle $atty soke to Mr Tonks Tonks the oli(eman% “-here was the robbery.” he asked% “3t orton House,” said Mr Tonks% “; on the hill%” “Don’t know it,” said $atty, disaointed% disaointed% He stood u and soke ersuasively to the )nse(tor% )nse(tor% “)’ll (ome alon# with you, sir, shall ). ) ! er ! mi#ht be of a little hel%” “Sorry, “Sorry, $rederi(k ! (an’t have you alon# 0ust now,” said the )nse(tor% “)t’ll be a lain enou#h 0ob, ) e5e(t ! rather beneath your owers" )f it’s not ! well, you’ll #et #oin# on it, no doubt"” He went off with Tonks% $atty stared after them #loomily% ow they would be first on the 0ob ! they would see everythin#, noti(e everythin#% 3nd when &oon (ame ba(k and took over from Tonks Tonks he would settle it all u and ut a feather in his (a" He sat down a#ain% )f only he (ould have #one to orton House and had a snoo round himself" ow he really (ouldn’t ! The )nse(tor would be annoyed to see him there after he had said he didn’t want him ! and (ertainly the householders wouldn’t allow him to look round all by himself, if he went after the )nse(tor had left% “ever mind, $atty,” said 'ets, seein# how disaointed he was% “)t’s only a silly little robbery, ) e5e(t% othin# to bother about ! no real mystery"” Then somethin# surrisin# haened% Hilary burst into tears" She wailed aloud and tears ran down her od#y (heeks% “-hat’s the matter. Do you feel si(k.” asked Daisy, alarmed% alarmed% “o% Oh dear ! it’s my home that’s been bur#led"” wet Hilary% “) live at orton House% ;n(le 4enks must have for#otten it’s where ) live% Oh, what shall ) do.” $atty rose to the o ((asion at on(e% He ut his arm round the weein# Hilary% Hilary% “ow now,” he said, rodu(in# an e5tremely (lean white handker(hief, and wiin# Hilary’s fa(e with it% “Don’t you worry% worry% )’ll take you home myself% )’ll look after you% )’ll even look round your house to make sure there isn’t a sin#le robber left"” “Oh, thank you,” said Hilary, still sniffin#% sniffin#% “) should hate to #o home by myself%” “-e’d better wait a bit till your # odfather has had time to look round himself,” said $atty, who wasn’t #oin# to bum into the )nse(tor if he (ould hel it% “Then we’ll #o ! and )’ll soon see that everythin# is 1uite 1uite safe for you, Hilary"”
$atty Takes His +han(e The others looked at $atty in admiration% Somehow he always #ot what he wanted% Thin#s always went ri#ht for him% He badly wanted to e5amine that bur#led house, and he had been left behind by the )nse(tor ! and la and behold, he (ould now #o there, takin# (har#e of Hilary, and nobody (ould say a thin# a#ainst it" “) (an’t #o 0ust yet,” sniffed Hilary% “)’ve #ot to ride on(e more% /ou won’t leave, will you. /ou will take me ri#ht home. /ou see, my arents are away, and there’s only 4inny there ! she’s our housekeeer%” 'etter and better" -ith no arents even to deal with, $atty felt sure he (ould snoo as mu(h as he wanted to% *arry and Pi looked at him rather 0ealously% 0ealously% “-e’ll take Hilary home too,” said *arry% “'etter not,” said $atty% “Too many (ooks et(etera, et(etera%” Hilary looked at him, wonderin# what he meant% The others knew all ri#ht% Hilary’s tears be#an to fall a#ain% “)t’s my ridin# ri2es )’m thinkin# of,” she e5lained, between sobs% “My (us, you know% )’ve won so many% many% The bur#lar mi#ht have taken them%”
This talk about ri2es seemed rather surrisin# to the others, who had no oinion at all of either Hilary or 'onny as re#ards horsemanshi% $atty atted her on the shoulder and #ave her his enormous handker(hief a#ain% “)’ll (ome u to your room with you and see if your thin#s are safe,” said $atty, feelin# very leased to think of the first!hand e5amination he (ould make% “ow don’t (ry any more, Hilary%” 'ets looked on a little 0ealously% That silly little Hilary" -hy did $atty make su(h a fuss of her. Surely he would be ashamed of her, 'ets, if she fussed like that. “)’ll (ome too, $atty,” she said% $atty was about to say no, when he thou#ht that robably it would be a #ood idea to let 'ets (ome ! Hilary (ould show her this, that and the other ! and he (ould sli away unseen and snoo round by himself% “7i#ht, 'ets,” he said% “/ou (an (ome ! you’ll be (omany for Hilary%” 'ets was leased% ow that silly little Hilary wouldn’t have $atty all to herself ! she would see to that" 3n enormously loud voi(e be#an (allin# over the field% “+lass >>, lease take your la(es, +lass >>%” “That’s my (lass,” said Hilary, s(ramblin# to her feet% She ulled her (a strai#ht and rubbed her eyes a#ain% She brushed the (rumbs off her 0a(ket% 'onny nei#hed% He wanted to be off, now that he (ould see various horses movin# about a#ain% He had eaten as mu(h tea as the others" He seemed to be an e5ert at nosin# into baskets% Hilary went off with 'onny, a od#y little fi#ure with a tear!stained fa(e% $atty looked round triumhantly, winkin# at the others% “) shall be in at the start, after all,” he said% “Sorry you (an’t (ome, Pi, *arry and Daisy ! but we (an’t all des(end on the house% They’d smell a rat% 'ets mi#ht be useful thou#h, she (an take u Hilary’s attention whilst )’m lookin# round%” 'ets nodded% She felt roud to be in at the start with $atty% “Shall we #o after Hilary’s ridden in this show.” she asked% $atty (onsidered% /es ! Tonks and the )nse(tor should surely be #one by then% So, after +lass >> had (ometed in 0umin#, and Hilary had most surrisin#ly won the little silver (u offered, $atty, 'ets and the rest moved off, a((omanied by a suddenly (heerful Hilary% She rode 'onny, who, now that he had won somethin#, seemed a little more sensible% The others walked beside her, till they (ame to the lane where *arry and Daisy had to leave them% Then a little later Pi left them to #o down the lane to his home% $atty and 'ets went on u the hill with Hilary% 'uster ket sedately at $atty’s heels% He ket an eye o n 'onny’s le#s and thou#ht rivately to himself that horses had been sulied with far too many hooves% They (ame to orton House% The )nse(tor’s (ar was still outside% 'low" $ortunately Hilary didn’t want to #o in the front way% She wanted to take 'onny to the stables, whi(h were round at the ba(k% 'onny was led into his stable% “Don’t you rub him down or anythin# before you leave him.” asked $atty% “)’d be leased to do it for you, Hilary% /ou’ve had a tirin# afternoon%” Hilary thou#ht that $atty was the ni(est boy she had ever met in her life% $an(y thinkin# of thin#s like that" She wouldn’t have been so mu(h imressed if she had known how deserately $atty was tryin# to stay down in the stables till the )nse(tor had #one" $atty #roomed the ony so thorou#hly that even Hilary was ama2ed% 'ets wat(hed with 'uster, rather bored% “See if they’ve #one,” whisered $atty to her, 0erkin# his head towards the front #arden% 'ets disaeared% She soon (ame ba(k% She nodded% $atty strai#htened u, relieved% ow he (ould sto workin# on that fat, restless ony" “ow we’ll #o to the house and find out e5a(tly what haened,” said $atty to Hilary% “) e5e(t your housekeeer is there% She’ll tell us everythin#% Then you must show 'ets all the ri2es you have won% She’ll love to see them% -on’t you, 'ets.” “/es,” said 'ets, doubtfully% “/ou must see them too, $atty,” said Hilary% He nodded ! also doubtfully% “+ome alon#,” said Hilary and they walked u a lon# #arden ath to the house% )t was a ni(e house, s1uare!built, with lenty of windows% Trees surrounded it, and it (ould not be seen from the road% They went in at the ba(k door% 3 woman there #ave a little s(ream of fri#ht% “Oh, lawks" Oh, it’s you, Miss Hilary% )’m in su(h a state of nerves, ) de(lare )’d s(ream if ) saw my own refle(tion in a mirror"”
$atty looked at her% She was a lum little woman, with bri#ht eyes and a #ood!temered, sensible mouth% He liked her% She sank down into a (hair and fanned herself% “)’ve 0ust heard about the robbery,” said Hilary% “4inny, this is a boy who’s brou#ht me home and this is a #irl (alled 'ets% They are friends of my #od!father, )nse(tor 4enks%” “Oh, are they.” said 4inny, and $atty saw that they had #one u in her estimation at on(e% “3h, he’s a fine man, that )nse(tor 4enks% So atient and kind% -ent over everythin#, he did, time and time a#ain% 3nd the 1uestions he asked me" -ell there now, you’d never think anyone (ould our them out like that"” “)t must have been a #reat sho(k for you, 4inny,” said $atty, in his most (ourteous and symatheti( voi(e% He had a wonderful voi(e for that sort of thin#% 'ets loked at him in admiration% “) was sorry for oor little Hilary too% ) felt ) really must see her home%” “That was real #entlemanly of you,” said 4inny, thinkin# that $atty was 0ust about the ni(est boy she had ever met% “She’s nervous, is Miss Hilary% 3nd )’ll be nervous too, after this"” “Oh, you don’t need to be,” said $atty% “'ur#lars hardly ever (ome to the same la(e twi(e% Do tell us all about it ! if it won’t tire you too mu(h%” 4inny would not have been tired if she had told he r story a hundred times% She be#an at on(e% “-ell, ) was sittin# here, half!aslee!like, with my knittin# on my knee ! about four o’(lo(k it must have been% 3nd ) was thinkin# to myself, 8) must really #et u and ut the kettle on to boil,’ when ) heard a noise%” “Oooh,” said Hilary faintly% “-hat sort of noise.” asked $atty, wishin# he (ould take out his note!book and ut all this down% Still, if he for#ot anythin#, 'ets would remember it% “3 sort of thuddin# noise,” said 4inny% “Out there in the #arden somewhere% *ike as if somebody had thrown somethin# out of the window and it had landed lonk in the #arden%” “&o on,” said $atty, and 'ets and Hilary listened, all eyes% “Then ) heard a (ou#h ustairs somewhere,” said 4inny% “3 man’s dee (ou#h that was stifled 1ui(kly as if he didn’t want to be heard% That made me sit u, ) (an tell you" 83 man"’ ) says to myself% 8;stairs and all" +an’t be the master (ome ba(k ! anyway that’s not his (ou#h%’ So u ) #ets, and ) yells u the stairs? 8)f there’s anybody u there that shouldn’t be, )’m #ettin# the oli(e"’” She aused and looked at the others, #ratified to see their intense interest% “=ery very brave of you,” said $atty% “-hat haened ne5t.” “-ell ! ) suddenly sees a ladder outside,” said 4inny, en0oyin# herself thorou#hly% “The #ardener’s ladder, it looked like ! run u a#ainst the wall leadin# to the Mistress’s bedroom% 3nd ) thinks to myself, 83ha" Mister 7obber, whoever you are, )’ll see you (omin# down that ladder" )’ll take #ood noti(e of you too" )f you’ve #ot a bunion on your toe )’ll noti(e it, and if you’ve #ot a s1uint in your eye )’ll know you a#ain"’ ) know how imortant it is to noti(e what you (an, you see%” “9uite ri#ht,” said $atty arovin#ly% “3nd what was the robber like.” “) don’t know,” said 4inny, and she suddenly looked bewildered% “He never (ame down that ladder after all"” There was a ause% “-ell ! how did he leave the house then.” asked $atty% “Did you hear him.” “ever a sound,” said 4inny% “) was standin# in the hall, so ) know he didn’t (ome down the stairs ! and there’s only one set of stairs in this house% 3nd there ) stood, shiverin# and shakin# ) don’t mind tellin# you ! till ) see the telehone starin# me in the fa(e% 3nd ) #rabs it and hones the oli(e"” “&o on,” said $atty% “-hat haened to the bur#lar. -as he still ustairs.” “-ell, 0ust as ) finished telehonin#, who should (ome alon# but the baker and ) yells to him, 8Here you, (ome here and #o ustairs with me% There’s a bur#lar in the house%’ 3nd the baker ! he’s a very very brave man for all he’s so small ! he (ame in and we went into every sin#le room, and not a erson was there% ot one"” “He must have #ot out of another window,” said $atty at last% “He (ouldn’t"” said 4inny triumhantly% “They were all either shut and fastened, or there’s a stee dro to the #round, enou#h to kill anyone takin# a 0um% ) tell you, he had to (ome down the stairs or #et down the ladder ! and he didn’t do either" There’s a u22le for you"” “-ell, he must still be there then,” said $atty and Hilary #ave a s(ream% “He’s not,” said 4inny% “The )nse(tor, he looked into every hole and (orner, even in the (hest in
your Ma’s room, Miss Hilary% ) tell you what ) think ! he made himself invisible" Oh, lau#h if you like ! but how else (ould he have # ot away without me seein# him.”
Plenty of +lues $atty asked 4inny a #reat many 1uestions, and she seemed very leased to answer them% Hilary #ot bored% “+ome on ustairs and see my ridin# ri2es,” she said% “4inny, those didn’t #et stolen, did they.” “o, Miss Hilary dear ! not one of them"” said 4inny (omfortin#ly% “) went to look, knowin# as how you set su(h store on them% )t’s thin#s like your Ma’s little silver (lo(k and some of the 0ewellery she left behind, and your father’s (i#arette bo5 that have #one% 3ll thin#s from the bedrooms ! nothin# from downstairs that ) (an see%” “+ome on, 'ets,” said Hilary, ullin# 'ets out of the room% “*et’s #o ustairs% /ou (ome too, $atty%” $atty was only too leased% Hilary ran on ahead u the stairs% $atty had a (han(e to whiser to 'ets% “/ou must retend to be awfully interested, 'ets, see. That will #ive me a (han(e to sli away and have a snoo round%” 'ets nodded% She was bored with the horsey little Hilary, but she would do anythin# for $atty% They all went ustairs% Hilary took them into her little room% 'ets was 1uite astonished to see the array of (us and other ri2es she had won% She be#an to ask all kinds of 1uestions at on(e, so that $atty mi#ht sli away% “-hat did you win this (u for. -hat’s this. -hy are there two (us e5a(tly the same. -hat’s this rinted on this (u.” Hilary was only too an5ious to tell her% $atty #rinned% He was soon able to sli away, with 'uster trottin# at his heels% He went into all the bedrooms% He noti(ed that in most of the rooms the windows were shut and fastened a s 4inny had said% )n Hilary’s arents’ room the window was oen% $atty went to it and looked out% 3 ladder led down from it to the #round% “That must be the ladder 4inny saw throu#h the hall window,” thou#ht $atty% “) saw it myself as we went to the stairs% How did that thief #et down from ustairs without bein# seen, if 4inny didn’t see him (ome down the stairs or the ladder. He (an’t be here still, be(ause the stolen #oods are #one ! and anyway the la(e must have been thorou#hly sear(hed by the )nse(tor and Tonks%” He went to see if there was any other window or bal(ony the thief (ould have droed from unseen% 'ut there wasn’t% $atty (on(entrated his attention on the room from whi(h the #oods had been stolen% There were lar#e dirty fin#er!marks on the wall by the window% $atty studied them with interest% “The thief wore #loves ! dirty #loves too,” he thou#ht% “-ell, he (ouldn’t have been a very e5ert thief, to leave his rints like that" )’d better measure them%” He measured them% “'i#!handed!fellow,” he said% “Takes at least si2e ei#ht and a half in #loves, robably nines% /es, must be nines, ) should think% Hallo, he’s left his #love!rints here too ! on the olished dressin#!table%” There were the same bi# rints a#ain showin# (learly% $atty looked at them thou#htfully% )t should be easy to i(k out this thief ! he really had very lar#e hands% He went to the window a#ain% He leaned out over the to of the ladder% “He (ame u here by the ladder ! didn’t bother about the lower art of the house ! he (hu(ked the stuff out of the window ! where did it land. Over there on that bed, ) suose% )’ll #o down and look% 'ut yet he didn’t #et down by the ladder. -hy. -as he afraid of 4inny sottin# him as he went down. He knew she was in the hall be(ause he heard her shoutin#%” $atty ondered deely% How in the world had the thief #ot away without bein# seen. )t was true he (ould have slied out of any of the other windows, but only by riskin# a broken le#, be(ause there was su(h a stee dro to the #round ! no ivy to (lin# to, no bal(ony to d ro down to% $atty went round the to art of the house a#ain, feelin# u22led% He (ame to a bo5room% )t was very small, and had a tiny window, whi(h was fast!shut% $atty oened it and looked down% There was a thi(k ie outside, runnin# ri#ht down to the #round% “ow ! if the window had been oen instead of shut ! and if the thief had been even smaller than )
am ! so that he (ould have s1uee2ed ainfully out of this tiny window ! he mi#ht have #ot down to the #round from here,” thou#ht $atty% “'ut the window’s shut ! and 4inny says all of them were, e5(et the one with the ladder, and a few that nobody (ould lea from%” He went downstairs, hearin# Hilary still talkin# soulfully about her (us% He (ouldn’t hear a word from 'ets% Poor 'ets" She really was a little bri(k% “-ho’s that.” (alled 4inny sharly, as she heard $atty (ome down the stairs% “Only me,” said $atty% “4inny, it’s a u22le how that thief #ot away without bein# seen, isn’t it. 6se(ially as he must have been rather a bi# fellow, 0ud#in# from the si2e of his hands% )’ve been lookin# at all the windows% There’s only one that has a ie runnin# by it down to the #round ! the one in the bo5room ! a tiny window% -as that shut.” “Oh yes,” said 4inny% “The )nse(tor asked me that same 1uestion, sir% He said he found it shut too% 3nd you’re ri#ht ! the thief (ouldn’t ossibly have s1uee2ed out of that small window, he’s too bi#% /ou should see his foot!rints out there on the bed ! #iant!si2e, ) re(kon"” “)’ll #o and see, if you don’t mind,” said $atty% 4inny didn’t mind at all ! she was only too leased to let $atty do anythin# ! a ni(e, olite boy like that" /ou didn’t (ome a(ross them every day, more’s the ity" $atty went out into the #arden% He went to where the ladder was raised u a#ainst the house% He looked at the bed below% There were 1uite a lot of foot!rints there ! (ertainly the thief had a lar#e foot as well as lar#e hands" “-ears a shoe about si2e eleven or twelve,” thou#ht $atty% “Hm" -here’s my measure.” $atty measured a rint and re(orded it in his notebook% He also made a note of the attern of the rubber heel that the thief wore on his boots ! it showed (learly in the rints% Then he went to where the thief had thrown the stolen #oods% They had been thrown well away from the ladder, and had fallen in a bush, and on the #round around% $atty oked about to see if he (ould find anythin#% He felt sure he wouldn’t, be(ause the )nse(tor had already been over the #round ! and $atty had a #reat rese(t for )nse(tor 4enks’ ability to dis(over any (lue left lyin# about" He (ame a(ross a (urious rint ! lar#e, roundish, with (riss!(ross lines showin# here and there% -hat (ould the thief have thrown out that made that mark. He went to ask 4inny% “3h, the )nse(tor, he asked me that too,” she said% “3nd ) (ouldn’t tell him% There was nothin# bi# taken as far as ) know, sir% )’ve seen the mark too ! (an’t think what made it" )t’s a 1ueer mark ! roundish like that, and so bi# ! bi# as my lar#est washin#!u bowl"” $atty had measured the stran#e rint and drawn it in his book, with the little (riss!(ross marks on it here and there% $unny% -hat (ould it be. )t must have somethin# to do with the robbery% He shut u his book% There was nothin# more he (ould e5amine or find, he was sure of that% He was also sure that he hadn’t dis(overed anythin# that the )nse(tor hadn’t ! robably he hadn’t dis(overed so mu(h" )f the )nse(tor had found anythin# interestin# he would have taken it away% -hat a ity $atty hadn’t been on the sot with him when he (ame with Tonks" “)t won’t be mu(h of a mystery, ) suose,” thou#ht $atty, #oin# ustairs with 'uster to fet(h 'ets% “Surely a thief as lar#e as this one will be easily found and (au#ht% ) shouldn’t be surrised if the )nse(tor hasn’t #ot him already"” This was rather a disaointin# thou#ht% $atty went into Hilary’s room and smiled when he saw oor 'ets’ bored fa(e% She smiled ba(k de li#htedly at him% “Oh, $atty ! is it time to #o. Hilary has been tellin# me all about her ri2es%” “/es,” said Hilary, lookin# leased with herself% “Shall ) tell you now, $atty. See, this one was%%%” “Oh, )’ve heard 1uite a lot, off and on,” said $atty% “/ou’re wonderful, Hilary" To think you’ve won all those" /ou really must be roud%” “Oh well ! ” said Hilary, tryin# to look modest% “See this one )%%%” $atty looked at his wat(h and #ave su(h a loud e 5(lamation that 'ets 0umed and Hilary stoed, startled% “&ood #ra(ious" *ook at the time" ) shall have to see your ri2es another time, Hilary% 'ets, ) must take you home ! you’ll #et in an awful row if you’re any later%” Hilary looked disaointed% She had been 1uite reared to #o over the whole history of her ridin# ri2es on(e a#ain% 'ets was over0oyed to think $atty was at last #oin# to leave% “Thanks awfully, Hilary, for #ivin# me su(h a lovely time,” said 'ets olitely but not very truthfully% $atty atted Hilary on the shoulder and said it had been a real leasure to meet her% Hilary
beamed% She went down to the front #ate with them, and waved till they were out of si#ht% 'ets heaved a si#h of relief when they at last turned a (orner and the wavin# (ould no lon#er be seen% “Oh, $atty ! did you find out anythin#. )s it a mystery.” she asked ea#erly% “Tell me"” “) don’t somehow think it is,” said $atty% “4ust an ordinary little bur#lary, with one or two odd little tou(hes ! but ) e5e(t the )nse(tor and Tonks have #ot more information than ) have, a(tually, as they were there first% )’ll #o and see Tonks, ) think% He mi#ht let out somethin#%” “-hy not ask the )nse(tor.” said 'ets, as they turned down the lane to her home% “6r ! no ! ) think no,” said $atty% “) don’t arti(ularly want him to know ) snooed round after all% Tonks is the one to 1uestion% )’ll see him tomorrow% Tell Pi )’ll be round at eleven o’(lo(k%” He took 'ets ri#ht u to the door of her h ouse and said #ood ni#ht% “3nd thanks most awfully for doin# your bit for me,” he said% “) know you were bored ! but ) (ouldn’t have #one without you and snooed round ! you were a real he l%” “Then ) don’t mind bein# bored,” said 'ets% “Oh dear ! ) never want to hear about ridin# ri2es a#ain"”
Some )nformation $rom Tonks $atty went home and walked down to the shed at the bottom of the #arden where he ket his most valuable ossessions% He (ast an eye over the various (hests and bo5es in his (losely!#uarded shed% Here he ket his dis#uises ! old (lothes of various kinds, hats, boots and ra##ed s(arves% Here was a bo5 (ontainin# many (urious thin#s that he didn’t want his mother either to find or to throw away" $alse teeth to ut over his own ! false (heek!ads to swell out his fa(e ! eyebrows of all (olours ! wi#s that fitted him and wi#s that didn’t ! bi# and little mousta(hes% Oh, $atty had a most interestin# (olle(tion in this shed of his at the bottom of the #arden" He #a2ed at the array of belon#in#s% “)’d like to do a sot of dis#uisin#,” he thou#ht% “) will when &oon (omes ba(k% )t’s not mu(h fun doin# it now unless there’s a mystery on, or &oon to de(eive% -onder when he’s (omin# ba(k% )’ll ask Tonks tomorrow%” He went to see Tonks the very ne5t mornin#, about ten o’(lo(k% 'uster ran beside his bi(y(le% $atty had de(ided he really was too fat for words ! e5er(ise would be #ood for him% So oor 'uster anted beside the bi(y(le, his ton#ue lollin# out first on one side of his mouth and then on the other% $atty kno(ked at the door% “+ome in"” (ried a voi(e and in went $atty% He found Tonks orin# over a sheaf of aers% The stolid oli(eman looked u and nodded% “3h ! Master $rederi(k Trotteville, isn’t it. &reat friend of the )nse(tor’s, aren’t you. He was tellin# me yesterday some of the thin#s you’d done%” This seemed a very #ood be#innin#% $atty sat down% “) don’t know if you’re too busy to sare me a minute,” he said% “) took Miss Hilary home last ni#ht, she was so s(ared, oor little thin# ! you know, the )nse(tor’s #od!dau#hter%” “Oh ! so that’s what he meant when he suddenly said 8My word ! orton House ! that’s Hilary’s home,’” said the oli(eman% “) didn’t like to ask him%” “) e5e(t he didn’t reali2e it was his #od!dau#hter’s house that had been bur#led, when he went off with you,” said $atty% “3nyway, she was fri#htened and ) took her home% ) had a look round, of (ourse ! and ) wondered if )’d found anythin# of use to you%” “Shouldn’t think so, sir,” said Tonks% “ot that )’m mu(h of a one for solvin# (ases ! never have been ! but the )nse(tor was there, you see, sir, and there’s nothin# mu(h he misses% Still, it’s very ni(e of you to (ome alon# and offer to hel%” “ot at all,” said $atty, in his most (ourteous voi(e% “6r ! did you find anythin# interestin#.” “Oh ! 0ust fin#er!rints ! or rather, #love!rints ! and foot!rints,” said Tonks% “Same as you did, ) e5e(t% Pretty bi# fellow the thief seems to have been% Made a #ood #etaway too ! nobody saw him #o, nobody met him down the hill ! mi#ht have been invisible"” $atty lau#hed% “That’s what 4inny said% /ou’d have thou#ht a bi# fellow like that, (arryin# a sa(k or ar(el of some kind, would have been noti(ed, wouldn’t you. Pity the baker didn’t sot him when he arrived with the bread%”
