Mystery of Banshee Towers

8/13/2019 Mystery of Banshee Towers

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Enid Blyton: The Mystery of Banshee Towers (Mystery #15)

1 - OFF TO MEET OLD FATT

!" do wish old Fatty wold $%& ' and %oe $a%& fro whereer he*s stayin+,! said Bets !.e*ehad alost a wee& of the holidays withot hi already - s%h a waste/!!0e*s %oin+ $a%& today,! said i', 'assin+ a 'ost%ard a%ross the $rea&fast-ta$le to his yon+sister !0ere*s a %ard fro hi Three %heers/!Bets read the %ard ot lod !Ba%& toorrow $y $s fro .arlin+ Meet e at $s sto' if yo %an.hat a$ot a ni%e 2i%y ystery3 " feel 2st a$ot ready for one Fatty!!A ni%e 2i%y 4what43! said her other, 'led!4Mystery4,! said Bets, her eyes shinin+ !o &now how soethin+ always sees to ha''enwhen Fatty*s a$ot, Mother - there was the ystery of the antoie 6at - and the ystery ofthe 7anished rin%e - and!0er father +roaned !Loo&, Bets - "* tired of all these adentres and stran+e ha''enin+s thatsee to 'o' ' wheneer yor friend Frederi%& is a$ot 8st try and steer %lear of any tro$lethese holidays " was ho'in+ that Frederi%& was stayin+ away for a ni%e lon+ tie!!" wish yo woldn*t %all hi Frederi%&, Daddy,! said Bets !"t does sond so silly!!" shold hae tho+ht that Frederi%& was a %h $etter nae for a $oy in his teens, than thea$srd nae of Fatty,! said her father !" wonder Frederi%& allows 'eo'le to %all hi $y that oldni%&nae now!

!Bt Fatty 4is4 fat, and the nae sits hi,! said i' !Anyway " don*t thin& 4y4 ni%&nae isery sita$le for e now that "* a $it older .hy %an*t " $e %alled $y y 'ro'er nae of hili',instead of i'3!!9i'ly $e%ase yo*re a $it of 'i'-sea& still and 'ro$a$ly always will $e,! said his father,disa''earin+ $ehind his news'a'er Bets +ae a sdden la+h, and then a +roan as i' &i%&edher nder the ta$le!i'/! said his other warnin+ly Bets %han+ed the s$2e%t hrriedly 9he didn*t want i' to +etinto any tro$le the ery day that Fatty %ae hoe!Mother, where*s the $s tie-ta$le3! she said !"*d li&e to find ot what tie old Fatty*s $s

arries!!.ell, seein+ that there are only two in the ornin+, and the $s fro .arlin+ ta&es two hors to+et here, " shold thin& he*ll $e on the 4first4 $s,! said i', !otherwise he*d $e 2olly late/!!"t shold $e a$ot a arter to ten,! said his other !That eans yo*ll hae 'lenty of tie to%lear ' the fearfl ess in yor 'layroo first " %old hardly +et into it yesterday!i' +roaned !.0 do we always hae to tidy the 'layroo when we 'lan to +o ot3! hedeanded !" really do thin& it*s!


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!Eno+h said,! said his father, fro $ehind his news'a'er, and i' $e%ae silent at on%e 0eloo&ed a%ross at Bets, and she +rinned at hi ha''ily Fatty was %oin+ $a%&/ Fatty with his wide+rin, his twin&lin+ eyes, his ad 2o&es - and his e;traordinary ha$it of sddenly findin+ hiself inthe iddle of 'e%liar ysteries/ Oh the tie they had had with Fatty - the e;%iteent - theadentres/ .hy was it that soe 'eo'le 4always4 fond theseles in the iddle of soethin+thrillin+3!"f Fatty was %ast away on a lonely desert island soethin+ e;traordinary wold iediatelyha''en,! tho+ht Bets !A eraid wold 'o' ' and let hi swi away on her $a%& Or as$arine i+ht arrie and!!Bets, what are yo dreain+ a$ot3! said her other !o*e %areflly $ttered yor $read on

4$oth4 sides/!i' and Bets tore 'stairs as soon as $rea&fast was finished, only one tho+ht in their inds -Fatty was %oin+ $a%&/ !Let*s $%& ' and tidy the 'layroo,! said i' !" want to +o rond toLarry*s and see if he and Daisy &now that Fatty*s %oin+ $a%& today!0e $e+an to throw eerythin+ into the $i+ toy %'$oard, hi++ledy, 'i++ledy, $an+, %rash, wallo'/

!Mother won*t li&e that,! $e+an Bets, $t i' only la+hed at her !All ri+ht - 4yo4 do it 'ro'erly,old slow%oa%h


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his left foot!es, that*s Fatty/! said Larry !9ort of thin+ he 4wold4 do, in dis+ise - 't on a li' orsoethin+/ 0e %an*t fool 4s4, tho+h/!They followed the li'in+ yoth down the street, rond a %orner and ' the hill Then Larryshoted to hi!0ey, Fatty/ 9to'/ .e &now it*s yo/!The yoth swn+ rond and +lared at the !Don*t yo dare to %all after 4e4/! he shoted!6hee&y yon+ $rats/!!


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eney/ .hat a$ot dan%in+ rond his an&les and 'retendin+ to ni' hi3 Bster felt 2st li&e alittle e;er%ise after his lon+ ride on the $s/Mr - DO.= "= FATT*9 .O?@?OOM

Bets felt e;%ited when at last the tie %ae to +o to the first Meetin+ of the holidays 0er otherhad not allowed her to ra%e off iediately after dinner, $t had sent $oth her and i' ' to their'layroo!" don*t &now if yo thin& that what yo did this ornin+ to tidy ' the roo was anythin+ 4li&e4


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eno+h,! she said !Throwin+ thin+s hi++ledy-'i++ledy into %orners and %'$oards isn*t 4y4idea of %learin+ ' lease do the 2o$ 'ro'erly $efore yo +o/!!Oh 4$low4/! said i', e;as'erated !=ow we shall $e late 6oe on Bets, yo do yor share!"t was soon done, and they ra%ed off down the +arden 'ath, ha''y to $e on their way to Fatty*shose They 2oined ' with Larry and Daisy, and were soon in Fatty*s wor&roo at the $otto ofhis +arden, well away fro eeryone, and 4alost4 ot of ran+e of any shot fro the hose/!


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!.hat*s the +ood of $ein+ a Find-Oter if yo don*t want to find ot anythin+3!!es, " see all that,! said Bets !Bt what " ean is - do we 4hae4 to snoo' rond and loo& for'ro$les and ysteries to sole - %an*t we 2st not $other for on%e3!!o ean - 2st 'lay a$ot and en2oy orseles3! said Daisy !.ell - it does sond rather ni%e fora %han+e o &now, Fatty, solin+ ysteries 4%an4 $e ite hard wor&!!.ell, "* rather in%lined to a+ree with yo,! said Fatty, laily !o &now "*e 2st $een stayin+with two %osins - $oth first-%lass foot$allers - first-%lass $o;ers - first-%lass %ross-%ontry rnners- and first-%lass $ores, to tell yo the trth/ My word, the e;%ses " had to thin& of to +et ot of&i%&in+ a foot$all fro ornin+ to ni+ht - rnnin+ for iles in shorts 'hill and down - and 'ttin+on $o;in+-+loes and hain+ s'arrin+ $ots Than& +oodness 4that4 didn*t last lon+ - thes'arrin+ " ean!!.hy - were yo &no%&ed ot3! as&ed Larry!@no%&ed ot/ Don*t $e fatheaded,! said Fatty !The tirin+ 'art a$ot the $o;in+ was that 4"4 &e'ton doin+ the &no%&in+-ot - " tell yo, it +ot $orin+/!

!o*re $oastin+, Fatty,! said Larry !0a - yo*ll neer +et rid of 4that4 ha$it/ That*s one thin+ yodo $etter than any of s - $oast/ o*re s'erlatie at that/!!Don*t $e rde, Larry/! said Daisy, sho%&ed !.hy, Fatty i+ht &no%& 4yo4 ot, if yo tal& li&ethat/!!=o, " shan*t! said Fatty !Larry*s ite ri+ht " do $oast 2st a $it On the other hand, " do a%tallydo what " $oast a$ot " really 4did4 &no%& ot y two %osins "*ll show yo the $low " sed oswin+ ot li&e this with yor left, and then - ooh, sorry Bster/ .hat on earth ade yo +et in theway3 Did " hrt yo3!!Fnny - yo didn*t een &no%& 4hi4 ot,! said Larry irritatin+ly Bets %ddled 'oor Bster, whohad re%eied a $low on his fat ty that had ite winded hi 0e stared at Fatty nha''ily,

really 'led!Listen,! said i' !Let*s +o e;'lorin+ a $it these hols My father ade a list of interestin+ s'otswe %old +o to see 0e said we sholdn*t 2st ess a$ot doin+ nothin+, he said!!0e 4said4 that - $t what he really eant was that he didn*t want yo nder his feet all the tie,!said Larry !My father*s li&e that too - " ean, he*s an a$solte s'ort, and "* fri+htflly 'rod ofhi - and he is of e - $t " do noti%e that after a$ot ten days of the hols he always +ets thisidea of s +oin+ off for the day - not 2st one day, $t eery day And 4ine4 ade ot a list too -here it is "*ll read it ot!0e too& a neatly written list fro the 'o%&et of his flannels and read fro it !Old .ater-6aes at6hiller$in+ Mse of A+e-Old Fossils at Ty$olds =oran Tower at ellow-Moss!

!


