vis-itin' Chapelvale. If any such thing were planned, London would contact the police station, not the local post office,
an' ah've had no word at all from London, ye ken?" He tucked the telegram back in his pocket. "There's somethin'
strange goin' on. Ah'm goin' back tae the village, tae look further intae this matter!"
"Could I come with you, Sergeant Patterson?" The blue-eyed boy had become alert at the mention of London.
Amy tapped the paper upon the table. "But what about solving this riddle?"
Ben made his excuses. "I won't be too long, Amy, Jon. There's something I've got to talk with the sergeant about.
I'll bet with all the brains here you'll have the riddle beaten before I get back. Keep them at it, Mr. Braithwaite!"
The old scholar blinked, ruffling his arms in his sleeves, as Ben and his big, black dog accompanied the
policeman out.
"Eh, er, keep them at it? Oh, er, yes, very good young, er!"
As the front door closed, Will's mother, more curious than ever, indicated the paper. "Where did you find this,
Will?"
"Inside one of the candlesticks, Ma, why?"
"Which one?"
Eileen picked up a candlestick. "This one, I think."
Alex shook his head. "No, it was the other one. Ned's teeth made a slight scratch on that one. I noticed it when I
put the two halves back together. See?" He pointed to the faint scratch on the other candlestick.
Mrs. Winn poured herself more tea. 'That's the one you found the paper in, eh, Jon?"
"Aye, that's the one, marm."
She took a sip of her tea. "Then why haven't you looked inside the other one? Doesn't it come apart?"
The good-natured farmer's wife laughed heartily. "Haha-haha! Good thinkin', Winnie, what a bunch o' puddin'
'eads we are!"
The ex-seaman and the dairyman took an end each, and they pulled, like two children with a Christmas cracker.
The candlestick popped apart so easily that Will fell backward and Jon bumped into Mr. Mackay.
Apologies were forgotten as they stared at the slim scroll of paper lying on the floor.
40.
SERGEANT PATTERSON WAS AN EASY MAN to get on with. Ben explained to him how he had come by
the information that Smithers's guest, Maud Bowe, was having four of her father's company thugs sent up from Lon-
don to frighten Mrs. Winn into leaving her home. The sergeant spoke without looking at Ben as they walked toward
the village square. "Why didn't ye inform me of this before, lad?" The boy thought hard before replying. "Well, I'd
never met you before this morning. But when you got that telegraph message, and it mentioned four men coming up
from London, I thought you'd better know about what I'd found out, so I'm telling you now."
The Scots sergeant nodded. "Aye, fair enough. I hope ye don't mind me askin', but how did ye plan on dealing
with them? Always providing that what Hetty told Miz Winn was fact, and not just kitchenmaid's tittle-tattle."
Ben's blue eyes narrowed. "Oh, I'd think of something, one way or another."
The sergeant questioned him further. "Did ye tell any o' the others—Jon or Will, for instance?"
"No, you're the first one I've spoken to about it."
The policeman could not help admiring the boy's courage. "And ye were goin' tae handle it all on your own,
eh?"
Ben stopped and stared at the bobby. "Me and Ned could do it!"
There was something about the pair, the manner in which the big, black dog stood by the boy and the
determined light in the boy's blue eyes. Sergeant Patterson smiled. "Ah'd bet money that ye could. But there's three of
us now, and ah'm the law. Ah was a constable for four years in the east end o' London. Ah think ye'd better let me
give ye some assistance, son." He held out his hand. "All right with ye?"
The boy shook Patterson's hand. "Fine with me, Sarge-. Righto, Ned?"
The black Labrador held out his paw to the astonished sergeant, who shook it firmly and laughed. "Hahahah!
Yon's a pretty intelligent dog!"
The dog flashed a passing thought to his master. "This young sergeant's fairly bright, too, eh, lad!"
The postmaster, Seth Talbot, had more news for them when they arrived at his office. "Message just come
through from Drakehampton. I don't think those four men in the motor vehicle know who they are. Asked the
postmistress there directions for Chapelvale, said they were racehorse buyers. Drove off and nearly knocked an old
gent down who was crossing the road."
The sergeant turned to Ben. "Would ye like to go around tae the railway station sidings for me? Tell Constable
Jud-mann ah can't relieve him yet and tae stay there. I'm going tae use the telegraph here. Get a description of our four
friends and their motorcar from Drakehampton. Then ah'll contact headquarters in London and see what they know
about them."
The constable was in his element. He stood holding on to the bicycle, in view of the "Prohibition of Movement"
notice he had fixed to the railway trucks. Nothing but his sergeant's command would cause him to quit his post, he
assured Ben, adding, "You tell the sarn't I'll stand 'ere all day an' all night, if needs be, lad!"
