Mystery of the Missing Man

Enid Blyton - Mystery 13 - Mystery of the Missing Man

Fatty’s News
“I’m going to buy some Easter eggs,” said Pip, at breakfast-time. “Are you
coming too, Bets? Then we might go and call on old Fatty.”
“Oh yes - let’s!” said Bets. “I’ve only seen him once since he came back from
school, and then he was with Mrs. Trotteville and we couldn’t say much.”
“We’ll call in and tell Larry and Daisy to come too,” said Pip. “We might go
and have buns and coffee at the dairy. Mother, do you want anything in the
village?”
“No - unless you like to buy yourself an alarm clock,” said Mrs. Hilton,
buttering her toast. Pip stared.
“What for?” he said. “I’ve got a watch.”
Bets giggled. “You mean he might get up in time for breakfast then, Mother!”
she said.
“Ha! Funny joke,” said Pip. “Anyway, no alarm clock would wake me if I’m
really asleep. Besides, Mother - I’ve only just come back from a very, very
hard term’s work, and as for the exams last weck, well I bet you wouldn’t get
top marks any more than I shall. I’ve not slept well for weeks, worrying about
my marks.”
“I suppose that means that you’ll be somewhere near the bottom again,” said
Pip’s father, putting down his morning paper for a moment. “Well, we shall
know the worst in a few days’ time when your report comes.”
Pip changed the subject quickly - a trick at which he was very good. “Dad,
what do you want for Easter?” he asked. “I did think of getting you some of
that tobacco you like - and Mother, I suppose you wouldn’t like a marzipan
egg, would you, I know you like marzipan, and...”
The trick worked. Both his parents had to smile. His mother tapped hirn an the
hand. “All right, all right, we won’t mention reports till after Easter. And
yes, I do like marzipan. Now, do you want to finish the toast - because if so
I’ll leave you to it. Bets, remember to make your bed and dust your room
before you go out. AND - please don’t forget that dinner is at one o’clock
sharp.”
The telephone bell shrilled out as Mrs. Hilton left the table. She went into
the hall to answer it and called back into the room almost at once.
“It’s Fatty - he wants to speak to one of you. You go, Bets, you’ve finished
your meal.”
Bets flew to the telephone. “Hallo! Hallo, Fatty!”
“Hallo, little Bets!” said a warm, lively voice on the telephone. “What about
meeting somewhere this morning? I’ve got a spot of Easter shopping to do.”
“Oh yes, Fatty!” said Bets eagerly. “Pip and I were just thinking the