The Seven spent the rest of the morning up in the tree-house, talking over everything. Scamper put himself on guard as usual, but no one came by. The afternoon dragged on, and tea-time came. Then the children began to feel intensely excited.
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At half past six they went one by one down to Ember Lane. They thought they had better not go in a bunch in case they attracted attention. They found the back entrance of Mark Donnal's warehouse in Petton Road, and went up the steps to it. The door swung open silently as they reached the top step. Most mysterious!
But behind it, keeping guard, was one of the village policemen! He grinned at each child as he or she walked in, and took them up the stairs, along dusty passages, to a little room at the front.
" We've got a marvellous view of the red pillar-box," said Janet to Peter. " We shall see everything. I wonder if the signaller is down behind the grating yet."
They asked the policeman. He nodded. " Yes, he's there all right. We've watched him go into the underground room, complete with white handkerchief for signalling. There are now two policemen in a cupboard outside the door, waiting! "
It was too exciting to be borne! The children simply couldn't sit still. The time went by slowly. Seven o'clock... ten past... twenty past... twenty-five past. . . .
A clock on a nearby church tower suddenly chimed the half hour. Half past seven ! Now was the time!
Everything happened very suddenly and quickly. There came the roar of a car-engine, and round a corner came the red mail-van; MKX 102. It stopped and the driver jumped out. He took a sack and ran across to the red pillar-box. He unlocked it, his back to his van.
And then two men suddenly came from a small alley-way and sprinted at top speed to the van. There was no one in Ember Lane except the postman;all the workers had gone home long ago.
But many watchers saw the two men, the seven children stared breathlessly, so did the policeman with them, so did the signaller behind the grating.
And so did many hidden eyes belonging to watchful police, including the Inspector himself!
The men leapt into the front of the van. One got into the driving-seat, one next to him. There was a roar of the engine, and the van drove off at top speed, vanishing round the corner.
The postman straightened up. He didn't seem surprised. He was in the secret too! The children rocked to and fro on their seats in excitement. A few policemen appeared from odd places and spoke to one another. Then there came a noise from down below !
" That's the signaller being caught! " said Peter. " I bet it is !"
It was, of course. He had walked out of the underground room straight into the arms of the waiting policemen. And, lo and behold, it was Mr. Tizer!
But the evening's excitement wasn't yetfinished! Before half an hour had gone, the mail-van was back again, but this time it was driven by a uniformed policeman, with another beside him. Inside were the two men. As the children watched, the van doors were opened, and four policemen got out with the two men held firmly by the arms.
" Got them nicely," said the policeman who was in the room with the children. " They must have parked quite nearby, opened the van, and got the surprise of their lives, and here they are, back again to talk to the Chief ! "
It was maddening to have to go home after that. What an excitement! How wonderful to be in at the finish, but how dull afterwards !
The Seven went to Peter's house to supper, talking all at once. Nobody could possibly hear what anyone else said. And waiting at the house for them was Jeff! The kitten was back in his arms, and he looked scared but happy.
" Hallo," he said, " the police know all about everything now, don't they ? They came to my uncle's house and found me. Uncle had locked me up in an attic. I haven't got to go back to him any more."
" What's going to happen to you then? " asked Peter.
" They're trying to find out about my mother," said Jeff, hugging the kitten. " I told you I didn't even know what hospital she'd gone to. I'm to stay here till they know. Your mother said I could."
Jeff looked clean and his hair was brushed. Peter's mother had felt sorry for him and had done what she could when the police brought him to her. Now he was to have supper with the Seven. He was very happy.
The telephone bell rang, and Peter's mother went to answer it. She came back, smiling. " It's about your mother, Jeff," she said. " She's better ! She's leaving hospital tomorrow and going back home, and you're to be there to greet her ! "
Jeff stood with tears in his eyes. He couldn't say a word. He held the kitten so tightly that it mewed. He turned to the Seven, finding his tongue at last.
" It's you that have done all this ! " he said, stammering in his joy. " It's all because of you. I'm glad I found your tree-house. I'm glad I met you. You're a wonderful Secret Society, the best in all the world ! "
" Well, we do feel rather pleased with ourselves tonight," said Peter, grinning at Jeff. " Don't we, Scamper, old boy ? Do you agree that we're a jolly fine Secret Society ? Do you agree that we must go on and do lots more exciting things ? "
" Woof," said Scamper and thumped his tail on the floor. " woof ! "
Well done, Secret Seven! Dolet's hear your next adventure soon.