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said Fatty 'ttin+ his ar rond her !Bt we i+ht +o and see Banshee Towers o &now whyit*s %alled that, don*t yo3!=o$ody &new !.ell,! said Fatty, !a $anshee eans *a woan of the fairies* - and it shrie&s andwails when any isfortne or nha''iness %oes to the faily in whose hose it lies!!0ow ery n'leasant,! said Daisy, at on%e !"* ery +lad 4y4 faily doesn*t own a $anshee "shold $e s%ared stiff Does Banshee Towers own a $anshee, then3!!" s''ose it did on%e, when the faily lied in it,! said Fatty !Bt now that it*s a se - or a'i%tre-+allery or soethin+ - " e;'e%t the $anshee has retired/!!" don*t want to +o to see Banshee Towers if the $anshee still lies there,! said Bets, de%idedly!9o yo*ll hae to find ot, Fatty!!" honestly sholdn*t worry,! said Fatty !"t wold $e a 'ity to let an old-tie *woan of the fairies*fri+hten yo fro seein+ wonderfl sea-'i%tres And " $eliee they really 4are4 wonderfl/!!.ell, we*ll a&e a few e;'editions to show or 'arents that we really are not the lie-a$eds theythin& we are,! said Larry !"t shold $e rather fn, a%tally .e %old 'i%ni% in these 'la%es - and "

%old se one of the for y holiday essay "t wold $e soethin+ to write a$ot - es'e%ially the$anshee howlin+ " ho'e it wails li&e anythin+ when we*re there/!!" shan*t +o if it does,! said Bets at on%e !0allo - who*s that at the door3


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!6oo - "*d li&e that/! said Ern !.ell n%le says "*e +ot to Trn To and Loo& =i''y, and =ot


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!8st li&e old Bster then,! said Bets !0e thin&s Fatty*s the world*s wonder, don*t yo Bster3!!.oof/! said Bster, a+reein+ heartily 0e went to Fatty and li%&ed his %hin, and then 't his headon Fatty*s &nee, loo&in+ ' at hi adorin+ly!Loin+ old thin+,! said Fatty, and 'atted hi !.ell Ern, "* awflly +lad yo*e a do+ of yorown


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!E?=/ .hat*s the atter with that do+ of yors, $ar&in+ li&e that3 0as he +one ad orsoethin+3 .here is he3!!" don*t &now, n%le,! said Ern, trthflly !0e shot off at to' s'eed " only ho'e he hasn*t +one$a%& to y hoe 0e i+ht %at%h easles, and %oe ot in nasty s'ots!!o and yor easles/! snorted Mr


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!Bster - what is it3 6oe $a%&/! %alled Fatty Bster a''eared a+ain - with soethin+ trottin+$ehind hi - Bin+o/!B"=


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!"*ll lad%& 4yo4 if yo don*t +et on with those 'otatoes, Ern,! said Mr


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%oanded, !and ta&e that +rin off yor fa%e, Ern!!" %an*t "t*s st%& there,! said Ern, sddenly feelin+ %hee&y!E?=/! said Mr


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Ern didn*t &now what to do - $t Fatty did 0e whis'ered soethin+ in Erns ear, and Ern*s fa%e$ro&e into a deli+hted sile 0e too& hold of Fatty*s hand and shoo& it hard !o*re a friend, Fatty- yes, that*s what yo are, a friend,! said Ern warly !"*ll +o and +et y thin+s strai+htaway.old yo ind Bin+o for e, till " %oe ot3 n%le*s in s%h a te'er, he i+ht whi' hi.0AT a 'ity he tri''ed oer Bin+o/!Bets and Daisy had $een ery s%ared $y all the 'set, $t the $oys had rather en2oyed it Fatty%oldn*t hel' feelin+ a little sorry for Mr


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The little %o'any went in at the $a%& +ate of Fatty*s +arden, and troo'ed down to the shed -Fatty*s %osy little wor&roo The two do+s trotted alon+ ai%a$ly to+ether, Bin+o o%%asionally+iin+ Bster a friendly li%& Bin+o*s tail neer sto''ed wa++in+ or wain+!o*ll wear it ot if yo*re not %arefl, Bin+o! said Ern, as they went in %lose file down the 'ath,Bin+o*s tail sla''in+ a+ainst the nearest le+s Bets la+hed 9he didn*t feel s%ared any lon+er -

2st 'leased and e;%ited 9he was +lad that Ern had +ot away fro n&ind Mr


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two do+s/!They all trned to loo& - and there were Bster and Bin+o, 4$oth4 seeed into Bster*s $as&et,fast aslee', so entan+led that, as Larry said, !T*other %oldn*t $e told fro whi%h/! i' +lan%ed atFatty and Ern Both had s%h 'leased, adirin+ loo&s on their fa%es that i' la+hed!Loo& at Fatty and Ern,! he said !Did yo eer see s%h di''y loo&s on any fa%es e;%e't do+-loers3!!es, " did - on yors on yor $irthday when


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wa++in+ nineteen to the doen The two do+s +ae ea%h other a i%& li%&, and Bster trotted 'the +arden with FattyErn was left alone in the shed 0e was astonished to hear Bin+o +rowlin+ softly twenty inteslater, and horrified to hear soft foot-ste's %oin+ to the door 0is heart san& .as it his n%le,%oin+ to fet%h hi3 Bt how %old he 4'ossi$ly4 &now where he, Ern, was3 The door o'enedand a tor%h shone in, li+htin+ ' the dar&ness in whi%h Ern sat Ern tre$led and shoo&, feelin+ost alared!Ern/ "t*s e, Fatty "*e %oe to $rin+ yo soe s''er - and to tell yo there*s a tor%h in theta$le drawer, if yo want to see to eat or to read " shan*t $e a$le to %oe down a+ain to the shedtoni+ht, so +oodni+ht, and slee' well "*ll $rin+ yo soe $rea&fast in the ornin+!!6oo, than&s, yo*re a wonder, Fatty,! said the +ratefl Ern, and too& the tray that Fatty handedin!There*s a $one for old Bin+o, fro Bster,! said Fatty, +iin+ hi a 'a'er $a+ !9o lon+, Ern 9eeyo toorrow/!!9o lon+,! said Ern, +rateflly, and sat down to eat a ni%e 'ie%e of fried fish, ashed 'otatoes and

+reens 0e +ae the $one to Bin+o, who was thrilled 0e ade s%h a noise +nawin+ it that Ernfelt sre it %old $e heard for iles arond/!Bin+o, old do+ - are yo en2oyin+ this3! said Ern when at last he had ndressed and sli''ednder the r+ that Fatty had left for the %a'-$ed !6oe on nder the r+ with e - we*ll &ee'ea%h other war That*s ri+ht 9n++le down


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!0ere yo are, Ern,! he said !Best " %old do for the oent " didn*t dare to ta&e too %h frothe larder, $t there were 'lenty of e++s, so that was soethin+ 0ow*s old Bin+o3 .as he +oodlast ni+ht3!!.ell, he seeed to $e hntin+ rond for rats for 4hors4,! said Ern, nwra''in+ the 'a%&et Fatty+ae hi !6oo - hard-$oiled e++ sandwi%hes - sashin+/ And two $ttered rolls - with honeyinside/ o*re a $ri%&, Fatty, strai+ht yo are!!o*ll find soe little $ottles of leonade in that %'$oard,! said Fatty !And an o'ener too "daren*t $rin+ yo a 'ot of tea Mother wold start as&in+ estions/!Ern sat ha''ily n%hin+ his e++ sandwi%hes, a +lass of leonade $eside hi, with Bin+o sittin+e;'e%tantly at his feet Bster went sniffin+ at the $otto of a se%ond %'$oard, and Fattyla+hed!0e &nows a 'a%&et of his $is%its is &e't there, and he wants to +ie old Bin+o soe,! said Fatty,+ettin+ ' !A " ri+ht, Bster, old thin+3!!.oof/! said Bster, dan%in+ rond e;%itedly, his tail wa++in+, Bin+o 2oined hi, hain+ heard the

word $is%its/ 9oon he and Bster were aia$ly sharin+ a 'a%&et, %rn%hin+ ' the $is%its indeli+htBster was oer2oyed to hae Bin+o to 'lay with 0e sddenly went %o'letely ad and $e+an torsh rond and rond the roo at to' s'eed, $ar&in+ wildly Bin+o 2oined hi, and the two $oyshrriedly lea't ot of the way!9ht ', Bster,! said Fatty !Don*t do yor ra%ehorse +allo' in here


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!Dear, dear, " ho'e he didn*t %o+h all ni+ht, 'oor an,! said Mrs Trotteille!" don*t &now " didn*t hear hi %o+hin+ at all,! said Ern, trthflly!o and Bets are here ery early today,! said Fatty*s other !"s there a Meetin+ - or are yo+oin+ ot to+ether, or soethin+3!!es, Mother, yes, we*re all +oin+ off on an e;'edition,! said Fatty hastily !.e shall $e startin+'retty soon Er - any %han%e of sandwi%hes for Ern and e3!!"*ll tell 6oo&,! said Mrs Trotteille, and disa''eared ' the +arden 'ath, %h to eeryone*srelief Fatty frowned at Bster!"t was yor silly $ar&in+, and Bin+o*s, that ade Mother %oe and see what was +oin+ on,! hesaid !9it/ And yo too, Bin+o - 9"T/!Bster 'ro'tly sat, loo&in+ ' at Fatty with 'ri%&ed ears Bin+o too& one loo& at hi and did thesae!And now - not another $ar& ot of yo, see3! said Fatty to Bster, and Ern 'ointed his fin+er at

Bin+o, and said e;a%tly the sae Bets +i++led!They loo& li&e two na+hty little $oys - and do loo&, Bin+o is 'ttin+ his ton+e ot at yo, Ern/!9re eno+h, Bin+o*s ton+e was lollin+ ot of his o'en oth, as he sat 'antin+ on the r+ 0is$ri+ht eyes were fi;ed loin+ly on Ern!6o'le of fatheads,! said Ern ery 'rod of his do+ !=ow 2st &ee' sittin+ till we say yo %an+et '!!Loo&,! said Fatty !" rather thin& we*d $etter set off on this first e;'edition of ors this ornin+, as"*e said we were +oin+ Bets, +o and rond ' i' and Larry and Daisy, will yo3 Tell the to $ehere in half an hor, with $i%y%les, sandwi%hes and drin&s!

!?i+ht, Fatty,! said Bets, ha''ily, and off she went An e;'edition all to+ether - to BansheeTowers/ "t really wold $e fn"n 2st oer half an hor eeryone was ready i' %ae with Bets, Larry with Daisy, all on their$i%y%les =ow, how %old they +et Ern*s $i%y%le too - it was in the shed at Mr


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Ern loed a&in+ ' what he %alled his !'ortry! 0e went on %y%lin+, his head fll of the thin+s hesaw arond hi - 'riroses in the dit%hes, %owsli's in the fields, new +reen leaes on thehawthorn, %ows +rain+, 'i+eons %ooin+!.ell, it hasn*t ite %oe yet,! he said !Bt " &now what "* +oin+ to %all it - *6oo*!!Oh, is it a son+ the 4does4 are +oin+ to sin+ - all a$ot the s'rin+3! said Bets !9ay it to e,Ern!Ern sailed alon+ on his $i%y%le, lodly %hantin+ the !'ortry! that had sddenly %oe into his head

!6oo, loo& at the 'riroses down in the dit%h, 9ilin+ all oer their fa%es 6oo, listen to all the $irds ' in the hed+e, And lar&s in the $i+ o'en s'a%es 6oo, loo& at the %ows and the %owsli's too, And and!!And what3! said Bets !Do +o on, Ern "t*s wonderfl!

