What a Waste of Holidays!

"I haven't liked these holidays one bit," said Bets, dolefully, to Pip. "No Larry, no Daisy, no Fatty - a real waste of summer holidays!"
"Well, you've had me," said Pip. "Haven't I taken you for bike-rides and picnics and things?"
"Yes - but only because Mother said you were to," said Bets, still gloomy. "I mean - you had to do it because Mother kept saying I'd be lonely. It was nice of you - but I did know you were doing it because it was your duty, or something like that."
"I think you're very ungrateful," said Pip, in a huff.
Bets sighed. "There you are - in a huff again already, Pip! I do, do wish the others were here. It's the first hols that every one but us have been away."
"Well, the other three will be back in a few days' time," said Pip. "We shall still have two or three weeks left of these hols."
"But will there be enough time for a mystery?" asked Bets, rolling over to find a shadier place on the gras. "We nearly always have a mystery to solve in the hols. I haven't always liked our mysteries - but somehow I miss it when we don't have one."
"Well, find one then," said Pip. "What I miss most is old Buster."
"Oh yes," said Bets, thinking of Fatty's joyful, mad little Scottie dog. "I miss him, too. The only person I keep seeing that I don't want to see is Mr. Goon."
Mr. Goon was the village policeman, a pompous and ponderous fellow, always at war with the five children. Bets seemed to meet him three or four times a day, cycling heavily here and there, ringing his bell violently round every corner.
"Look - there's the postman," said Pip. "Go and see if he's got anything for us, Bets. There might be a card from old Fatty."
Bets got up. It was very hot and although she wore only a sun-suit of frilly cotton, she still felt as if she was going to melt. She went to meet the postman, who was cycling up the drive.
"Hallo, postman!" she called. "I'll take the letters."
"Right, Missy. Two cards - one for you and one for your brother," said the postman. "That's all."
Bets took them. "Oh, good!" she said. "One's from Fatty - and it's for me!"
She ran back to Pip. "A card for you from Larry and Daisy," she said, "and one for me from Fatty. Let's see what they say..."
Pip read his card out loud at once. " 'Coming back the day after to-morrow, thank goodness. Any mystery turned up? We shan't have much time for one these hols unless we can dig one up quickly! We're as brown as gipsies. You won't know us! Good disguise, of course! See you soon. Love to Bets. - Larry and Daisy.' "
"Oh good, good, good!" said Bets, in delight "They'll be round here to-morrow, sure as anything. Now listen to my card, Pip."
She read it out. " 'How's things, Bets? I hope you've got a first-class Mystery for me to set my brains to work on when I return the day after to-morrow. When do Larry and Daisy come back? It's time the Five Find-Outers (and Dog) got their teeth into something. Be nice to see you again, and old Pip too. Fatty.' "
Bets rubbed her hands together in glee. Her face shone. "All the Find-Outers will be together to-morrow," she said. "And, though there's not even the smell of a mystery about, I guess Fatty will run straight into one as soon as he comes."
"Hope you're right," said Pip, lying back on the grass again. "I must say these hols have been pretty boring. I'd like a good thrilling, juicy mystery to end up with."
"What do you mean - a juicy mystery?" said Bets, puzzled.
Pip couldn't be bothered to explain. He lay and thought of all the mysteries he and Bets, Larry and Daisy, Fatty (and Buster, of course) had solved. There was the Burning Cottage - and the Disappearing Cat - and the Hidden House - gosh, there were a fine lot!
He suddenly felt hungry for another mystery. He sat up and looked at Bets. "Let's get the morning paper and see if there's anything thrilling in it," he said. "Anything that has happened near us. We could tell Fatty as soon as he comes then, and he might get us all on to it."
Bets was thrilled. She went to get the paper. She brought it out to Pip and they both studied it carefully. But there didn't seem to be anything happening at all.
"It's nothing but pictures of frightful women and their clothes, and horses racing and what hot weather it is, and -"
"Cricket scores, and..." went on Bets, in a voice as disgusted as Pip's.
"Oh well - cricket scores are interesting," said Pip, at once. "Look here - see this bowling analysis here?"
Bets wasn't in the least interested in cricket. She turned the page.