“Yes, she would.” said Pip. “You go on down to the call-box. Buster can stay here because of his bad leg.”
“Woof!” said Buster pathetically. He was very funny that day, because whenever he wanted a little fussing, he got up and limped badly, which made all the children very sorry for him. Actually his healthy little leg was healing fast, and did not even need a bandage on it. But Buster was going to make the most of it whilst it lasted!
All the same, he went with Fatty. He wasn’t going to be left behind, if his master was going anywhere. So, limping badly, he followed Fatty down to the call-box.
Fatty felt rather excited. John Henry Smith was the key to the mystery - and he was just about to talk to him!
He put the receiver to his ear and asked for the number he wanted.
A voice told him what money to put into the slot. He pressed it in, and then listened for an answer, his heart beating rather fast.
Then he heard a voice at the other end: “Hallo!”
“Oh - hallo!” said Fatty. “Does a Mr. John Henry Smith live there, please?”
There was a silence. Then the voice said cautiously, “What number do you want?”
Fatty repeated the number.