!6an*t see to thin& of the end of it,! said Ern, frownin+ !That*s the worst of e when " thin& of'ortry, Bets - it %oes and +oes - and now it*s +one *ra's Fatty %an thin& of the endin+!!.e*ll as& hi when we hae or ln%h,! said Bets !Loo& - isn*t that Bannshee 0ill ' there3!!6oo - what a hill/! said Ern, sondin+ as if he were $e+innin+ his !6oo! son+ a+ain !" $et we*llhae to wal& half way ' it "*ll 'sh yor $i&e for yo, Bets!es, it was Banshee 0all - a ery hi+h one, rnnin+ ' stee'ly, with a windin+ road twistin+ to thesit As they %ae near to it, the sn sddenly went in and a +reat $la%& %lod $lew ' $ehindit

!" s''ose that*s Banshee Towers ri+ht at the ery to',! said Bets !eer-loo&in+ 'la%e - itstands there as if it*s +lowerin+ down at s " don*t li&e it ery %h - es'e%ially with that $la%&%lod $ehind it!!o*re ri+ht,! said Ern, as they $e+an to %y%le slowly ' the windin+ road that led to the to'!7ery $anshee-ish " shold say Loo&s as if it wants to +r$le and +rowl and wail/ B%& ',yon+ Bets - " $eliee it*s +oin+ to 'or with rain 0ere, let e wheel yor $i&e for yo - it*s toostee' to ride 2st here/!Fatty had 2st trned rond to see if the +irls were ana+in+ all ri+ht, and was 'leased to see Ernwheelin+ Bets* $i%y%le for her Ern i+ht $e ro+h and ready soeties, $t he had ery ni%eways, tho+ht Fatty 0e %alled to Daisy

!.ant any hel', Daisy3 !!=o, "* all ri+ht,! said Daisy, 'antin+ !" 2st ho'e we*ll +et to the to' $efore it 'ors/ " say - thatloo&s a 'retty +ri 'la%e ' on the hill, doesn*t it3!!es - ore li&e an old fortress than anythin+/! shoted $a%& Fatty !Loo& at the two do+s - we*eleft the far $ehind/ =eer ind - they*ll %at%h s ' soetie!They arried at the +looy old 'la%e at last, and sta%&ed their $i%y%les in a %onenient shedThen they ade their way to the entran%e


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the o''osite wall 0e 'ro%eeded to set ' a lar+e %anas on the easel The %hildren went oer, in%riosity!0allo, &ids,! said the an, a sho%&-haired fellow in a loose $la%& 'aintin+ oerall !6oe toworshi' at the shrine of sea-art3 Mind yo don*t $' into the $anshee "t wails one day a wee&,yo &now, so yo 4ay4 hear it!!" don*t want to,! said Bets, at on%e !Anyway, there isn*t a $anshee "t*s 2st ia+inary!There was frther %latterin+, and three ore artists %ae in, %arryin+ easels They settheseles down in front of arios 'i%tres Fatty stared in sr'rise!Are yo 4%o'yin+4 the 'i%tres3! he as&ed the an $eside hi, who was now sittin+ on a stool,i;in+ %olors on a 'alette!es .e all $elon+ to a 9%hool of Art,! said the an !Those who are +ood eno+h are sent hereto %o'y these 'i%tres for 'ra%ti%e - we %an sell the all ri+ht afterwards, yo &now!Bets loo&ed at the 'i%tre on the an*s easel "t didn*t see ery +ood to her !o haen*t'ainted that wae the ri+ht %olor,! she said, 'ointin+

!.ell, alter it for e,! said the an, offerin+ her an enorosly lon+ 'aint-$rsh!Oh, " %oldn*t,! said Bets!9ee that fellow oer there3! said the an, 'ointin+ with his $rsh !.ell, he*s the $est of the lot0e doesn*t $elon+ to or art-s%hool, tho+h o +o and see 4his4 wor& - $etter than the ori+inalartist*s, " soeties thin&/!They went oer to loo& at the 'i%tre the other an was %o'yin+ 0e sat in front of a loelyseas%a'e, that shone on the wall o''osite the an "t was a 'i%tre of a $le sea swirlin+ rondthe $otto of a hi+h %liff, t$lin+ oer the ro%&s On his $i+ %anas he was re'rod%in+ aarellos %o'y 0e s%owled at the %hildren

!4Alle os en/4! he +rowled!That*s Fren%h for *


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Larry too& hi firly $y the ars and led hi to the o''osite side of the +reat hall, where other'i%tres wereErn and Bets %old hae stayed there all day, starin+ at the 'i%tres There seeed to $e soea+i% a$ot the seas%a'es that a''ealed to ea%h of the in a way that the others did not feel9oon they left Bets and Ern to theseles and wandered into the other roos 0ere there wasold aror on the walls, and old wea'ons in %ases The for e;ained the with %h interest,and Fatty lon+ed to ta&e down a +reat old 'i&e fro the wall, and %a'er a$ot with it!" don*t see why we sholdn*t hae or 'i%ni% in 4here4, do yo3! said Larry, loo&in+ ot of one ofthe +reat windows !That enoros $la%& %lod is now 'orin+ down sheets of rain .e %an*t'i%ni% ot-of-doors .e needn*t a&e any ess at all, and we*ll ta&e all or litter hoe with s!!" $et that $ad-te'ered fellow ot at the trnstile won*t let s stay,! said Fatty!.hat*s it to do with 4hi43! said Larry !.e*e 'aid, haen*t we3 Anyway, "* 2olly hn+ry


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=ot only the isitors 2'ed alost ot of their s&in Larry, Daisy, i', Bets and Ern 2'ed too,and %lt%hed in fri+ht at one another, when the eerie wail e%hoed rond the Larry realiedalost at on%e that it was Fatty, and he +ae hi a ery hard 'n%h!Fathead/ .hat did yo do that for3 " alost died of fri+ht/ Loo& at 'oor Bets - she*s tre$lin+/!Fatty, oer%oe with la+hter and shae at one and the sae tie, %oldn*t say a word


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li&e hi ery %h!Are yo +oin+3! as&ed Fatty, seein+ the an tyin+ the %anas he had $een rollin+ '!8st to the illa+e to y %ar - and then $a%& a+ain to 'aint, 'aint, 'aint/! said the an, and d+Fatty in the %hest with his roll of %anas !And yo - yo stay here to wail, wail, wail3 Ah, what ana+hty $oy/!

And ta&in+ no noti%e of Fatty*s an+ry fa%e, he strolled a%ross the hall and alted oer thetrnstiles as easily as an a%ro$at!" s''ose he thin&s he*s ery %leer! +rowled Fatty, not at all en2oyin+ $ein+ la+hed at $y theartist !Listen, it*s still 'orin+ with rain .e %an*t 'i%ni% on the hills, we*ll hae to hae it here,$anshee or no $anshee Don*t loo& so s%ared Bets - a wailin+ %an*t hrt s!!The trnstile fellow has +one,! said Larry, loo&in+ a%ross to where the an had sat when he too&their oney !


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And the lions so dandy and yellow And the %'s fll of $tter for e and for yo, And har& where the $lrshes $ellow/ 6oo, loo& at the rnner $eans, how fast they +o, And!By this tie the others were la+hin+ so %h that Fatty had to sto' for $reath and la+h too Ernstared at hi in adiration !0ow do yo do it, Fatty3! he as&ed, solenly !Ta&es e a+es tothin& of een one line, and yo 2st +o rattlin+ on and on - %oo, "*d neer hae tho+ht of that line,*Loo& at the rnner $eans, how fast they +o/* That*s ri+ht down fnny, Fatty!!Dear old Ern, yor lines are 'oetry, and ine are not,! said Fatty, %la''in+ hi on the $a%&!ors are 2st a $it too *%ooey* that*s all *6oo* isn*t a +ood word for 'oetry, nless it*s said $y adoe/!!o*re a wonder, yo are,! said Ern, ree$erin+ another of Fatty*s lines !Lions so dandy andyellow - yo eant the yellow dandelions there didn*t yo - honest, Fatty, yo*re a +enis!!Let*s %han+e the s$2e%t,! said Fatty, feelin+ rather a frad 0e %old reel off erse withotsto''in+, ridi%los, asin+ and %leer, and %old neer thin& why eeryone tho+ht it

wonderfl!Eery$ody finished3! as&ed Larry, s%rewin+ ' his 'a'ers !There*s a litter $as&et oer there!!" say,! said i', sddenly !.hat do yo s''ose has ha''ened to Bster and Bin+o3 Theyo+ht to $e here $y now, srely3!!Oh, " e;'e%t they trned tail and went hoe when they +ot too far $ehind,! said Fatty !They'ro$a$ly lost or trail .e shan*t see the till we +et hoe " only ho'e they are $ehain+theseles!

A sdden, ery failiar noise ade the all 2'/ !.oof/ .OOF/!

!


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There was now s%h a lod and e;%ited $ar&in+ %oin+ fro $eneath the tra'-door that itseeed alost as if there i+ht $e half a doen do+s $elow, not 2st two/!0ow 4did4 they +et there3! said Larry, wat%hin+ Fatty and Ern heain+ ' the tra'-door !They%an*t 'ossi$ly hae +ot down thro+h the tra'-door - so they st hae fond a way into the hill -and +one ' an nder+rond tnnel to Banshee Towers!!Oooh - a 9e%ret assa+e/! said Bets, her eyes shinin+ !6an we +o down it3!!0ere she %oes/! said Fatty, 'antin+ hard as he and Ern heaed the tra'-door ot of its 'la%e"ediately the two do+s hrled theseles ot, and fell 'on Ern and Fatty in rha'sodies of 2oy,$ar&in+, li%&in+, 'awin+ as if they had +one ad!9teady on, steady on,! said Fatty, 'shin+ Bster down !Bster, will yo &indly tell e how yo+ot here3!!.oof/! said Bster, dan%in+ a$ot ha''ily!And how did 4yo4 +et here, Bin+o,! deanded Ern, whose do+ seeed intent on li%&in+ eery

sin+le in%h of his fa%e !9to' it, Bin+o " shall hae to $orrow a towel fro soewhere soon @ee'yor ton+e in yor oth for a $it Oh, +oodness, there he +oes a+ain/!Larry was loo&in+ down the hole where the tra'-door had $een 0e too& ot a sall tor%h fro his'o%&et and swit%hed it on 0e +ae a sdden e;%laation!Loo& - there are ste's %t down fro the hearth - alost li&e ladder ste's, +oin+ down anddown .here on earth do they +o to3!!.e i+ht hae tie to e;'lore a $it,! said Fatty, feelin+ thrilled to see the ste's leadin+ downinto the dar&ness !Bets - +o and see if we*re still the only ones here!Bets ran off and then %ae $a%&, her fa%e rather fri+htened !Fatty, the trnstile an is %oin+ '

the hill 0e*s nearly here t the tra'-door $a%&, i%&ly/!Ern and Fatty lifted the tra'-door into 'la%e and then 't the heay %aldron oer it They werestill &neelin+ down $y the fire'la%e when the trnstile an %ae in, n%hin+ an a''le 0e +aean an+ry shot when he saw the!i%& - 'retend we*e dro''ed a shillin+,! said Fatty, in a low, r+ent oi%e !Loo& for it, all of yo- in the hearth and on the %ar'et too - i%&/!9o, when the 'led trnstile an ran ', they were all a''arently hntin+ feerishly for a lostshillin+/!4Mst4 find it/! Fatty was sayin+ !9i'ly st A shillin+ is a shillin+ .here on earth did it +o3

