Enid Blyton - Mystery #02 — The Mystery of the Disappearing Cat

"Well, Bets told you we had two clues, a smell and a stone with paint on," said Fatty. "And you only laughed."

"Tupping, where is the cat?" said the Inspector, still in the same hard voice. "You understand that there is no possibility of the charge made against you being false. There are other things, in your past, which fit in very well with this."

Tupping crumpled up completely. From a harsh, cruel, bad-tempered man he turned into a weeping coward, and it was not a pleasant sight.

"Bullies are always cowards," Fatty whispered to Larry.

Suddenly Tupping began to pour out a confession. Yes, he had stolen Dark Queen. He had owed money to someone, and he had thought of taking the cat. He'd tell who had got it and the police could get it back. He had tried to put the blame on Luke. He had painted the other cat's tail, and he had used turps to get off the paint quickly. He'd done it twice, because the first time the cat had escaped and come back. He was sorry now. He'd never do a thing like that again.

"You certainly won't, for some time at least," said Inspector Jenks grimly. "You will be in a safe place, out of harm's way, and I don't think anyone will be sorry. Goon, take him away."

Goon put a heavy hand on Tupping's shoulder and jerked him to his feet He looked with great scorn at his prisoner.

"You come-alonga-me," he said in a fierce tone. The Inspector spoke to Goon in an icy voice.

"You do not seem to have shone at all in this case, Goon," he said. "You appear to have made enemies of those who were on the right track, and to have actually made friends with the thief himself. I hope in future you will be a little more careful. I trust you agree with me?"

"Er — yes, sir; certainly, sir," said poor Goon, looking very woeful all of a sudden. "Did my best, sir."

"Well, very fortunately these children did better than your best, Goon," said the Inspector. "I think we can be very grateful to them for their work in solving the Mystery of the Disappearing Cat. I hope that is your opinion too, Goon?"

"Oh yes, sir," said Goon, purple in the face now. "Very clever children, sir. Pleasure to know them, sir."

"Ah! I'm glad you agree with me," said Inspector Jenks in a more amiable voice. "Now, please remove that man."

Goon removed Tupping. The children heaved a sigh of relief. "Well, he's gone!" said Daisy. "And I hope he never comes back."

"He will certainty not come back here," said Lady Candling, who had listened to everything in the greatest astonishment. "As for poor Luke, I hate to think of all he has gone through because of that wicked Tupping."

"That's all right, your Ladyship," said Luke, beaming all over his face. "If you'll keep me on, Madam, I'll work hard for you till you get a new gardener. And I'll never forget these here clever children — it fair beats me how they solved that mystery."

"It was really Bets who put us on the right track," said Fatty. "Good old Bets!"

"Oh, we all did it together," said Bets. "Buster too. Well, I am glad everything's turned out all right, and I expect you'll get your cat back, won't you, Lady Candling?"

"We'll see to that," said Inspector Jenks, getting up. "Well, I must go, and once more, allow me to say that I am very pleased to have had the help of the Five Find-Outers — and Dog! I trust I may have your help again in the future. I hope you agree with me?"

"Oh yes!" said all the Find-Outers, going out to the car with the big Inspector. "We'll let you know at once if we've got another Mystery to Solve!"

Another Mystery? Well, I expect they'll have one all right. I must tell you about that another time!"