“/es% He never saw a thin#,” said Tonks% “) must say it was retty brave of him to #o ustairs with 4inny and look all round ! he’s a tiny little fellow, and wouldn’t be any mat(h for a bi# man% ) went alon# to see him last ni#ht% He re(kons his (omin# disturbed the thief% He hadn’t really stolen very mu(h, as far as ) (an make out%” “Did anyone else (ome that afternoon ! to orton House, ) mean.” asked $atty% “The ostman, a woman deliverin# ele(tion leaflets and a man sellin# lo#s, a((ordin# to 4inny,” said Tonks% “-e’ve seen them all ! they didn’t noti(e anythin# out of the way, not even the ladder% 3nyway, they (ame a #ood time before the thief%” “-here was the #ardener.” asked $atty% “He’d #one off to take some ta(kle down to the #ymkhana for Miss Hilary,” said Tonks% “He (ame ba(k 0ust as all the e5(itement was over% The baker sent him off to tell me about the robbery, so down he went to Petter’s $ield a#ain%” $atty fell silent% This was a stran#e kind of thief ! bi#, (lumsy, easy to see ! and yet aarently invisible" ot a soul had noti(ed him% “Did you find any other (lues.” asked $atty% Tonks looked at him doubtfully% He had already said rather a lot to this olite and 1uite helful boy% 'ut ou#ht he to tell him everythin#. “/ou needn’t worry about what you tell me,” said $atty, seein# at on(e that Tonks had somethin# else to say and wasn’t sure about it% “)’m a friend of the )nse(tor’s ! you know that% 3ll ) do is hel if ) (an%” “/es, ) know that,” said Tonks% “The )nse(tor said, 8-ell, well ! if we (an’t find the thief, Tonks, $rederi(k Trotterville (ertainly will"’ ” “-ell, there you are,” said $atty, #rinnin#% “/ou haven’t found him yet ! so #ive me a (han(e, Tonks%” The oli(eman rodu(ed two dirty bits of aer% He handed them to $atty, who looked at them with mu(h interest% One had s(ribbled on it? > $rinton The other was even shorter% )t simly said, @ 7ods% “-hat do they mean.” asked $atty, studyin# the dirty little s(ras of aer% “Don’t know any more than you do,” said Tonks, takin# them ba(k% “umber >, $rinton% umber @, 7ods% *ooks like addresses of some sort% 'ut )’m not #oin# off to $rinton or 7ods, wherever they are, to hunt for the thief" -e found these bits of aer near the bush where the stolen #oods had been thrown%” “$unny,” said $atty% “Do you think they’ve really anythin# to do with this (ase. They look like s(ras of aer tom u by someone and thrown away%” “That’s what ) said,” a#reed Tonks% “3nyway, )’ll have to kee them, in (ase they’re imortant%” $atty (ould see there was nothin# else to find out from Tonks% He #ot u% “-ell ! ) wish you lu(k in findin# the thief,” he said% “)t seems to me the only way to sot him will be to snoo round everywhere till we see a man wearin# si2e twelve shoes and si2e nine #loves"” Tonks #ave a sudden #rin% “-ell ! if Mr &oon likes to do that, he’s wel(ome% He’s takin# over the (ase when he (omes ba(k% i(e for him to have somethin# to do in this dead!and!alive hole% )’m used to a bi# town ! ) don’t like these 1uiet (ountry la(es where the only thin# that haens is a do# that (hases shee, or a man that doesn’t buy his wireless li(en(e%” $atty (ould have told Tonks how wron# he was% He (ould have told him of all the e5traordinary and e5(itin# mysteries that had h aened in Peterswood ! but he didn’t, be(ause of Tonks’ une5e(ted ie(e of news about &oon% “Did you say Mr &oon was (omin# ba(k.” he asked% “-hen.” “/ou sound leased,” said Tonks% “) did hear you didn’t like one another" He’s (omin# ba(k this afternoon% ) hand over then% ) shan’t be havin# any more to do with this (ase% 3nyway &oon ou#ht to ut his hands on the thief soon e nou#h ! he (an’t be far away%” $atty #lan(ed at the (lo(k on the mantelie(e% He must #o, or he would kee the others waitin#% He had found out all he wanted to know ! thou#h it wasn’t mu(h hel really% 3nd &oon was (omin# ba(k" Old &oon% +lear!Orf, with his bombasti( ways and his immense dislike of all the $ive $ind!Outers and their doin#s ! to say nothin# of 'uster% $atty shook hands solemnly with Tonks, assured him that it had been a #reat leasure to meet him, and went off on his bi(y(le, with 'uster antin# on(e a#ain near the edals%
The others were waitin# for him in Pi’s #arden% )t was very hot a#ain, and they lay on their ba(ks, with i(ed lemonade in a at(h of shade% “Here’s old $atty,” said Pi, hearin# his bi(y(le bell rin#in# as $atty (ame at si5ty miles an hour u the drive% “How in the world (an he ride at that a(e when it’s so hot.” 'ut $atty was the brin#er of news, and he didn’t think on(e about the heat as he (ame ridin# u the #arden ath to the others% He flun# his bi(y(le down and beamed round at them all% “&oon’s (omin# ba(k,” he said% “This afternoon" 3nd he’ll take over the (ase of the )nvisible Thief ! so we shall have some fun%” 6veryone sat u at on(e% “That’s #ood news,” said *arry, who always en0oyed their tussle of wits with &oon% “Did you see Tonks then. Had he anythin# to say.” $atty sat down% “ot mu(h,” he said% “He and the )nse(tor didn’t really find out any more than ) did% )’ll tell you what ) found out yesterday in a minute ! unless 'ets has already told you.” o, 'ets hadn’t% She had thou#ht that $atty ou#ht to tell everythin# ! so he #ot out his note!book and went into all the details of the new (ase% He told them of the settin#!u of the ladder ! the lar#e foot!rints in the bed below ! the e1ually lar#e #love!rints in the bedroom above ! the throwin# out of the stolen #oods ! the aarently (omletely invisible #etaway% “Only two ways of es(ae ! down the ladder or down the stairs,” said $atty% “3nd 4inny the housekeeer was standin# in the hall, where she (ould see both ! and she swears nobody (ame down either stairs or ladder%” “Must have #ot out of another ustairs window then,” said Pi% “3ll either fastened and shut, or too far from the #round,” said $atty% “There’s only one that mi#ht have been used ! and that is a tiny window in a bo5room ! there was a fat ie runnin# by it to the #round% 3nyone (ould have slithered down that ! if he was tiny enou#h to #et out of the window" 'ut ! the window was shut and fastened when 4inny went round the ustairs art of the house%” “Hm ! well, no thief (ould s1uee2e out of a window, hold on to a ie, and then shut and fasten the window after him ! from the inside"” said Pi% “)t’s a bit of a u22le, isn’t it. 4inny’s ri#ht ! the man’s invisible"” “-ell, if he is, he’ll (ertainly erform a#ain,” said *arry% “) mean ! an invisible thief has a #reat advanta#e, hasn’t he"” $atty lau#hed% He showed them his note!book with the drawin#s of the foot!rints, the #love! rints ! and the (urious round!shaed rint with the faint (riss(ross marks% “+an’t ima#ine what made that mark,” he said% “)t was near the bush where the stolen #oods were thrown% 3nd look ! (an anyone make anythin# of this.” He showed them the (urious addresses ! if they were addresses ! that he had (oied into his notebook too% “umber >, $rinton% umber @, 7ods,” he said% “Those words and numbers were found on two searate dirty s(ras of aer near the bush% -hat on earth do they mean.” “$rinton,” said 'ets, wrinklin# her forehead in a frown% “-ait a minute% That rin#s a bell, somehow% $rinton, $rinton% $rinton" -here have ) heard that lately.” “Oh ! one of your friends sent you a ost(ard from $rinton!on!Sea, ) e5e(t, silly,” said Pi% “o% -ait a minute ! )’m rememberin#"” said 'ets% “)t’s that la(e down by the river ! not very far from here, a(tually ! the la(e where they take visitors ! $rinton *ea"” “+lever old 'ets,” said $atty, admirin#ly% “There may be somethin# in that% )f we find a lar#e!si2ed fellow slou(hin# about there, we’ll kee a wat(h on him%” “-hat about umber @ 7ods,” said *arry% obody (ould think u anythin# for that% “-e’ll #o round lookin# at the names of houses and findin# out if anyone has that name,” said $atty% “7ods% )t’s a e(uliar name, anyhow% -ell, $ind!Outers ! the Mystery has be#un"”
The Se(ond 7obbery Mr &oon arrived ba(k that afternoon, burstin# with imortan(e% His refresher (ourse and the thin#s he had learnt at it had #iven him (omletely new ideas about his 0ob% 3h, he knew a lot more about the ways of wron#!doers now" He knew a #ood deal more about how to (at(h them%
3nd he also knew an enormous amount about the art of dis#uisin# himself% )t was entirely be(ause of $atty that Mr &oon had alied himself to the (ourse #iven in the 3rts of Dis#uise% $atty had bewildered, u22led, an#ered and humiliated oor Mr &oon so many times be(ause of his artful dis#uises% The times that boy had turned u as a red!headed (heeky tele#rah boy ! or a dirty old man ! or even a voluble and rude old woman" Mr &oon #ritted his teeth whenever he thou#ht of them% ow ! O- ! Mr &oon himself knew a bit about dis#uises, and he had brou#ht ba(k with him 1uite a remarkable (olle(tion of (lothes and other #ad#ets% He’d show that fat fellow he wasn’t the only one to use dis#uises% Mr &oon atted his o(ket as he travelled home in the motor!(oa(h% &rease!aint ! eyebrows ! a beard ! a wi# ! he was brin#in# them all ba(k% He’d tri(k that toad roerly% 3 real toad, that was what that boy was% Mr &oon was most deli#hted to hear about the new robbery from Tonks% 3h ! here was somethin# he (ould #et his teeth into at on(e% -ith all the new thin#s he had learnt he (ould ta(kle this fresh (ase easily ! toss it off, so to seak, lon# before $atty had even be#un it% He was a little dashed to find that $atty had aarently already heard about it and was interested in it% “That boy"” he #rowled to Tonks% “+an’t kee his nose out of anythin#"” “-ell, he (ouldn’t very well hel it this time,” said Tonks stolidly% “He was there when ) went and reorted the robbery to the )nse(tor%” “He would be,” said &oon, s(owlin#% “*ook here, Tonks ! ) tell you this ! if the +rown 4ewels were stolen one dark ni#ht, that boy would somehow know all about it ! he’d be there"” “7ather far!fet(hed that,” said Tonks, who thou#ht &oon was a bit of a turni!head% “-ell, )’ll be #oin#% )’ve #iven you all the details ! you’ve #ot those s(ras of aer, haven’t you. -ith those addresses on.” “/es% )’m #oin# to do somethin# about those at on(e,” said &oon omously% “) re(kon if those la(es are wat(hed, somethin#’ll (ome out ! and wat(hed they will be%” “7i#ht,” said Tonks% “-ell, #oodbye, Mr &oon% &ood lu(k%” He went off and &oon heaved a si#h of relief% He sat down to look throu#h the aers that Tonks had left% 'ut he hadn’t been studyin# them lon# before the telehone bell ran#% &oon took off the re(eiver and ut it to his ear% “Poli(e here,” he said #ruffly% Someone soke volubly and e5(itedly at the other end% &oon stiffened as he listened ! ah ! another robbery ! thin#s were #ettin# interestin#" “)’ll be alon#, Madam% *eave everythin# as it is% Don’t tou(h a thin#,” (ommanded &oon, in his most offi(ial voi(e% He ut on his helmet and went out to #et his bi(y(le% “3nd this time those interferin# (hildren won’t be there to ester me,” he thou#ht, as he (y(led 1ui(kly alon# in the heat% “)’ll be in first on this%” He (y(led throu#h the villa#e, turned u a side!road, and (ame to a house% He #ot off his bi(y(le, wheeled it in at the #ate, and went u to the front door% )t was oened by $atty" Mr &oon #ased% He s(owled% He (ouldn’t think of a word to say% $atty #rinned% “&ood afternoon, Mr &oon,” he said, in his olitest voi(e, a voi(e that always infuriated Mr &oon% “+ome in% -e’ve been e5e(tin# you%” “-hat are you doin# here.” said Mr &oon, findin# his voi(e at last% “Tri(kin# me. &ettin# me here for nothin#. ) thou#ht it all sounded a bit funny on the hone ! silly sort of voi(e, and silly sort of tale% ) mi#ht have #uessed it was one of your tri(ks ! 0ust to wel(ome me home ) suose" -ell ! you’ll be sorry for this% )’ll reort you" /ou think be(ause the )nse(tor is friendly to you, you (an #et away with anythin#" /ou think%%%” “-oof"” said somebody ! and 'uster darted out in e(stasy, so leased to hear the voi(e of his old enemy that he wa##ed his tail for 0oy" That was enou#h for &oon% He dearted hurriedly, mutterin# as he went, his bi(y(le wobblin# down the ath% “-ell"” said $atty, in surrise% “-hat’s u with him. He (an’t really think )’m hoa5in# him" *arry, (ome here% &oon’s #one off his head"” *arry and Daisy aeared% They looked after the deartin# &oon, who was now sailin# out of the #ate% “He’s #one,” said $atty% “He (ame ! he saw ! and he didn’t stay to (on1uer% -hat’s u with him.” “/ou’d have thou#ht that with another slendid robbery, he’d have stayed like a shot,” said Daisy%
“-ell, Miss *u(y reorted it fully,” said $atty% “) heard her on the telehone%” Somebody (alled out to them% “-as that the oli(e. Tell them to (ome in here%” “)t was Mr &oon,” said $atty% “He (ame ! but he went at on(e% $unny%” “-ell, thank #oodness you and *arry and Daisy are here,” said Mrs -illiams% “) don’t know what ) should have done without you%” )t had all haened very suddenly indeed% $atty had #one to tea with *arry and Daisy that afternoon, as Pi and 'ets had #one out with their mother% They had been havin# tea in the #arden, when someone from the house ne5t door be#an to (all for hel% “Hel" 7obbers" Hel" Hel, ) say"” “&osh ! that’s Mrs -illiams yellin#,” said *arry, #ettin# u 1ui(kly% “Our ne5t!door nei#hbour%” “-hat’s haened.” asked Daisy, half!fri#htened at the (ontinual shouts% “She’s been robbed,” said $atty% “+ome on ! 1ui(k"” 3ll three (limbed over the fen(e and aeared in the ne5t!door #arden% Mrs -illiams saw them from a window and be(koned% “+ome in, 1ui(kly" )’m s(ared"” They rushed in at the ba(k door% There was no one in the kit(hen% 3 hea of #ro(eries lay on the table, and four loaves sat neatly side by side% 3 ar(el stood by the door% $atty’s 1ui(k eyes noted everythin# as he ran throu#h the kit(hen into the hall% “:it(hen door oen ! the thief went in there, robably% -onder if it’s the same one as yesterday%” Mrs -illiams was sittin# on her sofa, lookin# rather white% She was a #entle #rey!haired old lady, and she was very fri#htened% “&et me my smellin#!salts out of my ba#,” she said faintly to Daisy% Daisy #ot them and she held them to her nose% “-hat haened, Mrs -illiams.” said $atty% “-ell, ) was havin# my afternoon rest in here,” said Mrs -illiams% “3nd ) suddenly heard the sound of heavy footstes ustairs% Then ) heard the sound of a dee, hollow sort of (ou#h ! rather like a shee makes, really%” “3 hollow (ou#h.” said $atty, at on(e, rememberin# that 4inny had also heard the same noise% “/es% ) sat u, s(ared,” said Mrs -illiams% “) (ret out of this room and went into the hall% 3nd suddenly someone #ave me a ush into the (uboard there, and in ) went% The door was lo(ked on me, and ) (ouldn’t #et out%” 4ust as she was seakin# there (ame the sound of a key in the front door, and then the door was oened and shut% “-ho’s that.” asked $atty% “Oh, that’s *u(y, my (omanion ! Miss *u(y,” said Mrs -illiams% “Oh, )’m #lad she’s ba(k% *u(y% *u(y, (ome here% 3 dreadful thin# has haened"” Miss *u(y (ame in% She was a little bird!like woman with very shar eyes, and a funny boun(y way of walkin#% She went to Mrs -illiams at on(e% “-hat is it. /ou look ale"” Mrs -illiams reeated a#ain what she had told the (hildren% They waited atiently till she (ame to where she had been lo(ked in the (uboard% “-ell, there ) was in the hall (uboard, and ) (ould hear the thief walkin# about overhead a#ain,” said Mrs -illiams% “Heavy!footed too, and (lumsy by the way he kno(ked thin#s over% Then he (ame downstairs ! ) heard him (learly be(ause the stairs ass over the hall (uboard ! and ) heard that awful shee!like (ou#h a#ain%” She stoed and shuddered% “&o on,” said $atty #ently% “How did you #et out of the (uboard. Did the thief unlo(k it.” “He must have,” said Mrs -illiams% “ ) was so s(ared when ) heard him (omin# downstairs that ) must have fainted ! and when ) (ame round a#ain, ) found myself lyin# in a hea on all the boots and shoes and #olf!(lubs ! and the door was unlo(ked" ) tried it ! and it oened%” “Hmmmm"” said $atty% “Miss *u(y, you’d better telehone the oli(e, ) think ! and )’ll take a little look round% This is very ! very ! interestin#"”
Mr &oon on the 4ob Miss *u(y ran to telehone the oli(e at on(e and as we know, #ot on to Mr &oon% =ery e5(itedly and volubly she told him all that had haened, and then the household waited for Mr &oon to arrive%
$atty took a hasty look round while they waited% He was sure the thief was the same as the one who had been to orton House the day before% $or one thin# ! that dee, hollow (ou#h ! and for another, the heavy!footed (lumsiness sounded as if they belon#ed to the same bur#lar% $atty ran ustairs% The first thin# he saw in one of the bedrooms was a rint on the wall, 0ust by the door ! a lar#e #love!rint" He fli(ked oen his note!book and (omared it with the measurements detailed there% /es ! retty well e5a(tly the same% ow what about any foot!rints in the #arden. The #round was so dry now that unless the thief obli#in#ly walked on a flower!bed, he robably wouldn’t leave any rints% $atty was 0ust #oin# out to see, when he (au#ht si#ht of Mr &oon (omin# u the front drive, and went to the door% -hat a sho(k it would be for Mr &oon to see him" $atty really en0oyed oenin# the door% He was surrised when Mr &oon dashed off so soon% Surely he (ouldn’t be idioti( enou#h really to think that $atty had hoa5ed him. -ell, well ! if so, then he, $atty, mi#ht as well #et on with his 0ob of snooin# round% Mr &oon wouldn’t have let him do that if he had taken (har#e of the (ase, that was (ertain% So $atty made hay while the sun shone and slied out into the #arden, leavin# *arry and Daisy to try and e5lain Mr &oon’s sudden dearture to Mrs -illiams and Miss *u(y% They were most indi#nant% $atty went out throu#h the kit(hen door% He had de(ided that the thief had (ome in that way, as the front door had been shut% He went down the ath that led from the kit(hen% He saw a bed of flowers and walked over to it% The bed was underneath the sittin#!room window, and it was in that room that Mrs -illiams had been aslee% $atty #ave an e5(lamation% On the bed were a (oule of very lar#e foot!rints% The same ones as yesterday ! he was sure of it" He fli(ked oen his book a#ain% The bed was drier than the one he had e5amined the day before for rints, and the rubber heel did not show this time ! but the lar#e rints were there, lain to see% “The thief (ame and looked in at the window,” thou#ht $atty% “3nd he saw Mrs -illiams fast aslee% Hallo ! here are some more rints ! on this bed% -hy did he walk here.” There didn’t seem any reason why the thief had walked on the se(ond bed ! but it was (lear that the rints mat(hed the others% )n fa(t, everythin# mat(hed ! the #love!rints, the foot!rints, the hollow (ou#h% -ould there also be any mark like that bi#, roundish one that $atty had seen at orton House. He hunted about for one< and he found it" )t was very faint, (ertainly, and the (riss!(ross marks (ould hardly be seen% The roundish rint was by the kit(hen door, on the dusty ath there% Somethin# had been stood there ! what was it. “3ny s(ras of aer this time.” wondered $atty, rather stru(k by the way that everythin# seemed to be reeated in this se(ond (ase of robbery% He hunted everywhere ! but there were no s(ras of aer this time% He went indoors, and met Miss *u(y (omin# out to find him% “Mr &oon has 0ust telehoned,” she said% “) (an’t make him out% He wanted to know if there had been a real robbery here" -ell, why didn’t he stay and ask us about it when he (ame. He must be mad%” $atty #rinned% &oon had evidently thou#ht the whole thin# over and de(ided that he had better find out for (ertain what the truth was ! and to his dis#ust he had found that the robbery was real ! it wasn’t a tri(k of $atty’s after all" “He’s a bit of a turni!head,” said $atty (heerfully% “ever mind% /ou tell him )’m on the 0ob when he (omes ! he needn’t worry about it at all% )’ve #ot it well in hand%” Miss *u(y looked doubtfully at $atty% She was #ettin# a little bewildered, what with thieves, and oli(emen who arrived and dearted all in the same minute, and boys who seemed to be a(tin# like oli(emen ou#ht to, but didn’t% $atty ointed to the #ro(eries on the table% “-ho took these in.” he asked% “Have you a (ook.” “/es% 'ut she’s off for the day,” said Miss *u(y% “) left the ba(k door oen for the #ro(er’s #irl to leave the #ro(eries in the kit(hen ! she often does that for us% The baker ’s been too, ) see ! and the ostman, be(ause there’s a ar(el by the door% Mrs -illiams has been in all the afternoon, but she likes a na, so the tradesmen never rin# when +ook is out% They 0ust leave everythin#, as you see%” “/es, ) see,” said $atty thou#htfully% He #a2ed at the #ro(eries, the bread and the ar(el% Three
eole had (ome to the house in a short time% Had one of them noti(ed the thief han#in# about anywhere. He must find out% Mr &oon arrived a#ain, a little shame!fa(ed% Miss *u(y let him in, lookin# rather severe% She thou#ht a oli(eman who behaved like &oon was ridi(ulous% “6r ! sorry ) didn’t (ome in before,” said Mr &oon% “Hoe )’ve not ket you waitin# too lon# ! er ! ur#ent business, you know% 'y the way ! that boy ! has he #one. The fat boy%” “)f you mean youn# Master Trotteville, he is still here, e5aminin# everythin#,” said Miss *u(y (oldly% “He told me to tell you not to bother about the 0ob% He’s #ot it well in hand% ) am sure he will re(over the 0ewellery Mrs -illiams has had stolen%” &oon turned a (urious urle (olour, and Miss *u(y felt rather alarmed% She felt that she didn’t want this e(uliar oli(eman in the house at all% She tried to shut the front door ! but &oon ut his enormous foot in the (ra(k at on(e% Miss *u(y #ave a faint shriek, and Mr &oon took his foot out a#ain, tryin# to think of somethin# reassurin# to say to this a##ravatin#, bird!like (reature% Miss *u(y romtly shut the door and even ut u the (hain% &oon stared at the door, and went urle a#ain% He walked onderously round to the ba(k door, where he found $atty e5aminin# the ath for foot!rints% “&ah"” said Mr &oon, in a tone of dee dis#ust% “+an’t #et rid of you" $irst you’re at the front door, now you’re at the ba(k door% /ou be off% This here (ase has #ot nothin# to do with you% othin#%” “That’s where you’re wron#, Mr &oon,” said $atty in the mild, (ourteous voi(e that made &oon see red% “) was (alled in to hel% )’ve found out a lot already%” *arry and Daisy heard &oon’s infuriated voi(e and (ame out throu#h the kit(hen to listen% They stood at the ba(k door, #rinnin#% “/ou here too.” said &oon, in even #reater dis#ust% “+an’t you kee your noses out of anythin#. ow, you (lear!orf, all of you, and let me #et on with my work here% 3nd 0ust you (all off that do#"” 'uster had now 0oined the trio, and was (aerin# deli#htedly round Mr &oon’s feet% “He’s missed his ankle!huntin#,” $atty e5lained% “Don’t #rud#e him a little fun, Mr &oon% 3nd don’t you ki(k him% )f you do ) won’t (all him off%” Mr &oon #ave it u% He ushed ast *arry and Daisy, went into the kit(hen, still ursued by a deli#hted 'uster, and throu#h the door into the hall% 'y a (lever bit of work he mana#ed to shut the door of the kit(hen on 'uster, who s(raed at it, barkin# wildly% “-ell, he’s #one to do a sot of interviewin#,” said $atty, sittin# down on the kit(hen door!ste% “He won’t find the two ladies very leased with him, ) fear% He’s rather started off on the wron# foot with them%” “$atty, have you found out anythin# interestin#.” asked *arry ea#erly% “) saw you with your measurin# tae, out of the window% -hat have you dis(overed.” “)’ve dis(overed e5a(tly the same as ) dis(overed yesterday,” said $atty% “65(et that ) haven’t found any bits of aer with names and numbers on% *ook at those rints over there%” *arry and Daisy e5amined them with interest% “) know only one erson in this villa#e with feet bi# enou#h to fit those rints,” said Daisy% $atty looked u at on(e% “-ho. Perhas you’ve hit on the very erson" There (an’t be many eole with su(h enormous feet%” “-ell ! it’s &oon ! old +lear!Orf"” said Daisy with a #i##le% The others roared% “/ou’re ri#ht% His feet would (ertainly fit those rints"” said $atty% “;nfortunately he’s about the only lar#e!footed erson who’s absolutely ruled out%” “-e’ll (ertainly have to #o about with our eyes on eole’s feet,” said *arry% “)t’s the one thin# the thief (an’t hide" He (an sti(k his #reat hands in his o(kets and sto his hollow (ou#h ! but he (an’t hide his #reat feet"” “o ! you’re ri#ht,” said $atty% “-ell, let’s not sto any more% &oon’s had about enou#h of us for one afternoon, ) should think%” They (limbed over the fen(e into *arry’s #arden% 'uster s1uee2ed throu#h a hole% “&osh ! )’d for#otten we were in the middle of tea,” said $atty, leased to see the remains of sandwi(hes and (akes on the #rass% “-hat’s haened to some of these otted!meat sandwi(hes. /our (at’s been at them, *arry%” “'uster ! on #uard"” said *arry at on(e, and 'uster #rowled and looked round for the (at% They finished their tea, talkin# about the two robberies% 3fter a time 'uster #rowled a#ain and
went to the fen(e% “Must be &oon over the other side, doin# a sot of dete(tin#,” said $atty with a #rin% “*et’s #o and see his turni!brains at work%” &oon was busy lookin# for rints and (lues% He was most irritated to see three heads lookin# over the wall at him% They wat(hed him solemnly as he measured and marked% “*ook" He’s found a foot!rint"” said *arry, in an admirin# voi(e% The ba(k of Mr &oon’s ne(k went s(arlet but he said nothin#% “ow he’s measurin# it,” said Daisy% “Oooh, isn’t he (areful.” “'rains, Daisy, brains,” said $atty% “-hat (an we do a#ainst brains like that.” Mr &oon felt as if he was #oin# to burst% Those (hildren" Toads" Pests" 3lways in his way, bu22in# round like a lot of mos1uitoes% He made a very di#nified retreat into the kit(hen, rather hurried at the end when he dis(overed that 'uster had s1uee2ed throu#h the hole in the fen(e and was after him% “+lear!Orf"” he shouted, slammin# the door in 'uster’s fa(e% “/ou (lear!orf"”
$atty Makes Some Plans $atty (alled a meetin# down in his shed the very ne5t day% *arry and Daisy arrived un(tually, and Pi and 'ets soon after% 'uster #reeted them all e5uberantly, as if he hadn’t seen them for years% “This is a roer meetin#,” announ(ed $atty% “3n offi(ial one, ) mean% -e’ve #ot our mystery all ri#ht ! and we’ve #ot 0ust under four weeks to solve it% That ou#ht to be lenty of time"” “/es, it ou#ht ! for old hands like us"” said *arry, #rinnin#% “Did you tell Pi a nd 'ets all about yesterday’s robbery ne5t door to us. Do they know everythin#.” “/es% ) went to tell them last ni#ht,” said $atty% “-e’ve #ot to make lans this mornin#%” “-hat. *ists of Suse(ts and so on.” asked 'ets ea#erly% “-e haven’t #ot a sin#le suse(t,” said $atty% “ot one" )t’s about the only mystery we’ve ever had with two (rimes and no suse(ts at all% Most e5traordinary% )t’s #oin# to be diffi(ult to #et on with the (ase till we find a few suse(ts to en1uire about%” “-e’ve #ot lenty of (lues,” said Daisy% “$ootrints ! #love!rints ! (ou#hs ! bits of aer%%%” “-hat’s your lan, $atty.” asked Pi% “) bet you’ve #ot one%” “-ell, ) have, as a matter of fa(t,” said $atty modestly% “)t’s like this ! all we’ve #ot to #o on at the moment is what we think the thief looks like ! bi#!footed, heavy!handed, (lumsy, with a dee, hollow (ou#h ! and we’ve #ot two bits of aer ossibly droed by him ! and if they are addresses or names, whi(h they robably are, we must wat(h those addresses or eole%” “/es,” said *arry% “3nd what about askin# the #ro(er, the baker and the ostman if they saw any si#n of a bi#!footed fellow yesterday afternoon, when they delivered their #oods in our road.” “) was (omin# to that,” said $atty% “)t seems to me we must slit u a bit and ea(h do a 0ob, as we usually do%” “Oh dear,” said 'ets% “)’m really not mu(h #ood b y myself%” “/ou’re one of the best of us,” said $atty warmly, and 'ets blushed with leasure% “-ho solved the mystery of the Pantomime +at, )’d like to know. /ou did, 'ets ! oh yes you did ! without your bri#ht idea about it we’d never have solved it" So 0ust you do your bit this time too%” “Oh, ) will, $atty,” said 'ets earnestly% “ow you, *arry, #o and interview the ostman,” said $atty% “3nd you, Pi, #o to the baker% )f he’s the same one that 4inny at orton House (alled in to hel her, the one who sear(hed the ustairs rooms for her, all the better% He may have noti(ed somethin# about the two (ases that we haven’t%” “7i#ht,” said Pi% “) believe he is our baker too%” “3nd you, Daisy and 'ets, #o and interview the #ro(er ’s #irl,” said $atty% “3arently it’s a #irl who delivers Harris’s #oods ! that’s the #ro(er% &o and #et her to talk ! listen to all she says ! remember it, and we’ll ie(e to#ether everythin# when we meet a#ain%” There was a silen(e% 6veryone wondered what little 0ob $atty had ket for himself% “-hat are you #oin# to do.” asked 'ets% “)’m #oin# to dis#uise myself,” said $atty, and 'ets #ave a s1ueal of 0oy% “3nd )’m #oin# to #o and wat(h $rinton *ea, 0ust to see if any bi#!footed fellow lives there" )f ) wat(h the house all day lon# ) may see somethin#%”
