Driving a motorized vehicle, registration number BLH 98. Stolen from the front drive of Colonel Busby Hythe
Simmonds of South Hampstead Crescent, London, yesterday evening!"
He strode from the post office, patting Ben's back and stroking the dog's head, a definite spring in his step. "Och
aye, they've been guests at headquarters quite a few times. Felons, that's what they are, Ben. Known criminals!"
Ben had to trot to keep up with the sergeant's long strides. "What's the next move, then, Sarge?"
Patterson squared his shoulders. "Reception committee, lad. We've got tae give our London friends a warm
welcome. Haha, if the constable knew he'd be sharpenin' his bayonet and cleaning up his auld army rifle.... Best leave
him guarding the railway trucks, eh? Excitement, Ben, the very spice of life!"
"Ask him where we're off to now, pal?"
Ben caught the Labrador's thought and asked the sergeant, "Where are we going now, Sarge?"
"Tae Miz Winn's house, o' course, ah want tae see if they've solved the candlestick riddle. Keep up there,
partner!"
Relief flooded the boy as he marched jauntily alongside his competent friend. He had not really known what he
was going to do about the London villains. Of course, he had put on a confident air when Winnie told him about them,
but that was mainly for her benefit. Truth was he had acted just like a typical Chapelvale villager, pushing the matter
to the back of his mind, hoping that it was all just Hetty's gossip. He counted himself very lucky that he had confided
in Sergeant Patterson.
"Don't blame yourself too much, pal." The dog followed in Ben's tracks. "A boy and a dog are pretty thin odds
against four full-grown rogues. Our policeman'll deal with 'em, look at the sergeant. He's actually looking forward to
it."
Ben tugged Ned's tail. "Excuse me, pal, but d'you mind not cutting in on my thoughts?"
The Labrador snapped playfully at Ben's ankle. "And what about my thoughts, pray? I was as worried as you
about the issue. Thank goodness for the law, I say!"
They encountered a fairly pensive group in the Winn sitting room, studying a piece of paper that lay unfurled
upon the table.
Ben looked hopefully to the seaman. "So you found something, is that it?"
"Aye, lad. That paper was rolled up inside the other candlestick. What d'you make of it?"
The paper, for the most part, was blank, except for one corner, which had two rows of tiny cramped writing.
Ben read aloud. " 'Be of good heart, like a flame pure and true. May the light of St. Mark bring my words unto
you. E.D.W "
The sergeant picked up the paper and inspected it. "Good, thick, quality stuff. Far more substantial than the thin
slip in the other candlestick. Have ye tried matching them together in anyway?"
Mr. Braithwaite placed the thin paper on the table. "We were just, er, about to do so, er, yes, quite so!"
Between them, Braithwaite and Mr. Mackay tried connecting both papers. Heeding every suggestion put
forward by the rest, they placed the papers side by side, one over the other, semi-overlapping, and in every other
possible combination that could be guessed at.
The result was absolutely nothing.
Will Drummond clenched both fists. Shutting his eyes tight, he called out in frustration, "St. Mark, are you
listenin'? We're all of good heart! D'you think you could let us in on your secret, eh? Before 'tis too late for
Chapelvale!"
Will's ma pursed her lips severely. "William Drummond! Don't you be so disrespectful to one o' the Lord's
disciples, you won't get anythin' done like that!"
The blue-eyed boy felt pins and needles prickle his scalp, realizing the truth of her statement. He recalled
another place and another time, long ago, when a man had ranted and called out against heaven. And he remembered
the results of that day.
Eileen rescued little Willum, who was trying to sit on Ned's back. "Ma's right, Will. Any'ow, I think there's too
many cooks at the puddin' round 'ere. Ain't you got nothin' else to do, you menfolk?"
Sergeant Patterson had an idea. "Why don't you ladies and Mr. Braithwaite set your minds tae solving the
puzzle. Ah'll take the men out into the kitchen—there's something Ah want tae speak tae them about."
Winnie exchanged a secret smile with her friend Hetty. "Agreed, Sergeant. Would you mind taking these dishes
out with you when you go and washing them? We'll let you know when we want more tea."
The sergeant paused in the doorway. "Right ye are, marm. Ben, Alex, bring the dishes out. You're with the men
now, ye ken!"
Amy handed her brother a cup and saucer. "Here you are, sir." Alex took them, giving her a stern glance. After
all, he was classed as one of the men now.
In the gathering dusk, Gripper jammed on the brake, throwing the motorcar's occupants forward. "Flash, nip
back 'n' see wot it sez on that signpost we just passed. Go on, move yerself!"
Flash blinked, rubbing his eyes. "Go easy, willyer, Gripp. I was jus' takin' forty winks there."
Gripper raised a threatening fist. "I'll forty winks yer. Get goin', yore supposed t'be the one keepin' watch."
Flash slouched off moodily back down the road. Gripper unfolded the sketch of Chapelvale, which had been
supplied by Maud Bowe's father, squinting at it in the half-light.
"Can't be too far from the spot now, eh?"
He was answered by Chunk's stentorian snore from the backseat. Using the leather gauntlet he had removed,
Gripper turned and belabored the two sleepers vigorously. "Am 1 the only one wid 'is eyes open 'round 'ere? Wake
up!"
The blows bounced off Chunk's stolid face, and he opened one eye. "Wot's the matter, are we there?"
Chaz snuffled, wiping a grimy sleeve across his upper lip and complaining as he inspected it. "Y'b started bee
dose off bleedin' again. Wodjer doo dat for?"
Flash interrupted further complaints by climbing back into the front passenger seat. "It sez 'Adford. Any good?"
Gripper explored the sketch with a grimy finger, repeating, "Hmm, 'Adford, 'Adford, lemme see . . . Hahah!
There 'tis!"
Up in the far corner of the drawing, a road leading out of Chapelvale was marked "Hadford Rd." Gripper
realized that it was totally the wrong way to be approaching their destination. Hadford Road was at the north side of
Chapelvale. Coming up from London, they should have entered by the south road, which ran parallel to the railway
line. But he did not offer this information to the others.
Instead he announced proudly, "See, I wasn't lost. Told yer I knew the way, didn't I, eh?"
He continued driving, assuming that they agreed by their silence, until Flash spoke his thoughts over the
chugging engine noise.
"But you said it was a four-hour drive. We been on the road since five this mornin'!"
Gripper had an explanation, as he always did. "Oh yerss, but lookit all the times we 'ad to stop. When that
farmer was goin' t'chuck a rock, when those cows blocked the lane, when we turned inter that farmyard by mistake,
when youse 'ad ter push the motor backwards, when we asked the post office lady the way. It all adds time ter the trip
y'know, all adds time!"
Chunk sighed wistfully. "I liked the post office lady, she was gonna give me some water. Wish I 'ad a glass
now."
Flash laughed mirthlessly. "Worrabout a glass o' beer, that's wot I need. An' a good plate o' steak 'n' kidney pie.
I'm starved, I only 'ad a slice o' toast fer breakfist."
Chaz dabbed the scarf to his injured nose. "Yuh, bee too, I'b huggry, you nebber stopped for food, nod once!"