Sergeant Patterson was beaming when they returned to the post office. The Labrador passed a thought to Ben. "I
must look just like that when I get a big beef marrowbone!"
The boy could not hide a grin. "Aye, you do!"
Further thoughts were cut short by the sergeant, who met the two at the door. "Och, ye were right, lad! George
Pearson, alias Gripper, Frederick Lloyd, alias Flash, Charles Hyland, alias Chaz, and Eric Wardle, alias Chunk.
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 ankl
e. "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!"
It was rapidly going dark. Gripper clenched his teeth as he bumped over a fallen branch lying in their path.
"Sharrap about food, you lot! Eat, eat, that's all youse think about. One more word outta you, Chaz, an' I'll stop this
motor an' give yer a knuckle sandwich. How'll that do yer, eh, eh?"
"Whoo!"
Gripper did not realize it was a nearby owl that had hooted. "You, that's who, Chaz. Now, shut yer gob!"
"Bud I nebber said nothig, Gripp."
Gripper nodded. "Just as well y'never, loose-lips. Aye aye, is that lights, up on that 'ill ahead?"
Chunk replied, "That'll be 'Adford, can we get summat to eat when we gets there ?"
Gripper kept his eyes riveted on the road. "We could if we was stoppin' there, but we ain't. Mister Bowe's
daughter'll be wonderin' where we've gotten to."
Flash pulled a face. "Oh, that one, liddle miss snotty nose. My daddy sez you got to do this, my daddy sez you
gotta do that. An' she looks at yer like yer sumthin' she stepped in!"
Gripper sniffed. "She can look at us anyway she wants to, as long as 'er daddy pays up. Five guineas apiece fer
puttin' the frighteners on some old dame, just so she'll leave 'ome. Not bad money fer a small job like that!"
Chunk's stomach gurgled so loud it could be heard above the growl of the engine. He patted it sorrowfully.
"Don't know about five guineas. I'd settle fer a paperful of fish an' chips right now, wiv salt an' vinegar on 'em."
"Can't you think of nothin' but yer stummick, y'great lump!"
A further abdominal gurgle almost drowned out Gripper's statement. Chunk gazed mournfully at the passing
countryside. "Well, I can't 'elp it if me stummick's bigger'n yours, Gripp."
"Aye, if yer brains was as big as yer stummick, you'd be in charge o' the country, Chunk, doin' the prime
minister out of a job. That's wot you'd be do
in', mate!"
"Why, 'as the prime minister got a big stummick, Gripp?"
"The prime min ... Jus' go back t'sleep, willyer, Chunk!"
Flash propped his feet up on the dashboard. "Kin I 'ave a snooze, too, Gripp?"
Gripper let go of the steering wheel with one hand. He gave Flash a numbing punch on his shin. "No, y'can't.
You keep yer eyes open fer more signs!"
41.
" 'BE OF GOOD HEART, LIKE A FLAME PURE and true, May the light of St. Mark bring my words unto
you. E.D.W.' " Mr. Braithwaite and the ladies sat in the gathering gloom, staring at the paper as Amy read the rhyme
for the third time.
Ben entered the room with a lighted taper. "Jon told me to bring some light to you before you ruin your eyesight
staring at that paper." Mrs. Winn had neither gas nor the new electric light, favoring the old ways, and kept four
ornate oil lamps in her sitting room. The boy lit them all, one on the mantelpiece, two on the window ledges back and
front. He touched his taper to the wick of the largest lamp with its tall glass chimney and a cream-hued bowl. This
lamp stood on the same table as the paper and gave off a wonderfully soft glow.
Ben chuckled. "Now you can see to think properly. Miz Winn, I'm going out with the men."
A worried frown creased the old lady's brow. "So that's what you were all discussing in the kitchen. I knew as
soon as the sergeant read out the telegram about the four men coming here in the motorcar. Be careful, Ben, and do
exactly as Sergeant Patterson tells you—they could be dangerous." There was something in the blue eyes of the
strange boy from the sea that told the old lady he had faced danger many times. His hand felt reassuring as he touched
her shoulder lightly. "We can take care of this, Jon, Will, Mr. Mackay, Alex, the sergeant, and myself. No need for
you to worry.
"Don't open the door to anybody until you've looked through the window to see who's there. I'll leave Ned with
you, just in case."
Little Willum had played himself out and lay on the sofa, surrounded by cushions. As his mother covered him
with an old plaid traveling rug, Ned came to sit by her.
Eileen patted the big dog's head. "I'd like to see anyone try t'get past Ned if he didn't want 'em to come in. You
go on, Ben. We're safe enough. Tell my Will not to forget Delia's nosebag an' water bucket."
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