“'ut, $atty ! you’ll be noti(ed if you stand outside all day lon#,” said Daisy% “'esides ! what about meals.” “)’ve thou#ht of all that,” said $atty% “*eave it all to me" ) shan’t tell you my dis#uise% -hen you’ve done your 0obs you (an (ome alon# a nd see if you re(o#ni2e me% )’ll be within fifty yards of the house all day lon# ! visible to everyone ! but ) bet you anythin# you like that nobody will ay a moment’s attention to me"” They all stared at him% He stared ba(k, his eyes twinklin#% “-e shall sot you at on(e,” said Daisy% “3ll ri#ht% Sot me, then,” said $atty% “ow, (ome on ! let’s #et #oin#% +lear!orf, all of you ! and let me dis#uise myself"” They all went off, lau#hin#, wonderin# what $atty was #oin# to do% They were absolutely (ertain that they would sot $atty at on(e% So would everyone else noti(e him, surely% How (ould anyone loiter outside a house all day lon# without bein# noti(ed. 3nd what about meals. There was nowhere down by $rinton *ea where he (ould have even a sna(k% There were fields behind and the river ran 0ust in front% “)’m #oin# ba(k home to wait for the baker,” said Pi% “He (omes to us about twelve o’(lo(k, ) think%” “Oh, that’s an awfully #ood idea,” said *arry% “)’ll (ome with you, and wait for the ar(el ostman to (ome to your house too% Then we (an kee ea(h other (omany%” “He may not (ome,’ said Pi% “-e don’t always have ar(els%” “)’ll have to (han(e that,” said *arry% “) don’t feel like #oin# to the ost offi(e and askin# to interview the ar(el ostman there, in front of everyone" ) half thou#ht )’d have to do that at first"” “-hat about the #ro(er ’s #irl.” said Daisy% “Do you have Harris for your #ro(er, Pi. )f you do, 'ets and ) (an be with you and *arry, and we (an all be to#ether%” “o, we don’t have Harris,” said Pi% “*et me see now ! what roads does the #irl deliver to in the mornin#s. )’ve seen her somewhere% ) know she only #oes to your art of the town in the afternoon%” “) know" She delivers down at the other end of the town,” said 'ets suddenly% “) was at Mrs :endal’s on(e, with a messa#e for Mother ! and the #ro(er’s #irl (ame then% -e (ould #o and wait about for her there, Daisy%” “7i#ht% +ome on,” said Daisy% “&oodbye, boys ! don’t start layin# a #ame and for#et all about your 0ob"” “Don’t be silly, Daisy,” said *arry, 1uite annoyed% The boys went off to Pi’s and the #irls went off to the other end of the town% They were lu(ky be(ause they didn’t have to wait very lon#% They sat in the small dairy near Mrs :endal’s, eatin# i(e!(reams, keein# a wat(h for the #ro(er ’s van% “There it is"” said 'ets suddenly, and Daisy looked u, to see Harris’s yellow van (omin# round the (orner% )t (ame to a sto nearby% Daisy and 'ets aid 1ui(kly for their i(e!(reams and hurried out% They were 0ust in time to see the #ro(er’s #irl 0um from the van, hurry to the ba(k, undo the door, and dra# out a bi# bo5 iled with #ro(eries% “*et her #o in with it first, and then we’ll seak to her when she (omes out,” said Daisy% They walked slowly to the ba(k of the van% Then 'ets saw that a little a(ket of soa owder had fallen out and was lyin# in the road% “)t must have fallen out of the #irl’s bo5,” she said to Daisy, and bent to i(k it u 0ust as the #ro(er’s #irl (ame out a#ain, this time with her bo5 emty% “) say ! you droed this,” said 'ets, holdin# it out% “Oh, thanks very mu(h,” said the #irl #ratefully% “) missed it when ) took the thin#s in 0ust now% )’m in an awful hurry this mornin# ! had an interview with the oli(e, you know% 3bout the robbery at Mrs -illiams%” This was 0ust the oenin# the other two wanted% Daisy sei2ed on it ea#erly% “Oh, did you really. Did you know that ) and my brother lived ne5t door to Mrs -illiams, and we rushed in to hel her.” “o" -ell ) never"” said the #irl, astonished% “Did you see anythin# of the thief. ) hear he took 1uite a bit of Mrs -illiams’ 0ewellery%” “Did he.” said Daisy, who hadn’t yet heard what e5a(tly h ad been taken% “/ou went to the house yesterday afternoon too, didn’t you. Did you see anythin# of the thief.”
“o, not a thin#,” said the #irl% “) didn’t see anyone at all% ) think ) must have (ome before he was there% ) never saw or heard anythin#%” “Did you see any loaves or any ar(el in the kit(hen when you went in.” asked 'ets, wonderin# if the #ro(er’s #irl had #one to the house before the others% “There were no loaves there when ) went, and ) didn’t see any ar(el,” said the #irl, #ettin# into her van% “Mr &oon asked me a lot of 1uestions this mornin# ! and ) (ouldn’t tell him a thin#% To think ) was there and mi#ht have brushed a #ainst the robber" -ell, it 0ust shows, doesn’t it.” 'ets and Daisy didn’t know e5a(tly what it showed, but they nodded their heads% “Sorry ) (an’t sto,” said the #irl% “)’d love to hear what you did too ! but )’m so awfully late% To think ) didn’t hear or see a thin#% 'ad lu(k, wasn’t it.” She drove off% Daisy and 'ets looked at one another% “-ell, that was une5e(tedly easy,” said 'ets% “)t took us hardly any time% -e may as well #o ba(k and see how the boys are #ettin# on%” So they went off to the boys, who were atiently waitin# for the ostman and the baker% They were swin#in# on the #ate so as not to miss them% They looked surrised to see Daisy and 'ets so soon% “-e has an easy 0ob,” said Daisy% “'ut nothin# (ame of it% The #ro(er’s #irl delivered her #oods before the others, and she didn’t see or hear anythin# susi(ious at all%” “obody ever seems to see this thief,” said *arry% “They hear him and see his foot!marks and #love!marks, but they don’t see him% ) bet neither the ostman nor the baker will have seen him, either%” “Here is the ostman"” said Daisy% “*ook ! (omin# u the road with his little (y(le!van% *et’s hoe he’s #ot a ar(el for your house, Pi%” The ostman delivered two ar(els ne5t door% He (ame out a#ain, mounted his saddle, and edalled slowly to Pi’s house% He stoed% He rumma#ed in his little van and rodu(ed a ar(el% “Mrs Hilton,” he read out and looked at the (hildren% “3ny of you a Hilton.” “/es, ) am,” said Pi, #oin# over to the van% “)’ll take it to my mother% )t’ll save you a lon# ride u the drive and ba(k%” “Thanks,” said the ostman% “Si#n for it, will you.” Pi si#ned% “) hoe you won’t bum into a thief today,” he said, #ivin# the ostman ba(k his stum of a en(il% “) hear you almost ran into one yesterday"” “/es,” said the ostman% “Mr &oon the oli(eman has been tryin# to find out if ) saw him% ) didn’t% ) went to the ba(k door, as the +ook had told me to, so as not to disturb Mrs -illiams ! and ) saw all the #ro(eries on the table, and @ left my ar(el by the door%” “-ere there any loaves on the table too.” asked *arry% “ot so far as ) remember,” said the ostman% “) 0ust oed my hand in with the ar(el and oed out a#ain% ) was in a hurry% ) didn’t see or hear anythin# at all% Off ) went% ) don’t know whether the thief was there then or not ! skulkin# round, maybe ! or hidin# in a bush%” He be#an to edal slowly away% The (hildren wat(hed him #o% “obody’s mu(h hel,” said Pi% “) never knew su(h a thief for not bein# noti(ed by anyone% /ou’d think they’d see his bi# feet, anyhow, wouldn’t you.” “ow we’ll wait for the baker,” said *arry% “Then we’ll s(oot off down to $rinton *ea and sot $atty% ) bet we sot him% 6ven if he’s dis#uised himself as a tree we’ll sot him%” “'u(k u, baker"” said 'ets, swin#in# on the #ate% “/ou’re the last one left ! and ) #uess you won’t have noti(ed the thief either"”
The Pe(uliar $isherman The baker arrived at last% He was a (o(ky little bantam of a man, with a rather hi#h voi(e, and a silly way of (learin# his throat% He left his van at the bottom of the road and (ame alon# (arryin# his basket on his arm% “Hallo, kids,” he said, as he (ame u to the #ate% “Havin# a swin#!swon#, eh.” “Shall we take the bread to our (ook for you.” asked Pi% “-ell ! there are thieves about, you know"” said the baker, retendin# to look s(ared% “My word ! ) nearly ran into one yesterday, u at Mrs -illiams’s% Did you hear tell about that.” “-hat haened.” asked *arry, thinkin# it would be a #ood thin# to let him talk%
“-ell, nothin# really so far as )’m (on(erned,” said the baker% “) #oes u there as usual, (arryin# my bread on my arm in my basket, like ) always does% ) kno(ks on the kit(hen door before ) remembers that +ookie is out% ) sees the #ro(eries on the table, and a ar(el by the door, and ) says, 83h, the #ro(er #irl’s been and left her thin#s, and so’s the ostman% ow it’s your turn, baker"’ ” He #rinned at them as if he had said somethin# rather (lever% “3nd so ) looks at the note +ookie’s left for me, and ) sees as how she wants four loaves,” went on the (o(ky little baker% “3nd ) os them down, and out ) #oes%” “3nd you didn’t see or hear anythin# of the thief at all then,” said *arry, disaointed% “o% othin#,” said the baker% “3ll ) see is some bi# foot!rints on a bed%” “3h ! you saw those"” said Pi and *arry to#ether% The baker looked surrised% “-hat do you know about them.” he said% “/es, ) see them ! and ) thinks ! ah, somebody’s been walkin# their bi# feet all over the beds% Maybe the window!(leaner or somebody% 3nd off ) #oes%” “That means that the thief must either have (ome and #one, or was still there, hidin# somewhere whilst you were deliverin# your bread,” said *arry% “&osh ! you mi#ht easily have seen him, -hat a ity you didn’t%” “) never seen him the other day either, at orton House,” said the baker in his hi#h, rather silly voi(e% “) heard 4inny shoutin# and in ) went ! but we didn’t see no thief at all%” “$unny,” said Pi, u22led% “-ell, if you like to #ive me your basket )’ll take it u to our (ook and let her see what bread she wants% )t will save you a lon# walk u the drive%” He held out his hands for the basket, but the b aker ba(ked away and shook his head% “o, thanks% ) don’t want boys messin# about with my ni(e (lean bread,” said the baker% “)’m arti(ular ) am% )’m the only baker in Peterswood that (overs his bread u with a (lean (loth%” “Oh, all ri#ht,” said Pi% “Take it yourself% )’m sure ) don’t want to lu# it all the way to the ba(k door% )t looks retty heavy to me%” The baker went in at the #ate and walked u the drive like a little struttin# bantam% The (hildren wat(hed him and lau#hed% “-hat a funny little fellow,” said 'ets% “So roud of his (lean bread too% /ou’d think he would kee his hands (lean as well, if he’s as (lean as all that" They’re filthy"” They wat(hed him disaear round the bend of the drive, lookin# sru(e and smart in his little white (oat, bree(hes, and small!si2ed, hi#hly olished boots with olished #aiters above% “Most disaointin#,” he said, as he (ame ba(k a#ain% “o thief today anywhere% ) don’t mind tellin# you )’m on the look!out now% 3nyone susi(ious and ) tell the oli(e" ) romised Mr &oon that% ) #o into nearly everyone’s house, and )’m keein# my eyes oen for him% He thinks there’ll be more robberies soon"” “7eally.” said *arry olitely% The little baker strutted ba(k to his van whistlin#% “=ery leased with himself, isn’t he.” said *arry% “) don’t think ) like him mu(h%” “ow let’s #o down to $rinton *ea and see if we (an find $atty,” said 'ets, 0umin# off the #ate% “/es, let’s,” said Daisy, leased% “-e’ve done our bits now ! not that we’ve found out anythin#%” They walked down the lane to the river, then alon# the river!ath that led to $rinton *ea% They soon (ame in si#ht of it% )t was a bi#, ramblin# house, on(e built by ri(h eole, and now owned by someone who ran it for ayin# #uests% 'oats slid by on the water% $ishermen sat by the bank, stolid and atient, almost like bits of the s(enery% 6a(h had his little (am!stool, and ea(h hun(hed himself over his rod, wat(hin# his float like a (at wat(hin# a mouse!hole% “)’ve never seen any of these fishermen (at(h a fish yet,” said 'ets, stoin# by one% “Sh"” said the fisherman an#rily, and 'ets went away, alarmed% “/ou’ll fri#hten away the fish he doesn’t (at(h,” said Pi with a lau#h% “$or #oodness sake don’t #o and disturb a fisherman a#ain"” They assed two labourers in a field, and then (ame to $rinton *ea% They looked about e5e(tantly for a heavily dis#uised $atty% -as he anywhere about. 3t first they (ould see nobody ! and then, sittin# in a little boat, not far from the bank, was a hun(hed!u fi#ure, silently fishin#% He had on most e5traordinary (lothes% His hat was a lar#e (loth (a with a rather loud (he(k attern% His s(arf was a (urious si(kly #reen% His (oat was very ti#ht blue ala(a, and he wore red bra(es that showed in front where the (oat fell oen% The (hildren stared at his e(uliar fi#ure% )t took one look at them and then #lan(ed away%
“There’s $atty"” said Pi% “'ut what a #et!u" )t’s not so mu(h a dis#uise as a fan(y!dress% -hat’s he thinkin# of to dress like that"” “He must have #ot some reason for it,” said Daisy% “$atty never does anythin# without a reason% -hat bra(es"” “Did you see his fa(e when he looked round at us.” said *arry with a lau#h% “$ier(e eyebrows and a fier(e mousta(he, and he must have #ot h is (heek!ads in a#ain, his fa(e looks so fat%” “) do wish he would look at us roerly,” said 'ets, who simly (ouldn’t re(o#ni2e $atty at all% “Don’t be silly,” said Pi% “He hoes we shan’t re(o#ni2e him, the #oof%” Still the fisherman in the boat didn’t look in their dire(tion% He fished stolidly% Then he (ou#hed% “4olly #ood (ou#h,” said Pi in a loud voi(e% The fisherman took no noti(e% “Pssssssst"” *arry said to him, and still he didn’t so mu(h a s turn his head% 3ny ordinary fisherman would (ertainly have lost his temer by now and ordered them away% )t was most de(idedly $atty% “Don’t be #oofy"” (alled Pi in a low voi(e% “-e’ve sotted you"” said Daisy, also keein# her voi(e low% “)t was easy"” The fisherman obstinately refused to look in their dire(tion% 3fter a little more “Psssssstin#” and attemts to make him turn round, the four #ave it u% “-e’ll walk home and (ome ba(k afterwards,” said *arry% “)t’s #ettin# late% $atty’s an ass%” They walked home, had their lun(hes and (ame ba(k a#ain% Perhas $atty would be more amenable this afternoon% “The boat’s #one,” said Daisy% “Oh no ! look, it’s there by the bank% 3nd the fisherman is sittin# on the #rass, eatin# his lun(h% ow we (an #et him to talk"” They went u to him and sat down solemnly% He took a hurried look at them and then swallowed a mouthful so 1ui(kly that he (hoked% “'ad lu(k,” said *arry, symatheti(ally% “+au#ht many fish.” “o,” said the fisherman in a stran#led sort of voi(e% He #ot u suddenly and went to his boat% “Pssst"” said *arry% The fisherman (lambered hurriedly into his boat, makin# it ro(k u and down% *arry was about to #o to his hel, meanin# to whiser a few stin#in# remarks into $atty’s ear, when 'ets (au#ht hold of him and ulled him ba(k% He looked down at her in surrise% She looked u at him and shook he r head, her eyes wide and fri#htened% She nodded towards the fisherman’s boots% They were enormous ! and so were his hairy hands" *arry stoed with a 0erk% &osh ! it wasn’t $atty after all" Of (ourse it wasn’t% -ho was it then. 3nd why had he behaved so stran#ely. “'i# feet ! enormous hands"” whisered 'ets% “)t’s the thief" )t is, *arry ! it must be" That’s why he’s tried to shake us off% He’s afraid we’re on his tra(k%” The fisherman had ushed off into the river a#ain% He sat now with his ba(k to the (hildren, hun(hed u as before% They #a2ed at him silently% How (ould they ossibly have thou#ht he was $atty. “-hat are we to do.” asked Daisy in a low voi(e% “-e ou#ht to tell $atty% 'ut where is he. )s h e somewhere near ! in dis#uise. -e (an’t let the thief #o now we’ve found him" -here is $atty. ) simly (an’t see him anywhere"”
Telehone +all to &oon *arry thou#ht hard% He was the head of the $ive when $atty was not there% -hat was the best thin# to do. “)f only we (ould sot $atty"” he #roaned% “)’ll tell you what we’d better do% Pi, you and 'ets stay here and kee an eye on the thief% Daisy and ) will wander about a bit and see if we (an sot $atty% He said he’d be within fifty yards of $rinton *ea, so he will be%” “7i#ht,” said Pi, and he and 'ets settled down on the #rassy bank% The other two walked off down the ath% The fisherman heard their footstes and turned (autiously round to see who it was% “See him look round.” whisered 'ets% “He hoed we’d #one" Then ) bet he was #oin# to row to the shore and es(ae%” )t was rather dull sittin# and wat(hin# the fisherman% He didn’t (at(h a sin#le fish% He 0ust sat
there with his rod, seemin#ly aslee% 'ut he wasn’t% He suddenly #ave a nasty hollow (ou#h% 'ets (lut(hed Pi% “Did you hear that. )’m sure it’s the thief, now% He (ou#hed 0ust like a shee barkin# ! 0ust like Mrs -illiams said he did% ) wish he’d do it a#ain%” He didn’t% He slumed ba(k in the boat and aeared to be aslee% 'ut he wasn’t, be(ause whenever anyone (ame by he turned and #ave a 1ui(k look% ot many eole (ame by, however% The ostman (y(led by with some letters% The tele#rah boy (ame on(e, whistlin# loudly as he turned in at $rinton *ea% The fisherman turned to #ive him a 1ui(k look, and the (hildren eyed him well too, wonderin# if he (ould ossibly be $atty% 'ut he wasn’t% He was too thin% There was only one thin# about himself that $atty (ould not hide ! his lumness" 3 nursemaid (ame by with a ram, and then the little baker aeared with his basket of bread% He had had to leave his van a #ood way away be(ause there was no road ri#ht down to the river, only a ath% He re(o#ni2ed Pi and 'ets, a s he walked u with his (o(ky little stride% “Hallo, hallo, hallo"” he said in his hi#h, sarrow!like voi(e% “Here we are a#ain" How many loaves today, Mister. +au#ht any thieves yet.” Pi thou#ht it was silly of the baker to talk to him as if he was about si5 years old% He merely 0erked his head at him and turned away% 'ut the baker was not to be ut off% He (ame u and #a2ed at the fisherman in the boat% “There’s a ni(e easy 0ob"” he (hattered on% “Sittin# in the sun with water lain# all round you, havin# a na away from everyone else% obody to disturb you% o heavy basket to (arry% My, why aren’t ) a fisherman.” The fisherman had already turned his head on(e to #lan(e at the baker% ow he took no noti(e% The baker (alled out to him% “Hey, there" +au#ht any fish.” The fisherman did not turn round% “ot yet"” he said in a (urious dee voi(e% The baker stood and talked away to Pi and 'ets, but they took as little noti(e of him as the fisherman% They thou#ht he was silly% He went at last, (arryin# his basket of bread throu#h the #ate of $rinton *ea% “Silly little idiot,” said Pi% “He’s too bi# for his boots% He’s #ot su(h a hi#h oinion of himself that he 0ust (an’t see he’s a nuisan(e%” “-ell, let’s move a little way off till he (omes out a#ain and #oes,” said 'ets, so they #ot u and walked in the oosite dire(tion% The baker soon (ame out, #ave them a wave and strutted off on his sindly le#s to his van% “) wonder how *arry and Daisy are #ettin# on%” said 'ets% “) hoe they’ve found $atty% )t’s maddenin# not to have him 0ust at this imortant moment%” *arry and Daisy had wandered all round $rinton *ea, but they hadn’t seen $atty% They had felt sure they had #ot him on(e ! when they had seen a woman sittin# on a stool, aintin# a i(ture of the river% She was rather bi# and had untidy hair and a hat that hid her fa(e% Daisy nud#ed *arry% “That’s $atty, surely" See ! that woman aintin#% )t would be a fine way of sittin# and wat(hin# a house ! to retend to be an artist%” “/es% )t mi#ht be $atty,” said *arry% “-e’ll stroll over and see%” The woman looked u at them as they (ame and stood beside her% 3t on(e Daisy and *arry knew she was not $atty% Her nose was far too small% $atty (ould make his nose bi##er ! but he (ertainly (ouldn’t make it smaller" “o #o"” said *arry #loomily% “Dash it all" -here on earth is he.” “He mi#ht be one of those fisherman,” said Daisy% “*ook ! sittin# solemnly fishin# on the bank% That one over there looks most like $atty ! the way he’s sittin# somehow% 3nd he’s #ot a osition that #ives him a very #ood view of $rinton *ea%” “That’s the one who said 8Sh’ to 'ets,” said * arry% “-e’d better be (areful, or he’ll shush us too% -alk u very very 1uietly%” So they walked u softly ! so very softly that the fisherman didn’t hear them (omin# at all% They looked at his hands ! hands were always a #ive!away, be(ause they (ouldn’t very well be altered% 'ut the fisherman wore #loves% They looked at his feet ! he wore -ellin#tons" He also wore a lar#e shady hat that hid his fa(e% The fisherman had no idea at all that anyone was 0ust behind him% He suddenly oened his mouth
and #ave a bored yawn ! and that #ave the #ame away at on(e" )t was $atty’s yawn" $atty always yawned loud and lon#, and this was $atty all ri#ht% *arry sat down beside him with Daisy on the other side% “$atty"” said *arry in a low voi(e% “-e’ve found the thief%” The fisherman immediately be(ame $atty, and #ave a low whistle% He looked down at *arry and *arry felt 1uite startled% The eyes were $atty’s, but that was all" $atty had his false teeth in, the ones that slid over his own, and he had also done somethin# e(uliar to his eyebrows% He wore a silly little mousta(he, and these thin#s made him look a different erson alto#ether% 'ut his eyes were the same, dire(t and (lear and shrewd% “-hat did you say.” asked the fisherman, in $atty’s own voi(e% *arry reeated what he had said% “See that fellow over there in the boat.” said *arry% “-ell, he’s the thief" /ou should see his enormous feet and hands ! and he’s #ot a (ou#h like a shee too% He’s the one, $atty% ) bet he lives at $rinton *ea% -e’ve found him"” $atty was silent for a moment% “3re you sure about it.” he said at last% “-ell, )’ll sit here and kee an eye on him and you #o and telehone to &oon%” “Telehone to &oon.” said *arry, surrised% “-hy should we let him know. -e’re not workin# with him, are we.” “/ou do as ) say,” said $atty% “)f he’s not in, telehone a#ain after a while% Tell him all about the awful fellow in the boat% He’ll be thrilled% Tell him )’m keein# an eye on him till he (omes down to arrest him%” *arry and Daisy were u22led% They looked at $atty, but his fa(e was so different, with its rotrudin# teeth and mousta(he and eyebrows that they (ould not tell what he was really thinkin#% “3ll ri#ht,” said *arry, #ettin# u, u22led that $atty did not show more e5(itement% He went off with Daisy to find 'ets and Pi% “) believe old $atty’s 1uite 0ealous be(ause we found the thief before he did,” said *arry% “Pretty tame endin# to the mystery anyway ! handin# the thief over to &oon like this"” Daisy was disaointed too% )t wasn’t like $atty to be 0ealous% They went to 'ets and Pi and sat down beside them% They told them in a whiser what they were to do% “-e’ll all #o and telehone,” said Daisy% “)’m fed u with messin# about here now% $atty says he’ll kee an eye on the thief out there% He (an see him from where he is%” They left the river and walked ba(k u to the town% They de(ided to #o to the ost offi(e to telehone ! but alas, &oon was not in% His (harwoman answered the telehone% She didn’t know where he was, but said he had left a note to say he would be ba(k by half!ast four at the latest% “'low" )t’s only about a 1uarter to four now,” said *arry% “*et’s #o and #et some i(e!(ream and lemonade, and wait for a bit%” So they had i(e!(reams ! two ea(h ! and i(ed lemonade in the little sweet!sho% That took them about half an hour% Then they strolled ba(k to the telehone bo5 to try their lu(k a#ain% This time &oon answered the telehone himself% *arry looked round at the others% “He’s in,” he said% “&ood"” “Poli(e here,” said &oon’s voi(e soundin# #ruff and shar% “-hat is it.” “Mr &oon" )t’s *auren(e seakin#, $rederi(k Trotteville’s friend,” said *arry% “)’ve somethin# to reort ! about that robbery (ase ! the two (ases, ) mean%” “-ell ! #o on,” said &oon sharly% “-e’ve found the thief,” said *arry, unable to kee the e5(itement out of his voi(e% “-e saw him today%” “-here.” asked Mr &oon% “)n a boat 0ust oosite $rinton *ea,” said *arry% “He’s been there a#es% Probably he lives at the boardin#!house% /ou remember there was a s(ra of aer with $rinton on it.” There was a e(uliar noise at the other end% “-hat did you say.” said *arry, but &oon was silent% *arry went on ea#erly% “He’s a fri#htful!lookin# fellow, Mr &oon% -e re(o#ni2ed him be(ause of his (olossal feet and hu#e hands% He’s very u#ly ! uffy (heeks, rather rotrudin# eyes ! and he’s #ot a (ou#h like a shee ! 0ust like Mrs -illiams and 4inny said% )f you #o down to the river now, you’ll (at(h him% $atty’s keein# his eye on him for you%” *arry aused% &oon didn’t seem to be takin# this in% “Mr &oon ! are you #oin# to arrest him.” asked *arry%
3 loud snort (ame down the telehone ! then a ban#% &oon had ut down his re(eiver so hard that surely he must have (hied it" “He’s run# off,” said *arry ama2ed% “-hatever’s the matter with him.”
