Enid Blyton - Mystery #05 — The Mystery of the Missing Necklace

"Well, sir—he knows that the pearls were hidden in the Waxworks Hall," said Fatty, "and maybe knows too that they were on Queen Elizabeth's neck—so he's bound to go back for them, sir, when every one has gone, and the Hall is dark and empty. Oh, sir—could I come and hide in the Hall tonight when you do your spot of arresting!"

"No," said the Inspector. "I'm afraid not. I'll have three men posted there. See to that straight-away, please, Goon. Er—I'm sure we can congratulate the Find-Outers on solving our problems for us in such a praiseworthy way—don't you think so, Goon? "

Goon murmured something that sounded suspiciously like "Gah!"

"What did you say, Goon?" said the Inspector. "You were agreeing with me, I imagine?"

"Er—yessir, yessir," said Goon hurriedly, and turned a familiar purple. "I'll get the men now, sir."

He hurried off, and the children saw that even the back of poor Goon's neck was bright purple too. The Inspector slipped the pearls into his pocket and beamed all round.

"Well, once more, you've done remarkably well," he said, "though I must confess I was a little annoyed with you, Frederick, for running heedlessly into danger. Still, as usual, you've used your brains, and have helped a great deal. Especially little Bets, if she really did think where the necklace might be."

"Oh, she did," said every one, even Pip, and Bets went as red as a tomato with pride. She might be the youngest of the Find-Outers—but she was just as good as any of them!

"Now—I can take it that you will respect my wishes and not go near the Waxworks Hail tonight?" said the Inspector, raising his eyebrows at them all. They nodded vigorously.

"You can trust us, Inspector. But tell us in the morning if you've got Number Three, won't you?" said Fatty.

And in the morning the Find-Outers heard what had happened. Number Three had let himself into the Hall at midnight. He had walked to Queen Elizabeth, and had fumbled at the jewellery round her neck—and just as he was fumbling, out stepped three burly men and caught him!

"Now he's in a cell thinking sadly over his sins," said the Inspector, over (the telephone. "We've got the whole gang—and the necklace too. Good work! We certainly couldn't have done without you Find-Outers. What about you all joining my police-force? We could do with you!"

"Oh, how I wish we could!" said Bets, afterwards. "I suppose he didn't really mean it, did he? "

"And now to think we've got to help with our packing and go back to school!” said Pip, in disgust. "After ail our fine detective work, we've got to go and learn the chief rivers of the world, and the date when Queen Elizabeth came to the throne, and how much wheat Canada grows, and..."

"Never mind—well have another Mystery to solve next hols," said Bets happily. "Won't we, Fatty?"

Fatty grinned at her. "I hope so, little Bets," he said. "I really do hope so!"

I hope so too. It would be most disappointing if they didn't!