the police in Northumberland on this business, or--"

"Aye!" he said, "it's a police matter, this, without doubt, Moneylaws.
We'd best get back to Berwick, and insist on Murray setting his men
thoroughly to work."

We went first to Mr. Lindsey's when we got back, his house being on our
way. And at sight of us he hurried out and had us in his study. There was
a gentleman with him there--Mr. Ridley, the clergyman who had given
evidence about Gilverthwaite at the opening of the inquest on Phillips.

CHAPTER XXXII

THE LINK

I knew by one glance at Mr. Lindsey's face that he had news for us; but
there was only one sort of news I was wanting at that moment, and I was
just as quick to see that, whatever news he had, it was not for me. And
as soon as I heard him say that nothing had been heard of Maisie Dunlop
during our absence, I was for going away, meaning to start inquiries of
my own in the town, there and then, dead-beat though I was. But before I
could reach the door he had a hand on me.

"You'll just come in, my lad, and sit you down to a hot supper that's
waiting you and Mr. Smeaton there," he said, in that masterful way he
had which took no denial from anybody. "You can do no more good just
now--I've made every arrangement possible with the police, and they're
scouring the countryside. So into that chair with you, and eat and
drink--you'll be all the better for it. Mr. Smeaton," he went on, as he
had us both to the supper-table and began to help us to food, "here's
news for you--for such news as it is affects you, I'm thinking, more
than any man that it has to do with. Mr. Ridley here has found out
something relating to Michael Carstairs that'll change the whole course
of events!--especially if we prove, as I've no doubt we shall, that
Michael Carstairs was no other than your father, whom you knew as
Martin Smeaton."

Smeaton turned in his chair and looked at Mr. Ridley, who--he and Mr.
Lindsey having taken their supper before we got in--was sitting in a
corner by the fire, eyeing the stranger from Dundee with evident and
curious interest.

"I've heard of you, sir," said he. "You gave some evidence at the inquest
on Phillips about Gilverthwaite's searching of your registers, I think?"

"Aye; and it's a fortunate thing--and shows how one thing leads to
another--that Gilverthwaite did go to Mr. Ridley!" explained Mr.
Lindsey. "It set Mr. Ridley on a track, and he's been following it up,
and--to cut ma