3 Tea!Party ! and a 'rain!-ave *arry and the others steed out of the telehone bo5 into whi(h they h ad all (rowded% *arry reeated the (onversation% They were very u22led% “'etter #o ba(k and tell $atty,” said *arry at last% “)t’s 1uite obvious that &oon doesn’t believe us% So we shall have to do somethin# about it now% )’ve a #ood mind to rin# u the )nse(tor%” “o% Don’t do that till we’ve asked $atty,” said 'ets% “)t seems to me there’s somethin# funny about all this% *et’s #o ba(k to $atty%” “-hy ! there he is"” said Daisy suddenly, and sure enou#h, there was $atty" He was himself now, very sru(e and (lean, with 'uster trottin# deli#htedly at his heels% The others oured out of the ost offi(e and stared in astonishment at $atty, who #rinned ba(k% “$atty" Have you left him. How did you #et home and (han#e so 1ui(kly. -hat’s haened.” asked *arry% “Oh, he went immediately you left,” said $atty% “So ) left too, of (ourse%” “Did you follow him. -here did he #o.” asked Daisy% “o% ) didn’t follow him,” said $atty< “There wasn’t any oint in doin# so ! ) knew 1uite well where he was #oin#% Did you telehone &oon.” “/es% He was out the first time ! but we #ot him the se(ond time,” said *arry% “) told him all about the fri#htful fellow in the boat ! all the details, of (ourse ! and he 0ust #ave a snort and ban#ed the re(eiver down% ) suose he didn’t believe me%” $atty suddenly be#an to lau#h% He lau#hed as if he had been keein# it in for some time% He e5loded, held on to the railin#s, and lau#hed till the tears (ame into his eyes% 'ets be#an to lau#h too% He looked so funny, and his lau#hter was really infe(tious% “-hat’s the matter.” said *arry susi(iously% “-hat’s the 0oke. /ou’re a(tin# most e(uliarly today, $atty% So is &oon%” “/es% /ou’re ri#ht about him,” said $atty, wiin# his eyes% “Oh dear ! )’d have #iven anythin# to see &oon’s fa(e when you ran# him u and told him what a hideous fellow he was, with his bi# feet and hands and rotrudin# eyes"” The others stared, u22led at first ! and then a #reat li#ht dawned on them% *arry sank down on to a wooden ben(h by the bus!sto% He felt suddenly weak% “&osh" /ou don’t mean to say ! you don’t really mean to say that that fri#htful fisherman in the boat was &oon ! &oon himself"” “-ell ! think ba(k to him,” said $atty% “How you (ould all fall for that ridi(ulous dis#uise of his ) really don’t know% /ou ou#ht to be ashamed of yourselves% -hy, &oon himself stu(k out a mile in that fri#htful #et!u% 3nd you a(tually #o and think he ’s the thief"” “Oh, $atty ! ) ut the idea into the others’ heads,” said 'ets as if she was #oin# to burst into tears% “) saw his bi# feet ! and hands ! oh, $atty"” “/ou beast, $atty ! you told us to #o and telehone to &oon ! and we’ve #one and des(ribed him to himself"” said Daisy, full of horror% “Oh, $atty ! you really are a beast%” “Serves you ri#ht,” said $atty unfeelin#ly, and be#an to lau#h a#ain% “$ine lot of dete(tives you are, ) must say ! #o and hunt for a thief and i(k on the only oli(eman of the villa#e, in dis#uise" 3s &oon would say ! &ah"” “o wonder he snorted and ban#ed the re(eiver down,” said Daisy, still more alarmed% “) say ! ) hoe he won’t #o round and (omlain to our arents a#ain%” “He won’t,” said $atty% “He doesn’t know whether you really fell for his dis#uise or not% )f he thinks you did he’ll be very bu(ked to think he took you in% )f he thinks you saw throu#h his dis#uise and were ullin# his le# when you honed, he’ll feel a bit of an idiot% He won’t say a word either way% He’ll only snort%” “He won’t be very fond of us now,” said Pi% “He never was,” said $atty% “3ll the same, ) was surrised to see him there this mornin#% ) sotted him at on(e out in that boat%”
“/ou would"” said *arry, half!annoyed, and half!admirin#% “-hen ) saw him ) knew he’d had the same idea as we had about $rinton *ea,” said $atty% “3nd what’s more he’ll robably #o and snoo outside 7ods now, wherever that is%” “Do you think it’s mu(h #ood snooin# round either $rinton *ea or 7ods, wherever that is.” asked *arry% “o, ) don’t think ) do,” said $atty, (onsiderin# the oint% “'ut we (an’t afford to leave any (lue une5lored% )f we do, it’s bound to be the only one that mi#ht lead us to the solution" 3nyway, ) had a bit of lu(k this afternoon, 0ust before you (ame to talk to me, *arry and Daisy%” “-hat.” asked *arry% “/ou’re a lu(ky be##ar, $atty ! you always have any bit of lu(k that’s #oin#%” “) was sittin# fishin#, when the artist woman (ame by,” said $atty% “) e5e(t you saw her% My hat blew off at that very moment and she i(ked it u for me% ) be#an to talk to her ! and it turned out that she lived at $rinton *ea"” “&olly"” said *arry% “So you asked a few leadin# 1uestions, ) suose.” $atty #rinned% “) did" 3nd ) found out that the only man stayin# at $rinton *ea has been very ill and is only 0ust allowed to #et u% So we (an rule him out as the thief, who must be an a#ile fellow, to say the least of it"” “Oh ! well, that’s #ood,” said Daisy% “/our day hasn’t been wasted, $atty% /ou didn’t see the thief, but you did find out he wasn’t at $rinton *ea%” “/our day wasn’t wasted either,” said $atty, be#innin# to lau#h a#ain% “) hoe ) don’t think of you telehonin# old &oon when )’m havin# dinner with my arents toni#ht% ) shall (hoke if ) do%” “-hat about tea.” said 'ets% “)’m #ettin# hun#ry%” “/ou’ve 0ust had two i(e!(reams and a lemonade"” said Pi% “-ell, they don’t make any differen(e,” said 'ets% “/ou don’t eat those, you 0ust swallow them% 3nyway, we’d better #o home 1ui(kly, or we shall be too late for tea%” “)’ll treat you all,” said $atty #enerously% “)’ve #ot enou#h money on me%” He ulled out a handful of (han#e and e5amined it% “/es, (ome on% -e’ll #o to Oliver’s and have merin#ues and (ho(olate sli(es ! in (elebration of findin# the thief!who!wasn’t%” 6veryone lau#hed% 'ets took $atty’s arm% Dear, #enerous $atty ! he always seemed to have lenty of money, but he always shared it round% 'ets s1uee2ed his arm affe(tionately% “The mystery’s #ettin# on, isn’t it.” she said% “-e’ve ruled out $rinton *ea% ow we’ve #ot to find out what umber @ 7ods is, and rule that out too%” “-ell, we shan’t be mu(h further on with the mystery, silly, if we kee e5aminin# our (lues and findin# they’re no #ood,” said Pi, e5aserated with his small sister% “3nyway, umber @ 7ods sounds more like a note made by someone #oin# fishin# than anythin# else%” “)t’s an idea,” said $atty, takin# them all into Oliver’s% They sat down and o rdered lemonade, e##! sandwi(hes, merin#ues, (ho(olate e(lairs and (ho(olate sli(es% 'ets’ mouth be#an to water% “) never know whether to eat as 1ui(kly as ossible so as to en0oy everythin# before ) sto feelin# hun#ry, or to eat slowly and taste every sin#le bit,” said 'ets, eyein# the ile of deli(ious!lookin# (ake% “)diot,” said Pi s(ornfully% “/ou sto feelin# hun#ry as soon as you’ve eaten a (ertain amount, whether you’ve eaten it 1ui(kly or not%” “/ou eat how you like, 'ets,” said $atty, who always stu(k u for 'ets when her brother ti(ked her off% They all be#an on their tea, havin# a friendly ar#ument as to whether the merin#ues were better than the e(lairs% The dish was soon emty, and $atty, after e5aminin# his money a#ain, (alled for a fresh suly% “3bout this 7ods la(e,” said $atty% “)t’s either the name of a house, shortened ! or else it’s the name of a family, either (omlete or shortened% )’ve never heard of anyone (alled 7ods thou#h%” “How (ould we find out.” wondered *arry% “-e (ould look in the telehone book for n ames be#innin# with 7od or 7ods%” “/es, that’s a #ood idea,” said Daisy, takin# her se(ond e(lair% “3nd we’ve #ot a street dire(tory at home, with everyone’s house in it, and the name or number%” “/ou’re talkin# #ood sense,” said $atty, soundin# leased% “3nyone #ot an idea for findin# a erson with enormous feet. 3art from e5aminin# the feet of everyone we meet, ) mean% )’ve rather ruled that out ! it would be fri#htful to look at nothin# but feet, feet, feet all day lon# wherever we #o%” 'ets #i##led% “3nd even if we find someone with (olossal feet we (an’t very well sto them and
say, 865(use me, may ) see the attern of the rubber heels you’re wearin#.’ ” “o, we (an’t,” said Pi% “'ut ) say ! ) tell you what we (ould do ! )’ve 0ust thou#ht of it% )t’s a brain! wave"” “-hat.” asked everyone to#ether% Pi droed his voi(e% One or two eole in the sho seemed rather too interested in what they were all sayin#, he thou#ht% “-hy (an’t we #o to the (obbler’s ! there is only one in Peterswood now the other fellow’s #one ! and ask if he ever has any si2e twelve boots in for reair, and if so, whose are they.” There was a little silen(e after this remarkable su##estion% Then $atty solemnly rea(hed out and shook hands with Pi% “$irst!(lass"” he said% “'rilliant" Talk about a brain!wave" &o u to, Pi% That really may lead us somewhere"”
$atty, the +obbler ! and &oon The ne5t day they set to work to follow out the su##estions made at the tea!sho% Daisy and *arry said they would look u the street dire(tory and read down every sin#le street to see if there was a house name be#innin# with 7od or 7ods% Pi and 'ets were to look in the telehone dire(tory for names% $atty was to #o to the (obbler ’s% obody arti(ularly wanted to do that, be(ause they (ouldn’t think how to #o about it without makin# the (obbler think they were either mad or silly% “)’ll mana#e it,” said $atty% “)’ll think of a way% 3nd for #oodness sake don’t #et taken in a#ain by any dis#uise of &oon’s ! he’s been studyin# hard, ) (an see, on his referesher (ourse, and #oodness knows what he’ll rodu(e ne5t%” “) shall 0ust look at his feet,” said 'ets, “and if they’re enormous )’ll know they belon# to &oon"” $atty (onsidered (arefully how to aroa(h the (obbler% He was known to be a hot!temered man who would stand no nonsense at all% He would have to #o to him with a sensible idea of some sort% 'ut what. $atty remembered an old se(ond!hand sho he had on(e seen in Sheerid#e% He tried to remember if they sold boots% /es, he had an idea they did% )n that (ase it would be a #ood idea to (at(h the bus to Sheerid#e, look in the se(ond!hand sho and buy the bi##est air there ! they would resumably want mendin#, and he (ould take them to the (obbler% $atty felt (ertain that with that oenin# he (ould soon find out if the (obbler had any (ustomers with really enormous feet% “Then )’ll #et their names, and see if any of them mi#ht be the thief,” he thou#ht% So off he went to (at(h the bus to Sheerid#e% He found the se(ondhand sho, and, feelin# as if he wanted to hold his nose be(ause of the musty, dusty smell, he went inside% There was a se(ial bo5 for boots and shoes% $atty turned them all over, and at the bottom he found what he wanted ! a air of elevens, down at heel and with a slit in one side% He bou#ht them and went off with them leased% He (au#ht the bus ba(k to Peterswood and went home% He debated whether or not to dis#uise himself, and then de(ided that he would, 0ust for ra(ti(e% He went down to his shed and looked round at his thin#s% 3n old tram. He was rather #ood at that% /es ! that wouldn’t be a bad idea at all ! he (ould wear the fri#htful old boots too" They would make him lim but what did that matter. )t would look all the more natural% $atty be#an to work deftly and 1ui(kly% He hoed his mother wouldn’t (ome and look for him% She would be s(ared to see a dirty old tram in the shed% 3fter about half an hour the door oened, and the tram (ame out and eered round (autiously% He looked dreadful% $atty had bla(ked out two of his front teeth, and had ut in one (heek!ad so that it looked as if he had tooth!a(he on the ri#ht side of his fa(e% He had ut on #rey, untrimmed eyebrows, and had stu(k on a bristly little #rey mousta(he% His fa(e was lined with dirty (reases and wrinkles% $atty was an adet at (reasin# u his fa(e" His wi# was one of his best ! #rey stra##lin# hair with a bald at(h in the middle% $atty had lau#hed at himself when he looked in the lon# #lass he ket in his shed% -hat a tram" He wore holey old #loves on his hands, dirty (orduroy trousers, and e1ually dirty shirt ! and the
boots% $atty (ould only hobble alon# in them, so he took an ash!sti(k he had (ut from the hed#e on one of his walks to hel him alon#% He stu(k an old (lay ie in the (orner of his mouth and #rinned at himself% He felt really roud, and for half a minute wondered if he should resent himself at the ba(k door and ask for a (rust of bread from the (ook% He de(ided not to% The last time he had done that the (ook had s(reamed the la(e down, and his mother had very nearly (au#ht him% He went (autiously out of the shed to the # ate at the bottom of the #arden% He was not #oin# to risk meetin# any of his household% The old tram hobbled down the road, su(kin# at his emty ie, and makin# funny little #runtin# noises% He made his way to the (obbler’s and went inside the da rk little sho% The (obbler was at the ba(k, workin#% He (ame into the sho when the bell ran#% “-hat do you want.” he said% “Oooh ! ah,” said $atty, takin# his ie out of his mouth% “)t’s my boots, Mister% They hurt me somethin# (rool% Too small they are, and they want mendin# too% /ou #ot any bi##er ones to sell.” The (obbler bent over his (ounter to look at $atty’s feet% “-hat si2e are they ! elevens or twelves.” he said% “o, ) haven’t #ot that si2e to sell% )t’s a bi# si2e%” The old tram #ave a e(uliar whee2y lau#h, “3h yes, it’s bi#% ) was a bi# man on(e, ) was" ) bet you haven’t #ot anyone in this here nei#hbourhood that’s #ot feet bi##er than mine"” “There’s two eole with bi# feet here,” said the (obbler, (onsiderin#% “There’s Mr &oon the oli(eman and there’s +olonel +ross ! they’re the bi##est of all% ) (har#e them more when ) sole their boots ! the leather ) use for their reairs" Do you want me to mend your boots.” “3y, ) do ! if you (an #et me another air to ut on while you mend these,” said the old tram, and he #ave his whee2y lau#h a#ain% “Or (ouldn’t ) borrow a air of +olonel +ross’s ! have you #ot a air in to mend.” “o, ) haven’t ! and you wouldn’t #et ’em if ) had,” said the (obbler sharly% “&et alon# with you" Do you want to #et me into trouble.” “o, no,” said the old tram% “Do his boots have rubber heels on.” The (obbler lost his temer% “-hat’s that to do with you. +omin# in here wastin# my time" /ou’ll be wantin# to know if the but(her has brown or bla(k la(es ne5t% 'e off with you, and don’t (ome ba(k a#ain%” “That’s all ri#ht, sir, that’s all ri#ht,” whee2ed the old man, shufflin# to the door, where he stoed and had a most alarmin# (ou#hin#!fit% “/ou sto smokin# a (lay ie and you’ll #et rid of that (ou#h,” said the (obbler, bad!temeredly% Then he saw someone else tryin# to #et ast the (ou#hin# tram% “&et out of my sho and let the ne5t erson (ome in%” The ne5t erson was a burly man with a little bla(k mousta(he, a dark brown fa(e, dark #lasses and bi# feet% He ushed ast the old tram% “&ive me room,” he said, in a shar voi(e% $atty ri(ked u his ears at on(e% He knew that familiar voi(e ! yes, and he knew that unfamiliar fi#ure too ! it was &oon" “&oon" )n another dis#uise"” thou#ht $atty in ama2ement and mirth% “He’s done better this time ! with dark #lasses to hide his fro#!eyes, and some stuff on his red fa(e to make it look tanned%” He looked at the burly &oon% He wore white flannel trousers and shirt with no tie, and a red belt round his ortly middle% On his feet were enormous white shoes% “-hy the dis#uise.” wondered $atty% “4ust ra(tisin#, like me. Or is he #oin# to snoo round somewhere. Perhas he has found out where or who 7ods is% )’d better stand by and find out%” He shuffled out and sat down on a wooden ben(h, 0ust outside% He strained his ears to see if he (ould (at(h any words% -hat was &oon doin# in the (obbler’s. Surely he hadn’t #ot the same bri#ht idea as Pi had had ! of askin# about reairs to lar#e!si2e boots" &oon had" He was very leased about it% He had made u a ni(e little story to hel him alon#% “&ood mornin#,” he said to the (obbler% “Did my brother leave his boots here to be mended. He asked me to (ome in and see% =ery lar#e si2e, twelves or thirteens%” “-hat name.” asked the (obbler% “He didn’t #ive his name,” said Mr &oon% “4ust left the boots, he said%” “-ell, ) haven’t any boots as bi# as that here,” said the (obbler% “)’ve only #ot two (ustomers with
feet that si2e%” “-ho are they.” asked &oon% “-hat’s that to you.” said the (obbler imatiently% “3m ) #oin# to waste all my mornin# talkin# about bi# boots.” “) know one of your (ustomers is Mr &oon,” said Mr &oon% “) know Mr &oon very very well% He’s a #reat friend of mine% =ery ni(e fellow%” “Oh, is he. Then you know him better than ) do,” said the (obbler% “)’ve #ot no time for that omous old bobby%” Mr &oon went urle under his tan% “-ho’s your other (ustomer.” he asked, in su(h an une5e(tedly fier(e voi(e that the (obbler stared% “The one with bi# feet, ) mean% /ou’d better answer my 1uestion% $or all you know ) mi#ht have been sent here by Mr &oon himself"” “'ah"” said the (obbler, and then thou#ht better of it% “The other fellow is +olonel +ross,” he said% “Does he have rubber heels.” asked Mr &oon and was immediately ama2ed by the (obbler’s fury% “7ubber heels" How many more eole want to know if he has rubber heels" -hat do ) (are. &o and ask him yourself"” ra#ed the (obbler, #oin# as urle as Mr &oon% “/ou and that old tram are a air, you are"” “-hat old tram.” asked &oon in surrise% “The one you ushed ast at the door ! with feet as bi# as yourself"” ra#ed the (obbler% “+lear out of my sho now% )’ve #ot work to do% 7ubber heels"” &oon went out with #reat di#nity% He lon#ed to tell the (obbler who he was ! what a sho(k for him that would be% -hat was it he had (alled him. “3 omous old bobby"” &oon ut that away in his memory% One day he would make the (obbler sorry for that rude remark" ow, what abut this tram with bi# feet. -here was he. He mi#ht be the thief" There didn’t seem many eole with enormous feet in Peterswood as far as he (ould find out ! only himself and +olonel +ross% He would have to en1uire about +olonel +ross’s boots ! see if they had rubber heels ! thou#h it wasn’t very likely that +olonel +ross went bur#lin# other eole’s houses% &oon blinked in the bri#ht sunshine, 1uite #lad of his dark #lasses% -here was that tram. -ell ! what a ie(e of lu(k ! there he was, sittin# on the ben(h nearby" &oon sat down heavily beside him% $atty took one look and lon#ed to lau#h% He saw &oon lookin# at his bi# old boots% 3h ! they had roused his susi(ions% -ell, $atty was 1uite reared to sit there as lon# as &oon ! and to have a bit of fun too% He stu(k his boots out well in front of him% +ome on, &oon ! say somethin#"
3 *ittle 'it of $un &oon hadn’t the sli#htest idea that he was sittin# ne5t to $atty% He looked throu#h his dark #lasses at the dirty old man% +ould he be the thief. He tried to see his hands, but $atty was still wearin# the holey old #loves% “-ant some ba((y.” said &oon, seein# that $atty’s (lay ie was emty% $atty looked at him and then ut his hand behind his ea r% “-ant some ba((y.” said &oon a little more loudly% Still $atty held his hand behind his ear and looked en1uirin#ly at &oon, su(kin# at his dirty old ie, and s1uintin# horribly% “-3T SOM6 '3++/.” roared &oon% “Oh, ah ! yes ! )’ve #ot a bad ba(k!a(he,” answered $atty% “Oooh, my ba(k!a(he% Somethink (rool, it is%” “) said, -3T SOM6 '3++/.” yelled &oon a#ain% “) heard you the first time,” said $atty, with di#nity% “)’m havin# treatment for it at the hosital% 3nd for me ore old feet too%” He #ave a lon#, whee2y (ou#h and rubbed the ba(k of his hand over his nose% “/ou’ve #ot bi# feet"” said &oon loudly% “Oh, ah ! it’s a ni(e sunny seat,” a#reed the old tram% “) allus sits here of a mornin’%” “) said you’ve #ot ')& $66T,” shouted &oon% “/ou’re ri#ht% ot enou#h meat these days,” said the tram, and (ou#hed a#ain% “’Taint ri#ht%
Meat’s #ood for you%” &oon #ave it u% “Silly old man,” he said in his ordinary voi(e, thinkin# that the tram was absolutely stone deaf% Most surrisin#ly the old fellow heard him% “Here" -ho are you (allin# a silly old man.” said the tram fier(ely% “) heard you" /es, ) did" Think ) was deaf, didn’t you. 'ut ) heard you"” “ow now ! don’t be silly,” said &oon, alarmed at the disturban(e the tram was makin#% “'e (alm%” “Harm" /es, )’ll harm you"” said the tram, and a(tually raised his sti(k% &oon retreated hurriedly to the other end of the ben(h and debated with himself% This old (ha (ouldn’t be the thief% He was deaf, his feet were bad, and he had ba(k!a(he% 'ut where had he #ot those boots. )t mi#ht be as well to follow him home and find out where he lived% )t was no #ood askin# him, that was lain% He’d only make some silly rely% So &oon took out his own ie and ro(eeded to fill it, and to wait until the old tram moved off% $atty was also waitin# for &oon to move off, be(ause he wanted to see if the oli(eman had dis(overed who or where 7ods was% So there they both sat, one su(kin# an emty ie, the other ullin# at a li#hted one% The smoke from it almost (hoked oor $atty% 3nd then he saw *arry, Daisy, 'ets and Pi (omin# down the street" Thank #oodness they hadn’t #ot 'uster, who would (ertainly have smelt out $atty at on(e and #reeted him with 0oy% 'uster was safely lo(ked u in the shed, and was no doubt still s(rain# hoefully at the door% $atty sank his (hin down on his (hest, hoin# that none of the four would re(o#ni2e him% )t would be maddenin# if they did, and (ame over to him and #ave the #ame away to &oon% They didn’t re(o#ni2e him% They #ave him a mere #lan(e, and then rested their eyes on &oon% They walked by, #ivin# ba(kward #lan(es at the dis#uised oli(eman, who ulled at his ie deserately, rayin# that the four would #o away% Thank #oodness that fat boy was not with them% He’d have sotted him at on(e, dis#uise or no dis#uise% The four (hildren stoed at the end of the street be(ause 'ets was ullin# at *arry’s sleeve so ur#ently% “-hat is it, 'ets.” asked *arry% “See that bi# man sittin# on the ben(h by the dirty old tram.” said 'ets% “)’m sure it’s &oon" )’d know his bi# hairy hands anywhere% He’s in dis#uise a#ain ! a better dis#uise this time, be(ause his eyes are hidden% /ou 0ust simly (an’t mistake those when you see them%” “) believe 'ets is ri#ht,” said Daisy, lookin# ba(k% “/es ! you (an see it’s &oon ! the way he sits, and everythin#% )t is &oon"” “*et’s have a bit of fun with him then,” said Pi% “+ome on, let’s% He won’t know if we’ve sotted him or not, and he’ll be in an a wful fi5%” 'ets #i##led% “-hat shall we do.” “Oh nothin# mu(h ! 0ust #o u to him inno(ently and ask him footlin# 1uestions,” said *arry% “/ou know ! what’s the time, lease. Have you #ot (han#e for si5en(e. -here does the bus start.” 6veryone lau#hed% “)’ll #o first,” said Pi% He walked u to the ben(h% $atty saw him (omin#, and felt alarmed% Surely Pi hadn’t re(o#ni2ed him% )t looked as if he was #oin# to seak to him% o ! Pi was talkin# to &oon" “+ould you lease tell me the time.” Pi asked inno(ently% &oon s(owled% He ulled out his bi# wat(h% “Ten to twelve,” he said% “Thanks awfully,” said Pi% $atty was astonished% Pi had his own wat(h% -hat was the oint. &osh" ! (ould the others have re(o#ni2ed &oon after all ! and have made u their minds to have some fun with him. *arry (ame ne5t% “Oh ! (ould you ossibly #ive me (han#e for si5en(e, sir.” he asked &oon olitely% $atty almost (hoked, but his (hoke was lost in &oon’s snort% “o% +lear!orf,” said &oon, unable to sto himself from usin# his favourite e5ression% “Thanks very mu(h,” said *arry, olitely, and went off% $atty #ot o ut his handker(hief, ready to bury his fa(e in it if any of the others (ame alon# with a re1uest% He hadn’t bar#ained for this% ; (ame Daisy% “+ould you tell me, lease, if the b us stos here for Sheerid#e.” she asked% &oon nearly e5loded% These kids" Here he was, in a erfe(tly slendid dis#uise, one #ood enou#h to revent anyone from knowin# him, one that should be an absolute rote(tion a#ainst these ests of (hildren ! and here they all were, makin# a bee!line for him% Did they do this sort of thin# to everybody. He’d have to reort them ! (omlain to their arents"
