Mystery of Tally-Ho Cottage (16 page)

‘The ladder was the other side,’ said Fatty, and led the way. But as soon as they turned the corner of the house he saw that the ladder was gone.

‘It’s not there!’ he said. ‘Well - I wonder if the burglar got in after I left, then - he must have been about, because he’s removed the ladder! Gosh - I wish I’d reported seeing it, now - I might have prevented a burglary! I wonder if he managed to get in. Look - there are the marks made by the foot of the ladder in the ground.’

‘Let’s walk round the house and peep in at the windows to see if any rooms have been ransacked,’ said Daisy. So they walked all round, peeping into every window. Nothing was disturbed at all, as far as they could see.

They came to the last window and peered through it. ‘Ah - this is the one with the big bowl of dead flowers,’ said Fatty, remembering. ‘There they are still - deader than ever! And the chairs are still all in their dust-sheets.’

His eyes slid round, remembering everything - and then he frowned. Something was missing. He was sure it was. Something that had puzzled him. Yes - there had been a little rubber bone on the floor, beside that stool. But it was gone now!

Fatty peered and peered, trying to see the bone. But it had definitely gone! How puzzling!

‘There’s one thing missing,’ said Fatty. ‘A little rubber bone - a dog’s plaything. It probably used to belong to Poppet the poodle. I saw it down by that stool.’

‘You must be mistaken, Fatty,’ said Larry. ‘Nobody would steal a dog’s rubber bone! Nothing seems to be disturbed at all. I don’t think that burglar could have managed to get in.’

‘I did see a rubber bone,’ said Fatty. ‘I don’t make mistakes about a thing like that. I call that very curious. Very curious indeed.’

They left the house and wandered around a little more. Buster left them and went off by himself, having suddenly had a very good idea. He’d go and play with that nice little poodle!

So he trotted off to the cottage and barked a small and polite bark. Poppet at once leapt up to the window-ledge and looked out.

Bets heard Buster barking and ran to get him. She saw the little poodle at the window - and how Bets stared! Not at Poppet - but at something she held in her mouth! She raced back to Fatty, her face scarlet with excitement.

‘Fatty! Listen! Poppet’s up at the window, and she’s got a rubber bone in her mouth!’

Fatty whistled. They all went cautiously down the path - and sure enough, there was Poppet trying vainly to bark with the little rubber bone between her teeth.

‘Yes - that’s the one,’ said Fatty. ‘Buster, come here. Look - let’s all go quietly back to our bikes and have a talk. This is important.’

They all went to their bikes, feeling suddenly excited. Fatty’s eyes shone. ‘It must have been the Larkins who went into the house last night! Nobody else would have bothered about a rubber bone. They had a dog, so it was an ordinary thing to do to pick it up and take it back to Poppet, and…’

‘I don’t think it was an ordinary thing for them to do,’ said Bets. ‘We know they’re unkind to Poppet - we’ve even heard them “lamming” her, as they call it. I don’t think they’d even bother to take her bone back to her!’

‘Yet she’s got it,’ said Fatty. ‘Well, then - who else could have taken it to her?’

‘Mrs. Lorenzo might,’ said Bets. ‘Perhaps it was the Lorenzos who got in last night. Perhaps they were here again.’

‘Yes, they might have been,’ said Fatty. ‘If so, that looks as if Larkin did mistake me for Lorenzo when he saw me last night and asked me why I had come back.’

‘Oh - here’s Poppet! She must have escaped out of the house to look for Buster!’ said Bets. ‘Listen - Mrs. Larkin is calling her.’

‘Take her back, Bets,’ said Fatty, ‘and see if you can have a chat with Mrs. Larkin. Go on - you might be able to get something out of her!’

‘All right,’ said Bets, half-scared, and took little Poppet into her arms. She went up the river-path to the wicket-gate, Buster at her heels, trying his hardest to jump up and lick the little poodle’s nose.

Bets went right up to the cottage. She could hear Mrs. Larkin calling ‘Poppet! Poppet!’ and knew she was looking for her over by the big house. Perhaps Bets would have time just to have a look at that rubber bone so that she could tell Fatty exactly what it was like.

So Bets slipped into the small cottage and looked round for the bone. She couldn’t see it, but she saw a few things that made her stare!

The kitchen table was piled with tins of food - big expensive tins! How strange! Bets tiptoed into the bedroom. On the bed, neatly folded, were spotlessly clean blankets and an eiderdown! So it was the Larkins then who had put that ladder up - an they had got in, and had stolen things - food - and warm coverings - and they had picked up Poppet’s rubber bone and taken it back to her.

WELL! Fatty must be told this at once!

