The Mystery of the Stolen Secrets

©2017 Richard Humphreys

It's going to be a white Christmas and Fatty's Uncle Harold comes to stay. However, before long Fatty begins to notice that his uncle is acting suspiciously. Why did he go out secretly in the middle of the night? Did he steal some keys from a local house agents' office? Who is the man with a limp? The Find Outers get on the case and are soon embroiled in a mystery that involves spies, stolen secrets and a dangerous chase along the river in the dead of night...

Chapter 24: Boris is Helpful

Back | Index | Next

The next couple of days were strange for everyone involved in the events surrounding the missing scientists. Fatty was confined to bed on doctor's orders as he had contracted a chill from the freezing water. Professor Tolling, Eunice's father, arrived in Peterswood and Mr and Mrs Trotteville put him up and invited him and Eunice to spend Christmas with them. Mrs Boggs was occasionally seen limping around the village on crutches with her leg in plaster. Boris had to remain at Mr Goon's, something neither of them were happy about. But Mrs Boggs' bedroom ceiling needed repairing and this could not be done till after Christmas, so she needed her spare bedroom. And she did point out to Mr Goon that it was he who had fallen through the ceiling in the first place, and she made a point of telling him in no uncertain manner that putting up with Boris was a small price to pay for such unforgivable clumsiness. Uncle Harold had to go up to London for a couple of days to be debriefed about the whole affair. The two scientists, Henderson, the man with the binoculars and Blake, the man who called himself Smith, were taken into custody along with the two Borovians, Anton and Miklos.

Fatty was nursed diligently by Eunice who insisted on waiting on him, reading to him and plumping up his pillows whether they needed it or not. Buster was examined by the vet and his neck had been badly chafed by his collar when he had fallen overboard, but Fatty was assured that it was nothing serious and would soon heal up.

The Find-Outers rushed to Fatty's beside as soon as they were allowed to see him and lapped up everything he told them about the chase along the river and how brave Eunice had been.

'Well, I think you've both been very brave,' Bets said. 'How's your uncle, is he back from London yet?'

'He's arriving back this afternoon,' Fatty said. 'He's probably been quizzed about everything by some high up men in the secret service. Eunice and I had to make a statement for the police.'

'Yes, we did too,' Larry said.

'I'm glad that the secrets those scientists had won't now get into the hands of our enemies,' Daisy said.

'Exactly,' Fatty said. 'So all the drama was worth it in the end.'

That afternoon, Uncle Harold arrived back at the house with Superintendent Jenks and Mr Johns. Fatty received them in his bedroom where he was sitting up in bed with Buster curled up next to him. They were all pleased to see that Fatty was getting over his chill.

'It's a price worth paying for stopping our country's secrets being given away to those who would do us harm,' Fatty said.

The three men looked at each other.

'Well, Frederick, unfortunately, it seems we may not have prevented it,' Superintendent Jenks said. 'Anton, he's one of the Borovians, is being very smug. He claims the secrets will get out and there's nothing we can do about it.'

'Golly,' Fatty said, 'that's a bit of a disappointment after everything that's happened.'

'Yes, it is, Fred,' Uncle Harold said and patted Fatty on the shoulder. 'But we all did our best.'

'Absolutely,' Mr Johns said. 'You couldn't have done any more. And it might just be a bluff on their part to save face.'

Superintendent Jenks could see Fatty was very disappointed. 'Yes, I'm sure Mr Johns is right, Frederick, it's probably just a bluff,' he said and looked at his watch. 'Well, I think we ought to be making a move now, don't want to tire you,' he said.

'Oh, yes, well, thank you for coming to see me, Sir, and you Mr Johns,' Fatty said. 'If you hear anything else, you know about whether the secrets have got out of the country or not, you will let me know.'

'Yes, of course we will,' Superintendent Jenks said. 'Now you get some rest and get yourself fit again. After all, it's almost Christmas you know and you have a birthday coming up as well.'

'Gosh, I'd almost forgotten about my birthday,' Fatty said. 'Thanks for reminding me.'

The Superintendent and Mr Johns left the room and met Eunice and her father, Professor Tolling, in the hall. 'Frederick will let you know about developments,' the Superintendent said. He smiled at Professor Tolling. 'That's a very brave and resourceful daughter you have there,' he said.