“&o and look at the bus time!table,” he snaed at Daisy% “Oh, thank you very mu(h,” she said% $atty (hortled a#ain into his handker(hief and Daisy looked at him in surrise% -hat a stran#e old man% 'ets was the last to (ome% “Please, have you seen our little do#, 'uster.” she asked% “o,” roared &oon% “3nd if ) do )’ll (hase him out of town%” “Oh, thanks very mu(h,” said 'ets olitely, and dearted% $atty was nearly dyin# of lau#hter, tryin# to kee ba(k his #uffaws% He had another (ou#hin# fit in his handker(hief and &oon looked at him susi(iously% “asty (ou#h of yours,” he said% Poor $atty was 1uite unable to answer% He rayed that the others wouldn’t (ome ba(k to ask any more 1uestions% &oon was debatin# with himself a#ain% -ith those (hildren about, esterin# him like this, he’d never #et anywhere% Had they seen throu#h his dis#uise. Or was this kind of thin# their usual behaviour. He saw Daisy bearin# down on him and rose hurriedly% He strode off in the dire(tion of the oli(e station% He (ould bear no more% $atty (ollased% He buried his fa(e in his handker(hief and lau#hed till he (ried% Daisy looked at him in alarm% “3re you all ri#ht.” she said timidly% $atty re(overed and sat u% “/es, thanks, Daisy,” he said in his normal voi(e, and Daisy stood and stared at him, her mouth oen in ama2ement% “$atty"” she whisered% “Oh, $atty" -e re(o#ni2ed &oon ! but we didn’t know the tram was you" Oh, $atty"” “*isten,” said $atty% “) don’t want to have to (han#e out of this dis#uise ! it takes a#es to take off and ut on ! and ) want to see if &oon has found out anythin# about 7ods% He’s usin# his brains over all this, you know% Thou#ht about #oin# to see the (obbler and everythin#, 0ust as we did% ) don’t want him to #et ahead of us% ) think )’d better trail him today%” “3ll ri#ht,” said Daisy, sittin# down near to him, and seakin# in a low voi(e% “/ou want us to #et you some lun(h, ) suose. There’s a bus!sto near &oon’s house% /ou (ould sit there and eat your lun(h and read a aer ! and wat(h for &oon at the same time%” “/es ! that’s what )’ll do,” said $atty% “) feel somehow as if &oon’s #ot #oin# on this% )f he’s #oin# to #et ahead of us ) want to know it%” “) (ouldn’t find the street dire(tory this mornin#,” said Daisy, talkin# strai#ht out in front of her, so that nobody would think she was talkin# to the old tram% “*arry’s borrowin# one this afternoon% Pi found two names in the telehone dire(tory that mi#ht hel ! one is 7odney, the other is 7oderi(k% The 7odneys live u on the hill, and the 7oderi(ks live near you%” “Oh yes ! ) remember now,” said $atty% “-ell, we (an rule the 7oderi(ks out, ) think% There’s only an old lady, a Mrs 7oderi(k, and a youn# one, a Miss% There’s no one there who wears si2e twelve shoes% ) don’t know about the 7odneys thou#h%” “Shall ) and the others #o and see if we (an find out anythin# at the 7odneys.” said Daisy% “-e (ould #o this afternoon% Mother knows them, so ) (ould easily #o on some e5(use%” “There’s a 0umble sale on in the town,” said $atty% “+ouldn’t you #o and ask for 0umble. 6se(ially old boots ! lar#e si2e if ossible as you know an old tram who wears them"” Daisy #i##led% “/ou do have bri#ht ideas, $atty,” she said% “) suose you’re the old tram who wears them" /es, )’ll #o and ask for 0umble% 'ets (an #o with me% )’ll #o over to the others now% They’re standin# there wonderin# what on earth )’m doin#, talkin# to myself"” They were (ertainly very surrised to see Daisy sittin# down after &oon had so hurriedly dearted, aarently murmurin# away to herself% They were 0ust about to (ome over when she left the ben(h and went to them% “-hat’s u with you.” asked *arry% Daisy smiled deli#htedly% “That was $atty"” she whisered% “Don’t re(o#ni2e him, for #oodness sake% -e’ve #ot to #et some lun(h for him somehow, be(ause he thinks &oon is on the tra(k of somethin# and he wants to trail him%” The four mar(hed solemnly ast $atty on the ben(h, and ea(h #ot a wink from the dirty old tram% “-e’re #oin# off to #et lun(h,” said Daisy loudly, as if she was seakin# to *arry% 'ut the tram knew 1uite well that she was seakin# to him"
3 =ery 'usy 3fternoon
$atty shuffled his way to the bus!sto ben(h near &oon’s house% He let himself down slowly as if he indeed had a bad ba(k% He let out a #runt% 3n old lady on the ben(h looked at him symatheti(ally% Poor old man" She leaned a(ross and ressed a (oin into his hand% $atty was so taken!aba(k that he almost for#et he was a tram% He remembered immediately thou#h, and ut his fin#er to his forehead in e5a(tly the same way that his father’s old (oa(hman did when he (ame to see him% “Thank you kindly,” he whee2ed% There was no si#n of Mr &oon% He had #one hurriedly into the ba(k!door of his house, and was now en#a#ed in striin# off his dis#uise% He was #oin# out in his offi(ial (lothes this afternoon ! P%+% &oon ! and woe betide any (obblers or others who were rude to him" Soon Daisy (ame sliin# ba(k with a i(ni(!lun(h, done u in a ie(e of newsaer% $atty aroved of that tou(h" 4ust what he would have his lun(h in if he really was an old tram% &ood for Daisy" His troo were (omin# alon# well, he (onsidered% Daisy sat down on the ben(h, bendin# over to do u her shoe% She soke to $atty out of the (orner of her mouth% “Here’s your lun(h% 'est ) (ould #et% *arry’s looked u the names of houses in the dire(tory he borrowed% There’s only one be#innin# with 7od, and that’s one (alled 7odways, down by Pi’s house%” “Thanks% /ou #o to the 7odneys about the 0umble with 'ets, and tell *arry and Pi to #o to 7odways and snoo,” said $atty% “$ind out if there’s anyone there with lar#e feet, who mi#ht be the thief% 7odways is only a little (otta#e, isn’t it.” “/es,” said Daisy% “3ll ri#ht% 3nd you’re #oin# to trail &oon, aren’t you, to see if he’s u to somethin#. -e’ll meet at your shed later%” She la(ed u her shoe, sat u a nd whisered #oodbye% Then off she went ! and behind her she left the newsaer of food% “=ery (lever"” thou#ht $atty, oenin# it% “&ood old Daisy%” He had a very ni(e lun(h of e ## sandwi(hes, tomato sandwi(hes and a lar#e sli(e of fruit (ake% Daisy had even slied in a bottle of #in#er beer with an oener" $atty ate and drank everythin#, and then ut his (lay ie ba(k into his mouth a#ain% He oened the newsaer, whi(h was that day’s, and be#an to read very (omfortably% &oon went into his little front room and sat down to #o throu#h some aers% He #lan(ed out of the window, and saw the old tram on the ben(h% “Turned u a#ain like a bad enny"” said &oon to himself% “-ell, ) (an (ertainly kee an eye on him if he sits there% Still, he (an’t be the thief ! he’s too doddery%” The tram read his aer and then aarently fell aslee% &oon had his lun(h, did a little telehonin# and then de(ided to #o on with his ne5t 0ob% He looked at his notes% $rinton *ea% He had (rossed that out% -hat with wat(hin# it all day and en1uirin# about it, he had (ome to the (on(lusion that he (ould wash that out% ow for the other eole or la(es ! the 7oderi(ks ! the 7odneys ! and that house down the lane ! what was it (alled ! 7odways% One of them must be the 7ods on this s(ra of aer% “7ods% )t’s some sort of (lue, that’s (ertain% &ood thin# those (hildren don’t know about these bits of aer% Ha, )’m one u on them there%” Poor Mr &oon didn’t know that Tonks had shown them to $atty, or he wouldn’t have been nearly so leased" He ut his aers to#ether, frowned, thou#ht of his lan of (amai#n, and #ot u heavily, his #reat boots (lomin# loudly as he went out into the hall% The old tram was still on the ben(h% “*a2y old thin#"” thou#ht Mr &oon% He wheeled his bi(y(le 1ui(kly to the front, #ot on it and sailed away before $atty (ould even have time to sit u" “'low"” said $atty% “He’s out of dis#uise ! and on his bike% )’m dished" ) never thou#ht of his bike% ) (an’t trail him on that%” He wondered what to do% -ell, the others were takin# (are of the 7odneys and the house (alled 7odways% He’d better #o and find +olonel +ross’s house% 3s he was aarently the only other erson in Peterswood who wore si2e twelve or thirteen shoes, he (e rtainly must be en1uired into" &oon had shot off to the 7oderi(k’s first% There he found out what $atty a lready knew ! that there was no man in the house at all% 7i#ht% He (ould (ross that off% He went to see the 7odneys ! and the very first thin# he saw there were two bi(y(les outside the front fen(e ! #irls’ bi(y(les, with Daisy and 'ets 0ust (omin# out of the #ate towards them" Those kids a#ain" -hat were they doin# here. 3nd whatever were they (arryin#. &oon # lared at them% “&ood afternoon, Mr &oon,” said Daisy, (heerfully% “-ant to (ome and buy a air of shoes at the
0umble sale.” &oon eyed the four or five old airs of boots and shoes wrathfully% “-here did you #et those.” he said% “$rom Mrs 7odney,” answered Daisy% “-e’re (olle(tin# for the 0umble sale, Mr &oon% Have you #ot anythin# that would do for it. 3n old air of bi# boots, erhas.” “Mrs 7odney let us look all throu#h her (uboard of boots,” said 'ets, “and she #ave us these%” &oon had nothin# to say% He simly stood and #lared% The 7odneys" So these ests of kids had #ot on to that (lue too ! they were roundin# u the 7ods 0ust as he was ! but they were 0ust one move in front of him% He debated whether to #o in or not now% Mrs 7odney mi#ht not wel(ome somebody else en1uirin# after shoes% He (ast his eye a#ain on the (olle(tion of old boots and shoes that Daisy and 'ets were stuffin# into their bi(y(le baskets% Daisy saw his interest in them% “o% one si2e twelve,” she said with a #i##le% “Si2e ten is the very lar#est the 7odneys have% That will save you a lot of trouble, won’t it, Mr &oon.” “&ah"” said Mr &oon, and leat an#rily on his bi(y(le% )nterferin# lot" 3nd how did they know about the 7ods, anyway. Had Tonks shown them those s(ras of aer. He’d bite Tonks’ head off, if he had" He rode off to 7odways, the (otta#e down the lane that led to the river% He was 0ust uttin# his bi(y(le a#ainst the little wall when he noti(ed two more there ! boys’ bi(y(les this time% -ell, if it was any of those little ests’ bi(y(les, he’d have somethin# to say" *arry and Pi were there% They had stoed outside the (otta#e, aarently to have a #ame of ball ! and one of them had thrown the ball into the (otta#e #arden% “+areless idiot"” Pi shouted loudly to *arry% “ow we’ll have to #o and ask ermission to #et the ball"” They went in and kno(ked at the door, whi(h was wide oen% 3n old woman, sittin# in a ro(kin#! (hair, eered at them from a (orner of the room inside% “-hat do you want.” she asked, in a (ra(ked old voi(e% “-e’re so sorry,” said *arry, olitely% “Our ball went into your #arden% May we #et it.” “/es,” said the old woman, be#innin# to ro(k herself% “3nd 0ust tell me if the milkman’s been, will you. )f he has, the milk bottle will be outside% 3nd did you see the baker down the lane.” “o, we didn’t,” said Pi% “There is a bottle out here on the ste% Shall ) brin# it in.” “/es, thank you kindly,” said the old woman% “Put it in the larder, there’s a #ood lad% That baker" He #ets later every day" ) hoe ) haven’t missed him% ) fall aslee, you know% ) mi#ht not have heard him%” *arry looked round the little (otta#e% He saw a bi# sou’wester han#in# on a nail, and an enormous oilskin below it% 3ha" Somebody bi# lived here, that was (ertain% “-hat a bi# oilskin"” he said to the old woman% “&iant!si2e"” “3h, that’s my son’s,” said the old woman, ro(kin# away hard% “He’s a bi# man, he is ! but kind and #entle ! 0ust like a bi# do#, ) always say%” Pi had ri(ked u his ears too, by this time% “He must be enormous,” he said% “-hatever si2e shoes does he wear. Si5teens"” The old lady #ave a (a(kle of lau#hter% “&o on with you" Si5teens" *ook over there, on that shelf ! those are my son’s boots ! there’s a surrise for you"” )t was a surrise ! for the shoes were no more than si2e sevens, about *arry’s own si2e" The boys looked at them in astonishment% “Does he really only wear si2e seven.” said *arry% “-hat small feet he has for su(h a bi# man%” “/es% Small feet and small hands ! that’s what my family always have,” said the old woman, showin# her own misshaen but small feet and hands% Pi looked at *arry% 7odways was definitely ruled out% The thief didn’t live here" Someone (ame u the ath and (alled in% “&ranma" 'aker!boy here"” “&osh ! it’s that awful little ea(o(k of a baker a#ain"” said Pi, in dis#ust% “-e (an’t seem to #et rid of him%” “One loaf as usual, baker"” (alled the old lady% “Put it in my an for me%” The baker ut down his basket, took a loaf, and strutted in% He saw the two boys, and smiled amiably% “Here we are a#ain" +ome to see old &ranma.” He flun# the bread into the an in the larder and strutted out a#ain% He i(ked u his basket and
went off, whistlin#, turnin# out his feet like a du(k% “ow you #o and look for your ball,” said the old woman, settlin# herself (omfortably% “) (an #o to slee now ) know the milk and bread have (ome%” They went out, found their ball, and *arry threw it out into the road% There was an an#ry shout% “ow then, you there" -hat are you doin#, throwin# your ball at me.” Mr &oon’s an#ry red fa(e aeared over the hed#e% The boys #ased in surrise% “&olly ! did it hit you, Mr &oon.” said Pi, with mu(h (on(ern% “-e didn’t know you were there%” “ow look here ! what are you here for.” demanded Mr &oon% “6verywhere ) #o you’re there before me% -hat are you layin# at.” “'all,” said *arry, i(kin# u the ball and aimin# it at Pi% )t missed him, stru(k the wall, boun(ed ba(k, and stru(k Mr &oon on the helmet% He turned a beetroot (olour, and the boys fled% “Toads"” muttered Mr &oon, moin# his hot ne(k% “Toads" 3nyone would think this was their (ase" 3nyone would think they were runnin# the whole show% ;nder my feet the whole time% &ah"” He strode u the ath to the front door% 'ut the old lady had now #one fast aslee, and d id not waken even when Mr &oon soke to her loudly% He saw the oilskin on the e#, and the same thou#ht o((urred to him, as he o((urred to the two boys% 'i# oilskin ! 'i# man ! 'i# feet ! The thief" He (ret in and be#an to look round% He fell over a shovel and the old woman awoke in a hurry% She saw Mr &oon and s(reamed% “Hel" Hel" 7obbers" Thieves" Hel, ) say"” Mr &oon was s(ared% He stood u, and soke omously% “ow, madam, it’s only the oli(e (ome to (all% -hat si2e shoes does your son take.” This was too mu(h for the old woman% She thou#ht the oli(eman must be mad% She be#an to ro(k herself so violently that Mr &oon was sure the (hair would fall over% He took one last look round and ran, followed by the old woman’s yells% He leat on his bi(y(le and was off u the lane in a twinklin#% Poor Mr &oon ! he was no mat(h for an an#ry old woman"
Mostly 3bout 'oots $atty had #one off to find +olonel +ross’s house% )t was a leasant little la(e not far from the river% Sittin# out in the #arden was a bi# man with a white mousta(he and a very red fa(e% $atty studied him from the shelter of the hed#e% He looked a bit fier(e% )n fa(t, very fier(e% )t was 1uite a #ood thin# he was aslee, $atty thou#ht% ot only aslee, but snorin#% $atty looked at his feet% 6normous" The (obbler was ri#ht ! the +olonel (ertainly wore si2e twelve or thirteen boots% $atty thou#ht he (ould see a rubber heel on one of them too% &oodness ! suose he had at last hit on the ri#ht erson" 'ut +olonel +ross didn’t look in the least like a thief or bur#lar% 3nythin# but, thou#ht $atty% $atty wished he had a small teles(oe or lon#si#hted #lasses so that he (ould look more (losely at the rubber heel% He didn’t dare #o (rawlin# into the #arden and look at the heels% The (olonel was (ertainly very fast aslee, one le# (rossed over the other ! but he mi#ht be one of those li#ht sleeers that woke very suddenly" The +olonel did wake suddenly% He #ave an e5tra loud snore and woke himself u with a 0um% He sat u, and wied his fa(e with a table!(loth of a handker(hief% He (ertainly was enormous% He suddenly (au#ht si#ht of $atty’s fa(e over the hed#e, and e5loded% “Did you wake me u. -hat are you doin# there. Seak u, man"” “) didn’t wake you, sir,” said $atty, in a humble voi(e% “) was 0ust lookin# at your feet%” “'less us all ! my feet. -hat for.” demanded the +olonel% “) was wishin# you had an old air of your boots to #ive me,” said $atty, very humbly% “)’m an old tram, sir, and tramin#’s hard on the feet% =ery hard, sir% 3nd )’ve bi# feet, sir, and it’s hard to #et boots to fit me ! (ast!off boots, ) mean%” “&o round and ask my housekeeer,” said the (olonel #ruffly% “'ut see you do somethin# in return if there’s an old air to #ive you" Hrrrrrumh"” This was a wonderful noise ! rather like a horse makes% $atty stored it away for future use% Hrrrrrumh" $ine" He would startle the others with it one day%
“Thank you, sir% )’ll (ho u wood or do anythin# if ) (an have a air of your boots"” he said% He left the hed#e and went round to the ba(k door% 3 kindly fa(ed woman oened it% “&ood day, Mam, the (olonel says have you #ot a air of his old boots for me,” asked $atty, his hat in his hands, so that his stra##ly #rey hair showed% “3nother old soldier"” si#hed the housekeeer% “There’s not a air of boots ! but there may be an old air of shoes% 3nd even so they’re not really worn!out yet" Dear me ! the (olonel only (ame ba(k yesterday and here he is #ivin# his thin#s away as usual"” $atty ri(ked u his ears% “-here has he been.” he asked% “Oh, )ndia,” said the woman% “3nd now he’s home for the last time% 3rrived by air yesterday%” “3h,” thou#ht $atty, “then that rules out the (olonel% ot that ) really thou#ht it (ould be him ! he doesn’t look in the least like a bur#lar" Still, all suse(ts have to be e5amined, all (lues have to be followed%” The woman (ame ba(k with a air of old shoes% They had rubber heels on% $atty’s eyes #leamed when he saw them% The attern of the heels looked e5tremely like the attern he had drawn in his notebook" How e(uliar" “Did you say you often #ive the (olonel’s shoes away.” he asked% “ot only shoes ! anythin#,” she said% “He’s fier(e, you know, but he’s kind too ! always handin# out thin#s to his old soldiers% 'ut sin(e he’s been away )’ve sent his thin#s to the 4umble Sales ea(h year%” “My ! ) hoe you didn’t send any of this si2e boots or shoes"” said $atty 0okin#ly% “They would have done fine for me"” “) sent a air of boots last year,” said the woman, “they would 0ust have done for you% 'ut who would buy su(h enormous ones ) don’t know% ) said to Miss :ay when she asked me for them, 8-ell there now, you (an have them, but you won’t sell them, )’ll wa#er"’” $atty made a mental note to find out Miss :ay and ask her if she remembered who bou#ht the bi# boots belon#in# to the (olonel% )t mi#ht have been the thief" “The (olonel said ) was to do a 0ob for you,” said $atty rememberin#% “-ell now, you #o and weed that bed out in the #arden,” said the housekeeer% “) (an’t seem to #et down to it% He’s aslee a#ain% ) (an hear him snorin#, so you won’t disturb him%” “)’ll be leased to do it,” said the old tram and shuffled off% The housekeeer stared after him% He seemed so feeble that she felt rather #uilty at havin# asked him to weed that bed" $atty knelt down and be#an to weed% He sent a leasant ten minutes ullin# out #roundsel and (hi(kweed, and in sortin# out the thou#hts in his head% He was be#innin# to think that the (lues of >% $rinton and @% 7ods were not (lues at all ! simly bits of aer blown by (han(e into orton House #arden% The real (lues were the bi# foot!rints and #love!rints ! and erhas the odd rint with the (riss!(ross marks on it% Still, if the (olonel’s boots led him to the thief who bou#ht them, the s(ras of aer would have (ome in useful after all% $atty thou#ht swiftly as he weeded% He heard the sound of bi(y(le tyres on the lane outside% The sound stoed as someone #ot off the bi(y(le% 3 head looked (autiously over the hed#e% $atty looked u at the same moment% &oon was eerin# over the hed#e" He saw $atty at the same moment as $atty saw him, and #ave a startled #runt% That tram" He’d left him aslee on the ben(h outside his house ! and now here he was weedin# in the (olonel’s #arden% &oon (ouldn’t believe his eyes% $atty nodded and smiled amiably% &oon’s eyes nearly droed out of h is head% He felt very an#ry% 6verywhere he went there was somebody before him ! first those #irls, then those boys, now this deaf old, dirty old tram% )f &oon had been a do# he would have #rowled vi(iously% “-hat you doin# here.” said &oon, in a low, hoarse voi(e% “-eedin#,” answered $atty, for#ettin# to be deaf% “i(e 0ob, weedin#%” “3ny (heek from you,” be#an &oon, for#ettin# not to wake the (olonel% 'ut it was too late% +olonel +ross awoke on(e more with a 0um% He sat u and moed h is forehead% Then he (au#ht si#ht of &oon’s brilliant red fa(e over the to of the hed#e% &oon was still addressin# $atty% “-hat are you doin# in this nei#hbourhood.” &oon was sayin# a##ressively% The (olonel e5loded% “-hat’s that" -hat’s that" 3re you addressin# me, my man. -hat are you doin#, ) should like to know" Hrrrrrumh"” The last noise startled &oon very mu(h% $atty (hortled as he weeded% “)t’s all ri#ht, sir% ) was seakin# to that tram,” said &oon, with di#nity% “) ! er ! ) had o((asion to
seak sternly to him this mornin#, sir% +an’t have loiterers and trams around ! what with robberies and thin#s%” “) don’t know what you’re talkin# about,” said +olonel +ross% “&o away% Poli(emen should know better than to (ome and wake me u by shoutin# to trams who have been #iven a 0ob in my #arden%” “) (ame to have a word with you, a(tually, sir,” said &oon, deserately% “Privately%” “)f you think )’m #oin# to #et u and #o indoors and hear a lot of nonsense from you about robberies and trams and loiterers you’re wron#,” said the old (olonel fier(ely% “)f you’ve #ot somethin# to say, say it here" That old tram won’t understand a word%” $atty (hortled to himself a#ain% &oon (leared his throat% “-ell ! er ! ) ! (ame, sir ! 0ust to ask you about your boots"” “Mad,” said the (olonel, starin# at &oon% “Mad" Must be the hot weather" -ants to talk about my boots" &o away and lie down% /ou’re mad"” &oon was afraid to #o on with the matter% He wheeled his bi(y(le down the lane, and waited a little while to see if the old tram (ame out% He meant to have a word with him" Ho" He’d tea(h him to (heek him in the (olonel’s #arden" $atty finished the bed and titoed out, be(ause the (olonel was on(e more aslee% He said #ood day to the housekeeer, and went off down the ath with the old air of shoes slun# round his ne(k% He was lon#in# for a moment to oen his note!book and (omare the attern of those rubber heels" He didn’t see Mr &oon till he was almost on to of him% Then the oli(eman advan(ed on him, with fire in his eye% He stoed short when he saw the enormous air of shoes slun# round $atty’s ne(k% To think he’d (ome all the way down there to talk olitely to the (olonel about his boots, and had been ordered off and told he was mad ! and this dirty old tram had a(tually be##ed a air, and was wearin# them round his ne(k" Shoes that mi#ht be &reat 'i# +lues" “&ive me those"” ordered &oon, and #rabbed at the shoes% 'ut the feeble, shufflin# old tram twisted (leverly out of the way, and ra(ed off down the road as if he was a s(hool!boy runnin# in a ra(e% 3s indeed he was" $atty ut on his fastest seed, and ra(ed away before Mr &oon had re(overed suffi(iently from his surrise even to mount his bi(y(le% $atty turned a (orner and hurled himself throu#h a hed#e into a field% He tore a(ross it, knowin# that &oon (ouldn’t ride his bi(y(le there% He would have to #o a lon# way round to (ut him off" 3(ross the field, over the stile, a(ross another field, down a lane, round a (orner ! and here was the front #ate of his own house" )nto the #ate and d own the ath to the shed% The (ook (au#ht a brief #limse of a tram!like fi#ure from the kit(hen window and then it was #one% She hardly knew if she had seen it or not% $atty sank down in the shed, antin#, and then #ot u a#ain to lo(k the door% Phew" -hat a run" &oon was well and truly left behind% ow to e5amine the rubber heels%
