Mystery of the Pantomime Cat

At the Railway Station.

Larry and Daisy were waiting for Fatty to come and call for them
with Buster the Scottie. They swung on the gate and kept looking down the road.

"Nice to he home for the hols, again." said Daisy.
"I wish Fatty would buck up. We shan't be in time to meet Pip and Bets'
train if he doesn't buck up. I'm longing to see them again. It seems ages since
the Christmas hols."

"There he is!" said Larry, and jumped off the gate.
"And there's Buster. Hallo, Fatty! We'll have to hurry or we won't be in
time to meet Bets and Pip."

"Plenty of time," said Fatty, who never seemed in a
hurry. "I say, it'll be fun to be all together again, won't it—the Five
Find-Outers, ready to tackle the next super-colossal mystery!"

"Woof," said Buster, feeling a bit left out. Fatty
corrected himself. "The Five Find-Outers and Dog. Sorry, Buster."

"Come on," said Daisy. "The train will be in.
Fancy, we've had almost a week's holiday and haven't seen Bets and Pip. I bet they
didn't like staying with their Aunt Sophie—she's frightfully strict and proper.
They'll be full of pleases and thank-yous and good manners for a few
days!"

"It'll wear off," said Fatty. "Any one seen old
Clear-Orf these hols.?"

Clear-Orf was the name the children gave to Mr. Goon, the village
policeman. He couldn't bear the five

children, and he hated Buster, who loved to dance round the fat
policeman's ankles in a most aggravating way. The children had solved a good
many mysteries which Mr. Goon had tried to puzzle out himself, and he was very
jealous of them.

"He'll say 'Clear-orf!' as soon as ever he spots one of us
anywhere," said Larry, with a grin. "It's sort of automatic with him.
I say—I wonder if there'll be any more mysteries these hols. I feel I could
just use my brains nicely on a good juicy mystery!"

The others laughed. "Don't let Daddy hear you say that,"
said Daisy. "You had such a bad report that he'll wonder why you don't use
your brains for Latin and Maths., instead of Mysteries!"

"I suppose he had 'Could use his brains better,' or 'Does not
make the best use of his brains,' on his report," said Fatty. "I know
the sort of thing."

"You couldn't
ever
have had those remarks put on
your
report, Fatty," said Daisy, who had a great admiration for Fatty's
brains.

"Well," said Fatty, modestly, "I
usually
have
'A brilliant term's work,' or 'Far surpasses the average for his form' or . .
."

Larry gave him a punch. "Still the same modest but conceited
old Fatty! It's marvellous how you manage to boast in such a modest tone of
voice, Fatty. I..."

"Stop arguing; there's the train's whistle," said Daisy,
beginning to run. "We simply
must
be on the platform to meet Pip
and Bets. Oh, poor Buster—he's getting left behind on his short legs. Come on,
Buster!"

The three children and Buster burst through the door on to the
platform. Buster gave a delighted bark, and sniffed at the bottom of a pair of
stout dark-blue

trousers, whose owner was standing by the book-stall.

There was an exasperated snort. "Clear-orf!” said a familiar
voice. "Put that dog on a lead!"

"Oh—
hallo,
Mr. Goon!" chorused Fatty, Larry. and
Daisy, as if Mr. Goon was their dearest friend.

"Fancy seeing
you?"
said Fatty. "I hope you
are quite well, Mr. Goon—not feeling depressed at this weather, or . . ."

Mr. Goon was getting ready to be very snappish when the train came
in with a thunderous roar that made it impossible to talk.

"There's Pip!" yelled Larry, and waved so violently that
he almost knocked off Mr. Goon's helmet. Buster retired under a platform seat
and sat there looking very dignified. He didn't like trains. Mr. Goon stood not
far off, looking for whoever it was he had come to meet.

Bets and Pip tumbled out of the train in excitement. Bets ran to
Fatty and hugged him. "Fatty! I hoped you'd come and meet us! Hallo,
Larry, hallo Daisy!"

"Hallo, young Bets," said Fatty. He was very fond of
Bets. He smacked Pip on the back. "Hallo, Pip! You've just come back in
time to help in a super-colossal mystery!”

This was said in a very loud voice, which was meant to reach Mr.
Goon's ears. But unfortunately he didn't hear. He was shaking hands with
another policeman, a young, pink-faced, smiling fellow.

"Look!" said Larry. "Another policeman! Are we
going to have two in Peterswood now, then?"

"I don't know," said Fatty, looking hard at the second
policeman. "I rather like the look of Goon's friend—he looks a jolly sort
of chap."

"I like the way his ears stick out," said Bets.

"Idiot." said Pip. "Where's old Buster,
Fatty?"

"Here, Buster—come out from under that seat," said
Fatty. "Shame on you for being such a coward!"

Buster crawled out, trying to wag his tail whilst it was still
down, in a most apologetic way. But as the train then began to draw out of the
station again with a terrific series of chuffs. Buster retired hurriedly under
the seat once more.

"Poor Buster! I'm sure if I was a dog I'd hide under a seat
too," said Bets, comfortingly.

"It's not so long ago since you always stood behind me when the
train came in," said Pip. "And I remember you trying to ..."

"Come on," said Fatty, seeing Bets beginning to go red.
"Let's go.
buster!
Come on
out and don't be an idiot. The train is now a mile away."

Buster came out, saw
two
pairs of dark-blue legs walking
towards him, and ran at them joyfully. Mr. Goon kicked out.

"That there dog!" he said, balefully. He turned to his
companion. "You want to look out for this here dog," he told him, in
a loud voice. "He wants reporting. He's not under proper control, see? You
keep your eyes open for him, Pippin, and don't you stand no nonsense."

