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Ragamuffin

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The Ragamuffin Mystery

CHAPTER ONE

Off in the Caravan

“This is going to be just about the most exciting holiday we’ve ever had!” said Roger, carrying a suitcase and bag down to the front door. “Diana, bring that pile of books, will you, before we forget them?”

Diana picked them up and ran down the stairs after Roger. At the front door stood a caravan. Diana stood and gloated over it for about the twentieth time.

“Fancy Dad buying a caravan!” she said. “And oh, what a pity he can’t come with us after all!”

“Yes - after all our plans!” said Roger. “Still, it’s a jolly good thing Mummy didn’t back out, when she heard Dad had to go off to America - I was awfully afraid she would! My heart went into my boots, I can tell you.”

“Same here,” said Diana, stacking the books neatly on a shelf in the caravan. “Have we got our bird-book - we’ll see plenty of birds on our travels, and that’s my holiday task - writing an essay on ‘Birds I have seen’.”

“Well, don’t forget to take the field-glasses then,” said Roger. “They’re hanging in the hall. I say - what did you think about Mummy asking Miss Pepper to come with us, now that Daddy can’t manage?”

Miss Pepper was a very old friend of their mother’s. The children were fond of her - but Roger felt rather doubtful about having her on a caravan holiday with them. “You see - she’s all right in a house,” he said to Diana. “But in a small caravan, with hardly any room - won’t she get fussed? We shall be so much on top of one another.”

“Oh well - Mummy must have someone to take turns at driving the car that pulls the caravan,” said Diana. “And she’ll be company for Mummy, too. She’s quite good fun - if only she won’t keep making us be tidy, and wash our hands and knees a dozen times a day,

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