12 THE SCARECROW INN

CHAPTER TWELVE THE SCARECROW INN THE SECRET Seven came near to the old inn. It was certainly a strange place, almost tumble-down. Outside a sign swung in the wind, creaking dismally. On it was painted a scarecrow in a field, and printed on it in big letters was the name. 'The Scarecrow,' said Peter, leaping off his bicycle. 'Here we are. Look out for Albert, everyone!' They leaned their bicycles against a hedge and walked over to the inn. No one was about. The whole place looked completely deserted. 'But there must be somebody about!' said

Colin. 'Look, there are a few hens pecking around.' They went right up to the old inn. 'It seems to be shut,' said Peter, puzzled. 'Yes, look, there are bars across the windows and across the front door too, wooden bars, nailed on.' 'It must be closed down,' said Jack. 'Let's go round to the back. We can ask for a drink of water, or how to get to Penton, or something like that.' So they all went round to the back door of the inn. A woman was in a little yard there, hanging out some washing, an old, grey-haired woman with a very disagreeable face. 'Er, could we have a drink of water, please?' asked Peter, in his politest voice. 'There's the well. Help yourself,' said the woman. 'Thank you. Is the inn closed now?' asked Peter. 'Yes. Been closed for months,' said the old

woman, pegging up a sheet. 'I just caretake, and it's a lonely job up here on the common. You're the first people I've spoken to for about six weeks, except for the milkman and the grocer's boy.' 'Oh, then you don't know anyone called Albert, I suppose?' asked Peter, as innocently as he could. 'Now, don't you be cheeky,' said the woman angrily. 'Who told you my old man was called Albert? You call him Mr Larkworthy, and mind your manners. See, there he is. I'll send him after you if you're cheeky!' The Secret Seven saw an old bent man coming out of the inn with a stick in his hand, on which he leaned heavily. Goodness, they hadn't meant to be cheeky! How could they have guessed that the old woman's husband was called Albert? 'We didn't mean your husband,' said Peter hurriedly. 'We really didn't. We're just looking

for someone called Albert that we thought we might see here this morning.' 'Well, I won't have any cheek from children,' said the old woman. 'You clear off, now, before I tell my husband to chase you.' The Seven went away slowly, taking a good look at the little place as they went. They walked to their bicycles by the hedge. 'What do you think, Peter?' asked Jack. 'Do you suppose Albert came here at all?' 'No,' said Peter. 'We're on the wrong track. I think that cross old woman was speaking the truth. She probably hasn't seen anyone here for weeks! Gosh, I did feel awful when she said her husband's name was Albert! No wonder she thought we were cheeky!' 'I had a good look at that little garden,' said George. 'And it's quite plain that nobody has been digging in it to get anything buried there. Nothing but enormous weeds.' 'Yes. I had a look too,' said Peter. 'No, we're

on the wrong track, as I said. The thing is, what do we do next? If only we knew where Albert was at this moment, it would be a great help!' 'It might not be,' said Jack, with a grin. 'He might be scaring Jeff and Susie in our cave!' 'I hope he is,' said Peter grimly. 'Just like those two to try to annoy us!' 'What are we going to do now?' asked Janet. 'Peter, do you suppose it's a real scarecrow we have to look for?' Peter considered. 'Yes, it might be. I was so sure that the old inn was the place meant, that I didn't really think about proper scarecrows. But we can't go chasing over the countryside looking for all the scarecrows in the fields!' 'Yes, we can,' said Colin. 'Quite easily. All we've got to do is to separate, and bike all over the place, and whenever we see a scarecrow, get off and see if anyone has been disturbing the ground by it. I bet whatever is hidden is

well dug-in beside a scarecrow.' 'Yes. It would be such a good place if the thief wanted to get the loot again,' said Peter. 'I mean, if stolen goods were hidden in a field in the ordinary way, they couldn't be marked in case anyone wondered what the mark was for. A stick or a post or something would call attention to the place and make the farmer examine it. But a scarecrow is a natural mark and anything hidden beneath it wouldn't be found until the field was reaped!' 'Yes. And the thief meant to get it before that, as we know!' said George. 'Well, shall we go scarecrow-hunting?' 'Yes,' said Peter, getting on his bicycle. 'But look out for farmers. They mightn't be too pleased to see us walking all over their fields to get to a scarecrow!' They all rode off together, Peter calling out orders as they went. 'You take the west road, Colin and Jack.