The Rat-a-Tat Mystery (The Barney 'R' Mysteries Book 5)

Enid Blyton :
THE RAT-A-TAT MYSTERY
From The Barney 'R' Mysteries
Vol. 5 of 6


Christmas Holidays

“How long do these Christmas holidays last?” said Mr. Lynton, putting his newspaper down as a
loud crash came from upstairs. “I sometimes think I’m living in a madhouse - what are those
children doing upstairs? Are they practicing high jumps or something?”
“I expect it’s Snubby as usual,” said Mrs. Lynton. “He’s supposed to be making his bed. Oh,
dear - there he goes again!”
She went to the door and called up the stairs. “Snubby - what in the world are you doing? You
are making your uncle very angry.”
“Oh - sorry!” shouted back Snubby. “I was only moving things round a bit - and the dressingtable
fell over. I forgot you were underneath. Hey, look out - Loony’s coming down the stairs,
and he’s a bit mad this morning.”
A black spaniel came hurtling down the stairs at top speed and Mrs. Lynton hurriedly got out
of the way. Loony slid all the way along the hall and in at the sitting-room door almost to Mr.
Lynton’s feet. He was most surprised to receive a smart slap on the head from Mr. Lynton’s
folded newspaper. He shot out of the door almost as fast as he had come in.
“What a house!” groaned Mr. Lynton, as his wife came back. “As soon as Snubby arrives peace
and quiet vanish. He makes Diana and Roger three times as bad, too - as for that dog Loony,