Mystery Of The Missing Necklace Read Online Free PDF Page A

have?
    "Well, come on after us when you've made up your mind," said Pip impatiently. "We're not going to stand here all evening waiting for you, Bets."
    The others went off to the river-bank. Bets stared at the lovely balloons.
    "Pretty, aren't they, young miss?" said the old woman. "You take your time in choosing. I don't mind!"
    Bets thought what a kind old woman she was. "It was so nice of you to let me have one at half-price," she said. "Really it was. Do you make a lot of money, selling balloons?"
    "Not much," said the old dame. "But enough for an old lady like me."
    Bets chose a blue balloon and the old woman held out her hand for the money. It was a very dirty hand, and it closed over the money quickly. Bets wondered why all the Fair people had such dirty hands and faces.
    Then she noticed something that made her stare. The old woman's hand was certainly extremely dirty — but the nails on it were remarkably clean! Much cleaner than Bets' own nails!
    "How queer!" thought Bets, still staring at the clean, well-kept nails. "Why should this old woman keep her
    nails so clean, and her hands so dirty?"
    Bets then looked hard at the old woman's dirty brown face, all wrinkled up. She looked into the surprisingly bright, twinkling eyes — and she saw that they were Fatty's eyes! Yes, there wasn't an atom of doubt about it — they were Fatty's own bright, intelligent eyes!"
    "Oh, Fatty!" whispered Bets. "Oh, it really is you, isn't it? Oh, do say it is?"
    The old woman looked round quickly to make sure no one was listening.
    "Yes. It's me all right," said Fatty, unwrinkling his face as if by magic, and straightening his bent back. "Jolly good disguise, isn't it? But HOW did you know it was me, Bets? You're too cute for anything !”
    "Sh! There's som ebody coming," whispered Bets. I’ll go. Where will you meet us?"
    "Go home at six and I'll meet you somewhere," said Fatty hurriedly, and screwed his face up into all kinds of wrinkles again. Bets saw that he had cleverly painted the places where the wrinkles came, so that no one could possibly see that they were not always there. Fatty was simply marvellous!
    "Don't tell the others!" said Fatty. "Keep it dark for a bit." Then he raised his voice and, in a feeble croak, called "Balloons! Sixpence each! Fine strong balloons!"
    Bets went off, her eyes shining. She had found Fatty — and oh, wasn't he clever! He really, really was.
    The Old Balloon-Woman .
    Bets went to join the others, very pleased with herself. Her blue balloon floated behind her, tugging at its string.
    "Here she is at last!" said Pip. "We thought you were never coming, Bets. What's up with you? You look bursting with something." ,
    "Do I?" said Bets. "Fancy that! By the way, I've a message from Fatty. We're to go home at six and he will meet us somewhere."
    "Who gave you that message?" said Pip, at once.
    "That's my secret," said Bets annoyingly.
    "Did you speak to Fatty himself?" demanded Larry. "Is he the Hoopla-man?"
    "I shan't tell you," said Bets. "I'm going to keep my secret for a bit!"
    And she wouldn't say another word, which annoyed the others very much. Fancy young Bets knowing something they didn't know !
    At six o'clock they made their way back through the Fair, across the level-crossing, and up the lane from the river. Sitting on a bench, with her balloons, was the old Balloon-woman, waiting for them. She got up as they came.
    "Balloons!" said she. "Strong balloons!"
    "No thanks," said Pip, and walked on. The old woman walked with him. "Buy a balloon!" she said, "Just to help me, young sir!"
    "No thanks," said Pip again, and walked a little
    faster . B ut the old dame could walk surprisingly fast too. She kept up quite easily with Pip !
    "Do buy a balloon !” she said, her voice cracking queerly.
    How long she would have pestered Pip nobody knew — but Bets suddenly exploded into a series of helpless giggles that took the others by surprise. They stared at her.
    "What is the matter?" said Pip,