The Missing Bank Manager

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 150, 15 September 1927, Page 14

The Missing Bank Manager

J| SERIAL

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CHAPTER XVII —Continued. “That’s true —unless he’d had it pointed out to him,” rejoined Starmidge. “It’s odd, anyAVay, that his body should be found half-way, as it Avere, betAveen Gabriel Chestermarke’s place and Joseph Chestermarke’s house —isn’t it, noAV? But., Lord bless you!—Ave’re only on the fringe of this business as yet. Well —just take a look at him.”

Neale Avaiked within the group of bystanders, feeling an intense dislike and loathing of the Avhole thing. In obedience to Starmidge’s wish, he looked steadily at the dead man, and turned away. “You don’t know him —never suav him during the five years you Avere at the bank?” AAdiispered the detective. Think!—make certain, now.” “Never saw him in my life!” declared Neale, stepping back. “I neither know him nor anything about him.” “I wanted vou to make sure,” said Starmidge. “I thought you might—possibly—recollect him as somebody Avho’d called at the bank during your time?” “No!” said Neale. “Certainly not! I’ve ne\ r er set eyes on him until now. Of course, he’s Hollis, I suppose?” “Oh, Avithout doubt!” ansAvered Polke, A\fiio caught Neale’s question as he came up. “He’s Hollis, right enough. Mr. Neale —here’s a difficulty. It’s a queer , thing, but there, isn’t one of us hero Avho kno\A r s if this spot is in Scarnham or in Ellersdeane. Do you? Is it Avith in our borough boundary, or is it in Ellersdeane parish? The Ellersdeane policeman there doesn’t kr.ow, and I’m sure I don’t. It’s a poirn of great importance, because the inquest’ll have to be held in the parish in which the body was found.” The Ellersdeane constable, who had followed Polke, suddenly raised a finger, and pointed across the heather. “Here’s a gentleman coming as might know, Mr. Polke,” he said. “Mr. Chestermarke!” Neale and Starmidge turned sharply —to see the banker advancing quickly from the adjacent road. A cab, dFRAAm up a little distance off, shoAved that he had driven out to hear the latest neAvs.

Polke stepped forAA*ard to meet the newcomer; Gabriel greeted him in his usual impassiA’e fashion. “This body been recovered?” he asked, qpietly. “A feAV minutes ago, Mr. Chestermarke,” ansAvered Polke. “Will you look at it?”

Gabriel moved inside the group of men without further word, and the others followed him. He looked steadily at the dead man’s face and withdrew.

“Not known to me,” he said, in ans Aver to an inquiring glance from Polke. “Hollis, I suppose, of course.” He went off again as suddenly as he had come—and Starmidge drew Neale aside.

“Mr. Neale!” he whispered, with a nearer approach to excitement than Neale had yet seen in him. “Did you see Gabriel Chestermarke’s eyes?” He’s a liar. As sure as my name’s Starmidge, he’s a liar! Mr. Neale!—he knoAA-s that dead man!” CHAPTER XVIII. The Incomplete Cheque

Neale, startled and amazed by this sudden outburst on the part of a man AA'hom up to that time, he had taken to be unusually cool-headed and phlegmatic, did not immediately answer. He was AA r atching the Ellersdeant constable, who was running after Gabriel Ches-

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termarke’s rapidly-retreating figure. He saw Gabriel stop, listen to an evident question, and then lift his hand and point to various features of the Hollow. The policeman touched his helmet and came back to Polke.

“Mr. Chestermarke, sir, says this moorland is in three parishes,” he reported, pantingly. “From Scarnham Bridge corner to Ellersdeane Tower yonder is in Scarnham parish; this side the Hollow is in Ellersdeane; everything beyond the Tower is in Middlethorpe.”

“Then we’re in Scarnham,” said Polke. “He’ll have to be taken down to the town mortuary. We’d better see to it at once. What are you going to do, Starmidge?” he asked, as the detective turned away with 'Neale. “I’ll take this short cut back,” said Starmidge. “I want to get to the post office. Yes, sir!” he went on, as he and Neale slowly walked toward Betty. “I say—he knew him! Knew him, Mr. Neale, knew him! —as soon as ever he clapped his eyes on hirp!” “You’re very certain about it!” said Neale. “Dead certain!” exclaimed the detective. “I was watching him—purposely. I’ve taught myself to watch men. The slightest quiver of a lip—the least bit of light in an eye—the merest twitch of a little finger—ah! don’t I know ’em all, and know what they mean! And,, when Gabriel Chestermarke stepped up to look at that body I was watching that face of his as I’ve never watched mortal man before!”