Before Bets could put Poppet down and run to Fatty, there came the sound of footsteps hurrying to the door. Bets turned. It was Mrs. Larkin, in the same old red shawl, hideous wig and dark glasses.

‘Oh - you’ve got Poppet!’ she said. ‘I thought she’d fallen into the river.’

She took the little poodle from Bets, and the girl watched Poppet licking the woman’s face. ‘You’re kind to her now,’ said Bets. ‘You weren’t at first.’

The woman put Poppet down at once. ‘Now you go,’ she said harshly. ‘You shouldn’t have walked in without permission.’

‘I’m going,’ said Bets. ‘Is that Poppet’s basket? Oh - there’s her rubber bone!’

She took it out of the basket, but the woman snatched it out of her hand and gave her a rough push. Bets ran out. She was puzzled. She waited till the door was shut then she tiptoed back and peeped in at the window. The woman was putting a mat down under the dog’s basket, with Poppet fussing round.

Bets made her way back to the others, still puzzled. Why did Mrs. Larkin treat Poppet differently? Perhaps the little dog was so sweet that nobody could be unkind for long. No - it would need something more than that to make the Larkins kind. Well, perhaps the Lorenzos had promised them a lot of money if Poppet was kept happy. That must be it.

Bets told her tale to the others. ‘Big, expensive tins! Nice blankets and rugs! They must have helped themselves well,’ she said. ‘I didn’t get anything much out of the woman, though. She was cross and pushed me out.’

‘Look - there’s somebody going in at the wicket-gate,’ said Pip. ‘Oh - it’s old Larkin. Been shopping, I suppose. No - he’s got no basket - and anyway they’re plentifully supplied with tins now. All he’s got are some papers.’

Fatty looked to see. ‘Quite a few papers!’ he said, surprised. ‘I suppose he looks through them all each day to see if there is any news of the Lorenzos. He might read at any moment that they had been caught.’

‘What do we do now?’ asked Pip. ‘Go and telephone to the Chief? Nobody but us knows that things have been taken from the house. It beats me how the Larkins got in, because the police said they hadn’t keys. I suppose they must have some - and knew that possibly the only door that might not be bolted would be the balcony door. And they were right.’

‘Come on,’ said Fatty, taking his bicycle. ‘We’ll telephone.’

‘I’m glad that that horrid Mrs. Larkin is so much nicer to dear little Poppet,’ said Bets. ‘Honestly, she might be Mrs. Lorenzo the way she fusses her now. Why, she was even putting a rug down under Poppet’s basket when I peeped in at the window!’

Fatty suddenly gave such a terrific wobble on his bicycle that he almost fell off. Bets looked at him in surprise.

‘What’s up, Fatty?’ she said.

‘Don’t speak to me for a minute,’ said Fatty in a peculiar voice. ‘I’m going to get off. You ride on, all of you.’

Bets looked at him in alarm. ‘Are you ill?’

‘No. I’ve just got an idea, that’s all. Something you said rang a bell in my mind. Leave me alone for a minute,’ said Fatty urgently. The others, quite mystified, rode on a little way and then got off to wait for Fatty. He was standing frowning by the side of the road, still holding his bicycle, and so lost in thought that he didn’t even notice Mr. Goon cycling by.

‘Ho! What’s the matter with you!’ said Mr. Goon, surprised.

‘Be quiet,’ said Fatty. ‘I’m working something out.’

Mr. Goon went purple. Telling him to be quiet indeed! ‘What you working out?’ he said. ‘Still worrying about them Lorenzos! They’re in America or somewhere by now - so’s the picture. You’ll see! You just work out how to behave yourself and learn a few manners!’

Buster suddenly appeared out of the nearby hedge and flew at Mr. Goon’s ankles barking delightedly. The big policeman hurriedly mounted his bicycle, and rode off, kicking out at Buster as he went.

Not even that disturbed Fatty. Goodness, what could he be thinking of?

‘The great brain’s working overtime,’ said Pip. ‘What can have struck him so suddenly?’

‘He’ll come along and say he’s solved everything in a minute,’ said Ern. ‘You see if he doesn’t. He’s a wonder, he is!’

Fatty mounted his bicycle again, and came sailing up, looking extremely happy.

‘I’ve got it,’ he said. ‘I’ve solved the whole thing! All tied up neatly, ready to lay at the Superintendent’s feet! My word, I’ve been a mutt. So have we all!’

‘I told you so!’ said Ern triumphantly, looking round at the others. ‘I said he was solving everything, didn’t I, Bets?’

‘But - what have you solved?’ said Pip. ‘Not everything, surely!’

‘I think so. I’m just not quite certain about one thing,’ said Fatty. ‘However, we’ll soon know!’

‘Tell us,’ begged Larry. ‘It’s frightful, not knowing what you’re talking about! Do tell us.’

