Chapter 13

The Find-Outers hurried to Fatty's the next morning to find him waiting for them in his garden shed.

"Ready to use your brains?" he asked.

"Rather!" replied Bets. "I've been exercising mine on the way over."

The others laughed.

"Fathead!" scoffed Pip. "How could you possibly exercise your brain?"

Bets blushed and looked at the floor. "I was thinking of my French verbs."

"And what use will that be to us?" jeered Pip.

"Shut up, Pip," said Fatty, seeing Bets was getting upset. "Bets is jolly clever to try and get her brain working on something she really has to think about. It really is good exercise for the brain. You should try it yourself sometimes!"

It was Pip's turn to blush and look at the floor. "Sorry, Bets, old thing."

"I accept your apology," said Bets graciously.

Suddenly there was a knock on the shed door.

"Blow! It isn't Goon again, is it?" asked Larry in dismay.

Fatty opened the door, preparing himself once again for a battle with the annoying policeman.

"Why, it's Cook!" he said, throwing the door wide. Cook was standing there holding a tray of freshly baked biscuits that smelled heavenly. "Gosh Cookie, are they for us?"

"They are," said Cook, handing over the tray. "Use the tea towel, Master Frederick, the tray's just out of the oven."

"Thanks awfully, Cook," said Daisy, taking the tray from Fatty and arranging them on the box they used for a table. "Just the thing for our morning tea!"

"Well now, they do come at a cost, I must admit," said Cook. "I was wondering if you might do a little job for me, Master Frederick, with your friends to help."

"Of course, Cook," said Fatty generously, even though he was really dying to work on the mystery. "What is it?"

"Well, you know your parents are holding that party on the coming weekend and they've placed an order for some wine down at the inn. I wondered if you wouldn't mind going and fetching it for me."

"Well, I think we can manage that, can't we?" Fatty asked his friends. They all nodded at once.

Cook smiled and nodded approvingly. "You're all good children, you are. I'll have another little treat for you when you come back, see if I don't!"

"Where do you need us to go, Cook?" asked Larry.

"Here's the place," said Cook, taking a piece of paper from the pocket of her apron and handing it to Fatty. "The inn is called the Rose and Key."

To her great surprise, Fatty wooped and caught her up in a bear hug.

"Thank you, Cookie! We'll go right away!"

"Well, no need to be so excited, Master Frederick," said Cook breathlessly, straightening her apron. "Eat your biscuits while they're still warm!" She departed the shed and Fatty could hear her saying "A right caution!" as she walked back up the garden path.

"What was all that about, Fatty?" asked Daisy, munching on a biscuit.

"Didn't you hear? The Rose and Key!" said Fatty. "That's where the clue is! I'll bet my garden shed on it!"

"I say, Fatty, you could be right!" said Pip in amazement.

"What a piece of luck, Cook sending us right there!" said Bets.

"Oh, I'm sure I would have figured it out eventually," said Fatty loftily. "With your help, of course," he added hastily as the rest of the Find-Outers exchanged He's At It Again glances.

"Well, let's get down there and do a spot of snooping around!" said Larry excitedly. "We can take the biscuits with us."

Scooping up a handful of biscuits each, they left the Trotteville garden and headed in the direction of the Peterswood High Street.

"No, Buster, you cannot have any of my biscuits," said Fatty as the Scottie capered around his heels. "It's a jolly waste giving you any. You just crunch them down without even tasting them!"

"Wuff!" said Buster as if to say, "But that's what you do too!"

They reached the inn quickly and examined the sign that was now hanging quite still.

"Shall we split up and look around the outside first?" asked Daisy. As she did, Bets gave a little shriek.

"Look! In the wall!" Fatty pulled the slip of paper out from between the bricks and opened it.

"Another clue!" he exclaimed. He was about to read it aloud when Larry suddenly hissed.

"Fistrengrs!"

"What?" asked Fatty.

"Fistrengrs!" repeated Larry through clenched teeth.

"Larry, do speak up," replied Fatty. Larry groaned.

"Five Strangers!" he said in a normal voice and pointed. Sure enough, the Find-Outers saw the three boys, the girl and the dog on the other side of the street. It seemed as though they were watching but when the Find-Outers looked at them, they started moving away.

"Jolly odd," said Fatty and bent over the note. "I say, listen!"

YOU HAVE SOLVED YOUR FIRST CLUE

NOW LISTEN CLOSELY TO NUMBER TWO

NO SOUND THIS ANCIENT MEASURE MAKES

ONLY TIME WILL TELL, THE TREASURE AWAITS

PS: BEWARE THE FIVE STRANGERS