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

then stoppod suddenly.
    From somewhere behind came the sound of heavy grunting. Mr. Goon swung round at once. “Did you hear that?” he asked Fatty, breathlessly. “That grunting noise. What was it? It sounded out there in the hall.”
    “Yes, it did,” said Fatty, clutching at Mr. Goon’s arm and making him jump again. “You go first, Mr. Goon. I’m scared.”
    So was Mr. Goon. He tiptoed into the hall and promptly fell over the kitten which made a dart at him as soon as he appeared. He retreated into the dining-room again, bumping into Fatty. The grunting noise was heard once more, this time sounding farther off.
    “It’s a pig!” said Mr. Goon, hardly able to believe his ears. “Sounded upstairs that time. Did you think it was a pig, Master Frederick?”
    The more frightened and puzzled Mr. Goon became, the more polite he got. At this rate, thought Fatty, he’ll soon be bowing to me every time he speaks! He badly wanted to laugh, but he firmly thrust down the ever-mounting guffaw that wanted to rise up and explode.
    “What sort of a fellow was it who lived here, Mr. Goon?” asked Fatty, innocently. “Was he fond of animals? He seems to have kept kittens, and dogs, and pigs, anyway.”
    “How was it I didn’t see the pig when I was here this morning,” marvelled Goon. “I turned everything over and looked everywhere for clues. And yet I didn’t see the dog or the pig. Shall we go upstairs to find the pig?”
    “Yes. But be careful the dog doesn’t rush out at you,” said Fatty. “You go first, Mr. Goon.”
    Mr. Goon didn’t want to go first. He pushed Fatty in front of him, and then immediately wished he hadn’t because a deep and ferocious growl came from somewhere behind him. Fatty was certainly practising his new talent well!
    And then a new sound came to worry poor Mr. Goon. A voice came from somewhere, a groaning voice that said:
    “I never did it, I never! Ooooooh! I never did it! Where’s my auntie?”
    Goon listened, petrified. He began to feel as if hc was in a nightmare. He whispered to Fatty. “There’s a man here somewhere! This beats all! We’d better get help. I’m not going to snoop round here with dogs, and pigs, and a man groaning. What’s been happening since I was here this morning?”
    “Look, you stay here, Mr. Goon, and I’ll go and get help,” said Fatty, and moved firmly into the hall. But Mr. Goon clutched at him.
    “No, don’t leave me here alone. Can’t you stay while I get help?”
    “Remember your duty, Mr. Goon,” said Fatty solemnly. “There is Something Queer here, and it’s your duty to examine it. But it’s not my duty. I’ll go and get help. Goodbye!”
    Goon held on to him tightly, and then the Voice began again. “I never did it, I never! Oooooooh! I never did it! Where’s my auntie?”
    Goon began to shake. “What’s he mean, talking about his auntie?” he whispered. “Come on, let’s go! This is a mad-house, this is.”
    “Mr. Goon - why not telephone for help!” said Fatty, suddenly catching sight af the telephone in the hall. “You’d get some one here in a trice then.”
    Mr. Goon was so relieved at this bright iden of Fatty’s that he almost embraced him. He stumbled to the telephone and dialled a number.
    Fatty heard him telephoning to another constable. He tiptoed silently out of the front door, grinning as he heard Goon’s agonized voice.
    “Send some one up here at once. There’s a fierce dog in the house - and a pig - yes, I said a pig - P-I-G. Yes, PIG, you ass. And a groaning man who wants his Auntie. AUNTIE! Yes, I did say Auntie. Are you deaf, or something? Well, how do I know why he wants his Auntie? No, I’m not daft, but I soon shall be if you don’t send some one to this address at once. Ycs - I do want help - YES, there IS a dog here - and a pig - and an Auntie - no, not an Auntie, but a man who wants one. Oh, and there’s a kitten, too, I forgot to mention that.”
    There was a pause as Goon listened to a few remarks from the other end of the telephone. He splutted into it