‘No time,’ said Fatty, riding fast. ‘I must get to a telephone box immediately. Buck up, all of you!’

Everyone rode behind Fatty in a terrific state of excitement. Fatty pedalled furiously, as if he was in a race. Poor old Buster was left far behind, and Bets felt very sorry for him, but not even she felt that she could slow down and pick him up. Buster was most surprised at everyone’s hard-heartedness!

Fatty leapt off his bicycle at the nearest telephone kiosk. He dashed in, shut the door, and gave a number. The others congregated outside in wonder.

An answer came at once. ‘Police here.’

‘I want to speak to the Superintendent, please,’ said Fatty. ‘Tell him it’s Frederick Trotteville here, and I’ve something urgent to say.’

‘Right,’ said the voice. In a second or two the Superintendent’s crisp voice came over the wire.

‘Yes? What is it, Frederick?’

‘Sir, can you possibly come over here at once?’ said Fatty. ‘I’ve got everything tied up nicely for you!’

‘What do you mean?’ said the Chief. ‘You don’t mean the Lorenzo case, surely?’

‘Yes, sir. I know everything!’ said Fatty exultantly. ‘I suddenly tumbled to it this morning. It’s too long to tell you over the phone, sir. Can you come over at once - before things go wrong?’

‘You’re talking in riddles, Frederick,’ said the Chief. ‘But I’d better trust you, I suppose. I’ll get the car and come at once. Where shall I find you?’

‘Up by the Larkins’ cottage, sir,’ said Fatty. ‘Do you know where it is?’

‘Yes,’ said the Chief. ‘I’ll be there.’ He rang off, and Fatty put back the receiver, his face glowing. He rubbed his hands in glee before he stepped out of the kiosk.

‘Fatty! You might tell us what’s up,’ said Pip. ‘It’s too bad - seeing you shouting into that phone and not hearing a word you were saying - and then you rub your hands in glee when you’ve finished. Whatever has happened so suddenly?’

‘Tell you as soon as I can,’ said Fatty, wheeling his bicycle into the road. ‘Come on - we’ve got to go back to the wicket-gate leading to the Larkins’ cottage. The Chief will be there as soon as possible.’

‘Gosh - so that’s who you’ve been ringing up!’ said Larry, cycling madly after Fatty. ‘Is he really coming over?’

‘Yes - at once,’ said Fatty. ‘Hallo - where’s Buster?’

‘We’ve left him all behind again,’ panted Bets. ‘He’s so miserable. Oh Fatty, do stop and pick him up.’

Fatty stopped. Buster came up at a valiant trot, his tongue hanging out almost to the ground. Fatty picked him up. ‘My Poppet!’ he said ridiculously, and put him into his bicycle basket. Buster heaved a great sigh of relief.

They set off again, and came to the river-path, where they had to get off and wheel their bicycles. Ern called to Fatty. ‘Can’t you tell us now, Fatty?’

‘Too many people about,’ said Fatty aggravatingly. ‘Hallo, who are these?’

Two small girls had just rushed out of a nearby gate and flung themselves on Ern.

‘Ern! Come and play with us! Mum’s given us a picnic dinner to eat up in the treehouse.’

‘Sorry,’ said Ern, shaking them off. ‘I’ve got Important Business to do, Liz and Glad. Er - these are my two cousins, Fatty - Liz, or Elizabeth. And Glad. Glad, what’s your name short for? I never did know.’

‘Gladys!’ said Glad, with a giggle. ‘Ern, we kept watch up in the treehouse as usual this morning, but we only saw Mr. Larkin once - he’s just come in - and Mrs. Larkin once. She hung an old rug out on the line, and she’s beating it.’

‘All right, all right,’ said Ern, while all the others looked on, amused. ‘They sit up in the treehouse for me and keop their eyes open,’ he explained to Fatty. He turned back to Liz and Glad.

‘You go back,’ he said. ‘I might come and have dinner with you in the treehouse. Buzz off, now! I’m busy.’

They buzzed off, two skinny little things, delighted that Ern was going to have dinner with them.

‘Better not gather round the wicket-gate all in a bunch,’ said Fatty, in a low voice, when they got there. ‘Let’s go up the river-path a little way. Hallo, who’s this coming?’

It was Mr. Goon, on his way to tell Mr. Larkin what he thought of him for leading him such a dance the night before. Goon had decided that he hadn’t really seen two Mr. Larkins - he was so tired he must have seen double - that was what it was - and Mr. Larkin was going to hear what he thought of old men who went on the swings in the playground at dark of night. Ho!

Goon saw the children further up the path and scowled. ‘You clear orf!’ he called to them. ‘And keep hold of that there dog! What you doing here, crowding up the pathway?’