n!"

CHAPTER XVIII

THE INCOMPLETE CHEQUE

Neale, startled and amazed by this sudden outburst on the part of a man
whom up to that time he had taken to be unusually cool-headed and
phlegmatic, did not immediately answer. He was watching the Ellersdeane
constable, who was running after Gabriel Chestermarke'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 the 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
towards Betty. "I say--he knew him! knew him, Mr. Neale, knew him!--as
soon as ever he clapped his eyes on him!"

"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 conviction 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--I 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 c