"s that it oer there, Bets3!!Oh, so yo*e dro''ed soe oney, hae yo3! said the an !9re that*s all yo*re ' to3 Let

4e4 hae a loo&/! And down he dro''ed on hands and &nees too 0e +ae a sdden shot, and'i%&ed soethin+ '!"*e +ot it 0ere it is/! And he held ' a shillin+ in tri'h!Than&s,! said Fatty, and held ot his hand Bt the an la+hed in his fa%e, and sli''ed the %oininto his troser 'o%&et, !Findin+*s &ee'in+,! he said !=ow yo +o off, all of yo o*e $een here


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lon+ eno+h And how did those do+s +et in3 o o+ht to 'ay for the, yo did!!Oh, aren*t they 4yor4 do+s3! said Ern, in s%h a sr'rised oi%e that Bets had to 't her handoer her oth to sto' a la+h es%a'in+!My do+s/ " shold thin& not " %an*t $ear the/! said the an, and ade as if he were +oin+ to&i%& Bster Bster +rowled and showed his teeth and the an $a%&ed hrriedly away !


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is, it was as $ad and weird and horri$le as any $anshee, so there/!!o*re ri+ht, Bets "t was 'retty awfl,! said i' !" didn*t li&e it yself ?eal or nreal, that$anshee is MO9T ysterios Loo& ot, now, we*re %oin+ to a ery stee' $it


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!es, $t why on a %ertain 4day43! 'ersisted Fatty!.hat on earth does it atter3! said i', +ettin+ tired of the s$2e%t !"t %an wail 4eery4 day ofthe wee&, for all " %are!!i', yo shold hae a ore alert, enirin+ ind,! said Fatty, solenly !o &now - that*s afa&e $anshee - and "*d 2olly well li&e to find ot who*s wor&in+ it and how - and why!!" don*t want to +o ' that hill a+ain,! said Bets !" loed the 'i%tres - $t " hated the wailin+!!Don*t worry, Bets o needn*t +o Bt 4"*4 +oin+,! said Fatty !"* +oin+ toorrow " tell yo, "9ell a Mystery/!!.ell, yo st hae the ost 'owerfl nose any$ody eer had,! said Larry !All " %an sell isthat oil-stoe so&in+ " s''ose yor nose is too hi+h and i+hty to sell ordinary thin+s li&ethat Trn down the wi%&, Ern - yo*re nearest!Ern trned down the wi%& %areflly !Fatty,! he said, !%old " %oe with yo if yo +o to Banshee0ill toorrow - not to ess a$ot in a ystery, tho+h - 2st to see those sea-'i%tres a+ain

Es'e%ially the one with the hi+h %liffs and the $le sea swirlin+ rond it!!Oh - the one the Fren%h artist was %o'yin+,! said Fatty !es, that was a $eaty All ri+ht, Ern,yo %an %oe with e - yo*ll $e %o'any - and while yo stand and +loat oer the 'i%tres, "%an do a little snoo'in+ "t*s 2st as well " shold hae soeone with e who is o$iosly there tosee the 'i%tres/!!Oooh, than&s, Fatty,! said Ern, !" ho'e that $anshee doesn*t %oe wailin+ rond e, tho+h!!"t only wails 4on%e4 a wee&, Ern,! said Fatty !"*ll eat y %a' if it wails toorrow/ "* 'retty%ertain it has its 'et day, for 4soe4 reason or other!!Loo& - we*d $etter +o, Daisy and ",! said Larry, +ettin+ ' in a hrry !


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so the 'oli%ean %old not o'en it A roar %ae fro the other side!Frederi%& Trotteille, yo o'en this door " &now yo*e +ot Ern in there " saw hi thro+h thewindow o o'en this door or "*ll +o to yor father!!4Ern34 Ern in 4here4, Mr


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Fatty !"*ll si+nal to yo li&e this, if " want yo to trn 'eo'le*s attention to yo, and away fro e/!

And Fatty soothed $a%& his hair three ties !9ee3 Don*t loo& so alared =o$ody will lo%& yo', or $o; yor ears They*ll 2st stay still in astonishent, and for+et all a$ot e and what "*doin+!!All ri+ht Fatty,! said Ern, in a ornfl oi%e, and settled down to read one of Fatty*s $oo&s!6oo, the $oo&s yo*e +ot, Fatty - yo st hae oer a thosand This one*s sashin+!0e was soon lost in the sea-story he had fond in Fatty*s $i+ $oo&%ase Bin+o lay ha''ily onErn*s feet, and Bster sat as %lose to Fatty as he %old Ern %ae to the end of a %ha'ter, andloo&ed ' in +reat %ontent 0e was 'erfe%tly ha''y 0e had a friend, a do+, a +ood $oo&, andsoewhere iet to read Ern +ae an enoros si+h and went $a%& to his $oo&, thin&in+ howl%&y he was to hae a %leer friend li&e Fatty=e;t ornin+ Ern wo&e ' feelin+ e;%ited 0e sat ' on the %a'-$ed in the shed tryin+ toree$er the reason for his e;%iteent !Of %orse - Fatty and " are +oin+ ' to that Banshee'la%e a+ain - and " shall see those +rand 'i%tres,! he tho+ht, in deli+ht !Bin+o - do yo hearthat3 9h, don*t $ar& too lodly =o$ody st &now we*re here "*e told yo that $efore!

Bin+o had sn++led down on Ern*s feet all ni+ht lon+ 0e sat ', yawnin+, wonderin+ when hisfriend Bster wold %oe Bin+o tho+ht the world of Bster, and %o'ied hi in eery way he%old, een to r$$in+ his nose with his left 'aw, instead of his ri+ht one 0e %rawled oer Ern*s&nees and +ae hi a sa%&in+ li%& on the nose Then he rolled oer to $e ti%&led!Do yo &now soethin+, Bin+o3! said Ern, solenly !?i+ht now " a feelin+ ery ery sorry forall those $oys and +irls who haen*t a do+ of their own They 2st don*t &now what they*re issin+=ow then - that*s eno+h li%&in+


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a+o .hat ade the $anshee $e+in to wail a+ain - did she %oneniently find her oi%e si; yearsa+o, when the %atalo+e was 'rinted, and this 'la%e was thrown o'en to the '$li%3 !!Are yo tryin+ to say that the $anshee isn*t real - that she*s a frad3! said the an, an+rily !.ell,yo as& the tall, dar& an yo*ll see in the Aror ?oo today - 4he*ll4 soon 't yo ri+ht 0eowns this 'la%e, see - and 4he4 o+ht to &now a$ot the $anshee, didn*t he3!!Ah, now that*s inforation worth hain+,! said Fatty, loo&in+ 'leased !"*ll %ertainly hae a %hatwith the an who owns the 'la%e 4and4 the $anshee too Than&s a lot .hat*s his nae3!!0e*s an Astrian,! said the an, still ery %ross !=ae of En+ler And " ho'e he wi'es the floorwith yo, yo fat nisan%e/!!=ow, now/! said Fatty, raisin+ a fin+er in re'roof, 2st as if he were a nrse addressin+ a %hild!=ow, now - stn*t $e rde Mstn*t lose te'ers/ Don*t want to 't yo into a %orner/!

And with that Fatty ar%hed off to 't the do+s into the shed, leain+ a ost irritated an $ehindhi, and a%%o'anied $y a rather s%ared $t ost adirin+ Ern!" don*t &now how yo %an hold yor own li&e that, Fatty,! he said !9trai+ht " don*t Loo& - there*s

the Fren%han we saw yesterday .onder how he*s +ot on with the 'i%tre he was %o'yin+!!4Bon2or,4! said Fatty 'olitely to the Fren%han, who was hrryin+ down the +reat hall, %arryin+a rolled-' %anas !Finished yor 'i%tre3!!Ah, 4$on2or, on ai4/! said the Fren%han !o %oe $a%& so soon3!!.ell, y friend here loes the sea-'i%tres,! said Fatty !o see, he wants to +o into the =ay,so anythin+ to do with the sea attra%ts hi, een if it*s only 'i%tres .on*t yo show s the %o'yyo ade of that +rand 'i%tre3 "s that it yo are %arryin+3!!es, yes, $t " st hrry, or " wold show it to yo,! said the Fren%han, +iin+ a 'olite little$ow !9oeone awaits e otside 4A reoir/4 .e shall eet a+ain if yo %oe often to this

'la%e " a always here/!0e s%rried off Fatty loo&ed after hi tho+htflly Fnny little an/ 0e loo&ed rond for theowner of the 'la%e, the Astrian %alled - what was it now - oh yes, En+ler That st $e the anoer there, in the Aror ?oo Tall Dar& Forei+n-loo&in+ 0e loo&ed a hard sort of an Better$e %arefl of hi/!o +o and hae a loo& at yor a+nifi%ent sea-'i%tre, Ern,! said Fatty !"*ll +o and tal& to the

Astrian owner " want to as& hi a few estions a$ot $anshees!!?i+ht,! said Ern, and wandered off ha''ily rond the $i+ roo, loo&in+ at this 'i%tre and that,sain+ his faorite 'i%tre to the last

0e %ae to it eentally, and stood in front of it, +ain+ at the +reat hi+h %liff, the swirlin+ waes,the +ri ro%&s 0e stared at the sea-+lls tossed $y the te'estos wind, and ia+ined hiselfin a $oat on that an+ry sea, swe't $y foain+ waes, the wind howlin+ in his ears 0a - if only

4he4 %old 'aint a 'i%tre li&e that/ "t wold $e alost $etter than +oin+ into the =ay =o - onse%ond tho+hts he*d 4rather4 +o to seaErn stood for soe tie o''osite the 'i%tre Then sddenly a 'led loo& %ae oer his fa%e0e stood %loser to the 'i%tre and 'eered at the sea fro this side and that 0e s%rat%hed hishead 0e stood frther $a%& Then he went to one side and stood there, and then to the otherside, s%rewin+ ' his eyes as if he were tryin+ to see soethin+ 0e shoo& his head and frowned


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!"*ll hae to find Fatty,! he said at last !"t*s a 'le, this is 6an*t a&e it ot/ .here 4is4 Fatty3Oh, there he is, tal&in+ to that an, Fatty/ FATT/ 0ere, "*e +ot soethin+ to as& yo/!

