The Mystery of Tally - Ho Cottage (Enid Blyton)

At Peterswood Station

1. AT PETERSWOOD STATION

One afternoon, Four children and a dog walked into the little railway station at Peterswood. The dog ran about happily, his tail wagging all the time.
     "Better put Buster on the lead" said Pip. "We're early, and two or tree trains may come through. Here buster - come to heel, old boy!"

         The little Scottie trotted up, his tail wagging nineteen to the dozen. He gave a few short barks. 
         "Hang on to him - here comes a train!" said Larry. "It's going right through"

        Buster stood his ground bravely until the train gave a piercing whistle as it tore through the station - then he tried to scuttle a wooden seat and dragged Pip after him. He sat down with his back to the train and trembled. That awful whistle!
      
"It made me jump!" said Bets. "Cheer up, Buster - fatty will soon be here. We've loved having you while Fatty's been away, and you've been very, very good!"

       "Even Mummy likes you!" said Pip, patting him. "Though she didn't want us to keep you at all while Fatty was in Switzerland!"

       "I can't think why fatty had to go off to Switzerland for a whole fortnight, and be away all Christmas time" complained Bets.
      "Well, he had to go with his parents," said Daisy, "I expect he had a really good time in all that snow."
      "Yes." said larry, with a laugh, "What's the time? Gosh, we're early! What should we do?"
     "It's cold on the platform. Let's go into the waiting - room" said Daisy. "Come on, Buster"
      "Buster sat firm. Pip pulled on the the lead. "Come on, idiot. We're only going to the waiting - room. Fatty's train isn't due yet"
 
      Buster refused to move. Fatty was coming on one of the trains that clattered into the station, and would alight on this platform - and. therefore, Buster wished to wait there and nowhere else. 
   
 "Tie him up to the seat" said Larry. "He'll be miserable if we make him go to the waiting - room. Buster you're silly. I wouldn't sit down on that icy - cold stone platform for anything" 

      They tied Buster to the seat and left him there. They went into the waiting - room, which had a very small fire, but was at least sheltered from the cold wind that blew through the station.

     "There's one thing" said Daisy, sitting down on a hard wooden bench. "Fatty won't be in disguise so he can't trick us this time! He'll be arriving with his father and mother, and will have to be himself"

      "I'm glad" said Bets. "I want to see him just as he really is, big and jolly and grinning all over his face! We haven't seen him for months! Three months at school - and then he rushes off to Switzerland!"
   
     "I bet i know what he'll say as soon as he sees us" said Pip, grinning, He'll say, "Well got any mystery on hand?"

    "And we haven't" said Larry. "Peterswood has been as good as gold. Mr Goon can't have has anything to do at all!" 

     Mr Goon, the village policeman, had indeed had a peaceful fortnight. Not even a dog chased a sheep, and nothing as exciting as even a small burglary had happened. Mr Goon had had plenty of time for snoozing in his big armchair!

    A taxi drove up to the station, followed by a second one. A man leaned out the of the window of the first one and beckoned to the one and only porter.

   "Hey, porter! Come and take these cases. Look lively, we've not got much time!" 

   The voice was load and clear. The porter ran up at once, and took two small cases. A man got out of the taxi and helped out a woman. Both were middle-aged, well-dressed and cheerful looking. The woman carried a tiny white poodle.

   "Darling Poppet!" she said. "Don't get a cold in this icy wind" She tucked the little thing under her fur coat and only its quaint little pointed nose looked out. The four children, watching from the window of the waiting-room, thought it was very cute!

    Four or five people got out of the second taxi, all rather hilarious. They had evidently come to see off the first two.

    "Hurry up Bill - you've not got much time to get the tickets!" said the woman with the dog

   "Plenty of time" said Bill, and strode into the station. "Hello, is that train in the distance? My word, we'll have to hurry after all!"

    The woman rushed on the platform with the little dog. "Oh, it isn't our train after all!" she said. "It's going the other way. Oh, Poppet, what a shock i got!"

     The newcomers made such a stir and commotion that four children came out of the waiting- room to watch. Everyone was very hilarious.

     "Well, be sure to have a good time!" said a red haired man and he had a coughing fit.

      "Ring us when you get there. We'll miss you and your parties!" said a woman