some one had mentioned it, and came down to inspect. Who was it? John Henry Smith? And who is Mr. Smith, anyhow? I wish I knew.
Lets shin up the tree and see if anything is different in the room, said Larry.
So they all climbed the tree and one by one looked in at the window. And they saw several things that interested them!
Some ones put a kettle on top of the electric stove, said Daisy.
And some ones put tins of food on that shelf opposite, said Pip.
And there are some books on the window-sill that werent there before - books in a foreign language I dont know, said Larry.
And the rooms been dusted, said Bets. It looks quite clean. And there are two thick rugs on the sofa. What does it all mean?
It means that the room has been got ready for a visitor! said Fatty. Yes - it can only mean that. Whos the visitor? Not Mr. John Henry Smith, I bet! Some one who uses the room at intervals when he wants to be well hidden. Its jolly queer.
I wish we could get in and explore the whole house, said Pip. But theres no way in at all.
Wait a minute, said Fatty, thinking hard. There may be a way. Ive just thought. That is, if theres an outside coalhole.
What do you mean? said the others, puzzled.
Come and see, said Fatty.
So down the tree they went, and, led by Fatty, went round to the kitchen entrance. It began to snow again as they walked round, and Fatty was pleased.
The snow will hide our footmarks, he said. I was a bit worried about those. Ah, look - this is what I hoped to see!
He pointed down to the ground to a spot that he had rubbed clear of snow with his boot. The others saw a round iron lid, whose crevices were black with old coal-dust.
An outside coalhole, said Fatty. Now you all know that a coalhole leads into a coal-cellar - and that steps lead up to the kitchen from the coal-cellar - and so any one slipping down this coalhole can get into the house!
Jolly good, Fatty! said every one admiringly.
But do you think wed better go down in these clothes? added Pip. Wed get filthy, and I know my mother would ask all sorts of awkward questions.
Yes - we cant go down now, said Fatty. I shall go down myself tonight!
The others looked at him in awe. To go down to Milton House, the mystery place, at night, and get down the coalhole! It seemed a most heroic feat to every one.
I shall put on a disguise, said Fatty. Just in case.
In case of what? said Bets.
Oh, just in case, said Fatty. I dont want to be recognized, do I?
Oh! - you mean Mr. Goon might see you, said Bets.
Fatty didnt mean that at all. He just wanted to disguise himself because he liked it. What was the good of buying disguises if you didnt use them?
He felt pleased and important. The mystery, as he had said the day before, was decidedly warming up! Soon, no doubt, the Find-Outers would have solved it, and could tell Inspector Jenks all about it.
We wont tell the Inspector a word about all this till weve got to the bottom of the mystery and can tell him everything, down to the last detail, said Fatty. Then, if we find theres any arresting or anything to be done, he can do it.
Oooo - do you think there will be people to be arrested and sent to prison? said Bets, with large eyes.
You never know, said Fatty grandly. Well - wed better go now, and Ill lay my plans for tonight.
The Secret Room
It was most enjoyable talking over Fattys plans for the night. All the Find-Outers and Buster gathered round the fire in Pips playroom, and talked.
My mother and father will be away for two days, said Fatty. Thats lucky. They wont know if Im there tonight or not. I shall go down to the summerhouse in the grounds of Milton House and make myself comfortable there with a couple of rugs. If I dont hear anything by midnight, I shall get in at the
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