"Blyton, Enid - The Five Find-Outers 15 - The Mystery of Banshee Towers 1.1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Blyton Enid)

"Sorry, Puss!" she panted, and raced down to the front gate. "Pip! WAIT for me!"

Soon they were at Larry's house. The front door was open, and they could hear Daisy calling to her brother. "Aren't you ready to meet Fatty? You'll be late!"

In a few moments all four children were on their way to the bus-stop. "What do you bet that old Fatty will play one of his tricks on us, and come in some kind of disguise?" said Pip.

"Well, I hope he does," said Larry. "We'd soon see through it. Fatty can't disguise his plumpness!"

"Look, we're _just_ in time," said Bets. "Here comes the bus. Let's run!"

The bus, a double-decker, came to a stop, and the four children ran to the exit at the back. People were crowding off, and the conductor was shouting loudly, "Hurry off, please, and mind the step!"

Larry suddenly nudged Pip. "Look, that's Fatty - he's disguised himself, just as we guessed he would. He's carrying a dog-basket too, and I bet old dog Buster is in there. Stand back - don't let him see us!"

The fellow who was carrying the dog-basket was stout, and wore a bulky overcoat, a yellow scarf round his neck and chin, and a cap with a large peak pulled down over his nose. He coughed hollowly as he stepped down from the bus, and held a large green cotton handkerchief to his mouth.

Bets giggled. "That's Fatty all right!" she said in a low voice to Pip. "Let's not say a word, but just follow him solemnly home!"

They set off, keeping just behind him. The fat fellow went off at quite a pace, limping slightly with his left foot.

"Yes, that's Fatty!" said Larry. "Sort of thing he _would_ do, in disguise - put on a limp or something! He can't fool _us_, though!"

They followed the limping youth down the street, round a corner and up the hill. Then Larry shouted to him.

"Hey, Fatty! Stop! We know it's you!"

The youth swung round and glared at them. "Don't you dare to call after _me_!" he shouted. "Cheeky young brats!"

"Go on, Fatty - we can't _help_ knowing it's you!" said Pip. "And we know you've got old Buster-dog in that basket, too. Let him out!"

"Buster? Who's Buster?" said the fellow. "Are you mad? There's a _cat_ in here, not a dog! Have a look!"

He slipped the catch of the basket, and opened the lid. Out sprang a most enormous ginger cat, spitting and hissing!

The four children stared in the greatest astonishment. A CAT - not Buster! So this fellow _wasn't_ Fatty after all. Gosh - what an awful mistake!

"Er - we're very sorry. It's all a mistake," stuttered poor Larry, his face scarlet. "We do beg your pardon."

"Now you just listen to me," said the fat fellow, angrily. "See that bobby over there? Well, I'm going to complain of you, see? Following me about! Whispering behind my back. Calling me names! I can't help being fat, can I? Come here, Pussykins - that's right, you hiss at these little varmints. Scratch them if you like!"

To the children's horror, the fellow went across the road to a corner - and who should be standing there but Mr Goon, the village policeman. Mr GOON! He was no friend of theirs! What in the world could they do?

"Better get away quickly, before Mr Goon comes after us!" said Pip. "Gosh - what a mistake we made!"

He turned to run, and bumped hard into someone standing just behind him, grinning, a little Scottie dog in his arms.

"FATTY! It's you! Fatty, we thought you were that fellow over there, with the dog-basket!" cried Pip, overjoyed to see his friend gain. "We followed him, and now he's gone to complain about us to Goon!"

"And _I_ followed _you_!" said Fatty. "I was on the top deck of the bus, and I saw you, though you didn't see me! I carried Buster because I was afraid he'd go careering after you, and give the game away. Give your friends a lick, Buster!"