On the Tra(k 3t *ast" $atty ulled out his note!book and turned over its a#es ea#erly till he (ame to the drawin#s he had made of the foot!rint% He #lued his eyes to his sket(h of the attern of the rubber heel shown in one of the rints% “*ine #oin# a(ross there, two little lines under it, lon# one there, and three lines to#ether,” he noted% Then he (omared the drawn attern with the rubber heel on one of the shoes% “)t’s the same"” he said e5ultin#ly% “The absolute same" That roves it ! althou#h it’s not the (olonel, it’s somebody who wears his old boots ! somebody who bou#ht a air last year at Miss :ay’s 0umble sale% )’m on the tra(k at last"” He was thrilled% 3fter all their #oin#s and (omin#s, their wat(hin#s and interviewin#s whi(h seemed to have (ome to nothin#, at last they had somethin# to work on% Somethin# Mr &oon hadn’t #ot" $atty did a solemn little 0i# round his shed% He looked very (omi(al indeed, for he was still dis#uised as a tram% He (arried one of the bi# shoes in ea(h hand and waved them about
#ra(efully, as if he was doin# a s(arf or flower dan(e% He heard a sound at the window, and stoed suddenly% -as it &oon. Or his mother. )t was neither% )t was *arry’s #rinnin# fa(e, en0oyin# the se(ta(le of the old tram’s idioti( dan(e% $atty rushed to the door and unlo(ked it% 3ll the others were there, smilin# to see $atty’s e5(itement% “-hat is it, $atty. /ou’ve obviously #ot #ood news,” said Daisy, leased% “) must #et these thin#s off,” said $atty, ullin# off his #rey wi# and suddenly aearin# forty years youn#er% “Phew ! a wi#’s 0olly hot in this weather" ow, reort to me, all of you, while ) make myself de(ent%” They all made their reorts% $irst the #irls, who #i##led when they told him of the boots and shoes they had #ot from the 7odneys for the 0umble sale% “-e’ve taken them already to #ive to Miss :ay, the erson who’s runnin# it,” said Daisy% “Oh dear ! if you (ould have seen &oon’s fa(e when he saw us sta##erin# out with loads of shoes and boots" 3nyway, there’s nobody at the 7odneys with bi# feet, so that’s another (lue finished with% ) don’t somehow think those s(ras of aer meant anythin#%” “or do ),” said *arry% “-e #ot mi5ed u with old +lear!Orf too ! he arrived at 7odways when we were there% He nearly had a heart!atta(k when he saw us, he was so furious" -e really thou#ht we’d #ot somethin# at that la(e, thou#h, when we saw a (olossal sou’wester and oilskin han#in# u% 'ut no ! the owner wears small!si2e shoes after all"” “ow tell us what you did down at +olonel +ross’s,” said Daisy e5e(tantly% “&o on, $atty"” $atty related his tale with #usto, and when he (ame to the bit where he had looked u from his weedin# and seen &oon’s fa(e #lowerin# over the hed#e, with the sleein# (olonel between them, the others went off into fits of helless lau#hter% “Oh, $atty ! if only )’d been there"” said Daisy% “-hat about the shoes. Tell us%” $atty told them everythin#, and roudly dislayed the shoes% “3nd now the #reatest news of all"” he said, turnin# u the shoes suddenly so that they d islayed the rubber heels% “See the rubbers. -ell, look"” He la(ed his note!book down beside one of the shoes, so that the drawin# and the rubber heels were side by side% The (hildren e5(laimed at on(e% “)t’s the same attern" The very same" &olly, we’re #ettin# somewhere now% 'ut surely ! it (an’t be the (olonel who’s #ot anythin# to do with the robbery.” “o,” said $atty, and e5lained about how a air of his boots had been sent to last year’s 0umble sale% “3nd if we (an find out who bou#ht them, ) think we’ve #ot our hands o n the thief"” said $atty e5ultin#ly% “-e shall find that the erson who bou#ht them is somebody else with bi# feet ! somebody the (obbler doesn’t know about be(ause robably the fellow mends his own boots% -e’re on the tra(k at last"” 6verybody felt thrilled% They wat(hed $atty be(ome his own self a#ain, rubbin# away the #reasy lines on his fa(e, removin# his eyebrows (arefully, slidin# his a(hin# feet out of the stiff old boots he wore% He #runted and #roaned as he took off the boots and rubbed his sore feet% “) had three airs of so(ks on,” he said, “be(ause the boots are so bi# and stiff ! but even so ) bet )’ll lim for days"” “/ou do everythin# so thorou#hly, $atty,” said 'ets admirin#ly, wat(hin# him be(ome the $atty she knew% “Se(ret of su((ess, 'ets,” said $atty with a #rin% “ow then ! what do we do ne5t. ) feel that our ne5t move is very very imortant ! and it’s #ot to be done 1ui(kly before old &oon #ets another move on%” Daisy #ave a little #i##le when she remembered how they had seen throu#h &oon’s dis#uise that mornin#, and estered him% Poor old +lear!Orf" “Please (an you tell us the time.” “Please (an you #ive us (han#e for si5en(e.” Oh dear ! however dared they be su(h ests" “3nyone know Miss :ay.” asked $atty, uttin# on his shoes and la(in# them u% “She aarently ran the 0umble sale last year% )s she runnin# it this year.” “/es,” said Daisy% “She’s the one we took the 7odneys’ shoes to% 'ut, $atty, we (an’t very well #o bar#in# u to her and ask her strai#ht out who bou#ht those boots of the (olonel’s last year ! she’d think it awfully e(uliar%” “)’m not thinkin# of doin# a ny bar#in# or blurtin# out o f silly 1uestions,” said $atty with di#nity% “)’ve #ot a very fine idea already ! no bar#in# about it"”
“Of (ourse $atty’s #ot a #ood idea,” said 'ets, loyally% “He always has% -hat is it, $atty.” “)’m simly #oin# to resent our very finest (lue to Miss :ay for her 0umble sale ! the (olonel’s bi# shoes ! and mention (asually that erhas the erson who bou#ht them last year, whoever he was, mi#ht like to buy the same si2e a#ain this year"” said $atty% “Same kind of rubber heels and all"” 6veryone #a2ed admirin#ly at him% That was about the best and most dire(t way of #ettin# the vital information they wanted, without arousin# any susi(ion at a ll" Trust $atty to rodu(e an idea like that% “4olly #ood, $atty,” said Pi, and the others a#reed% “*et’s have tea now,” said $atty, lookin# at the time% “)’ll #o and see if ) (an #et somethin# out of our (ook% /ou (ome with me, 'ets, be(ause she likes you ! and we’ll take it out under that tree over there and have a i(ni(, and rela5 a bit after all our hard work today%” He and 'ets went off to#ether% They (ame ba(k with an enormous tea on two trays, and an e5(ited 'uster% The (ook had looked after him all day, and ket him from followin# $atty< now he was wild with deli#ht to be with his friends a#ain% “)t’s a marvel both the trays haven’t (rashed,” said $atty, uttin# his down (arefully% “) never knew su(h a do# for #ettin# under your feet when you’re (arryin# anythin# heavy% &et away from that (ake, 'uster% Daisy, do sto him li(kin# it all over% There’ll be no i(in# left% Oh #olly, now he’s steed on the buns%” 'ets (au#ht 'uster and held him down beside her% “He (an’t hel dan(in# about, h e’s so leased we’re ba(k,” she said% “See what lovely thin#s we’ve brou#ht you all" ) feel we’ve earned a #ood tea"” They talked over their day as they ate, #i##lin# whenever they thou#ht of oor Mr &oon and h is desair at findin# them 0ust in front of him, wherever he went% “)’m #oin# down to Miss :ay’s this evenin#,” said $atty% “Takin# the shoes" Oh, wonderful, ma#nifi(ent shoes, that will solve the mystery for us" 3nd before seven o’(lo(k (omes )’ll be ba(k with the name of the thief" 3 little telehonin# to the )nse(tor ! and a little e5lainin# ! and we shall be able to let &oon know tomorrow that the (ase is (losed ! the mystery is solved ! as usual, by the $ive $ind!Outers ! and do#"” “Hi, hi, hurrah"” said Pi% “) say, 'ets ! don’t #ive 'uster any more of those otted!meat sandwi(hes ! ) want some too" $atty, sto her, 'uster’s fat enou#h as it is% )f he #ets mu(h fatter he won’t be able to hel in any more mysteries% ot that he’s really heled in this one mu(h"” “ow you’ve made him ut his tail down,” said 'ets, and #ave him another sandwi(h% “Oh, $atty, do let me (ome with you to Miss :ay’s% /ou know who she is, don’t you. She’s the (ousin of that horrid little baker ! the one who always tries to be funny%” “She’s 0ust as silly as he is,” said Daisy% “) told you that we took the 7odneys’ boots and shoes to her this afternoon% She’s #ot 1uite a (olle(tion of thin#s there but she was very leased with the boots and shoes% She says they #o like hot (akes at a sale%” “-ell, ) think )’ll #o now,” said $atty, #ettin# u and brushin# the (rumbs from his front% “+omin#, 'ets. /es, you (an (ome too, 'uster%” 'ets, 'uster and $atty went out% $atty (arried the (olonel’s shoes wraed in a bit of brown aer% “-ell, so lon#"” said $atty (heerfully% “&et out the fla#s for when we (ome ba(k ! we’ll brin# you the name of the thief"”
3 'itter Disaointment $atty and 'ets walked off to Miss :ay’s with 'uster trottin# at their heels% They ket a shar lookout for Mr &oon% $atty felt sure that he had #uessed who the old tram was that afternoon, and he didn’t arti(ularly want to meet him 0ust then% Miss :ay lived in a tiny (otta#e ne5t to her (ousin and h is wife% 'ets hoed they wouldn’t see the little baker% “) #et so tired of tryin# to smile at his silly 0okes,” she said to $atty% “*ook ! here we are ! don’t you think it looks like a la(e where 0umble is taken. Daisy and ) thou#ht so, anyway%” 'ets was ri#ht% The (otta#e and its little #arden looked untidy and “0umbly”, as 'ets ut it% 3 broken!down seat was in the little front #arden, and a little, mu(h!(hied statue stood in the
(entre% The #ate was half off its hin#es, and one of its bars had #one% The (urtains at the window looked dirty and didn’t mat(h% “) should think Miss :ay buys most of the 0umble for herself"” whisered 'ets, noddin# at the broken seat and (hied statue% Miss :ay looked a bit of a 0umble herself, when she oened the door to them% She was as small and sri#htly as her baker!(ousin, but not nearly so neat and sru(e% “She’s all bits and ie(es,” thou#ht 'ets, lookin# at her% “Hun# about with all the 0umble nobody else buys ! bead ne(kla(es, a torn s(arf, a belt with its embroidery soilt, and that awful red (omb in her hair"” Miss :ay seemed deli#hted to see them% “Do (ome in"” she said, in a kind of (ooin# voi(e% “)t isn’t often ) #et a ni(e youn# #entleman to see me% 3nd this dear little #irl a#ain too ! you (ame this afternoon, didn’t you, dearie.” “/es,” said 'ets, who didn’t like bein# (alled “dearie” by Miss :ay% “3nd what have you brou#ht me this time, love.” asked Miss :ay, leadin# the way into a little room so (rowded with furniture that $atty had #reat diffi(ulty in findin# where to ste% He kno(ked over a small table, and looked down in alarm% “)’m so sorry,” he said, and bent to i(k u the thin#s that had fallen% Miss :ay bent down at the same time and their heads bumed to#ether% “Oh, sorry,” said $atty a#ain% Miss :ay #ave a little #i##le, and rubbed her head% “Oh, it’s nothin#" My (ousin says )’ve #ot a wooden head, so a bum never matters to me"” She #ave another silly little #i##le, and 'ets smiled feebly% “This kind little #irl brou#ht me su(h a lot of ni(e thin#s for the 4umble Sale, this a fternoon,” (hattered Miss :ay% “3nd )’m hoin# you’ve brou#ht somethin# too% -hat’s in that ar(el.” She ut her head on one side, and her (omb fell out% She #ave a little s1ueal and i(ked it u% “Oh dear ! ) seem to be fallin# to bits" /ou know, that (heeky (ousin of mine says one day )’ll be a bit of 0umble myself, and be sold for si5en(e% He, he he"” $atty felt rather si(k% He didn’t like the baker, her (ousin, but he liked Miss :ay even less% He oened his ar(el and took out the shoes% 3ll he wanted to do now was to #et the information he needed, and #o" Miss :ay #ave another s1ueal% “Oh" -hat an enormous air of shoes" 3re they yours. That’s 0ust a 0oke of (ourse, ) didn’t mean it% )’m su(h a tease, aren’t )" My, it’s 1uite a #ood air, thou#h%” “)t’s a air of +olonel +ross’s,” said $atty% “He sent a air of boots last year too% ) thou#ht e rhas the same erson who had feet bi# enou#h to fit last year’s boots would robably like to buy these% Do you know who it was.” 'ets’ heart be#an to beat fast% She looked breathlessly at Miss :ay% She and $atty waited for the name% -hat would it be. “Oh, they weren’t sold last year,” said Miss :ay% “There was 1uite a little mystery about them" 7eally it #ave me 1uite a sho(k% /ou see%%%” “-hat do you mean ! they weren’t sold.” asked $atty, determined to kee her to the oint% “-ell, love ! they 0ust disaeared"” said Miss :ay, seakin# with bated breath as if she hardly wanted anyone to hear% “Disaeared" One ni#ht they were here, ready for the sale ! and the ne5t mornin# they were #one"” “-ere they stolen.” asked $atty bitterly disaointed% “Oh yes ! no doubt about it,” said Miss :ay% “$unny thin# is, nothin# e lse was taken at all ! 0ust those bi# boots% They were under that table over there ! where )’ve ut all the boots and shoes this year ! and the thief went there, (hose out the bi# boots a nd went off with them% )’d marked them with a ri(e and everythin#% 3s a matter of fa(t ) hoed to sell them to that ni(e oli(eman of our ! Mr &oon% 'ut they 0ust went one ni#ht%” “-ho stole them ! do you know.” asked $atty% “)s there anyone you know who has bi# feet, who mi#ht think of stealin# them. )t must surely be someone in the villa#e ! how else would they know you had a air of enormous boots here that would fit them. They knew where to find them too ! under that table in your (otta#e"” Miss :ay #ave another little s1ueal% “How very (lever you are, love" 3s (lever as that ni(e Mr &oon% o, ) don’t know who took the boots ! and ) don’t know anyone with enormous feet either, who (ould wear them%” “Did Mr &oon know about it.” asked $atty% “Oh no% My (ousin said that as the boots weren’t very e5ensive, it wasn’t worth takin# u the
time of the oli(e over a air of 0umble boots,” said Miss :ay% “He’s very #ood like that, my (ousin is% He #ave me some money towards the stolen boots and ) # ave some myself, and we ut it into the 4umble 'o5, so the Sale didn’t lose by it% ) do hoe you think ) was ri#ht%” “9uite ri#ht,” said $atty, bored with all this ni##lin# over 0umble boots, and wild to think that their wonderful idea was no #ood% The boots had been stolen ! and nobody knew who had taken them% obody even seemed to know anyone with outsi2e feet% There seemed to be a dearth of lar#e feet in Peterswood% )t was really most annoyin#% He seemed to run into a blank wall, no matter what (lue he followed% $atty felt very down in the dums% “) think, on the whole, ) won’t leave these bi# shoes here,” said $atty, wrain# them u a#ain% “) mean ! if there are thieves about here who have an ur#e for enormous boots and shoes, these mi#ht disaear as well% )’ll brin# them down to you on the day of the 4umble Sale, Miss :ay%” $atty wasn’t #oin# to leave his re(ious shoes, with their rubber heels, at Miss :ay’s now that he hadn’t #ot the information he wanted" )t would be a waste of his (lue% He was 1uite determined about that% Miss :ay looked as if she was #oin# to burst into tears% $atty hurriedly went to the door with 'ets before this disaster haened% He saw someone in the ne5t #arden ! the little baker, Miss :ay’s (ousin% He #roaned% ow there would be another volley of silly talk% “Hallo, hallo, hallo"” said the baker #enially% “)f it isn’t Master $rederi(k Trotteville, the #reat dete(tive% Solved the mystery of the robbery yet, youn# man.” $atty always hated bein# (alled “youn# man” and he ese(ially disliked it from the little baker% He s(owled% 'ets soke u for him% “He’s nearly solved it% He soon will% -e 0ust want to find the name of the man with bi# feet, that’s all% -e almost #ot it toni#ht%” “Shut u, 'ets,” said $atty in a low and most une5e(tedly (ross voi(e% 'ets flushed and fell silent% 'ut the little baker made u for her sudden silen(e% “-ell, well, well ! we shall e5e(t to hear #reat thin#s soon" ) suose thy same old man did both the robberies. ) saw his rints all ri#ht" Me and Mr &oon we had a #ood old (hin!wa# over it ! ah, Mr &oon will #et the thief all ri#ht ! before you do, youn# man" He’s on the tra(k, yes, he’s on the tra(k% Told me so when ) left his bread today% Those were his very words% 8)’m on the tra(k, Twit,’ he said, 0ust like that%” “)nterestin#,” said $atty in a bored voi(e, and oened the #ate for 'ets to #o throu#h% The little baker didn’t like $atty’s tone of voi(e% He strutted u to his own #ate and stood there, #oin# u and down on his heels in rather an insolent manner, leerin# at 'ets and $atty% “)nterestin#" you says ! 0ust like that" Pride #oes before a fall, youn# man% /ou wat(h your ste% )’ve heard a lot about you from Mr &oon%” “3ll ri#ht, all ri#ht,” said $atty in su(h a stern #rown!u voi(e that 'ets 0umed% So did Twit% He altered his tone at on(e% “) didn’t mean no harm% 4ust my 0oke, like% Me and my (ousin, Miss :ay, we do like a 0oke, don’t we, +o2.” +o2 was aarently Miss :ay, who was standin# by her front #ate, smilin# and listenin#, bobbin# u and down on her heels 0ust like her (ousin% “&uard your ton#ue, Mr Twit,” said $atty, still in his #rown!u voi(e% “/ou’ll #et yourself into trouble if you don’t%” He walked off with 'ets, an#ry, disaointed and rather (restfallen% Twit and Miss :ay wat(hed them #o% Twit was red in the fa(e and an#ry% “)nsolen(e"” he said to his (ousin% “/oun# ustart" Talkin# to me like that" )’ll learn him% Thinks himself no end (lever, does he. 3h% Mr &oon’s ri#ht ! he’s a toad, that boy%” “Oh, don’t talk like that"” said Miss :ay fearfully% “/ou’ll lose your (ustomers"” 'ets slied her hand throu#h $atty’s arm as they went home% “$atty,” she said, “)’m awfully sorry for what ) said to Twit% ) didn’t think it mattered%” “-ell, ) suose it doesn’t,” said $atty, attin# 'ets’ hand% “'ut never talk when we’re solvin# a mystery, 'ets% /ou 0ust mi#ht #ive somethin# away ! thou#h it seems to me that Twit must know retty well everthin# from &oon ! they sound like bosom friends"” “3re you very disaointed, $atty.” asked 'ets, very sad to see $atty so down in the dums% )t wasn’t a bit like him% “/es, ) am,” said $atty% “-e’ve (ome to a dead end, little 'ets% There’s no further (lue to follow,
nothin# more to do% -e’ll have to #ive it u ! the first mystery we’ve ever been beaten by"” 3nd, in a mournful silen(e, the two went dolefully down to the shed to tell the miserable news%
The Third 7obbery $or a day or two the $ive $ind!Outers were very mu(h subdued% )t was horrid to have to #ive u ! 0ust when they had thou#ht the whole thin# was #oin# to be solved so 1ui(kly and su((essfully too" $atty was 1uite uset by it% He worried a lot, #oin# over and over all the (lues and the details of the two robberies, tryin# to find another trail to follow% 'ut he (ouldn’t% 3s he had said to 'ets, they had (ome to a dead end, a blank wall% The weather broke and the rain (ame down% -hat with that and $atty lookin# so solemn, the other four were 1uite at a loose end% They #ot into mis(hief, irritated their arents, and simly didn’t know what to do with themselves% $atty (heered u after a bit% “)t’s 0ust that ) hate bein# beaten, you know,” he said to the others% “) never am, as a matter of fa(t% This is the first time ! and if anybody feels in(lined to say, 8-ell, ) suose it’s #ood for you, $atty,’ ) warn them, don’t say it% )t isn’t #ood for me% )t’s bad%” “-ell, do (heer u now, $atty,” said Daisy% “)t’s really awful havin# you #o about lookin# like a hen out in the rain" 3s for oor old 'uster, ) hardly know if he’s #ot a tail these days, it’s tu(ked between his le#s so ti#htly% )t hasn’t wa##ed for days"” “Hey, 'uster" &ood do#, 'uster" Master’s all ri#ht now"” said $atty suddenly, to the little S(ottie% He soke in his old (heerful voi(e, and 'uster leat u as if he had been shot% His tail wa##ed nineteen to the do2en, he barked, flun# himself on $atty and then went (omletely mad% He tore round and round Pi’s layroom as if he was runnin# a ra(e, and finally hurled himself out of the door, slid all the way down the landin# and fell down the stairs% The (hildren s(reamed with deli#ht% 'uster was always funny when he went mad% Mrs Hilton’s voi(e (ame u the stairs% “Pi" $atty" +ome and (at(h 'uster% He seems to have #one off his head% Oh ! here he (omes a#ain% -hat is the matter with him"” 'uster tore u the stairs at si5ty miles an hour, slid alon# the landin# a#ain and (ame to rest under a (hair% He lay there, antin#, 1uite tired out, his tail thumin# a#ainst the floor% 6veryone felt better after that% $atty looked at his wat(h% “*et’s #o to Oliver’s a#ain and have a slash ! ) (ould do with three or four merin#ues%” “Ooooh, yes ! )’ve #ot some money today,” said *arry, ullin# out a five ound note% “)t’s one my un(le Ted #ave me weeks a#o and ) (ouldn’t think of where )’d ut it for safety% ) found it today in my tie!bo5%” “-e’ll all #o shares,” said Pi% “)’ve #ot two bob, and 'ets has #ot a bit too%” “7i#ht,” said $atty% “The more the merrier% +ome on% )’ll 0ust telehone to my mother to tell her we’re #oin# to Oliver’s%” They went off, feelin# haier than they had done for days% 'uster’s tail had aeared a#ain and was wa##in# merrily as he ran alon# with them% His master was all ri#ht a#ain ! life was bri#ht on(e more" They stayed a lon# time over their tea, talkin# hard, and eatin# e1ually hard% obody said a word about the mystery% They weren’t #oin# to remember defeat when e(lairs and merin#ues and (ho(olate (ake were sread in front of them" That would be silly% $eelin# rather full, they walked ba(k to $atty’s and went down the #arden to the shed% 'uster trotted on ahead% He su rrised them all by suddenly barkin# ur#ently and loudly% “-hat’s u, 'uster.” shouted $atty, be#innin# to run% *arry ra(ed down the ath with him% -hatever (ould 'uster be barkin# about like that. Pi and *arry (ame to the shed% The door was wide oen, thou#h $atty always left it shut and lo(ked% $atty ran in, ama2ed% He looked round% His thin#s were all in a muddle" +lothes had been dra##ed down from the e#s, drawers in a (hest had been emtied, and everywhere was mess and muddle% Someone had been there and turned everythin# uside down% “My money’s #one, of (ourse,” said $atty in e5aseration% “)’d #ot two ounds ) was savin# for my
