t departed amidst expressions of gratitude and police
admonitions to keep her news to herself for awhile, and Betty and Neale
turned eagerly to the famous detective. But Starmidge appeared to have
entered upon a period of silence, and made no further observation than
that he would wait upon Miss Fosdyke 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 hundred pounds reward
would be paid to any person who first gave news of having seen Mr. John
Horbury on the previous Saturday evening or since. The clanging of his
bell, and the strident notes of his cracked voice, sounded in the
distance as Betty said good-night to Neale and turned sadly into the
Scarnham Arms.

CHAPTER IX

NO FURTHER INFORMATION

Chestermarke's clerks found no difficulty in obtaining access to the
bank when they presented themselves at its doors at nine o'clock next
morning. Both partners were already there, and appeared to have been
there for some time. And Joseph at once called Neale into the private
parlour, and drew his attention to a large poster which lay on a
side-table, its ink still wet from the printing press.

"Let Patten put that up in one of the front windows, Neale," he said.
"It's just come in--I gave the copy for it last night. Read it over--I
think it's satisfactory, eh?"

Neale bent over the big, bold letters, and silently read the
announcement:--

"Messrs. Chestermarke, in view of certain unauthorized rumours, now
circulating in the town and neighbourhood, respecting the
disappearance of their late manager, Mr. John Horbury, take the
earliest opportunity of announcing that all Customers' Securities
and Deposits in their hands are safe, and that business will be
conducted in the usual way."

"That make things clear?" asked Joseph, closely watching his clerk. "To
our clients, I mean?"

"Quite clear, I should say," replied Neale.

"Then get it up at once, before opening hours, and save all the bother
of questions," commanded Joseph. "And if people do come asking
questions--as some of them will!--tell them not to bother
themselves--nor us. We don't want to waste our time interviewing fools
all the morning."

Neale took the poster and went o