11 - E?=*9 EE? D"96O7E?

Fatty had stdied the Astrian owner of Banshee Towers, and had de%ided that he didn*t loo& to$e the ty'e that sally $o+ht old 'la%es 2st $e%ase they were $eatifl/ !0e*s a shar'$siness an, if " eer saw one/! tho+ht Fatty !"t $eats e why he $o+ht this ot-of-the-way'la%e 0e %an*t a&e %h oney ot of isitors, e;%e't for a onth or two in the ser "wonder if he owns the 'i%tres as well!The Astrian was sittin+ on the $i+ settee $ehind whi%h the %hildren had hidden the day $efore0e was stdyin+ a %atalo+e of soe sort, frownin+ oer it 0e was $i+ and $rly, with +reateye$rows and a $i+ noseFatty went ' to hi, and s'o&e in his 'olitest oi%e !E;%se e, sir, for interr'tin+ - $t "

$eliee yo own this a+nifi%ent old 'la%e3!!.hat - er - dear e, yo startled e/! said the an, in a ery dee' oi%e, with a de%idedlyforei+n a%%ent !es, y $oy, " own it Bt, alas, it was a $ad $ar+ain 9o few isitors %oe to seeit!!" s''ose they %oe $e%ase they ho'e to hear the .ailin+ Banshee,! said Fatty !.e heard ityesterday - a ery fine 'erforan%e, sir 7ery fine Best wailin+ " eer heard/ 0ow is it done, sir3!!Done3 My $oy, who &nows anythin+ a$ot the 'oor, 'oor nha''y $anshees3! said the an!.ho &nows how or why they wail3 !!.ell, in these days, sir, " e;'e%t they wail $e%ase their a%hinery is started ',! said Fatty,

ne;'e%tedly !" ean - odern $anshees are all 'reten%e, aren*t they3!!6ertainly =OT,! said the an an+rily !o thin& " a a frad3 o thin& y $anshee does note;ist3 " own a ery fine $anshee - 'oor 'oor thin+, how she wails/ "t rends the heart/!!Let e see now - $anshees are s''osed only to wail $e%ase they want to warn the owner ofthe 'la%e that soethin+ terri$le is +oin+ to ha''en to hi, aren*t they3! said Fatty, 'ttin+ on hisost inno%ent e;'ression !o &now, sir, " heard her wailin+ yesterday, and " ho'ed soe$odywold warn yo that tro$le and nha''iness i+ht $e %oin+ to yo Of %orse, that woldn*t $eso if it wasn*t a 4real4 $anshee - $t si'ly soe &ind of a%hinery, sir - $t yo are %ertain itisn*t3!!My $oy, " +ie yo leae to +o into eery roo in Banshee Towers, and to loo& into eery hole

and %orner and %ranny there, to see if there is any a%hinery,! said Mr En+ler, solenly!Oh, than& yo, sir, that*s ery &ind of yo, $t "*ll ta&e yor word for it that yo*e no a%hineryhidden in any of the roos,! said Fatty !Let*s %han+e the s$2e%t, sir .hat wonderfl sea-'i%tres there are here/ .hat %olle%tion are they fro, sir3 " don*t re%o+nie any of the!!.ell, yo see to $e an intelli+ent $oy,! said the Astrian, o$iosly str%& $y Fatty*s ready%onersation !9o "*ll tell yo They are fro a faos %olle%tion of 'i%tres in 6ont Ldwi+*s%astle in Astria 0e is a %osin of ine, and he has lent e the 'i%tres to attra%t isitors toBanshee Towers A trly wonderfl %olle%tion - $t alas, few 'eo'le loo& at the 'i%tres 8st a


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few artists to %o'y the - and one or two isitors li&e yorself noti%e the!!They are worth a lot of oney, " s''ose3! said Fatty!Oh yes, yes - thosands of 'onds/! said Mr En+ler!" wonder yo dare to ris& the %han%e of soe thief %oin+ here to steal the,! said Fatty!=ow, y $oy - se yor sense,! said Mr En+ler !"t is not easy to ta&e +reat 'i%tres li&e thesefro their fraes and %arry the off nnoti%ed/ 0a - wold 4yo4 $e a$le to do it3!"t was at this ery oent that Ern de%ided to +o and find Fatty Mr En+ler 2'ed when Ern*soi%e %ae into the roo, sondin+ r+ent!Fatty/ Fatty, here/ "*e +ot soethin+ to as& yo/!!E;%se e, sir - that*s y friend "*d $etter +o and see what he wants,! said Fatty, sr'rised tosee Ern loo&in+ so a+itated !Than& yo for +iin+ e so %h inforation 7ery &ind of yo!0e went oer to Ern !Ern/ .hat is it3 =ow don*t $lrt it ot at the to' of yor oi%e, for +oodness

sa&e 6oe into the hall and tell e ietly!!.ell, Fatty, yo &now that sea-'i%tre " li&ed so %h - the one " showed yo yesterday, with thehi+h %liffs and the swirlin+ sea $elow3!!es, " ree$er it ite well "t*s still oer there,! said Fatty, wain+ an ar towards it!es - well, there*s soethin+ ery eer a$ot it today,! said Ern, a+itated !6oe and loo&!!.hat do yo ean - eer3! as&ed Fatty, sr'rised, as they %ae ' to the 'i%tre!9oethin+*s +one ot of it,! said Ern !9oethin+ " noti%ed 'arti%larly yesterday, Fatty "t*s notthere today, strai+ht it isn*t/!

!.ell, what 4was4 it3! as&ed Fatty, e;as'erated !The 'i%tre loo&s 4e;a%tly4 the sae to e/!!Fatty, " 'roise yo "* tellin+ the trth,! said Ern !" 'roise yo/ =ow loo& - see that ro%& there- and the sea swirlin+ ' to it - and that wae %oin+ ' $ehind3 .ell, Fatty, 4yesterday therewas a little red $oat4 'ainted on that wae, with two tiny sailors in it " noti%ed it 'arti%larly, and "tho+ht to eself, well, the artist 't in that $oat 2st so*s 'eo'le loo&in+ at his 'i%tre woldrealie how enoros the %liffs were, and how +rand the sea was, swirlin+ rond the ro%&s 9ee3"f the artist hadn*t 't a $oat there, " woldn*t hae &nown how stee' and hi+h the %liffs were, so -so!!9o the 'i%tre wold hae lost soe of its +rander, yo ean,! said Fatty, with %h interest!Ern, this is, as yo say, ery eer "n fa%t, ost 'e%liar 4.hy4 did soeone 'aint ot that

$oat3 "t st hae $een the Fren%han who did it, of %orse!!erha's he doesn*t li&e $oats,! said Ern !May$e he +ets seasi%& Bt Fatty, yo %an*t see anyar&s where he i+ht hae washed the $oat off the 'i%tre, or 'ainted it ot with +reens or $les/That*s what $eats e/!!"t %ertainly is ery stran+e,! said Fatty, e;treely 'led !o really 4are4 ite sre, Ern, thatthe $oat was there yesterday3!!.ell, Bets was with e when we loo&ed %areflly at the 'i%tre! said Ern !9he li&ed the 'aintin+


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too " e;'e%t she*d ree$er the $oat all ri+ht .e*ll as& her!!Ern, listen - don*t ention this to anyone - not to anyone at all! said Fatty !" %an*t at the oentthin& why anyone shold reoe - or wash ot - a $oat fro a sea-'i%tre, $t "*d li&e to thin&a$ot it $efore we tell anyone 9ee3!!?i+ht,! said Ern !=ow "*ll +o and loo& at soe of the others May$e 4all4 the $oats hae $eenreoed/! Bt no - those 'i%tres that had $oats in the, still had their $oats - and their %lods -and their waes Ern %old see nothin+ issin+ in the =or %old Fatty!Loo& - there*s the Fren%han who was %o'yin+ the 'i%tre yesterday,! said Ern sddenly !0e*s%o'yin+ that sall one oer there now Let*s +o and as& hi if 4he4 reoed that little $oat frothe $i+ 'i%tre!Bt $efore they %old +et to hi, Mr En+ler, the Astrian, had +one oer to hi, and was in %lose%onersation Then the two en arose and went into the Aror ?oo, finally disa''earin+ into asall roo $eyond!=o $anshee wailin+ today, Fatty,! said Ern, with a +rin, as they wal&ed rond the show of sea-'i%tres

!=ot the ri+ht day/! said Fatty, and iediately fell into s%h dee' tho+ht that he didn*t hear aword of what Ern was sayin+ to hi 4!=ot the ri+ht day3!4 .hy was one s'e%ial day of the wee&the !ri+ht! day3 Fatty didn*t $eliee in the Banshee, een altho+h he had felt ery s%ared when ithad wailed the day $efore!Ern, " hae a feelin+ "*d li&e to +o and hae a loo& down that tra'-door hole a+ain,! he said,sddenly !o &ee' wat%h for e, see, and +ie a whistle if yo see anyone %oin+ All theartists are +one e;%e't that Fren%han, and as far as " %an see he*s hain+ a +ood heart-to-hearttal& with Mr En+ler - +oodness &nows what a$ot " wish " did/!0e and Ern went into the Aror ?oo, and Ern stationed hiself in the iddle, so that he %oldwat%h all doors, and hear anyone a''roa%hin+ fro any dire%tion Fatty went ietly to the +reat

fire'la%e 0e ana+ed to oe the %aldron to one side, and saw the tra'-door nderneath as$efore 0e trned to Ern !Eerythin+ safe3! he said, and Ern nodded =ot a footste' was to $eheard anywhere, %oin+ a%ross the stone floors, not a oi%e e%hoedFatty 'lled ' the tra'-door lid, and 'eered down es - there were ste's leadin+ downwards Towhat3 To the $anshee - and ay$e her a%hinery3 .here was the 4lower4 entran%e to this'assa+e thro+h the hill - the one the do+s st hae fond and ta&en to +et ' to BansheeTowers, and s%ra$$le a$ot nder the tra'-door3 "t st $e a ery well-hidden one, soewhereon the deserted hillside/Fatty wished he dared to +o down the ste's and see what he %old find Bt he i+ht $e a lon+tie +one, and he %oldn*t leae Ern $ehind =or did he want to ta&e Ern with hi =either ofthe had tor%hes, and it wold $e dan+eros