mother’s birthday ! why did ) leave it here" ) never do leave money in the ordinary way% 'low"” “3nythin# else #one.” asked *arry% Pi, Daisy and 'ets (rowded into the untidy shed% 'ets burst into tears, but nobody took any noti(e of her, not even $atty% “My knife’s #one ! that silver one,” said $atty% “3nd that little silver (ase ) ket odds and ends in% 3nd yes ! my (i#arette (ase is #one, the one ) use when i’m dis#uised% -ell, the thief is wel(ome to that" ) suose he thou#ht it was silver, but it isn’t% )t’s 0ust metal"” “Oh, $atty"” wailed 'ets% “-hat’s haened. Has a robber been here. Oh, what shall we do.” “Shut u, 'ets,” said Pi% “'ehavin# like a baby as usual% &o home if you (an’t be any hel%” 'ets stoed wailin# at on(e% She looked at $atty but he was (omletely en#rossed in (he(kin# u his belon#in#s% She went outside to swallow her tears and be sensible ! and then she suddenly saw somethin# that made her stare% She yelled loudly% “$atty" $3TT/" +ome here, 1ui(k"” $atty aeared at to seed, the others behind him% 'ets ointed to the muddy ath near the shed% On it were (lear foot!rints ! enormous ones" “&osh"” said $atty% “)t’s our robber a#ain% The very same one ! look at the marks his rubber heels made ! the same attern as before%” “-ill there be #love!rints too.” asked Daisy e5(itedly, and she went ba(k into the shed% “Shouldn’t think so,” said $atty followin#% “There’s no wallaer or distemer to show them u%” “-ell, look ! there they are"” said Daisy, ointin# triumhantly% 3nd sure enou#h, there were two lar#e #love!rints showin# (learly on the lookin#!#lass that $atty had in his shed% “He likes to leave his mark, doesn’t he.” said *a rry% “/ou’d almost think he was sayin#, 8This is the robber, his mark"’” “/es,” said $atty thou#htfully% “-ell, it’s the same fellow all ri#ht% He hasn’t #ot away with a #reat deal, thank #oodness ! but what a mess"” “-e’ll soon (lear it u,” said 'ets, ea#er to do somethin# for oor old $atty% “*et’s take a very (areful snoo round before we move anythin#,” said $atty% “The Mystery has (ome ri#ht to our very door ! it’s all!alive!oh a#ain% -e may erhas be able to solve it this time%” “) suose you’re not #oin# to inform the oli(e"” said *arry with a lau#h% “o% )’m not,” said $atty very firmly% “$irst thin# )’m #oin# to do is to measure u the foot!rints to make absolutely (ertain they’re the same ones that we saw before ! at orton House and at Mrs -illiams’s%” They were, of (ourse, e5a(tly the same% o doubt about it at all% The #love!rints were the same too% “-e (an’t find out whether there was a hollow (ou#h this time,” said Pi, “be(ause there was nobody here to hear it% ) suose there aren’t any s(ras of aer, are there, $atty.” “one,” said $atty% “'ut there weren’t at Mrs -illiams’s either, you know% )’m be#innin# to think that they really had nothin# to do with the robberies% They don’t really link u with anythin#%” Daisy went wanderin# off down the ath a little% She (ame to another rint by the side of the ath, almost under a shrub% She (alled $atty% “*ook"” she said% “)sn’t this stran#e rint like the ones you found in both the other robberies.” $atty knelt to see% On the wet #round under the shrub the mark was 1uite lain ! a bi# roundish rint with (riss!(ross lines here and there% “/es,” said $atty u22led, turnin# over the a#es of his note!book to (omare his drawin# with the rint% “)t’s the same% ) (annot ima#ine what makes it ! or why it aears in all the robberies% )t’s e5traordinary%” They all #a2ed down at the stran#e mark% Pi wrinkled his forehead% “/ou know ! somehow ) feel as if )’ve seen it somewhere else besides the robberies% -here (ould it have been.” “Think, Pi,” said $atty% “)t mi#ht hel%” 'ut Pi (ouldn’t think% 3ll he (ould say was that he thou#ht he had seen it somewhere on the day when they all went interviewin#% “That’s not mu(h hel,” said $atty with a si#h% “-e were all over the la(e that day% ow we’d better ut everythin# ba(k% ) (an’t see that we (an find any more (lues% 3s a matter of fa(t it seems as if this robbery is almost an e5a(t reetition of the others ! lar#e footrints, #love!rints, stran#e unknown rint, and small #oods stolen%” They hun# u the (lothes, and ut ba(k everythin# into the (hest of drawers% They ket a shar
lookout for any ossible (lue, but as far as they (ould see there was none at all% “How did the thief #et down to the shed.” asked *arry% “Did he #et in throu#h the ba(k #ate leadin# into the lane, do you think. )t’s not far from the shed% Or did he (ome down the ath from the house.” “-ell ! if he made that mark under the shrub, it rather looks as if he (ame from the house,” said $atty% “On the other hand, the lar#e foot!rints are only round and about the shed ! ) didn’t find any on the ath u to the house, did you.” “o,” said *arry% “-ell, it’s more likely he would have (ome 1uietly in throu#h the ba(k!#ate down by the shed ! he wouldn’t be seen then% )t’s very se(luded down here at the bottom of the #arden ! (an’t be seen from the house at all%” “3ll the same, ) think we’d better ask the (ook and the house!arlourmaid if they saw anyone,” said $atty% “They 0ust mi#ht have% 3nd we’ll ask who has been to the house this afternoon too% 3ny tradesman or visitor mi#ht have seen somebody%” “/es% &ood idea,” said *arry% “+ome on ! let’s #o and find out%”
The -arnin# The house!arlourmaid was out, and had been out all the afternoon% The (ook was in, however, and was rather surrised to see all the five (hildren and 'uster trooin# in at her kit(hen door% “ow don’t you say you want tea,” she be#an% “)t’s a 1uarter to si5, and%%%” “o, we don’t want tea,” said $atty% “) 0ust (ame to ask you a few thin#s% Someone’s been disturbin# my belon#in#s in the shed at the bottom of the #arden% ) wondered if you had seen anyone #oin# down the ath to the shed this afternoon%” “&oodness,” said the (ook alarmed% “Don’t tell me there’s trams about a#ain% ) thou#ht ) saw a very nasty!lookin# fellow sliin# down that ath the other day%” $atty knew who that was all ri#ht% So did the others% They turned away to hide their # rins% “o ! it’s today ) want to know about,” said $atty% “Did you see anyone a t all.” “ot a soul today,” said the (ook% “3nd )’ve been sittin# here at this window all the time"” “/ou didn’t have forty winks, ) suose.” asked $atty, with a smile% “/ou do sometimes%” “-ell, maybe ) did for a few minutes,” said the (ook, with a lau#h% “) #et ri#ht sleey in the afternoons, when it’s hot like this% Still, ) was awake enou#h all ri#ht when the tradeseole (ame%” “-ho (ame.” asked *arry% “Oh, the usual ones,” said the (ook% “The #irl with the #ro(eries, the milkman, the baker ! and let me see, did the #asman (ome. o, that was this mornin#%” “3nyone else.” asked $atty% “-ell, Mr &oon (alled,” said the (ook, “and he asked for your mother, but she wasn’t in% So he went away a#ain% He (ame at the same time as the baker d id% They had a #ood old talk to#ether too, out in the front #arden% ) heard them% Mr &oon bumed into the baker 0ust as he was leavin#%” “) bet they had a #ood talk about 'ets and me,” said $atty to the others% “3nyone else (all, +ook.” “ot that ) know of,” she said% “) didn’t have any talk with the baker ! he’s too mu(h of a sau(y one for me ! ) 0ust left a note on the table to tell him how many loaves to leave% 3nd ) didn’t see the milkman either ! he knows how mu(h to leave% ) saw the #ro(er’s #irl, and she was in a hurry as usual%” “) wonder what &oon wanted,” said $atty as they left the kit(hen to walk down to the shed a#ain% “) bet he wants to know if ) was the old tram the other day% 3s if Mother would know"” They were 0ust walkin# out of the s(ullery door when Daisy stoed suddenly and looked down at the #round% “*ook"” she said, and ointed% They all looked ! and there, 0ust by the s(ullery door, in a wet at(h of #round, was the same roundish mark that they had seen under the shrub" The same as they had seen at the other two robberies as well% “&osh"” said $atty starin# down% “The thief did a (tually (ome to the s(ullery door then" He must
have made that mark ! but why.” “/our (ook said nobody else (ame e5(et the eole she mentioned,” said *arry% “)t seems to me as if the thief (ame here, eeed in and saw the +ook aslee and went down to the shed to do his dirty work%” “Then why didn’t he leave lar#e foot!rints here.” said Daisy% “There’s only small ones #oin# to and from the bottom of the #arden% ) looked% There’s no lar#e ones at all ! no lar#er than si2e seven, anyway%” “)t beats me"” said Pi% )t beat them all% ow there had been three searate robberies, all obviously done by the same man, who left e5a(tly the same marks ea(h time ! and yet he had never on(e been seen, thou#h he must really be a very bi# fellow indeed% “He’s invisible ! that’s how he (an d o all these thin#s"” said Daisy% “) mean ! surely somebody would have seen him one of the times% 'ut all he does is to (ome and #o, and leave behind him foot and #love!rints, and do 0ust what he likes" He must be lau#hin# u his sleeve at all of us%” “)t (an’t be old &oon, (an it.” said 'ets, hoefully% “He has lar#e feet and hands, and he h as #ot a hollow, shee!like (ou#h, and he really does hate you, $atty% He (ame here today too ! why (ouldn’t he have slied down and been siteful, turnin# all your thin#s uside down and makin# a mess.” “) daresay he’d like to,” said $atty, “but remember he was away at the time of the first robbery ! and honestly ) don’t think he’s ass enou#h to do su(h idioti( thin#s ! ) mean, it’s sheer dishonesty, robbin# eole like this, and &oon wouldn’t risk his 0ob and his ension% o, rule that ri#ht out, 'ets%” “3re you #oin# to ask the milkman and the others if they saw anyone.” asked 'ets% $atty shook his head% “o% )’m retty (ertain now that if the milkman, the baker or #ro(er’s #irl had seen anyone here this afternoon, wanderin# about in lar#e!si2e boots they would have told +ook% 3nyway, )’m not interviewin# that (o(ky little baker a#ain ! wouldn’t he be leased if he knew )’d been robbed" He’d rub his little hands like anythin#, and ro(k to and fro on his toes and heels with #lee%” “/es, he would,” said 'ets, ro(kin# to and fro as she remembered how he had #one u and down on his heels% “asty little man% ) hoe he doesn’t hear about this%” “o one is to,” said $atty firmly% “)’m not #oin# to have &oon strollin# down the #arden and fin#erin# everythin# in my shed% How he’d love to look throu#h my make!u bo5, and i(k u all my mousta(hes and eyebrows and wi#s"” “-ell, none of us will say a word about this afternoon’s do,” said *arry% “-e’ll kee the thief #uessin#" He’ll wonder why there’s no news of his last robbery"” “The last thief burst the lo(k on your door, $atty,” said 'ets% “How will you lo(k it toni#ht.” “)’ll sli out and buy a adlo(k,” said $atty% “That will be the easiest thin# to do toni#ht ! ut a adlo(k on the door% )’ll (ome with you when you #o home% ) (an #et one at the #ara#e ! that stays oen till seven%” So, at ten to seven $atty and the others strolled u the lane to the #ara#e in the villa#e% They bou#ht a stron# little adlo(k, and (ame out e5aminin# it% 3 voi(e behind them made them 0um% )t was Mr &oon, startin# on his first ni#ht!round% “Ho" 3 adlo(k" Maybe you’ll need that, Master $rederi(k" /ou’d better be (areful%” 6veryone swun# round in a stonishment% “-hat do you mean, Mr &oon.” said $atty% “)’ve had noti(e that you’ll be the ne5t on the robbery!list,” said &oon imortantly% “) (ame to warn your mother this afternoon% 4ust you see that everythin# is well!lo(ked u toni#ht, windows fastened and everythin#% 3nd have that there esky little do# of yours in the front hall%” “-hat is all this about.” said $atty, hoin# that nobody would blurt out anythin# about the robbery that had already haened that afternoon% “-hat nonsense, Mr &oon"” Mr &oon swelled u a little, and 'ets was sure one of his uniform buttons was about to srin# off% He fumbled in his breast!o(ket and brou#ht out his little note!book% He undid the elasti( stra and ran throu#h the a#es% 6veryone wat(hed in silen(e% He took out a s(ra of dirty aer, and handed it to $atty% “There you are% )f that isn’t a lain warnin# ) don’t know what is% ’+ourse you don’t need to take no noti(e of it at all ! and anyway )’ll be sure to be round two or three times toni#ht to see as everythin# is all ri#ht round at yours%” $atty took the s(ra of aer% On it, rinted in uneven letterin#, were three words?
T7OT=)**S 6AT% ! ')&$66T $atty silently assed it round to the others% They knew what &oon didn’t know ! that the warnin# was too late% 'i#feet the robber, had already been to the Trottevilles" “There you are"” said &oon, en0oyin# the interest he was (ausin#% “The imertinen(e of it" &ood as sayin# 8$at lot of #ood you are ! )’ll tell you where )’m #oin# to strike ne5t%’ Si#nin# himself 'i#feet too% He’s #ot some sau(e"” “&oon, have you #ot the other s(ras of aer on you.” asked $atty% “The ones found at orton House, with >, $rinton and @, 7ods on it. )t would be useful to (omare them%” &oon #ave a s(ornful little snort% “Think ) didn’t (omare them, Mr Smarty. ’+ourse ) did% 'ut this here note’s in rinted (aitals and the others aren’t% +an’t see any likeness at all%” “) think you’re wron#, Mr &oon,” said $atty, suddenly seakin# like a #rown!u a#ain% “3nd if you like )’ll show you the likeness%” “&ah,” said &oon in dis#ust% “Think you know everythin#, don’t you. -ell, ) tell you )’ve (omared the three s(ras of aer, and this one’s different%” “) don’t believe it,” said $atty% That stun# Mr &oon and he #lared% He felt in the little o(ket of his note!book and rodu(ed the other two notes% He showed them to $atty, to#ether with the third one% “See. o likeness at a ll"” he said triumhantly% “)’m not thinkin# of the words written on the aers,” said $atty% “)’m thinkin# of the aer they’re written on% )t’s e5a(tly the same% -hoever wrote the first notes, wrote this one too% So those first s(ras of aer were (lues after all ! thou#h they led to nothin#%” Mr &oon stared at the s(ras of aer% $atty was ri#ht% They had obviously been torn from the same note!book or sheets of aer ! they were all rather yellowed and the surfa(e was a little fluffy% Mr &oon (leared his throat% He felt a little awkward% That boy" 3lways uttin# him in the wron#% He ut the s(ras ba(k into his o(ket!book% He (leared his throat a#ain% “Think ) didn’t noti(e that.” he said% “-hy, it hits you in the eye"” “)t didn’t seem to have #iven you a very hard blow then,” said $atty% “-ell, )’m not heedin# that warnin#, Mr &oon ! so you (an slee in ea(e toni#ht" There will be no robbery at the Trottevilles, ) (an tell you that"”
Mostly about &oon The five (hildren, with 'uster, went on their way, $atty thinkin# deely% The others rese(ted his thou#hts and said nothin#% They (ame to the (orner where they had to art with *arry and Daisy% “3ny orders, $atty.” said *arry rese(tfully% “6r ! what. Oh, orders% o, none,” said $atty, (omin# out of his tran(e% “Sorry to be so #oofy all of a sudden% 'ut it’s odd, isn’t it ! that warnin#, ) mean% -hy did the thief send it. He must be 0olly sure of himself ! thou#h, of (ourse, he mi#ht have sent it to &oon after he’d done the 0ob% ) 0ust don’t understand it%” “-hen did &oon #et it.” said Daisy% “) didn’t hear him say% Did you ask him.” “o% ) was so surrised to find that the third s(ra of aer was the same as the first two, whi(h meant they really did have somethin# to do with the thief, that ) didn’t ask any of the 1uestions ) should,” said $atty ve5ed% “That means )’ll have to #o ba(k and #et a little more information% &oon will be leased"” “)s the mystery on a#ain.” asked 'ets% “=ery mu(h on, 'ets,” said $atty% “Oh, very mu(h" 'low 'i#feet" ) shall dream about him toni#ht% )t really is a u22le how that fellow (an #et about without bein# noti(ed ! ) mean, there’s all of us on the wat(h, and &oon, and the baker, and the #ro(er’s #irl, and #oodness knows how many other eole too, lookin# for a lar#e!footed man ! and yet the fellow has the nerve to walk u the road to my house, #o in at one of the front #ates, walk u to the s(ullery door, and all the way down to the shed, and then out a#ain with his stolen #oods ! and not a sin#le soul sees him"” “He must be invisible"” said 'ets 1uite (onvin(ed% “The +ase of the )nvisible Thief ! or the Mystery of 'i#feet the 7obber"” said $atty% “)t’s a funny (ase this ! lost of (lues all leadin# nowhere%”
They said #oodbye and arted% $atty went ba(k to Mr &oon’s house% He must find out where that aer had been ut when it was delivered, and what time it was sent% He (ame to Mr &oon’s house% &oon was ba(k a#ain, and was sendin# an interestin# ten minutes tryin# on a suly of new mousta(hes that had arrived by ost that day% He was sittin# in front of the mirror, twirlin# a arti(ularly fine mousta(he when he heard the kno(k at the front door% He eered out of the window% 3h ! that fat boy% &oon #rinned to himself% He (rammed a hat down on his head, frowned, twisted his new mousta(hes u, and leaned out of the window% “-hat do you want.” he asked in a dee, rather sinister voi(e% $atty looked u and was e5tremely startled to see the s(owlin#, mousta(hed fa(e above him% )n a tri(e he re(o#ni2ed &oon ! there was no mistakin# those fro#!like eyes% However, if &oon wanted to think he (ould make himself unre(o#ni2able by addin# a mousta(he and a s(owl, $atty was 1uite willin# to let him% “6r ! #ood evenin#,” said $atty olitely% “+ould ) seak to Mr &oon. Or is he busy.” “He’s busy,” said the fa(e, in a hollow voi(e and the mousta(he twit(hed u and down% “Oh, what a ity% )t’s rather imortant,” said $atty% “)’ll see if he’ll see you,” said the fa(e, and disaeared% $atty (hu(kled% The door oened half a minute later, and Mr &oon aeared, minus s(owl and mousta(he% 3(tually he felt 1uite amiable for on(e% His dis#uise had de(eived that fat boy ! ha, $atty wasn’t as (lever as he thou#ht he was" “&ood evenin#, Mr &oon,” said $atty% “Did your friend tell you ) wanted to see you.” “He did,” said &oon% “-hat do you want.” “) for#ot to ask you how you #ot that third note and when,” said $atty% “)t mi#ht be imortant%” “) don’t know how or when it (ame,” said Mr &oon annoyin#ly% “-ell ! when did you find it.” asked $atty% “) was #oin# throu#h some aers in the offi(e,” said &oon, “and ) was lost in them ! very imortant aers they were, see% -ell, the milkman and the baker (ame and left the bread and the milk as usual ! and when ) (ame into the kit(hen to #et myself a (u of tea, ) i(ked u the bottle of milk ! and there was the note on to o f it"” “Thank you,” said $atty% “So you don’t really know what time it (ame e5(et that it must have (ome after the milkman and baker% Did you hear them (ome.” 3s Mr &oon had been fast aslee all the afternoon he had heard no one at all, but he wasn’t #oin# to tell $atty that% “) e5e(t ) heard them (ome,” he said% “'ut when ) read throu#h offi(ial aers ! very imortant ones too ! ) #et lost in them% ) daresay the tradesmen (ame about the usual time ! three o’(lo(k or so%” “Thanks,” said $atty% “That’s all ) wanted to know% /ou (ame alon# to my house then, to #ive us the warnin#. Our (ook told me you (ame%” “/es% ) (ame alon# at on(e,” said &oon% “3s was my bounden duty% Pity you won’t take no noti(e of that warnin#% Still, )’ll be alon# toni#ht all ri#ht%” “3s is our bounden duty"” said $atty% “-ell, )’ll be off% )’m sorry to have disturbed that friend of yours, Mr &oon%” “Oh, he won’t mind,” said &oon, most #ratified to find that $atty aarently hadn’t re(o#ni2ed who the “friend” was% “&ood!lookin# fellow, isn’t he.” said $atty, inno(ently% &oon a#reed instantly% “/es, 1uite% $ine mousta(he,” he said% “=ery very fine,” said $atty% “3(tually they are what made him #ood!lookin#% -ithout those, he’d have been very lain indeed, in fa(t, 1uite u#ly% Don’t you a#ree.” 3nd before oor &oon (ould find his ton#ue $atty had #one% That boy" Sliery as an eel in all he said and did% ow, e5a(tly what did he mean by those last remarks. $atty walked home, dee in thou#ht a#ain% He had his suer by himself be(ause his arents were out, and didn’t even noti(e what a deli(ious meal the (ook had reared for him, mu(h to her disaointment% He was thinkin# so very hard% He went u to his own room after his meal and tried to read a very thrillin# mystery story< but his own mystery was mu(h more interestin# to him, and after a bit he ushed the book aside and fell into thou#ht a#ain% “-hat ) (an’t understand is that all the different (lues we have ou#ht to fit to#ether like a 0i#saw
u22le and make a definite i(ture of the thief,” said $atty to himself% “3nd they don’t% They 0ust don’t% 3nd yet if ) (ould find out how to fit them to#ether ) (ould solve the mystery at on(e ! who the thief is ! how he #ets about unseen ! why he doesn’t (are whether his rints are all over the la(e or not ! how he #ets a way with his #oods without fear of bein# dete(ted with them ! and above all why he sent that warnin#% That’s so boastful, somehow ! he must be very very (ertain of himself and his owers%” He fell aslee immediately he #ot into bed, and then woke u worryin# a#ain% Half aslee and half awake he lay there with his mind millin# round and round all the (lues and details% Thin#s #ot mi5ed u in his half!sleein# mind ! the milkman’s (art and the warnin# note on the milk!bottle ! the baker’s basket and airs of lar#e boots ! hollow (ou#hs and lar#e mousta(hes ! there was no end to the i(tures that (ame and went in his mind% Then 'uster be#an to bark" $atty awoke roerly and sat u% “&osh" Did that warnin# mean the thief was (omin# to the house.” thou#ht $atty, dra##in# on his dressin#!#own% He had ima#ined that it meant the robbery in the shed% He shot downstairs and oened the front door to let 'uster out% The do# had run strai#ht to the door and s(raed at it% “-ell, if the thief’s outside, you’ll #ive him a sho(k, 'uster,” said $atty% 'uster shot out and disaeared into the front #arden% There (ame an a#oni2ed yell% “&et out" +lear!orf" +lear!orf, ) say"” $atty (ollased with lau#hter% )t was oor old &oon out there, solemnly “doin# his bounden duty” in the middle of the ni#ht% He had (ome to see that the Trotteville’s house was not already bur#led% “'uster" +ome here"” yelled $atty, and the yell woke his arents, the (ook and house!arlourmaid at on(e% 6veryone (rowded on to the landin#% “$rederi(k" -hat is all this disturban(e.” (alled his father, (omin# downstairs% 'uster was now in $atty’s arms, stru##lin# to #o a#ain% Oh, the 0oy of bein# let out in the middle of the ni#ht and findin# &oon’s ankles at his mer(y" -hat a wonderful surrise it had been to 'uster% Mr &oon loomed u in the doorway, very an#ry% “/ou set that do# on me,” he be#an% “3nd me doin# my duty, and #uardin# your roerty%” Mrs Trotteville had no time for Mr &oon% “-hat does he want.” she (alled down to $atty% “) don’t really know,” said $atty% “-hat e5a(tly did you say you wanted, Mr &oon.” “) don’t want anythin#, as you very well know,” said Mr &oon, in a real temer% “) was 0ust doin# my duty, what with that warnin# and all%%%” “-hat’s he talkin# about.” said Mr Trotteville (omin# u to the front door% “3bout a warnin#,” said $atty% “-hat warnin#.” asked Mr Trotteville, 1uite at sea% “-hy, that warnin# from 'i#feet,” said Mr &oon, in surrise, not reali2in# that $atty had said nothin# to his arents% “'i#feet" )s he mad.” said Mr Trotteville% “*ook here, &oon, you (ome alon# in the mornin# and talk about bi# feet all you like ! but not in the middle of the ni#ht% /ou #o home to bed%” &oon snorted, and was about to say somethin# very (uttin# when Mr Trotteville firmly shut the door% “)s he mad.” he asked $atty% “ot more than usual,” said $atty% “-ell, if he (omes a#ain )’ll let 'uster out ! he won’t (ome very often after that"” 'ut &oon didn’t (ome a#ain% He walked off wrathfully, thinkin# of all the thin#s he would like to do to that youn# toad ! yes, and to that est of a do# too% “3nd me doin# my bounden duty,” he said to himself% “-ell, let ’em be robbed #ood and roer ! #ood and roer, is what ) say"”
Pi Plays a Tri(k The ne5t mornin# $atty felt very #loomy a#ain% He ate his breakfast in (omlete silen(e, mu(h to his mother’s surrise% “Do you feel 1uite well, $rederi(k.” she asked him% “-hat, Mother. Oh yes ! )’m all ri#ht,” said $atty% “4ust thinkin#, that’s all%” “) hoe you haven’t #ot mi5ed u in one of those awful mystery affairs a#ain,” said Mrs Trotteville%
