Free Mystery of the Pantomime Cat by Enid Blyton

the note-book with names, addresses and particulars of alibis in. The
word "alibi" was new to Bets, and had to be explained to her.
    "Is it anything to do with lullaby?" she asked, and the
others roared.
    "No, Bets," said Fatty. "I'll tell you what an
alibi is. Suppose somebody smashed this window, and your mother thought it was
Pip—and Pip told her he was with me at the time, and I said yes, he certainly
was—then I am Pip's alibi — he's got his alibi, because I can vouch for
his being with me when the window was smashed."
    "I see," said Bets. "And if somebody said that at
just this moment you had hit Goon on the head, and we said no, you couldn't
have, because you were with us—we'd all be alibis for you."
    "Quite right. Bets—you've got the idea," grinned Fatty.
"Well—I've got a list of the alibis of all the Suspects here—which will be
very, very useful. Listen, and I'll read out the names of the Suspects first,
and then I'll tell you their alibis and what we know about them."
    He read from Pippin's notes.
    suspects.
    No. 1. Pantomime
Cat, otherwise Boysie Summers. Was in theatre at the time in question. Took
Manager in a cup of tea before eight o'clock. Says he didn't, but admits he had
a cup of tea himself. Says he went to sleep most of evening.
    No. 2. Zoe Markham, who takes part of Dick Whittington. Says she left theatre with
other members of the cast, and went to her sister's, where she played with the
children and helped to put them to bed. Her sister is Mrs. Thomas, and lives at
Green House, Hemel Road.
    "I know her!" said Daisy. "She's awfully nice.
She's got two dear little children. One's having a birthday soon, I know."
    "I say," said Larry, suddenly. "Zoe Markham!
I hope Goon doesn't connect up the Z for Zoe with the Z on that old hanky of
Daisy's—the one we used for a false clue."
    "I rather think he has." said Fatty. "We'll have to
do something about that, if so. Well—to continue ..."
    No. 3. Lucy
White, who takes the part of Margot, Dick Whittington's sweetheart. Says
she went to call on Miss Adams, an old-age pensioner who is ill, address 11
Mark Street. Sat with her till nine o'clock, and helped her with her knitting.
    "Miss Adams is a friend of our cook's," said Larry.
"She used to come and help with the sewing. Nice old thing she was."
    No. 4. Peter
Watting, who takes the part of Dick's master," went on Fatty.
"Elderly, and rather obstructive. Would not answer questions readily. Said
he was out walking with Suspect No. 5 at the time.
    Suspect No. 5. William Orr, who takes the part of the captain of Dick's ship. Young
man, affable and helpful. Says he was out walking with Peter Watting at the
time.
    "Then those two are alibis for each other," said Larry,
with interest. "What's to stop them from both going back to the
theatre and doing the robbery, and then giving each other an alibi?"
    "That's a good point, Larry," said Fatty. "Very
good point. Pippin doesn't seem to have worked that out. Wait a bit—here's
another note about it. 'Suspects 4 and 5 (Peter Watting and William Orr)
further said they had gone for a walk by the river, and had called at a
tea-house called 'The Turret' for some sandwiches and coffee. They did not know
the exact time'."
    "Bit fishy, I think," said Pip. "Wants looking
into."
    Suspect No. 6. Alec Grant, who takes the part of Dick's mother. Usually takes women's parts
and is very good at them, a fine mimic and good actor. Says he was giving a
show at Hetton Hall, Sheepridge, that evening, from six to ten—acting various
women's parts to an audience of about one hundred.
    "Well! That rules him out!" said Larry. "He's
got a hundred alibis, not one."
    "Yes. It certainly clears him," said Fatty.
"Well, here's the last Suspect."
    Suspect No. 1. John James, who plays the part of the black king in the play. Says he went to
the
    cinema and was there all the evening, seeing the film called
"You know How it is."
    "Not much of an alibi either," said Pip. "He could
easily have