0e heard a sdden hiss fro Ern, and stood ' at on%e There was 2st tie to sht the tra'-doorand re'la%e the +reat iron %aldron, so that the tra'-door lid %old not $e seen/8st in tie/ Footste's sonded in the little roo $eyond, and oi%es Mr En+ler and the artistwere %oin+ $a%&/ Fatty $e%&oned to Ern and the two fled into the hall and then thro+h thetrnstiles The trnstile an was not there and to Fatty*s sr'rise he sddenly saw hi wal&in+ot of the hall-entran%e with Mr En+ler and the artist/!9o they are all three $ddies,! tho+ht Fatty !.ell, " don*t &now what it eans, $t it eans


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4soe4thin+/ "*e +ot to wor& all this ot, soehow "t*s %ertainly addin+ ' to a ystery of soesort - $t " %an*t for the life of e see what or why or how/!0e and Ern went to +et the two do+s, who, tired of $ein+ in the shed, were whinin+ and 'awin+ atthe +ate They $ar&ed franti%ally and 2oyflly when the two $oys %ae ' They ho''ed into their$o;es on the rear d+ards and Fatty and Ern were soon sailin+ dan+erosly fast down thestee' Banshee 0ill!" thin& "*ll %all a Meetin+ toorrow,! Fatty said to Ern !9oethin+*s +oin+ on ' there that " %an*ta&e head or tail of "f we +et the others to hear what we hae to say and we all tal& a$ot it, wei+ht see dayli+ht


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!Ern went to loo& at that $i+ sea-'i%tre that he and Bets li&ed so %h,! he said !Do yoree$er it, Bets3!!Oh 4yes4 - eery $it of it "t was loely/! said Bets!.ell, des%ri$e it,! said Fatty !And don*t leae een the sallest detail ot, Bets "t*s i'ortant!!"t was a 'i%tre of a story sea, with waes lashin+ a+ainst a ery hi+h %liff,! said Bets !The s&ywas $le in 'arts, and white in others "t was so fll of s'ray that it alost ade e feel wet!!Anythin+ else3! as&ed Fatty!.ell no - e;%e't that there was a tiny red $oat $o$$in+ on a wae! said Bets !.hen " saw that "sddenly realied how enoros the %liff was, and " tho+ht the artist st hae 't it there on'r'ose - to a&e the %liff +rander and the sea ore - well, ore a+nifi%ent, yo &now!!Bets - that*s 2st what we wanted yo to ree$er - the 4$oat4,! said Fatty, !$e%ase the $oat isthe only %le we hae That little $oat is no lon+er in the 'i%tre "t*s +one "t isn*t there/!

There was an astonished silen%e !.ell, what*s ha''ened to it3! said i' at last !Did soe artistthere wash it ot - or 'aint oer it3 erha's he didn*t li&e it3!!=o, he didn*t wash it ot, it sees,! said Fatty !There are 4no4 ar&s and 4no4 erasres =ow -isn*t that a 'e%liar little Mystery3!!"t*s i'ossi$le/! said i' !erha's Bets and Ern are ista&en - the little $oat st hae $een inanother of the sea-'i%tres After all, there are asses of the ' in that $i+ hall!!es 4That*s4 the soltion/! said Larry !"t*s o$ios/ Ern*s ista&in+ one 'i%tre for anotherThere st $e 4another4 'i%tre there, with the little $oat in it - there %an*t hae $een a $oat inthe one Ern thin&s there was es, " 4&now4 that Bets saw it as well - $t she too ay hae seenit in a different 'i%tre, that*s all After all, she didn*t +o ' with yo and Ern yesterday "f she had,

she wold 'ro$a$ly hae 'ointed ot that it was in a different 'i%tre, and een ta&en yo to it!!" tell yo,! said Ern, e;as'erated, !" tell yo the $oat was in T0AT A?T"6LA? "6T?E "9A. E9TE?DA A=D T0E DA BEFO?E " o+ht to &now/ " stood in front of it for a+es " feelas if " %old alost 'aint the sae 'i%tre yself/!!All ri+ht, Ern, %al down,! said Fatty !=ow, Find-Oters, any ideas3!!o*re 4sre4, Ern, that it*s the sae 'i%tre, and is in e;a%tly the sae 'la%e3! as&ed Daisy!9ae %liffs, sae waes, sae s&y, sae frae, eerythin+3!!9ae eerythin+,! said Ern, rather sl&ily !


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the 'i%tres loo& ery ali&e - they are 4all4 sea-'i%tres with waes and %liffs and s&ies and shi's"*d rather li&e to sole this 'arti%lar little ystery - not leae it in the air "t*s a ni%e day - we %old%y%le ' a+ain!!es Let*s do that,! said i' !.hat do yo say Ern3!!


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!Find, Bster/ Find the hole yo dis%oered the other day/! ordered Fatty !F"=D/!0e 'ointed here and there oer the hill Bster still stood with his ears %o%&ed, his head on oneside, tryin+ his hardest to nderstand what his aster wanted "t sddenly dawned on hi thatthere was a hole soewhere - the hole he and Bin+o had fond - 'erha's that was what Fattywanted3 A hole/0e +ae a shar' little $ar&, and ran a little way 'hill 0e stood there, loo&in+ fro side to side,sniffin+ the wind Bin+o %ae to 2oin hi, tho+h he hadn*t the faintest idea of what Fatty wantedBster +ae another short $ar&, and ran to the ri+ht, and then ade for a +reat $sh thatoerhn+ a stee' 'art of the hill Bin+o followed, ya''in+!6oe on - " thin& old Bster has nderstood what " eant,! said Fatty, and he and the others%li$ed ' the hill, soon $e%oin+ ot of $reath, for it was ery stee' 2st there They had%areflly hidden their $i%y%les nder soe thi%& $shes, a little lower downBoth do+s had disa''eared/ Fatty yelled lodly !B9TE?/ .here are yo3 B9TE?/!Bster a''eared $y the oerhan+in+ $sh, and $ar&ed Bin+o a''eared and $ar&ed too .hat

Bster did, he had to do as well/!6oe on,! said Fatty !" thin& Bster*s fond what we want/ .hew - loo& here, nder this $sh -a +reat hole/ " $et Bster tho+ht it was a +iant ra$$it-hole " hae a feelin+ that this is where

4we4 disa''ear - into the heart of the hill Let*s ho'e we %oe ' in the ri+ht 'la%e/ Follow e,eery$ody/!

And there they +o, one $y one Be %arefl, Fatty - there ay $e dan+er ahead/

1 - T0E A99A


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!"t*s all ri+ht, Bster! said Fatty !Only the e%ho 6arry on/!!6arry-on, arry-on - on - on/! said the e%ho, and the do+s $ar&ed an+rily That was worse still, of%orse/ The ro%&y 'assa+e was iediately fll of wild $ar&s, and the do+s were ery fri+htenedindeed .as this 'la%e fll of hndreds of do+s3 They ade their way $a%& to Fatty in alar, andhe 'atted the, and s'o&e ietly, tryin+ to defeat the %rios e%ho!=ow, now - it*s all ri+ht


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0e trned the wheel to the ri+ht =othin+ ha''ened 0e trned it to the left - and, ery sddenlyindeed, soethin+ $e+an to wor& inside the a%hinery - %lan& - %li%& - %lon& - %li%& - %ln&!"t*s wor&in+/ Trn it off, i%&/! %ried Bets, afraid of what i+ht ha''en Bt Fatty didn*t 0ewat%hed the a%hine, a little +rin on his fa%e Oh, Fatty, Fatty - yo &now ite well what yo*edone/The $alloon-thin+ $e+an to oe Bster saw it tre$lin+, and he +rowled and showed his teethBin+o iediately did the sae The $alloon +rew $i++er and $i++er - and then %ae anotherlod %li%&, and soethin+ fell into 'la%e and $e+an whinin+ The %hildren %oldn*t see what it was!" $et that*s the a'lifier +ettin+ ready to wor&/! said Fatty, his eyes +leain+ !.e*ll hearsoethin+ in a inte Don*t $e s%ared, little Bets "t*s only a%hinery Ah - here we +o/!

And then, fro the now flly-inflated $alloon, %ae a weird, nha''y sond - a wailin+ that heldeeryone s'ell$ond, it seeed so han/ Bets too& Fatty*s hand at on%e, fri+htened at thestran+e noise "t sonded so ery ery heart-rendin+!"t*s only a ery %leer tri%&, Bets,! said Fatty, in a low oi%e !8st a $it of a%hinery - and a

s'e%ially fitted-' $alloon - and an a'lifier to a&e the wails ery lod indeed All fitted neatlyinto a ost %onenient nder+rond hole in a ro%& " wonder if Mr En+ler is at the $otto of this/!!Oh Fatty - LEA9E sto' the a%hine/! $e++ed Bets !" 0ATE this wailin+ " 0ATE it!Fatty 'lled a little leer The a%hinery slowed down The $alloon +radally deflated The wailin++rew slower and softer, and then sto''ed alto+ether There was a arellos silen%e, andeeryone en2oyed the sdden 'ea%e Bets heaed an enoros si+h!Ooooooooo/ " shall neer hear a ore horri$le noise in all y life than that wailin+ Fatty, no real$anshee %old eer hae wailed li&e that, srely!!" shold find it ery diffi%lt to $eliee in a real $anshee, Bets,! said Fatty, e;ainin+ the

a%hinery %areflly, $y the li+ht of his tor%h !" een find it diffi%lt to $eliee in a an li&e En+ler,who is wi%&ed eno+h to ri+ ' a thin+ li&e this Bt nfortnately, 4he*s4 real eno+h/ .ell, whatdo we do now3!!Fatty, 'lease let*s +o ' thro+h the tra'-door if we %an, and hae a loo& at those 'i%tresa+ain,! $e++ed Ern !" do want to see if Bets ree$ers the one that the $oat was in "f she does,"*ll &now "* ri+ht a$ot it "f she doesn*t - well, then there*s no ystery "* $e+innin+ to ho'ethere isn*t/ .hat with $anshees, and disa''earin+ $oats, and hidden a%hinery " feel rather si%&/!!.ell, don*t $e si%& in here Ern, there really isn*t roo/! said Fatty, $ris&ly !?i+ht - we*ll +o 'thro+h the tra'-door - 'roidin+ no$ody*s a$ot Bt " thin& that if there had $een, we sholdhae had a isitor down here 'retty i%&ly, tryin+ to find ot .0 the $anshee wailed all on herown/ " hae a feelin+ that the 'la%e really 4is4 sht ' today!

