Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX It was nice to be in the cosy sitting-room at Kirrin Cottage again, eating an enormous tea and telling George's mother about their walk. She was very pleased with the nuts and blackberries. They told her about the man and woman and baby, too, and how funny Timmy had been, pawing at the shawl.

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'He was funny before that, said Anne, remembering. 'Aunt Fanny, there was a dog show on at Beckton, and Timmy must have read the posters, and thought he could go in for it- because he suddenly dashed across the road and into the Town Hall where the show was being held!' 'Really?' said her aunt, laughing. 'Well, perhaps he went to see if he could find the beautiful little white Pekinese that was stolen there today! Mrs Harris rang up and told me about it- there was such a to-do. The little dog, which was worth £5,000, was cuddled down in its basket one minute- and the next it was gone! Nobody was seen to take it, and though they hunted in every corner of the hall, there was no sign of the dog.'

'Gracious!' said Anne. What a mystery! How could anyone possibly take a dog like that away without being seen?' 'Easy,' said Dick. 'Wrap it in a coat, or pop it into a shopping basket and cover it up. Then walk through the crowd and out of the hall!' 'Or wrap it in a shawl and pretend it was a BABY- like the little one in that dirty shawl in the train, said Anne. 'I mean- we thought that was a baby, of course- but it could easily have been a dog- or a cat- or even a monkey. We couldn't see its face!' There was a sudden silence. Everyone was staring at Anne and thinking hard. Julian banged his hand on the table and made everyone jump. 'There's something in what Anne has just said,' he said. 'Something worth thinking about!

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Did anyone see even a glimpse of the baby's face -or hair? Did you, Anne- you were nearest?' 'No,' said Anne, quite startled. 'No, I didn't. I did try to see, because I like babies- but the shawl was pulled right over the face and head.' 'And I say- don't you remember how interested Timmy was in it?' said George, excited. 'He's never interested in babies- but he kept on jumping up and pawing at the shawl. 'And do you remember how the baby whimpered?' said Dick. 'It was much more like a little dog whining than a baby, now I come to think of it. No wonder Timmy was excited! He knew it was a dog by the smell!' 'Whew! I say- this is jolly exciting,' said Julian, getting up. 'I vote we go to Seagreen Halt and snoop round the tiny village there.'