"Oh, Mr. Goon, don't say there's going to be
two
of
you chasing poor Buster," began Fatty, always ready for an argument with
Mr. Goon.

"There's
nor
going to be two of us," said Mr.
Goon.

"I'm off on holiday—about time too—and this here's my
colleague, P.C. Pippin, who's coming to take over when I'm away. And I'm very
glad we've seen you, because now I can point you all out to him, and tell him
to Keep his Eye on You.
And
that dog too." He turned to his
companion, who was looking a little startled.

"See these five kids? They think themselves very clever—think
they can solve all the mysteries in the district! The trouble they've put me
to—you wouldn't believe it! Keep your eye on them. Pippin—and if there's any
mystery about, keep it to yourself. If you don't you'll have these kids poking
their noses into what concerns the Law, and making themselves Regular
Nuisances."

"Thanks for the introduction, Mr. Goon," said Fatty,
with a grin. He smiled at the other policeman. "Pleased to welcome you to
Peterswood, Mr. Pippin. I hope you'll be happy here. And—er—if at any time we
can help you, just let us know."

"There you are! What did I tell you?" said Mr. Goon,
going red in the face. "Can't stop interfering! You clear-orf, all of you
and take that pestiferous dog with you. And mind you, I shall warn P.C. Pippin
of all your little tricks and you'll find he won't stand any nonsense.
See?"

Mr. Goon stalked off with his friend Pippin, who looked round at
the children rather apologetically as he went. Fatty gave him a large wink.
Pippin winked back.

"I like him," said Bets. "He's got a nice face. And
his ears ..."

"Stick out. Yes, you told us that before," said Pip.
"I say, Fatty, I bet old Goon is going to have a wonderful time telling
P.C. Pippin all about us. He'll make us out to be a band of young gangsters or
something."

"I bet he will!" said Fatty. "I'd just love to hear
what he says about us. I guess our ears will burn."

They did burn! Mr. Goon was really enjoying himself warning P.C.
Pippin about the Five Find-Outers—and Dog!

"You keep a firm hand on them," said Mr. Goon.

"And don't you stand any nonsense from that fat boy — regular
toad he is."

"I thought he looked quite a good sort," said P.C.
Pippin, surprised.

Mr. Goon did one of his best snorts. "That's all part of his
artfulness The times that boy's played his tricks on me — messed me up properly
— given me all kinds of false clues, and spoilt some of my best cases—he’s a
halfwit, that's what he is—always dressing himself up and acting the
fool."

"But isn't he the boy that Inspector Jenks has got such a
high opinion of?" said P.C. Pippin, frowning in perplexity. "I seem
to remember him saying that.”

This was quite the wrong remark to make to Mr. Goon. He went
purple in the face and glared at Pippin, who looked back at him in alarm.

"That boy Sucks Up to Inspector Jenks," said Mr. Goon
"See? He's a regular sucker-up, that boy is. Don't you believe a word that
the Inspector says about him. And just you look out for mysterious red-headed
boys dashing about all over the place, see?"

P C Pippin's eyes almost popped out of his head
"Er
—red-headed
boys?" he said, in an astonished voice "I don't understand."

"Use your brains. Pippin," said Mr. Goon in a lofty
voice. "That boy, Fatty—he's got no end of disguises, and one of his
favourite ones is a red wig. The times I've seen red headed boys! And it's been
Fatty dressed up just to trick me. You be careful, Pippin. He'll try the same
trick on you, you mark my words. He's a Bad Lot. All of those children are
pests—interfering pests. No respect for the Law at all."

PC Pippin listened in surprise, but most respectfully. Mr. Goon
was twice his age and must have had a lot of experience. P.C. Pippin was very
new and very keen. He felt proud to take Mr. Goon's place whilst he was away on
holiday.

"I don't expect anything difficult will turn up when I'm
away," said Goon, as they turned into the gate of his little front garden.
"But
if
something turns up, keep it to yourself. Pippin—don't let
those kids get their noses into it, whatever you do—and just you send for me if
they do, see? And try and get that dog run in for something. It's a dangerous
dog, and I'd like to get it out of the way. You see what you can do."

PC Pippin felt rather dazed. He had liked the children and the
dog. It was surprising to find that Mr. Goon had such different ideas. Still—he
ought to know. P.C. Pippin determined to Do His Very Best for Mr. Goon His
Very, Very Best!

A nice little Plan for Pippin.

The Find Outers were very pleased to be together again. The Easter
holidays were not so long as the summer ones, and almost a week had gone by
before Pip and Bets had arrived home from their stay with their aunt, so there
didn't seem to be much time left.

"Not quite three weeks," groaned Larry "I do hope
the weather's decent. We can go for some bike-rides and picnics then."

"And there's a good little show on down at the Little
Theatre," said Daisy. "It's a kind of skit on Dick
Whittington—awfully funny. I've seen it already, but we might all go
again."

"Oh—is that little company still going?" said Fatty,
with interest. "I remember seeing some of its plays

in the Christmas hols. Some of the acting was pretty poor. I
wondered if they'd like to try
me
out in a few parts. You know, last
term at school…"

"Fatty!
Don't
tell us you took the leading part in the
School play
again"
begged Larry. "Doesn't any one else
ever
take the leading part at your school but you?"

"Fatty's very, very good at acting—aren't you, Fatty?"
said Bets, loyally. "Look how he can disguise himself and take even
us
in!
Fatty, are you going to disguise yourself these hols.? Do! Do you remember when
you dressed up as that old balloon-woman, and sold balloons?"