Fatty went to an o'enin+ in the frthest wall of the eer little ro%&-roo, and shone his tor%h intoit !8st as " tho+ht/! he annon%ed !9te's/ 9te's %t into the ro%&, 2st li&e a ladder/ " $et it*sthe ste's we saw leadin+ down fro that hole in the hearth, where the tra'-door was/!The others %rowded rond hi es - there were the ste's that they had seen the other day froa$oe/ !"*ll +o first,! said Fatty !Better a&e no noise, 2st in 4%ase4 anyone*s a$ot Bt " feel%ertain there isn*t, or whoeer was here wold hae %oe rshin+ to see why the $ansheea%hinery was sddenly wor&in+/!


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Eeryone was silent as Fatty %li$ed the ro%&y ste's 0e soon %ae to the to', $t %old seenothin+ a$oe his head $t the tra'-door set firly in its 'la%e !0ere +oes/! said Fatty, and +aeit a 'sh 'wards "t 'set the iron %aldron standin+ oer it and this fell oer on its side with aterrifi% %latter that s%ared Fatty alost as %h as it fri+htened the others down $elow/0e stood at the to' of the ste's, listenin+ To his enoros relief he %old hear nothin+ - noshots of sr'rise, no %latter of rnnin+ feet - nothin+/ The 'la%e st $e %o'letely e'ty .ell,than& +oodness for 4that4/Fatty %li$ed ot of the tra'-door hole and loo&ed rond The 'la%e seeed a$soltely deserted.ell, now they %old e;aine the 'i%tres to their heart*s %ontent - and ay$e sole the ysteryof the issin+ $oat/One $y one he haled the others ' fro the hole in the hearth The do+s were handed ' last ofall $y Ern, and were ery +lad to s%rry arond and stret%h their le+s 'ro'erly/ 0ow they hadhated that wailin+/!" want to loo& at that loely sea-'i%tre,! said Bets, at on%e !Ern, %oe with e!9he and Ern hrried thro+h the Aror ?oo into the +reat hall where the 'i%tres hn+ es -

there they all were, in their $les and +reens, snshiny, story, windy, soe of the stret%hin+fro floor to %eilin+!0ere*s that $oat-'i%tre,! %alled Ern, standin+ in front of it !Do yo ree$er it, Bets3!!Oh 4yes4/! said Bets !es - there was a little red $oat that*s not there now " 4&now4 there wasone, Ern, it was on this wae here, wasn*t it3! And Bets to%hed one of the waes not far fro the$otto of the 'i%tre!es/! said Ern, tri'hantly !That*s 4e;a%tly4 where it was, Bets " told yo that, didn*t ", Fatty3=ow Bets has told yo too .e %an*t $oth $e wron+/!!Fatty - where do yo thin& the $oat has +one3! said Bets, really 'led !"t doesn*t loo& as if it*s

$een washed ot or 'ainted oer!!A $i+ wae 'ro$a$ly %a+ht it and it san& to the $otto,! said i', solenly !That*s the si'leste;'lanation, Bets!!Don*t $e so 4silly4/! said Bets, ite worried oer the anished $oat !Fatty, "*d li&e to loo& atsoe of the other 'i%tres too!Bt $efore they %old do that, do+s, who had $een wanderin+ ha''ily a$ot to+ether, sddenlystood still and $e+an to +rowl, their ha%&les risin+ on their ne%&s Fatty shshed eeryone aton%e!


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Footste's %ae to the door of the roo and a oi%e sna''ed ot !9tand where yo are/ .hat*sall this3 0ow did yo +et in, yo $oys/ Answer e at on%e/!

1 - ?"9O=E?9 - 4=O.4 .0AT 6A= BE DO=E3

"t was Mr En+ler who stood there, shotin+/ 0e loo&ed e;treely an+ry, and his fa%e was eryred Behind hi stood the trnstile an, a sneerin+ sile on his fa%e Bster flew at the, withBin+o $ehind hi, and $oth do+s were &i%&ed hard $y the two en, and howled in 'ain!6all off these do+s, or "*ll &ill the,! said Mr En+ler, 'llin+ a +reat sword fro the wall, where ithad $een han+in+!9"T, Bster, 9"T, Bin+o/! shoted Fatty, his heart %old with fear To his enoros relief $oth do+ssat at on%e, +rowlin+ saa+ely, their ha%&les still ' Than& +oodness Bster had $een trained to$e instantly o$edient, tho+ht Fatty Bin+o, of %orse, had 2st %o'ied Bster 0ow fier%e they$oth loo&ed, showin+ their teeth, lon+in+ to +et at these two en who dared to shot at Fatty and

Ern!


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!o %an a'olo+ie when yo ne;t see e, and hae had tie to thin& what fools yo hae $oth$een,! said Mr En+ler The trnstile an +rinned sar%asti%ally 0e was ery, ery +lad to see that!%hee&y fat $oy! as he tho+ht of hi, standin+ there, %a+ht so easily!Tie the ',! said Mr En+ler, to the trnstile an !"* +oin+ to see if ossin is there 0e*sa$ot de now!Fatty wondered who ossin was "t was a Fren%h nae, so ay$e it was the Fren%h artist 0estood waitin+ for the trnstile an to tie ' hi and Ern !


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as their %ords seeed to +et ti+hter and ti+hter They li%&ed the $oys* fa%es, and whined 'itifllyFatty rolled to a settee and $y eans of sin+ his tied hands, ana+ed to +et hiself into asittin+ 'osition 0e then stood ' on his tied feet and $e+an to ho' to a window that oerloo&edthe yard otside0e was interested to see a sall an there - a 'lain dar& $le one Flint, the trnstile an, sthae 2st finished loadin+ it for he was at that oent slain+ the door at the $a%& Then hewent to the front, ho''ed into the drier*s seat, and started ' the en+ine At the sae tie a %ardroe ' $ehind it, and the two droe off to+ether Fatty i%&ly eoried the n$ers of thean and of the %ar!8BL - and O? >K>,! he ttered !


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!"* +oin+ to se an old tri%& - one "*e sed $efore, Ern,! said Fatty 0e went to the ta$le andtoo& a %atalo+e fro the 'ile there 0e tore ot the iddle 'a+es, leain+ only the stiff oter%oers These he too& oer to the door, &nelt down a+ain and 'shed the flat nderneath it, sothat the +reater 'art of the %oers was on the other side of the doorThen he stood ', and, with the end of his 'en&nife $lade, 2i++led the &ey in the lo%& ntil it was ina 'osition for hi to +ie it a 'sh, and send it ot on the other side of the door/ The &ey 'ro'tlyfell ot - and there was a little thd as it landed on the floor at the $otto of the door Bster andBin+o $ar&ed lodly .hat was ha''enin+ now3!


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51/63

$oo& lay on a ta$le $eside the $edFatty 'i%&ed it ' !At a +ess " shold say this $oo& was a Fren%h one/! he said 0e loo&ed downat it and nodded !es - all a$ot faos 6ontinental 'i%tres - es'e%ially 'i%tres of the sea/!Fatty trned to the flyleaf at the $e+innin+ of the $oo& !And here the owner has &indly written hisnae - it $elon+s to that Fren%h artist, of %orse - and here is his address - Fran%ois 0enri Ortalo,J1, ?e 6arnot, aris 7ery ni%e of hi to leae it so handy/ "nterestin+ to see that Mr En+ler has+ien hi s%h a ni%e roo to lie in, too 0e st $e ery sefl to hi/!!Oh, do sto' essin+ a$ot with $oo&s and letters/! said Ern des'arin+ly !" want to +o/ " hate this'la%e At any oent " e;'e%t to hear that awfl $anshee-wail!!All ri+ht, Ern, we*ll +o,! said Fatty, s%ri$$lin+ i%&ly a+ain in his note$oo& !" thin& we*d $ettera&e orseles s%ar%e, anyway, in %ase Mr En+ler 'o's $a%& a+ain thro+h the front door " don*tfeel in%lined to eet hi a+ain today " don*t li&e his anners/!!0e*s a $east,! said Ern !My an&les still feel as if "*e $een rnnin+ for iles, they a%he so, wherethey were tied!!Ah well,! said Fatty, sna''in+ sht his note$oo& !.e*ll soon for+et or wrists and an&les

A%tally "* feelin+ rather $%&ed " thin& "*e now +ot the whole ystery wra''ed ' ery neatlyindeed/!!o*re $oastin+ Fatty/! said Ern, dis$eliein+ly !.hat a$ot the little 'ainted $oat thatdisa''eared fro that 'i%tre downstairs3 " $et yo don*t &now how 4that4 ha''ened3!!.ell, we*ll see,! said Fatty !" really thin& "* $e+innin+ to see dayli+ht/ .e*ll +o hoe now andfind the others and tell the what we*e fond Let*s see - they had to es%a'e down thatnder+rond 'assa+e in the hill - and find their $i&es - and then ride hoe!!.ell, nless they sto''ed on the way to hae i%e-%reas or soethin+, they will $e hoe $efores,! said Ern

!They*d hardly sto' for i%e-%reas when they &new we were in tro$le/! said Fatty!=o, " for+ot that,! said Ern !6oe on - let*s +o downstairs, sli' ot of the front door with thedo+s, and rn down the hill to where we left or $i&es nderneath that $sh!They went down the stairs with the two e;%ited do+s, $oth wa++in+ their tails adly, tho+h asErn 'ointed ot, Bin+o*s tail 4waed4 rather than wa++ed, it was so ery ery lon+/They o'ened the front door and sli''ed ot, shttin+ it ietly $ehind the They ade their way%atiosly down the hill, &ee'in+ %lose to the hed+es, half-afraid of seein+ Mr En+ler and his%o'anions soewhere a$ot The two do+s, sensin+ that all was not ite ri+ht with theirasters, 'ressed %lose to their heels, and didn*t een atte't to +o sniffin+ for ra$$its

At last they %ae to where they had left their $i%y%les, hidden in $shes They loo&ed rond forthe $i%y%les $elon+in+ to the other for, $t they were +one!