Professor Tolling gave a big grin. 'Don't I know it,' he said. 'I'm very proud of her.'

The next day, Fatty was allowed up although he was confined to the house. After breakfast, Eunice took Buster out for a walk and Fatty went into the drawing room to read the newspaper. The news about the scientists was on the front page. Nothing was mentioned about the circumstances of their capture, just that they were now in custody and were being questioned. It said that one of the scientists had been involved in the development of atomic energy and the other had been researching into various revolutionary new photographic processes. It was depressing to think that these men had managed to get all this knowledge, and probably much more secret information, out of the country.

Fatty sighed deeply and shook his head just as Eunice come in through the garden door with Buster.

'I saw Larry whilst we were out,' she called from the hall as she hung up her coat. 'He said he and the others would be over a little later.'

She followed Buster into the drawing room and saw Fatty staring pensively into the fire. 'Penny for your thoughts,' she said sitting down on the sofa and picking up a magazine.

'I was just thinking about what the Super said about those spies getting the secrets out of the country,' Fatty said. 'I wonder how they managed it?'

'You told me Superintendent Jenks said they may only be bluffing,' Eunice replied, browsing through The Ideal Home.

'I wonder,' Fatty said thoughtfully.

Just then Jane came into the room carrying a tray. 'Your beef tea, Master Frederick,' she said handing Fatty a large breakfast cup and saucer.

'Do I have to?' he asked, looking down into the contents of the cup and wrinkling his nose. 'If I drink anymore beef tea I'll start growing horns and wandering around the village mooing at people.'

'You drink it down,' Jane said. 'Doctor's orders, isn't that right Miss Eunice?'

Eunice nodded her head solemnly.

'All right, you win,' Fatty said and took a sip. 'But I'm sure I'm back to normal now, so let's make this the last one.'

Thirty minutes later Larry, Daisy, Pip and Bets arrived. They all gathered in the drawing room and again went over the events of the past week. Fatty had put together the few physical clues they had found, and they looked through them again.

'It is a nuisance that we couldn't stop the secrets leaving the country, though,' said Larry.

Everyone agreed.

'And it's not really been a proper mystery, either,' said Daisy. 'I mean the only mystery was Uncle Harold.'

'You're right, he was a mystery,' Fatty said with a laugh. 'But, there is still a mystery and that's how the spies got the secrets out of the country.'

' If they got them out,' added Eunice.

'All right then, if they got them out,' Fatty said.

'Couldn't they have just sent them through the post?' Bets suggested. She was looking at the Borovian stamp on the burnt and torn airmail envelope they had found in the old cottage.

'No,' said Fatty, 'all mail to Borovia is being intercepted.'

'Carrier pigeon?' Pip said.

'Too far,' Larry said. 'And anyway a carrier pigeon could hardly carry a bag full of secret plans.'

'All right, then,' said Pip with a laugh. 'How about a carrier eagle?'

They all laughed.

'They might have used a wireless transmitter?' said Daisy.

'Too much technical information to send verbally or in code.' Fatty said.

'What exactly is this information they've stolen?' Larry asked.

'All top secret,' Fatty said. 'Uncle Harold says the authorities don't know precisely what's been taken because it seems that nothing's missing. He reckons that as one of the scientists is a specialist in photography, they've simply photographed everything they wanted to steal without taking the original documents.'

'So how did they get the photographs out of the country, then?' said Larry.

'Well, it would be a roll of film rather than photographs,' Fatty said. 'Much smaller.'

'There you are,' Pip said, 'I bet they did use a carrier pigeon, after all. I mean, you could certainly wrap a roll of film round a pigeon's leg.'

Fatty laughed. 'You and your carrier pigeon, Pip.'

'It's a mystery,' Bets said. 'The mystery of the stolen secrets.'

At twelve-thirty Larry and Daisy and Pip and Bets had to go home for lunch.

'I'll be able to go out again tomorrow,' Fatty said, 'so I may have a look around that stamp fair.'

'We can't,' Larry said. 'We're spending the morning wrapping up presents.'

'Same here,' said Pip. 'I always leave everything to the last minute.'

'I've done my wrapping, Fatty,' Bets said. 'And I'd like to go to the stamp fair with you.'

