Read Online Mystery of the Invisible Thief by Enid Blyton - Free Book Online Page B

done something peculiar to his eyebrows. He wore a silly little moustache, and these things made him look a different person altogether. But his eyes were the same, direct and clear and shrewd.
    “What did you say?” asked the fisherman, in Fatty’s own voice. Larry repeated what he had said.
    “See that fellow over there in the boat?” said Larry. “Well, he’s the thief! You should see his enormous feet and hands - and he’s got a cough like a sheep too. He’s the one, Fatty. I bet he lives at Frinton Lea. We’ve found him!”
    Fatty was silent for a moment. “Are you sure about it?” he said at last. “Well, I’ll sit here and keep an eye on him and you go and telephone to Goon.”
    “Telephone to Goon?” said Larry, surprised. “Why should we let him know? We’re not working with him, are we?”
    “You do as I say,” said Fatty. “If he’s not in, telephone again after a while. Tell him all about the awful fellow in the boat. He’ll be thrilled. Tell him I’m keeping an eye on him till he comes down to arrest him.”
    Larry and Daisy were puzzled. They looked at Fatty, but his face was so different, with its protruding teeth and moustache and eyebrows that they could not tell what he was really thinking.
    “All right,” said Larry, getting up, puzzled that Fatty did not show more excitement. He went off with Daisy to find Bets and Pip.
    “I believe old Fatty’s quite jealous because we found the thief before he did,” said Larry. “Pretty tame ending to the mystery anyway - handing the thief over to Goon like this!”
    Daisy was disappointed too. It wasn’t like Fatty to be jealous. They went to Bets and Pip and sat down beside them. They told them in a whisper what they were to do.
    “We’ll all go and telephone,” said Daisy. “I’m fed up with messing about here now. Fatty says he’ll keep an eye on the thief out there. He can see him from where he is.”
    They left the river and walked back up to the town. They decided to go to the post office to telephone - but alas, Goon was not in. His charwoman answered the telephone. She didn’t know where he was, but said he had left a note to say he would be back by half-past four at the latest.
    “Blow! It’s only about a quarter to four now,” said Larry. “Let’s go and get some ice-cream and lemonade, and wait for a bit.”
    So they had ice-creams - two each - and iced lemonade in the little sweet-shop. That took them about half an hour. Then they strolled back to the telephone box to try their luck again.
    This time Goon answered the telephone himself. Larry looked round at the others. “He’s in,” he said. “Good!”
    “Police here,” said Goon’s voice sounding gruff and sharp. “What is it?”
    “Mr Goon! It’s Laurence speaking, Frederick Trotteville’s friend,” said Larry. “I’ve something to report - about that robbery case - the two cases, I mean.”
    “Well - go on,” said Goon sharply.
    “We’ve found the thief,” said Larry, unable to keep the excitement out of his voice. “We saw him today.”
    “Where?” asked Mr Goon.
    “In a boat just opposite Frinton Lea,” said Larry. “He’s been there ages. Probably he lives at the boarding-house. You remember there was a scrap of paper with Frinton on it?”
    There was a peculiar noise at the other end. “What did you say?” said Larry, but Goon was silent. Larry went on eagerly.
    “He’s a frightful-looking fellow, Mr Goon. We recognized him because of his colossal feet and huge hands. He’s very ugly - puffy cheeks, rather protruding eyes - and he’s got a cough like a sheep - just like Mrs Williams and Jinny said. If you go down to the river now, you’ll catch him. Fatty’s keeping his eye on him for you.”
    Larry paused. Goon didn’t seem to be taking this in. “Mr Goon - are you going to arrest him?” asked Larry.
    A loud snort came down the telephone - then a bang. Goon had put down his receiver so hard that surely he must have chipped it!
    “He’s rung off,” said Larry amazed. “Whatever’s the matter with him?”
     
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