Read Online Mystery of the Strange Bundle by Enid Blyton - Free Book Online

disappeared. Fatty looked hurriedly but carefully at the flat, smooth prints that Larry’s bedroom slippers had made.
    “Yes - they’re very like Fellows’ footprints,” he said, comparing them with Pip’s drawing. “Do they look the same to you, Pip? You got a jolly good view of Fellows’ prints because you had to draw them.”
    “Yes - exactly the same,” said Pip. “Come on, Bets, we’ll simply have to tear home! When’s the next meeting, Fatty? Come to our house, will you?”
    “Right,” said Fatty, folding up the paper and putting it into his pocket. “We’ll meet this afternoon at half-past three - unless any one’s got to have a rest, because of what the doctor calls ‘the aftermath of the ‘flu’ ’ - whatever that means. We’ve done jolly good work this morning - to say nothing of having had some super fun!”
    Larry and Daisy went indoors with the doll and the red bedroom slippers. Pip and Bets shot off home. Fatty went more leisurely, his brain at work. There was more in this little happening than met the eye. Much more, he thought. It wasn’t just the ordinary burglary - and Fatty very much doubted if the “burglar” had taken anything at all.
    “I bet Mr. Fellows rushed off with whatever it was the man had come after,” he thought. “Where is he? Where did he put what he wanted to hide? Will he come back?”
    Mrs. Trotteville was out to lunch, so Fatty was able to have a long and satisfying meal all by himself in front of the fire. He thought about the new problem all the time. It wasn’t really a “mystery” - not yet, anyway - but it was certainly very interesting. When Jane the house-parlourmaid came in she was surprised to find how much he had eaten.
    “Dear me - yes, I do seem to have cleaned up the dishes rather,” said Fatty, gazing in surprise at the empty tureens and meat-dish. “I’ve been thinking - and when I’m thinking I like plenty of food for thought, Jane. What’s the pudding? French pancakes? Oh, good. How many? Ah - plenty of food for thought here!”
    Jane laughed. Master Frederick was a caution and no mistake! She went out to tell cook to make another French pancake for Fatty.
    Fatty meant to work out a proper scheme for tackling this new problem immediately after lunch - but unfortunately he fell fast asleep in front of the fire, with Buster curled up on the hearth-rug beside him. He didn’t wake up till the clock struck half-past three.
    He leapt up in horror. Goodness, he ought to be at Pip’s by now. He pulled on his coat, remembered his mother’s orders to put on a scarf, and took his cap from the peg. He decided to bicycle, with Buster in the front basket. He wouldn’t be so late then.
    He arrived at Pip’s, ringing his bell furiously down the drive, much to Mrs. Hilton’s annoyance. Why must Fatty always announce his coming? Really, that boy wanted taking in hand! He was getting too big for his boots.
    “Sorry we’re late,” said Fatty, arriving in the playroom upstairs, with Buster dancing at his heels. “I fell asleep. Can’t think why.”
    “We all did!” said Larry, with a grin. “Another bit of the doctor’s ‘aftermath’, I suppose! Pip and Bets were still asleep when we came!”
    “Well, we’re wide awake now,” said Pip. “And Mother says you can all stay to tea if you like, Fatty. Our cook has made a big chocolate sponge, so you’re lucky. Mother says we can finish it between us, if we like.”
    “That’s one good thing about having had ‘flu’,” said Bets. “Grown-ups think we want feeding up, and instead of Mother saying ‘Now don’t be greedy,’ she keeps saying, ‘You must have more than that, dear. Take a second helping, do.’ Long may it last!”
    Every one agreed heartily. Pip produced the rest of the bull’s-eyes that Bets had bought him, and they all took one. They sat round the fire, their cheeks bulging, feeling happy and comfortable.
    “Now let’s talk,” said Larry. “We had to break up the meeting in such a hurry this morning. Fatty, have you any plans? Is this a Mystery,