'Great, Bets,' Fatty said. 'Shall we say ten-thirty at the village hall?'

That evening Uncle Harold and Professor Tolling went out to the local pub leaving Fatty and Eunice to play bridge with Mr and Mrs Trotteville. Eunice proved to be just as adept at bridge as she was at chess. She was partnering Mr Trotteville and they won all three rubbers, and when at the end of the game, Eunice offered to give Mrs Trotteville some lessons to improve her game, Fatty thought it prudent to suggest an early night.

Next morning, after breakfast, Eunice and her father left to go shopping in Maidenhead and Fatty took Buster for a walk around the village prior to meeting up with Bets. It was on this walk that he bumped into Boris by the village hall.

'Hello,' Fatty said. 'Boris isn't it?'

'That's right,' Boris said. 'But I can't remember your name.'

'Frederick,' Fatty said, 'and this is Buster.'

'Hello Buster,' Boris said crouching down and petting a delighted Buster. 'I'd like a dog but my Dad won't let me have one 'cause we live in a flat, you see.'

Fatty pointed to the notice outside the village hall. 'Are you interested in stamps, then?' he asked.

Boris shook his head. 'No, are you?'

Fatty nodded. 'Yes, though I'm not a terribly serious collector,' he said. 'I'm meeting a friend here this morning and we're going to look round the stamp fair.'

'I've got a secret about this place,' Boris said mysteriously.

'Have you indeed?' Fatty said. 'And what would that be?'

'I can't say,' Boris replied. He leaned towards Fatty and lowered his voice. 'I think it's got something to do with them spies.'

Fatty was suddenly very interested. 'What's it got to do with the spies?' he asked.

'I can't say,' Boris replied annoyingly. 'It's a secret.'

Fatty thought Boris was an exceptionally annoying little boy. However, he might be susceptible to bribery. He looked at his watch. 'I tell you what, I've got some time to spare before my friend arrives,' he said, 'how about I take you to the dairy and buy you something nice to eat and then you can tell me all about your secret.'

'I don't know as how I ought,' Boris said and then stiffened as he saw Mr Goon turn into the High Street and come strutting along the pavement towards them. 'Yeah, all right, then' he said quickly. 'I am hungry. Let's hurry.'

As they disappeared in the direction of the dairy, Mr Goon could just be heard in the distance yelling something about Boris being a lazy good for nothing.

In the dairy Fatty told Boris to order exactly what he wanted, and when the four mince pies, two chocolate éclairs, three macaroons and the mug of hot chocolate had arrived, he told Fatty about what had happened on the evening he had sneaked into the stamp fair.

When he had finished his story, Fatty asked: 'Now you're sure the man was carrying a gun?'

'Yeah,' Boris said with his mouth full. 'I know what a gun looks like, don't I? It was a revolver like I've seen at the pictures.'

'And you say he was doing something in the hall?' Fatty said.

'Yea, I heard him messing around, doing something,' Boris said gulping his drink.

'But you didn't see exactly what it was he was doing?' Fatty asked.

'No, it was too dark, wasn't it, with just a little bulb burning in the ceiling. But he was definitely up to something and he definitely had a gun, a gun in one hand and a torch in the other. Like I said, he nearly caught me but I was hiding under the desk.' Boris said, and then added for good measure: 'Cor, these mince pies are smashing, can I have some more?'

Fatty went to the counter, ordered three more mince pies and paid the bill. 'I'll leave you here to finish your, er, meal,' he said returning to the table. 'Thanks, Boris, you've been a great help.'

Boris nodded. 'And thanks for this slap up spread, Frederick,' he said. 'Mr Goon don't give me much to eat 'cause he hates me, you see. I'm supposed to be cleaning out his oven for him, but I sneaked out. He'll give me a good lamming if he catches me, so I think I'll stay here for as long as possible. I don't want to end up in his special dungeon, do I?'

Fatty was not too sure what Boris meant by Goon's 'special dungeon'. 'Well, you eat slowly, then,' he said, 'and be sure to keep out of that, er, special dungeon.'

He stepped out onto the High Street and rubbed his hands together. 'Well, well, well, Buster, old chap,' he said looking down at the little Scottie. 'So something strange has been going on in the village hall, has it, I wonder what?'

Back | Index | Next