A GNOME from home

Someone Polly held dear had been kidnapped - but who was behind it?

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Polly stared in disbelief. He was gone! Norman was gone! She looked around the garden. No, he was definitely gone. He had stood out there all those years. Red cheeks. Fishing rod dangling over the pond. Welcoming her with a cheery grin when she got home.

For a moment, she thought perhaps he had been scattered by the wind. But then common sense told her that gnomes did not normally blow away.

The only explanation was that someone had stolen Norman!

The gnome-napping soon became the subject of much discussion in the village. Shortly after, the first postcard arrived. was of Norman, with the Tower of London in the background.

The message said, 'We're all going on a summer holiday! Norman.' Polly wondered if she should go to the police, then realised a missing gnome might not be at the top of their crime-fighting priorities.

Later that day, she bumped into Jeff Langley. He was new in the village, an eminent scientist of international standing.

Polly liked him. He was quite shy and often blushed like a schoolboy when trying to make small talk. Even he had heard of the Case of the Missing Gnome.

'Perhaps they'll demand a ransom,' he said.