The Mystery of Banshee Towers (Discontinued-Nearly Finished)

Banshee Towers again!

When the policeman had gone, Ern crept out of the middle of the bush, and went back to Fatty's shed, grinning. 'Thanks, Fatty,' he said. 'You're a pal! I say, you're sure you don't mind if I go up to Banshee Towers with you tomorrow?'

  'Be nice to have your company, Ern,' said Fatty, and meant it! 'Also, you may be useful. You see, I do want to snoop around a bit, and if there are people there,you might be able to take up their attention somehow . . . so that no one will be watching me.'

  'But how do I take up anyone's attention?' said Ern, alarmed. 'I'm no good at play-acting, Fatty, you know that.'

  'Oh, Ern, you can do a sudden bit of tap-dancing - or sing a little song - or pretend to faint,' said Fatty. 'I'll signal to you like this, if I want you to turn people's attention to you, and away from me!'

  And Fatty smoothed back his hair three times. 'See? Don't look so alarmed. Nobody will lock you up, or box your ears. They'll just stay still in astonishment, and forget all about me and what I'm doing.'

  'All right, Fatty,' said Ern in a mournful voice, and settled down to read one of Fatty's books. 'Coo, the books you've got, Fatty - you must have over a thousand. This one's smashing.'

  He was soon lost in the sea story he had found in Fatty's big bookcase. Bingo lay happily on Ern's feet, and Buster sat as close to Fatty as he could. Ern came to the end of a chapter, and looked up in great content. He was perfectly happy. He had a friend, a dog, a good book, and somewhere quiet to read. Ern gave an enormous sigh and went back to his book, thinking how lucky he was to have a clever friend like Fatty.

  Next morning, Ern woke up feeling excited. He sat up on the camp-bed in the shed trying to remember the reason for his excitement. Of course - Fatty and I are going up to that Banshee place again - and I shall see those grand pictures, he thought in delight. 'Bingo - do you hear that? Sh, don't bark too loudly. Nobody must know we're here. I've told you that before.'

  Bingo had snuggled down on Ern's feet all night long. He sat up, yawning, wondering when his friend Buster would come. Bingo thought the world of Buster, and copied him in every way he could, even to rubbing hid nose with his left paw, instead of his right one. He crawled over Ern's knees and gave him a smacking lick on the nose. Then he rolled over to be tickled.

  'Do you know something, Bingo?' said Ern, solemnly, 'Right now I am feeling very, very sorry for all those boys and girls who haven't a dog of their own. They just don't know what they're missing. Now then - that's enough licking. Go and fetch me that towel, so I can wipe my face. Good dog, then - clever dog! You understand everything I say, don't you? Now. please take the towel back. Very good, Bingo!'

  Fatty brought Ern some breakfast, and then disappeared to do a few jobs for his mother. 'I'll be back at ten and we'll set off,' he said. 'We'll take lunch with us - I'll buy it on the way, because Cook is getting a bit suspicious of the enormous appetite I seem suddenly to have developed. She said this morning that I seem to want enough for two people - and she was right!'

  They set off just after ten, and Fatty stopped to buy some sandwiches, new currant buns, and oranges. He had already put some lemonade and a cup into his bicycle basket. Ern gave a sudden cry of alarm, as they rode up the village street.

  'Fatty - there's my uncle!'

  Sure enough, there was Mr Goon, standing at the crossroads, directing the busy traffic with a frown. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw Ern cycling along with Fatty! 'Stop!'he bawled. 'Ern! You heard me. STOP!'

  But, alas, Ern disobeyed the law, and pedalled faster than ever, leaving poor Mr Goon very angry indeed!

  'Woof!' said a loud voice, as the pedalled past Mr Goon - and Buster suddenly stuck his head out of a wooden box that Fatty had tied to his rear mudguard! Bingo was in a similar box, on the back of Ern's bicycle, but he was so much afraid of Mr Goon that he didn't dare to venture even the smallest bark, as he passed him. He didn't want to be plucked away from his beloved Ern by the loud-voiced Mr Goon!