“And you saw—what?” asked Neale. “I saw—recognition!” said Starmidge. “Recognition, sir! I’ll stake my reputation as a detective officer that Mr. Gabriel Chestermarke has seen that dead man before. He mayn’t know him personally. He may never have spoken to him. But—he knew him! He’d seen him! ” “Will your convicition of that help at all?” inquired Neale. “It’ll help me,” replied the detective, quickly. “I’m gradually getting some ideas. But I shan’t tell Polke —nor anybody else —of it. You can tell Miss Fosdyke if you like —she’ll understand; women have more intuition than men. Now I’m off—l want to get a wire away to London. Look here —drop in at the police station when you get back. We shall examine Hollis’s clothing, you know —there may be some clue to Horbury.” He hurried off toward the town, and Neale rejoined Betty. And as they slowly followed the detective he told her what Starmidge had just said with such evident belief —and Betty understood, as Starmidge bad prophesied, and she grew more thoughtful than ever. “When are we going to find a way out of all this miserable business?” she suddenly exclaimed. “Are we any nearer a solution because of what’s just happened? Does that help us to finding out what’s become of my uncle?” “I suppose one thing’s sure to lead to another,” said Neale. “That seems to be the detective’s notion, anyhow. If Starmidge is so certain that Gabriel Chestermarke knew Hollis, he’ll work that for all it’s worth. It’s my opinion —Whatever that’s worth!—that Hollis came down here to see the Chesterma.rkes. Did he see them? There’s the problem. If one could only find out—that!” “I wish you and I could do something—apart from he police,” suggested Betty. “Isn’t there anything we could do?

Neale pointed ahead to the high roof of Joseph Chestermarke’s house aerosthe river.

“There’s one thing I’d like to do—i: I could,” he answered. “I’d just like to know all the secrets of that place: That there are some I’m as certain a? that wc.’re crossing tliis moor. Tor. see that queer-shaped structure —sort of conical chimney—sticking up amons the trees in Joseph Chestermarke 5 garden? That’s a workshop, or a lab oratory, or something, in which Joseph spends his leisure moments. I'd like t> know what he does there. But nobod: knows! Nobody is ever allowed in tha: house, nor in the garden. I don’t knoy a single soul in all Scarnham that;' ever been inside either. I’m perfect!? certain that Mr. Horbury was never asked there. Once Joseph’s across hi;’ thresholds, back or front, there’s ar. end of him —till he comes out again. 1 “But—he doesn't live entirely alone i does he?” asked Betty, i "As near as can be,” replied “His entire staff consists of an old man and an old woman—man and wu e —who’ve been w ith hira—oh, ever he was born, I believe! You may have S seen the old man about the town—o Palfreman. Everybody knows “ Ini queer, old-fashioned chap; he goes to buy in whatever is wanted; tbeoj« woman never shows. That’s the tlO that lives in there —a queer lot, aret “it s all queer.'” sighed Betty. “But now that this unfortunate man s own has been found —Wallie! do you th it possible he was thrown down tan mine? That would mean murder “If he was thrown down there, »>- ready dead,” answered Neare,gr “it would not only mean murder, that more than one person was cerned in it. We shall know more wnen they’ve examined the body searched the clothing. I’m going rauw to the police station when I've se ® - ... back to the hotel —I’m hoping the find something that’ll settle the point that’s so worrying.” “Whis point?" asked Betty “The real critical point— : l , r ' ‘2 opinion,” answered Neale. Wno , that Hollis cam 5 to see on There may be letters, papers. ° n n ‘“ that'll settle that. And it we ® know that — ahl that will make a ference! Becatisa then —then “What then?” demanded Betty- “ Then the police can ask that peif Hollis did meet him! excU-ti Neale. “And they can ask, too, ___ that person did ivith Hollis. Solve and we’ll see daylight!” , la4r But Betty shook her head with « indications of doubt as to the vane of this theory. “No!” she said. “It won t Wallie. If there's been foul P la -’ 4 guilty people will have hadtoom cleverness to leave any evidence* their victim. I don’t believe t#e find anvtliing on Hollis thatTl things up. Daylight isn’t coming v | that quarter!” „ .. ! “Where are we to look for it. asked Neale, dis:nally. „ .glared “It’s somewhere far back. , Betty. “I’ve felt that all secret of all tins affair isn t . ..’ r thing that’s been done here ana —it’s in someth.ng deep f>bo ut how to get at it, and to find out my* uncle, I don’t know. ffer Neale felt it w orse than idle ignore theories —speculation was . ing useless. He left Betty at the ham Arms and went round to police station tc meet st t rm ““ t 5 gether they went over to the m And before noon they knew art {u. medical examination an “ lt tb« searching could tell them a ! dead man. (To b? continued)