The Chestermarke Instinct

criminal cases in the weekly newspapers, looked at the man from New Scotland Yard with a feeling of surprise. He knew Detective-Sergeant Starmidge well e

cape he had gone through in connection with the second. And he had formed an idea of him-which he now saw to be a totally erroneous one. For Starmidge did not look at all like a detective-in Neale's opinion. Instead of being elderly, and sinister, and close of eye and mouth, he w

ing his hand again at the detective. "So I'm just giving him a re

h interest. She knew nothing about Starmidge, and she thought him quite diff

g something about his best respects to his host, took a whisky-and-soda from

ked Polke. "I'll prime him before he go

ropose to do-first

led and set d

st, I think I should like to se

reau in the corner

portrait here that Mr. Horbury gave

ed it to Starmidge, who looked at it and

onveys nothing to

turally wants to know what he's like. And if there's any advertising of hi

re," agre

evening, hasn't been seen since, and there's an idea that he probably walked across country to a p

assente

news. Mr. Horbury must have crossed Ellersdeane Hollow on Sa

ccount of the meeting with Creasy, and Betty, watching Starmidge's

ed upon?" he asked, when Neal

honest chap enough-bit given to poaching, no doubt, but straight enough in all other w

as Creasy picked it up underneath Ellersdeane Tower on Sunday evening," said Starmidge, "there seems no doubt that Mr. H

asked

h of jewels in his pocket, and walk across a lonely stretch of land at that time of night, just to hand them over to their owner? I think not-especially as

lke. "That's the mo

jewels, then?

with one expression, at B

, have they?" he asked quietly. "Th

arch for them?"

we'll hear something. It's a difficult thing for a well-known man to get clear away from a little place like this. No!-what I'd like to know-what I want to satisfy myself about is-did Mr. Horbury go away

c servant tapped at the door a

rs. Pratt, from the Station Hotel, w

th a stout, middle-aged woman, who, as she entered, raised he

This lady is Mr. Horbury's niece-anxious to find him. That gentleman's a friend of mine-you can say aught you

f the table, nodded a general greeting to the company, and lifting her v

object to-I'll tell you what it is I've come up for, special, as it were, and me not waiting until after closing-time to do it. But that town-crier's been down our way, and hearing him making his call betwe

w, ma'am?" asked Polke.

never been in Scarnham before. And happen I'd best tell you what like he was, while the recollection's fresh in my mind-a little gentleman he was, very well dressed in what you might call the professional style; dark clothes and so forth, and a silk top-hat; I should say about fifty years of age, with a fresh complexion and a biggish grey moustache and a nicely rolled umbrella-quite the little swell he was. He made for our door, and I went to the bar-window to attend to him. He wanted to know if he could get s

ners a knowing look, as if she was now about t

ne passing to and fro, as it were, when anybody's using the telephone, can't help hearing a word or two of what's being said inside. Now, of course, I was passing in and out, giving orders for this gentleman's chops, when he was in the box. And I heard

y glad to hear anything that may have to do with Mr

you would term it. First of all I hear the gentleman ask for 'Town 2

ank," said Neale,

gs off-and he went into the dining-room, and in due course he had his chops, and some tart and cheese, and a pint of our bitter ale, and took his time, and perhaps about a quarter past seven he came to the bar and paid, and he took a drop of Scotch whisky. After which he says, 'It's very possible, landlady, that I may have to stop in the town all night-have you a nice room that you can let me?' 'Certainly, sir,' says I. 'We've very good rooms, and bathrooms, and every conve

e back!" e

g with somebody he knew, which person, Mr. Polke, I took to be Mr. Horbury. Why? 'Cause he'd rung up Chestermarke's Bank-and who should he w

tleman being in the town on

g naught but a branch line, and as our bar-parlour window is exactly opposite the station, I see everybody that goes and comes-I always was one for looking out of window! And I'm sure that little gentleman didn't go away neithe

dyke in the morning, and presently the two young people followed Mrs. Pratt into the street and turned into the Market-Place. The last of the evening revellers were just coming out of the closing taverns, and to a group of them, Tolson, the town-crier, was dismally calling forth his announcement that one hun