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y n%le


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Bt $efore they %old really settle down to it, soeone %ae &no%&in+ at the shed door, o'ened itand loo&ed in !Frederi%&, are yo there3 There*s soeone on the tele'hone for yo!!Oh, Mother, %an*t yo say "* $sy or soethin+/! said Fatty, e;as'erated !.e*re 89T startin+a ost 4i'ortant4 Meetin+ 4?eally4 i'ortant!!All ri+ht dear, "*ll +o $a%& and tell 6hief "ns'e%tor 8en&s what yo say,! said his other, and shtthe doorBt Fatty lea't ' with a yell !MOT0E?/ .ait/ o didn*t say it was "ns'e%tor 8en&s/ Mother, "*%oin+ strai+htaway/!Ern loo&ed rond at the others, as Fatty shot ot of the door at to' s'eed, Bster at his heels !"$et the "ns'e%tor*s heard of or dis%oeries at Banshee Towers,! he said, 'leased !" e;'e%t hewants to as& Fatty a whole lot of estions Fnny how old Fatty always sees to +et in on thin+sfirst, isn*t it3 My word, yo wait till Fatty tells yo what we dis%oered this ornin+/!Fatty ran all the way ' the +arden to his hose, his ind %onnin+ oer li&ely reasons for the6hief "ns'e%tor*s tele'hone %all

!ro$a$ly he*s heard a$ot the Banshee Towers* +oin+s-on - the wailin+ $anshee, for instan%e -and ay$e he*s ss'i%ios of Mr En+ler*s doin+ .ell, " %an %ertainly +ie hi soe '-to-dateinforation,! tho+ht Fatty, feelin+ 'leased0e ran to the tele'hone and 'i%&ed ' the re%eier !6hief "ns'e%tor 8en&s3 Frederi%& Trotteillehere, sir 9orry to &ee' yo waitin+!!Frederi%&, "*ll %oe to the 'oint at on%e,! said the 6hief !"* sorry to say "*e had a serios%o'laint a$ot yo " e;'e%t yo hae a 'erfe%tly +ood e;'lanation, and " sin%erely ho'e yohae!Fatty felt ost alared !.hat*s all this a$ot, sir3! he as&ed, $ewildered

!.ell, a%tally there are 4two4 %o'laints/! said the 6hief !One, 4not4 ery serios, fro Mr


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!=othin+ to what 4"4 %old thin& of,! said Ern, +looily !9hotin+ at e and alost deafenin+e 6li''in+ e on the ear shin+ e arond Ta&in+ y!!Listen - soeone*s %oin+,! said Fatty, his ears een shar'er 2st then than those of the do+s !"heard a %ar draw ' otside or front +ate, "* sre!!o %oldn*t hae, Fatty/! said Larry !"t*s ri+ht down the +arden, and!Bt 2st then the two do+s set ' s%h a lod $ar&in+ that no$ody %old hear anyone s'ea&!90T /! shoted Fatty, a&in+ a die for Bster !Do yo want e to $e had ' for %reatin+ anoisy distr$an%e, Bster/ Ern, +et hold of Bin+o They $oth see to hae +one ad!

A lod &no%& %ae at the shed door, and the two do+s alost $ar&ed the 'la%e down Then thedoor o'ened and there stood 6hief "ns'e%tor 8en&s, tall, $rly, &een-eyed - $t not silin+ as hesally was 0e loo&ed rond the little %o'any!Oh - so 4all4 the Find-Oters are here, are they3! he said, and siled Fatty was ost relieedto see that sile erha's the "ns'e%tor wasn*t +oin+ to $e too hard on hi after all

!.ell, little Bets, so yo*re here too, are yo3! said the 6hief "ns'e%tor and 'atted her head 9he%a+ht hold of his hand!"ns'e%tor 8en&s, yo won*t ta&e Fatty to 'rison, will yo3! she said, in a sddenly %ho&y oi%e!0e*s 2st $een wor&in+ hard on a ystery, that*s all .e all hae!!6heer ', Bets - " %oldn*t ta&e hi if " tried/! said the 6hief !0e*s not old eno+h 9till a &id, yo&now - $it too $i+ for his $oots soeties, that*s all .ell, now, how*s eery$ody3 My word,here*s a new do+ .hat*s yor nae, sir3!!Bin+o,! said Ern, with s%h 'ride in his oi%e that eeryone siled !0e*s 4y4 do+, sir My eryown o shold see hi 'lay with Bster here - they*re a 'air, they are!

!0e*s a ni%e do+ Ern,! said the 6hief, and 'atted Bin+o, who iediately rolled oer on his $a%&in deli+ht !" +ather yor n%le doesn*t li&e hi " %an*t ia+ine why!!=or %an ", sir,! said Ern !9ir, yo won*t let y n%le ta&e hi away fro e, or anythin+ li&e that,will yo3!!.e*ll tal& a$ot yo and Bin+o later,! said the "ns'e%tor, !and see what %an $e done "t*sFrederi%& here "* worried a$ot This an, En+ler, Frederi%&, %ertainly has a sond %o'lainta+ainst yo .hat do yo &now a$ot hi3!!" &now a +reat deal,! said Fatty !And ery sr'risin+ it is, sir The others don*t yet &now all thethin+s " &now - 4they*ll4 $e sr'rised too/ " rather thin& yo*ll trn yor attention to Mr En+ler, sir -and one or two others - when "*e finished tellin+ y story/!

"ns'e%tor 8en&s loo&ed ost sr'rised 0e too& ot his 'i'e and $e+an to li+ht it, 'ffin+ otso&e Then he sat $a%& %oforta$ly in his %hair!Tell yor story, Fatty,! he said, in a %h ore friendly tone !"* ready - no e$roidery, ind -

2st the 'lain fa%ts - ones that yo are a$soltely sre of/!Bster sat ' strai+ht, and Bin+o sat ' strai+ht too They were +oin+ to listen with as %hinterest as eeryone else,


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!.ell, sir,! said Fatty, in a ery serios oi%e !"t all started with the disa''earan%e of a tiny $oat ina $i+ 'i%tre!

1H - FATT 9OL7E9 T0E M9TE?/

There was dead silen%e in the shed, as Fatty told the story of the Banshee Mystery!"t all started with the disa''earan%e of a tiny $oat in a $i+ 'i%tre in the i%tre-


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!All ri+ht, sir " %an +ie yo 'lenty of reasons,! said Fatty, $ris&ly !"* 'retty sre that what hedoes is to +et that Fren%h artist to %o'y the 'i%tres he has had lent to hi fro arios Art+alleries all oer the 'la%e Then he ta&es the ori+inal 'i%tre ot of its frae, and rolls it ' - andsti%&s the finished %o'y in its 'la%e - and " st say that Fran%ois Ortalo a&es soe wonderfl%o'ies/!!0e sells the ori+inals soewhere, for a lar+e s of oney, of %orse,! said "ns'e%tor 8en&s!8st what we ss'e%ted - $t %oldn*t 'roe/!!.ell, yo %an 'roe it now, sir,! said Fatty !That Fren%h artist ade a $i+ ista&e when he%o'ied that fine sea-'i%tre that Ern and Bets loed - he for+ot to 't that tiny $oat into the %o'ied'i%tre/ That*s the 4only4 differen%e that Ern and Bets %old see in the two 'i%tres/!!A ery, ery sall oission/! said "ns'e%tor 8en&s !One that i+ht hae +one nnoti%ed foryears - in fa%t, it i+ht 4neer4 hae $een s'otted " don*t thin& anyone $t shar'-eyed %hildrenwold noti%e and ree$er a tiny $oat so %learly/ Ern - " %on+ratlate yo/ o ay $e theeans of %at%hin+ a ery %leer and rear&a$le swindler/!Ern went as red as a $eetroot, tried to say soethin+, and %oldn*t

!Of %orse,! went on the "ns'e%tor, !we want to &now ite a few ore thin+s, $efore we %an%har+e this ro+e with stealin+ erha's yo %an tell e soe of the, Frederi%&3!!.ell " don*t &now, sir,! said Fatty !" 4%an4 tell yo a few thin+s, tho+h The Fren%han*s 4real4nae and address, for instan%e " fond it in a $oo& when " - er - $ro&e into his $edroo!Eeryone stared at Fatty in sr'rise !.hat*s his nae - i%&, +ie it to e,! said the 6hief,o'enin+ a note$oo&!0is nae is Fran%ois 0enri Ortalo, of J1 ?e 6arnot, aris,! said Fatty !0e &nows all a$ot thefaos 'i%tres on the 6ontinent of Ero'e " fond his nae in a $oo& a$ot the!The 6hief +ae a little whistle !Oho - so Fran%ois Ortalo has trned ' here, has he3! he said !"

woldn*t li&e to say how any different %ontries want hi for swindlin+ 'eo'le oer 'i%tres


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!Oh yes,! said the "ns'e%tor !And he st $e a 'oor 2d+e of art - $e%ase altho+h En+lerneer sends hi $a%& his ala$le ori+inal 'i%tres, $t only dd %o'ies, he has a''arently neernoti%ed the differen%e/!!Then he won*t noti%e that the tiny little $oat is issin+ when he +ets the %o'y3! said Bets,aaed!0e %ertainly won*t,! said the %hief !o are %h sarter than he is, little Bets/ And Ern too/!!6an yo %har+e Mr En+ler - and the artist - and 'erha's the trnstile an - with ro$$ery andswindlin+3 !as&ed Fatty!"t*s diffi%lt,! said the "ns'e%tor !"*d feel safer if " %old find ot how he +ets the ori+inal 'i%tressafely ot of the Art


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!And the other was 8olly Bad Lot,! said Fatty !es - O? >K> and 8BL , sir FO? for *air of?o+es/* and 8BL for *8olly Bad Lot* Easy way to ree$er those ehi%les, sir - the lettersdes%ri$ed the o%%'ants so well/!!.ell, " won*t say what a arel " thin& yo are, or yo 4i+ht4 +et a swelled head,! said the"ns'e%tor, 2ottin+ down the n$ers at on%e !Do yo ha''en to hae eoried the n$er of

4y4 %ar in the sae way Fatty3!!es, sir or %ar n$er is 7


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!4That*s4 the way to tal&


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the $anshee st hae $een 'retty s%ared of Ern, and!!Ban+-$an+/! That was Mr


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!Eeee-oooooooo-oh-oh-oh eeeeeeeeeeeee/! wailed Fatty, en2oyin+ hiself thoro+hly otsidethe window Bster $e+an to yel' as soon as he heard Bin+o $ar&in+, and when Fatty $e+ananother set of wails, Mr


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!Oh, Fatty, 'lease don*t a&e 4e4 la+h, too,! said his other, feelin+ a sdden desire to 2oin inthe errient !" don*t &now 4what4 to do with yo, Fatty o*re a $ad lot

Mystery of Banshee Towers

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Transcript of Mystery of Banshee Towers