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

Fatty modestly. “It’s like this - all we’ve got to go on at the moment is what we think the thief looks like - big-footed, heavy-handed, clumsy, with a deep, hollow cough - and we’ve got two bits of paper possibly dropped by him - and if they are addresses or names, which they probably are, we must watch those addresses or people.”
    “Yes,” said Larry. “And what about asking the grocer, the baker and the postman if they saw any sign of a big-footed fellow yesterday afternoon, when they delivered their goods in our road?”
    “I was coming to that,” said Fatty. “It seems to me we must split up a bit and each do a job, as we usually do.”
    “Oh dear,” said Bets. “I’m really not much good by myself.”
    “You’re one of the best of us,” said Fatty warmly, and Bets blushed with pleasure. “Who solved the mystery of the Pantomime Cat, I’d like to know? You did, Bets - oh yes you did - without your bright idea about it we’d never have solved it! So just you do your bit this time too.”
    “Oh, I will, Fatty,” said Bets earnestly.
    “Now you, Larry, go and interview the postman,” said Fatty. “And you, Pip, go to the baker. If he’s the same one that Jinny at Norton House called in to help her, the one who searched the upstairs rooms for her, all the better. He may have noticed something about the two cases that we haven’t.”
    “Right,” said Pip. “I believe he is our baker too.”
    “And you, Daisy and Bets, go and interview the grocer’s girl,” said Fatty. “Apparently it’s a girl who delivers Harris’s goods - that’s the grocer. Go and get her to talk - listen to all she says - remember it, and we’ll piece together everything when we meet again.”
    There was a silence. Everyone wondered what little job Fatty had kept for himself.
    “What are you going to do?” asked Bets.
    “I’m going to disguise myself,” said Fatty, and Bets gave a squeal of joy. “And I’m going to go and watch Frinton Lea, just to see if any big-footed fellow lives there! If I watch the house all day long I may see something.”
    “But, Fatty - you’ll be noticed if you stand outside all day long,” said Daisy. “Besides - what about meals?”
    “I’ve thought of all that,” said Fatty. “Leave it all to me! I shan’t tell you my disguise. When you’ve done your jobs you can come along and see if you recognize me. I’ll be within fifty yards of the house all day long - visible to everyone - but I bet you anything you like that nobody will pay a moment’s attention to me!”
    They all stared at him. He stared back, his eyes twinkling. “We shall spot you at once,” said Daisy.
    “All right. Spot me, then,” said Fatty. “Now, come on - let’s get going. Clear-orf, all of you - and let me disguise myself!”
    They all went off, laughing, wondering what Fatty was going to do. They were absolutely certain that they would spot Fatty at once. So would everyone else notice him, surely. How could anyone loiter outside a house all day long without being noticed? And what about meals? There was nowhere down by Frinton Lea where he could have even a snack. There were fields behind and the river ran just in front.
    “I’m going back home to wait for the baker,” said Pip. “He comes to us about twelve o’clock, I think.”
    “Oh, that’s an awfully good idea,” said Larry. “I’ll come with you, and wait for the parcel postman to come to your house too. Then we can keep each other company.”
    “He may not come,’ said Pip. “We don’t always have parcels.”
    “I’ll have to chance that,” said Larry. “I don’t feel like going to the post office and asking to interview the parcel postman there, in front of everyone! I half thought I’d have to do that at first!”
    “What about the grocer’s girl?” said Daisy. “Do you have Harris for your grocer, Pip? If you do, Bets and I can be with you and Larry, and we can all be together.”
    “No, we don’t have Harris,” said Pip. “Let me see now - what roads does the girl deliver to in the mornings? I’ve seen her