Read Online Mystery of Banshee Towers by Enid Blyton - Free Book Online Page B

Ern. “No barking, now.” He crept off to where a thick clump of bushes grew, and squeezed into the middle of them.
    Fatty quietly shut the window after him and ran back to the door, on which Goon was still angrily hammering. “Be patient, Mr Goon,” said Fatty. “The key seems to have stuck - ah - it’s all right now - there we are!”
    He turned the key smartly, and flung open the door. The angry policeman stormed into the shed at once, shouting at the top of his voice “Ern! ERN! You come alonga me. You never went home! You disobeyed me! You just wait and see what…”
    But Goon didn’t finish what he had to say because Buster flung himself on him with enormous delight, trying to nip his ankles through the thick trousers.
    “GAH!” said Mr Goon, kicking out. “That dog again! Where’s Ern? I saw him, I know I did!”
    “Well, have a good look round, Mr Goon,” said Fatty, politely. “He may be under that stool - or behind the books in the bookcase - or in the dog’s basket. Buster, stop that row.”
    Goon was quite at a loss as he stood staring round the room. He had seen Ern there, he knew he had. It didn’t occur to him that Ern had had time to slip out of the window. He glared at Fatty, and glared at Buster, and turned to go. Buster gave a blood-curdling growl, and Goon shot out of the door at top speed.
    “You wait!” he shouted, as Fatty shut the door. “I’ll get Ern all right - ho yes, I’ll get him!” And away he went, muttering to himself. “That toad of a boy - too clever by half, he is. Where is Ern? Just wait till I get hold of him. He won’t sit down properly for a week, that he won’t!”

10 - BANSHEE TOWERS AGAIN
    When the policeman had gone, Ern crept out of the middle of the bush, and went back to Fatty’s shed, grinning. “Thanks, Fatty,” he said. “You’re a pal! I say - you’re sure you don’t mind if I go up to Banshee Towers with you tomorrow?”
    “Be nice to have your company, Ern,” said Fatty, and meant it! “Also, you may be useful. You see - I do want to snoop around a bit, and if there are people there, you might be able to take up their attention somehow… so that no one will be watching me .”
    “But how do I take up anyone’s attention?” said Ern. alarmed. “I’m no good at play-acting, Fatty, you know that.”
    “Oh, Ern, you can do a sudden bit of tap dancing - or sing a little song - or pretend to faint,” said Fatty. “I’ll signal to you like this, if I want you to turn people’s attention to you, and away from me!”
    And Fatty smoothed back his hair three times. “See? Don’t look so alarmed. Nobody will lock you up, or box your ears. They’ll just stay still in astonishment, and forget all about me and what I’m doing.”
    “All right. Fatty,” said Ern, in a mournful voice, and settled down to read one of Fatty’s books. “Coo, the books you’ve got, Fatty - you must have over a thousand. This one’s smashing.”
    He was soon lost in the sea-story he had found in Fatty’s big bookcase. Bingo lay happily on Ern’s feet, and Buster sat as close to Fatty as he could. Ern came to the end of a chapter, and looked up in great content. He was perfectly happy. He had a friend, a dog, a good book, and somewhere quiet to read. Ern gave an enormous sigh and went back to his book, thinking how lucky he was to have a clever friend like Fatty.
    Next morning Ern woke up feeling excited. He sat up on the camp-bed in the shed trying to remember the reason for his excitement. “Of course - Fatty and I are going up to that Banshee place again - and I shall see those grand pictures,” he thought, in delight. “Bingo - do you hear that? Sh, don’t bark too loudly. Nobody must know we’re here. I’ve told you that before.”
    Bingo had snuggled down on Ern’s feet all night long. He sat up, yawning, wondering when his friend Buster would come. Bingo thought the world of Buster, and copied him in every way he could, even to rubbing his