Mystery of the Pantomime Cat by Enid Blyton Read Free Book Online

and grumble about us."
    "I'll go and see Pippin now," said Fatty, getting up.
"Nothing like getting a nasty thing done at once. I do hope Pippin won't
mind too much. Actually I think he's rather nice. He'll be thrilled at getting
a case like this when Goon is away."
    He went out, with Buster close at his heels. He whistled loudly to
show that he didn't care about anything in the world. But actually Fatty did
care quite a lot this morning. He felt guilty about all those false clues. He
could have kicked himself for spoiling his chance of working in with P.C.
Pippin. Pippin wasn't like Goon. He looked sensible, and Fatty felt sure he
would have welcomed his, Fatty's help.
    He came to Goon's house, in which Pippin was now living whilst
Goon was away. To his surprise the door was wide open. Fatty walked in to find
Pippin.
    There was a loud voice talking in the front room. Fatty stopped as
if he had been shot. It was Goon's voice. Goon! Had he come back then?
Was he going to take over the mystery? Blow!
    Fatty stood there, wondering what to do. He wasn't going to
confess to Pippin in front of Goon! That would be very, very foolish. Goon
might even take it into his head to go and tell Inspector Jenks, the children's
very great friend—and somehow Fatty felt that the Inspector would not approve
of the little trick they had played on the unsuspecting Pippin.
    Goon was evidently very angry. His voice was raised, and he was
going for poor Pippin unmercifully. Fatty couldn't help hearing, as he stood in
the passage, undecided whether to go in or out.
    "Why didn't you send for me when you first saw those rogues
under that bush in the garden? Why didn't you tell me about the torn-up note?
Didn't I tell you to let me know if anything happened? Turnip-head! Dolt! Soon
as I go away they put in a dud like you, who hasn't even got the sense to send
for his superior when something happens!"
    Fatty decided to go—but Buster decided differently. Aha! That was
the voice of his old enemy, wasn't it? With a joyful bark Buster pushed open
the door of the sitting-room with his black nose, and bounded in!
    Goon-Pippin—and Fatty.
    There was a loud exclamation from Goon. "That dog! Where did
it come from? Clear-orf, you! Ah, you'd nip me in the ankles, would you!"
Fatty rushed into the room at once, afraid that Goon
    would hurt Buster. Pippin was standing by the window, looking very
crestfallen indeed. Goon was by the fireplace, kicking out at Buster, who was
dancing happily round his feet.
    Goon looked up and saw Fatty. "Oh, you're here too, are
you?" he said. "Setting your dog on me again! What with having to
deal with that turnip-head over there, and this dratted dog, and you, it's
enough to make a man retire from the police force!"
    To Fatty's horror he caught up the poker and hit Buster with it on
the back. Buster gave a howl of pain. Fatty ran to Goon and twisted the poker
out of his hand. The boy was white with fury.
    "See?" said Goon, turning to Pippin, who was also
looking rather white. "See that? You're a witness, you are—that boy sets
his dog on me, and when I protect myself, as I've a right to do, the boy comes
and assaults me. You're a witness, Pippin. Write it all down. Go on. I've been
after this pest of a boy and his dog for a long time—and now I've got him. You
saw it all. didn't you. Pippin?"
    Fatty now had Buster in his arms. He could not trust himself to
speak. He knew Goon to be a stupid, ignorant man with a turn for cruelty, but Goon
had never shown his real nature quite so openly before.
    Pippin said nothing at all. He stood by the window, looking scared
and very much taken-aback. He had been shouted at by Goon for half an hour,
blamed for all kinds of things, called all kinds of names—and now he was
supposed to take out his note-book and put down a lot of untruths about that
nice dog and his master.
    "Pippin! Will you please write down what I tell you?"
stormed Goon. "I'll have that dog destroyed. I'll have this boy up