$atty said nothin#% He was mi5ed u in one ! and he was (omletely at a loss about it" Three different robberies ! one in his own shed ! heas of (lues ! and no solution at all, unless he made u his mind that the thief was invisible, whi(h was obviously imossible% “The worst of it is he’s lau#hin# u his sleeve at us the whole time,” thou#ht $atty, in e5aseration% “) feel that it’s someone who knows us% Do we know him. 3nd he’s so 0olly (ertain of himself and his ability to #et away unseen that he even has the (heek to warn us where he’s #oin# to (ommit the ne5t robbery%” He thou#ht of his visit to Miss :ay, and his hi#h hoes when he went there% )f only those boots hadn’t been stolen, everythin# would have been so easy% “$rederi(k, you really must #o and #et your hair (ut this mornin#,” said Mrs Trotteville% “)t’s far too lon#%” “3ll ri#ht, Mother,” said $atty, who had been e5e(tin# this su##estion for the last two weeks% He knew his hair was rather lon#, but it made dis#uises a bit easier if his hair was lon# and he wasn’t #oin# to wear a wi#% He (ould ull it about a bit, and make it #o different ways under a hat% “7in# u and make an aointment,” said Mrs Trotteville, “then you won’t have to wait for a#es%” -hen the others (ame at ten o’(lo(k to meet in $atty’s shed, and see if anythin# further had haened, they were met b y a #loomy $atty% “&ot to #o and #et my hair (ut,” he said% “)’ll be ba(k in about half an hour% /ou (an either wait for me here or #o and have your first i(e!(ream of the day while )’m at the hairdresser’s%” “3ll ri#ht,” said *arry% “3nythin# further haened.” “othin# mu(h ! e5(et that &oon (ame in the middle of the ni#ht to see if we’d been bur#led or not ! and ) really thou#ht it mi#ht be the thief and let o ld 'uster out% &osh, he was thrilled to find &oon’s ankles out there"” 6veryone lau#hed, and $atty (heered u a bit% “-ell, what are you #oin# to do. -ait here.” asked $atty% “/es% ) think we will,” said *arry% “-e’re all a bit short of (ash today% -e’ll la2e here under the trees until you (ome ba(k% Don’t be lon#%” $atty went off, still lookin# #loomy% The others looked at one another% )t was not very ni(e when $atty was in low sirits% )t didn’t often haen but when it did it (ast a definite #loom over the arty% “) wish we (ould do somethin# to (heer $atty u,” said 'ets% “-ell ! let’s lay a tri(k on him or somethin#,” said Pi% “Too hot,” said *arry% “ot enou#h time, either% He’ll be ba(k so soon%” Pi wandered into $atty’s shed% He looked round% He wondered what he (ould do ! dress u and dis#uise himself so that $atty wouldn’t know him. o, there wasn’t time to do that roerly% His eyes fell on the enormous air of shoes that $atty had #ot from +olonel +ross’s housekeeer, and had refused to leave with Miss :ay% There they were, han#in# on a e# by their la(es% Pi looked at them ! and an idea (a me into his head" He #rinned% &osh, he (ertainly had #ot an idea ! one that would make $atty and the others sit u roerly% He would en0oy himself over this idea% Talk about a little bamboo2lin#" He took off his rubber shoes and slied them into his o(ket% He took down the bi# shoes and ulled them on% They sli!sloed about on his feet, but he (ould 0ust walk in them% Pi went (autiously out of the shed unseen by the others, who were on the other side of a bush% He knew $atty would (ome ba(k throu#h the #arden!#ate not far from the ba(k of the shed% He also knew that there was a bed there that had 0ust been du# over and reared by the #ardener for lettu(es% Pi walked ainfully over to the ni(e smooth bed% He took a few stes this way on the earth, and a few stes that way% Then he stoed to see his foot!work ! marvellous" )t looked for all the world as if 'i#feet the thief had visited them on(e a#ain, and left his #iant!si2e foot!rints lainly to be seen" Pi #rinned a#ain% He took a few more stes, treadin# as hard as he (ould% Then he walked 1uietly ba(k to the shed, took off the shoes, and ut on his own on(e more% He’d like to see old $atty’s fa(e when he (ame ba(k and saw those foot!rints" He walked out to the others% “Shall we #o and meet $atty.” he said% “+ome on% He’d be leased% )t’s only a little way%” “3ll ri#ht,” said *arry, and 'ets and Daisy a#reed at on(e%
“) (an see Mrs Trotteville in the front #arden,” said Pi, eerin# throu#h the trees% “-e’d better #o and say how!do!you!do to her%” He didn’t want to take the others ast his beautifully reared foot!rints% He wanted the full #lory of them to burst on everyone at on(e% He hu##ed himself #leefully% They said a few olite words to Mrs Trotteville and then es(aed% They walked almost to the hairdresser’s before they met $atty% He (ame towards them lookin# very smooth!headed indeed% 'uster trotted as usual at his heels% “Hallo ! (ome to meet me.” said $atty, leased% “7i#ht% )(e!(reams for everyone in return"” “Oh no, $atty,” said Daisy% “/ou’re always sendin# your money on us%” “+ome on,” said $atty, and they went to have i(e!(reams% Pi sat as atiently as he (ould with his% He hoed everyone would hurry u% Suose the #ardener went down to that bed and raked over the footrints" His tri(k would be ruined% They finished their i(e!(ream at last, and walked ba(k to $atty’s% Pi wished they would hurry, but they wouldn’t, of (ourse" “-e’ll #o in the #arden!#ate way,” said $atty, as Pi had hoed he would say% “)t’s nearer%” They all went in% The bed with the foot!rints was not very far from the #ate% 'ets was runnin# ahead with 'uster when she suddenly saw them% She stoed at on(e, ama2ed% Then $atty saw them% He stoed dead and stared as if he (ouldn’t believe his eyes% *arry and Daisy looked down in astonishment% “&osh"” said $atty% “-hat do you make of that" $resh!made too"” Pi #rinned, and tried to hide it ! but nobody was lookin# at him at all% Their eyes were #lued to the enormous foot!rints% “) say" The thief’s been here ! while we were #one"” said Daisy% “4ust those few minutes"” “There’s the #ardener over there ! we’ll ask him who’s been here,” said $atty% 'ut the #ardener shook his head% “obody (ame down the #arden while )’ve been workin# here,” he said% “3nd )’ve been here a matter of an hour or more% ever saw a soul"” “)nvisible as usual"” #roaned $atty% “) 0ust (an’t make it out% He (omes and #oes as he likes, does what he likes ! and nobody ever sees him%” He took out a ma#nifyin#!#lass and bent to look (losely at the rints% He frowned a little, and then #ot out his note!book% He oened it at the drawin#s there% Then he strai#htened u% “This is e(uliar,” he said% “) don’t understand it% These rints are the same si2e ! and the rubber! heel attern is the same ! but the rint isn’t 1uite the same% The thief didn’t wear the same boots%” “+lever old $atty"” thou#ht Pi% “He even sotted that the rints were made by those bi# shoes, and not by bi# boots worn by the real thief% He really is a marvel"” The five (hildren walked to the trees and sat down% Pi ket his head turned away be(ause he simly (ouldn’t hel #rinnin# all over his fa(e% -hat a 0oke" How marvellous to see the others taken in like this ! all serious and solemn and earnest" “)t beats me,” said $atty% “)t absolutely beats me% 7unnin# all over the bed like that for aarently no reason at all% He must be mad as well as a thief% ) mean ! what’s the oint. 4ust to show off, ) suose%” Pi #ave a little snort of lau#hter and tried to turn it into a (ou#h% 'ets looked at him in surrise% “-hat are you #rinnin# for.” she asked% “-hat’s the 0oke.” “o 0oke.” said Pi, tryin# to strai#hten his fa(e% 'ut a moment later his mouth twisted into broad smiles a#ain and he was afraid he was #oin# to lau#h out loud% “3t any moment ) shall e5e(t to see foot!rints suddenly walkin# in front of me now,” said $atty #loomily% “)’ve really #ot the thin#s on my mind%” Pi #ave a s1ueal and burst into lau#hter% He rolled over on the #round% He lau#hed till he almost burst his sides% The others looked at him in ama2ement% “Pi" -hat’s the 0oke.” demanded $atty% “)t’s ! er ! oh dear ! ) (an’t tell you,” stuttered Pi, and rolled over a#ain% “He’s #one otty,” said *arry, in dis#ust% $atty looked at Pi hard% He oked him with his foot% “Shut u now, Pi ! and tell us what the 0oke is,” he said% “&o on ! you’ve been u to somethin#% -hat is it.” “Oh my ! it’s those foot!rints,” #ased Pi% “) took you all in beautifully, didn’t ).” “-hat do you mean.” (ried everyone, and $atty rea(hed out and shook Pi%
“) made them"” said Pi, helless with lau#hter% “) ut on those bi# shoes and made those rints myself"”
Meetin# at Half!Past Two *arry, Daisy and 'ets fell on Pi and ummelled him till he (ried for mer(y% 'uster 0oined in and barked madly% Only $atty did nothin#% He 0ust sat as if he was turned to stone% The others reali2ed at last that $atty was not 0oinin# in Pi’s unishment% They sat u a nd looked at him% Pi wied his streaked, dirty fa(e% $atty sat there as if a thunderbolt had stru(k him% He #a2ed out throu#h the trees with su(h tense (on(entration that it really imressed the others% They fell silent% “$atty" -hat are you thinkin# about.” asked 'ets timidly at last% He turned and looked at them all% “)t’s Pi’s 0oke,” he said% “&osh ! to think ) never #uessed how the thief did it" Pi’s solved the mystery"” The others #aed in surrise% “How do you mean.” asked *arry at last% “+an’t you see even now.” said $atty imatiently% “-hat did Pi do to make us think he was a lar#e!footed thief. He took off his small shoes and ut on bi# ones ! and simly dan(ed about over that bed in them% 'ut he’s no more #ot bi# feet than 'ets’ here" /et we all fell for his tri(k%” “)’m be#innin# to see,” said Pi% “3nd we fell for the thief’s tri(k, whi(h was e5a(tly the same"” said $atty% He sma(ked himself hard on the knee% “-e’re mutts" -e’re too feeble for words" -e’ve been lookin# for a bi#!footed fellow, and the real thief has been lau#hin# at us all the time ! a fellow with small feet ! and small hands too"” “Oh ! do you mean he wore bi# #loves over his hands.” asked 'ets% “To make eole think he had both bi# hands and bi# feet.” “Of (ourse% He robably wore somebody’s bi# o ld #ardenin# #loves,” said $atty% “3nd no wonder he left so many (lear marks ! he meant to" He d idn’t want to be (areful" The more rints the merrier, as far as he was (on(erned%” *i#ht was be#innin# to dawn very (learly in everyone’s mind now% 3ll that huntin# for lar#e!footed, burly, bi#!handed men" They should have looked for 0ust the oosite% 'ut who was the thief. They knew now he wasn’t bi# ! but that didn’t tell them the name of the robber% “) suose that dee (ou#h was ut on too,” said *arry% “-hat about those s(ras of aer, $atty. Do they really belon# to the mystery.” “) think so,” said $atty frownin#% “)’m be#innin# to ie(e thin#s to#ether now% )’m%%% #osh"” “-hat.” said everybody to#ether% “) think ) know who it is"” said $atty, #oin# s(arlet with e5(itement% “-ho.” yelled everyone% “-ell ! ) won’t say yet in (ase )’m wron#,” said $atty% “)’ll have to think a bit more ! work thin#s out% 'ut ) think )’ve #ot it" ) think so"” )t was most e5aseratin# that $atty wouldn’t say any more% The others stared at him, tryin# to read his thou#hts% “)f )’m ri#ht,” said $atty, “all our (lues, in(ludin# the s(ras of aer, belon# to the mystery ! yes, even that roundish rint with the (riss!(ross marks% 3nd ) believe ) know how it was that the thief was able to take those boots about without anyone ever seein# them ! and remove the stolen #oods too, without anyone ever #uessin#% &olly, he’s (lever%” “-ho is it.” asked 'ets, ban#in# $atty on the shoulder in e5(itement% “*ook ! ) want to #o and think this out roerly,” said $atty #ettin# u% “)t’s imortant ) should be sure of every detail ! very imortant% )’ll tell you for (ertain this afternoon% Meet here at half!ast two%” 3nd with that $atty disaeared into the shed with 'uster and shut the door" The rest of the (omany looked at ea(h other in irritation% 'low $atty" ow they would have to u22le and wonder for hours" $atty oened the door and stu(k out his head for one moment% “)f ) (an think of everythin#, so (an
you% /ou know 0ust as mu(h as ) do" /ou (an use your brains too, and see what you (an make of it all"” “) (an’t make anythin#,” said Pi ki(kin# at the #rass% “The only thin# )’m leased about is that my tri(k set old $atty on the ri#ht tra(k% ) think he’s ri#ht, don’t you. 3bout the thief wearin# boots too bi# for him.” “/es% ) think he is,” said Daisy, and everyone a#reed% She #ot u% “-ell, (ome on ! $atty doesn’t want us moonin# round if he’s really #oin# to solve everythin# and have it all (ut and dried% M/ word ! ) do hoe he thinks it all out before &oon does%” They all thou#ht hard durin# the hours that followed% $atty thou#ht the hardest of all% 'it by bit he ie(ed it all to#ether% 'it by bit thin#s be(ame (lear% Of (ourse" 3ll those odd (lues did fit to#ether, did make a i(ture of the thief ! and it (ould only be one thief, nobody else% $atty did a sot of telehonin# early that afternoon% He telehoned )nse(tor 4enks and asked him if he (ould ossibly (ome alon# at half!ast two that afternoon% The )nse(tor was interested% “Does this by any (han(e mean that you have solved the latest mystery ! the mystery of the 'i#! $ooted Thief.” he asked% “) hoe so, sir,” said $atty modestly% “May ) ask Mr &oon to (ome alon# too, sir. He’ll be ! er ! 1uite interested too%” The )nse(tor lau#hed% “/es, of (ourse% 7i#ht, half!ast two, and )’ll be there, at your house%” Mr &oon was also invited% He was astonished and not at all leased% 'ut when he heard that the )nse(tor was #oin# to be resent, there was no hel for it but to say yes, he’d be there too% Poor &oon ! how he worried and u22led all the rest of the mornin#% Did it mean that that fat boy had #ot ahead of him a#ain. 3t half!ast two the )nse(tor arrived% Mrs Trotteville was out, as $atty very well knew% Then Mr &oon arrived% Then the rest of the $ind!Outers (ame, ama2ed to see )nse(tor 4enks and Mr &oon sittin# in the little study with $atty% “-hy this room.” asked 'ets% “/ou never use it for visitors% )s it somethin# to do with the mystery, $atty.” “ot really,” said $atty, who was lookin# e5(ited and (alm all at on(e% Mr &oon fid#eted, and the )nse(tor looked at $atty with interest% That boy" -hat wouldn’t he #ive to have him as a ri#ht! hand man when he was #rown!u" 'ut that wouldn’t be for years% “-e’re all here,” said $atty, who had #ot 'uster under his (hair so that he wouldn’t (aer round Mr &oon% “So )’ll be#in% ) may as well say at on(e that )’ve found out who the thief is%” Mr &oon said somethin# under his breath that sounded like “&ah"” obody took any noti(e% $atty went on% “-e had a few (lues to work on ! very lar#e footrints that were always remarkably well!dislayed ! and very lar#e #love!rints, also well!dislayed so that nobody (ould ossibly miss them% -e also had two s(ras of aer with >, $rinton on one and @, 7ods on the other% -e had also a (urious roundish mark on the #round, and that was about all%” “ow ! the thin# was ! nobody ever saw this thief (omin# or #oin#, aarently, and yet he must have been about for everyone to see ! and he aarently had the bi##est feet in Peterswood, with the e5(etion of Mr &oon here and +olonel +ross%” Poor Mr &oon tried to hide his feet under his (hair, but (ouldn’t 1uite mana#e it% “-ell, we e5amined every sin#le (lue,” said $atty% “-e followed u the hints on the s(ras of aer and went to $rinton *ea% -e went to houses and families whose names be#an with 7od% -e visited the (obbler for information about bi# shoes and he told us about +olonel +ross% 'oth Mr &oon and ) went to see the (olonel ! not to#ether, of (ourse ! ) was doin# a sot of weedin#, ) think, Mr &oon, when you arrived, wasn’t ).” &oon #lared but said nothin#% “-ell, it was +olonel +ross who ut us on the tra(k of where the thief mi#ht have #ot his bi# boots,” went on $atty% “He #ives his old ones to 0umble sales" 3nd we learnt that he had #iven a air to Miss :ay last year for the 0umble sale% -e #uessed that if we (ould find out who bou#ht them, we’d know the thief"” &oon made a (urious noise and turned it into a throat!(learin#% “-e had a sho(k then, thou#h,” said $atty% “The boots hadn’t been sold to anyone, they had been stolen" 'y the thief, of (ourse, for future use" 'ut that brou#ht us to a dead!end% o boots, no thief% -e #ave u"”
“3nd then Pi layed a tri(k and showed you how the thief did it"” (alled out 'ets, unable to (ontain herself% $atty smiled at her% “/es% Pi’s tri(k made me reali2e that the thief was layin# us a tri(k too ! the same as Pi’s tri(k" He was wearin# very lar#e boots over his small shoes in order to make enormous rints that would make us think he was a bi# fellow ! and the same with his #loves%” “Ha"” said the )nse(tor% “Smart work, $rederi(k% =ery smart"” “So then ) had to (han#e my ideas a nd be#in thinkin# of a small fellow instead of a very bi# one"” said $atty% “One who (ame un1uestioned to our houses, whom nobody would suse(t or bother about%” Mr &oon leaned forward, breathin# heavily% The others fi5ed their eyes on $atty in e5(itement% ow he was #oin# to tell them the name of the thief" 'ut he didn’t% He aused, as if he were listenin# for somethin#% They all listened too% They heard the (li(k of a #ate and footstes (omin# alon# the ath that led alon# the study!wall to the kit(hen% “)f you don’t mind, sir, )’ll introdu(e you to the thief himself,” said $atty, and he #ot u% He went to the door that led from the study into the #arden and oened it as a small fi#ure (ame by% “&ood afternoon,” he said% “-ill you (ome in here for a minute. /ou’re wanted%” 3nd in (ame a small, struttin# fi#ure with his basket on his arm ! little Twit the baker"
-ell Done, $atty" “Twit"” said Mr &oon, and half!rose from his (hair in ama2ement% The )nse(tor looked on, unmovin#% 3ll the (hildren #aed, e5(et $atty, of (ourse% 'uster flew out at Twit barkin#% “Down, 'uster% 'a(k under my (hair,” ordered $atty, and 'uster subsided% Twit looked round in surrise and alarm% “Here" -hat’s all this.” he said% “)’ve #ot my work to do%” “Sit down,” said the )nse(tor% “-e want you here for a few minutes%” “-hat for.” blustered Twit% “Here, Mr &oon, what’s all this about.” 'ut &oon didn’t know% He sat stolidly and said nothin#% He wasn’t #oin# to #et himself into any trouble by aearin# to be friendly with Twit" “Twit,” said $atty, “)’ve #ot you in here for reasons of my own% Put your basket down ! that’s ri#ht% Take off the (loth%” Twit sullenly took off the (loth% *oaves of bread were iled in the basket% 3nother (loth lay beneath them% “Take out the loaves and ut them on the table,” said $atty% “3nd the (loth under them too%” “ow what’s all this.” said Twit, a#ain, lookin# s(ared% “)’ve #ot my work to do, ) tell you% )’m not messin# about with my loaves%” “Do as you’re told, Twit,” said the )nse(tor% Twit immediately took out his loaves and laid them on the table% Then he took out the (loth beneath them% $atty looked into the bottom of the basket% He silently took out four thin#s that lay (losely a(ked there ! two lar#e boots and two lar#e #loves" He set them on the table% Twit (ollased on a (hair and be#an to tremble% “This is how he mana#ed to #o about, (arryin# the boots and #loves, ready for any (han(e he mi#ht have for a little robbery"” said $atty% “He never knew what afternoon he mi#ht find an easy (han(e ! erhas nobody in the house e 5(et a sleey maid or mistress ! whi(h, as we know, he did find%” $atty i(ked u one of the boots and turned it over% He showed the )nse(tor the rubber heel% “) e5e(t, sir, you took a drawin# of the foot!rint on the beds at orton House,” he said, “or Tonks did ! and so you will see that the rubber heels on these boots and in your drawin# are the same% That’s roof that the thief wore these boots that Twit has in his basket%” $atty turned to the tremblin# Twit% “-ill you #ive me your note!book ! the one you ut down any orders or telehone (alls in.” he said% Twit s(owled, but ut his hand into his o(ket and brou#ht out a little ad of (hea aer% $atty took it% Then he soke to &oon% “Have you #ot those two s(ras of aer on you, Mr &oon.” Mr &oon had% He rodu(ed them% $atty (omared them, and the warnin# note too, with the aer
on the ad% The aer was e5a(tly the same, (hea, thin and with a fluffy surfa(e% “Those two s(ras of aer you found at orton House, sir, were bits that Twit had made notes on to remind him of the amount of bread to leave ! two loaves for $rinton *ea, and one loaf for 7odways% He aarently makes notes of his orders, and slis them into his basket to remind him% The wind must have blown them out in the #arden at orton House%” “&ah"” breathed &oon, a#ain, starin# at the ad of aer and the notes% “) never thou#ht of that ! orders for loaves"” “or did ),” (onfessed $atty% “ot until ) be#an to ie(e all the (lues to#ether roerly and found that they added u to the same erson ! Twit here"” “-ait a minute,” said *arry% “How do you e5lain the thin# that u22led us so tremendously in the orton House robbery ! how did the thief ! Twit, that is ! (ome downstairs without bein# seen by 4inny%” “That was easy,” said $atty% “He simly s1uee2ed himself out of that little window in the bo5!room, and slid down the ie to the #round% He’s small enou#h to do that without mu(h diffi(ulty%” “/es ! but wait, $atty ! that window was shut when ) and Tonks went round the house,” said the )nse(tor% “He (ouldn’t have es(aed throu#h there, and shut it and fastened it from the outside ! balan(ed on the ie"” “He didn’t shut it then,” said $atty with a #rin% “He simly shinned down the ie, ran to where he had thrown the stolen #oods, stuffed them in his basket under the (loth, slied off the bi# boots that he had ut on over his own small ones ! and then went as bold as brass to the ba(k!door ! aearin# there as Twit the baker"” “3nd when he went ustairs to look for the thief with 4inny, he (arefully shut and fastened the little window he had es(aed from"” said *arry suddenly seein# it all% “&osh, that was smart% He was the thief ! and he (ame indoors after the robbery and retended to hunt all round for the robber ! and we all thou#ht he was so brave"” “&ah"” said &oon, lookin# balefully at Twit% “Think yourself (lever, don’t you. Stuffin# everybody u with lies ! makin# yourself out a hero, too ! lookin# for a thief who was standin# in your own shoes"” “He (ertainly ulled wool over everyone’s eyes,” said $atty% “)t was a retty little tri(k, and needed 1uite a lot of boldness and 1ui(k thinkin#% )t’s a ity he doesn’t ut his brains to better use%” “$atty ! what about that funny, roundish mark ! the one with (riss!(ross lines.” asked 'ets% “-as that a (lue too.” “/es,” said $atty, with a #rin% “+ome out for a minute and )’ll show you what made that mark% ) (ould have ki(ked myself for not thinkin# of it before"” They all (rowded to the door e5(et Twit who sat nervously i(kin# at his fin#er!nails% $atty (arried the basket to the door% He set it down in a dam art of the ath% Then he lifted it u a#ain% “*ook" )t’s left a mark of its round shae ! and little (riss!(ross basket!lines"” (ried Daisy% “Oh, $atty ! how (lever you are"” “&olly ! @ saw that mark outside 7odways +otta#e,” suddenly said Pi% “*arry, don’t you remember ! when we were in that (otta#e with the old woman. The baker (ame, and left his basket outside to #o and ut the loaves in the an% 3nd after he had #one ) noti(ed the mark his basket had left, and it reminded me of somethin# ! of (ourse, it was the drawin# in $atty’s book"” “That’s it,” said $atty% “That mark was always left where a robbery was (ommitted ! be(ause Twit had to stand his basket somewhere, and if he stood it on a dusty ath or a dam la(e, the heavy basket always left a mark% That’s why we found those roundish marks at ea(h robbery" )f we’d #uessed what they were we would soon have been on the tra(k"” They were now ba(k in the room% $atty rela(ed the loaves in the basket, wraed u in their (loths% “o wonder Twit was always so arti(ular about uttin# (loths over his loaves to kee them (lean,” he said% “They were very (onvenient for hidin# whatever else he had there ! not only the boots and #loves, but also anythin# he stole"” “9uite smart,” said the )nse(tor% “+arried the thin#s he needed for his robbery, as well as his loaves, and also had room for stolen #oods too ! a ll under an inno(ent white (loth% -here did you #et all these bri#ht ideas from, Twit.” Twit said nothin#, but #a2ed sullenly at his smartly!olished little boots, with their hi#hly!olished
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