lue to Horbury."

He hurried off towards 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 had
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 Chestermarkes. 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 the police," suggested
Betty. "Isn't there anything we could do?"

Neale pointed ahead to the high roof of Joseph Chestermarke's house
across the river.

"There's one thing I'd like to do--if I could," he answered. "I'd just
like to know all the secrets of that place! That there are some I'm as
certain as that we're crossing this moor. You see that queer-shaped
structure--sort of conical chimney--sticking up amongst the trees in
Joseph Chestermarke's garden? That's a workshop, or a laboratory, or
something, in which Joseph spends his leisure moments. I'd like to know
what he does there. But nobody knows! Nobody is ever allowed in that
house, nor in the garden. I don't know a single soul in all Scarnham
that's ever been inside either. I'm perfectly certain Mr. Horbury was
never asked there. Once Joseph's across his thresholds, back or front,
there's an end of him--till he comes out again!"

"But--he doesn't live entirely alone, does he?" asked Betty.

"As near as can be," replied Neale. "His entire staff consists of an old
man and an old woman--man and wife--who've been with him--oh, ever since
he was born, I believe! You may have seen the old man about the
town--old Palfreman. Everybody knows him--queer, old-fashioned chap: he
goes out to buy in whatever's wanted: the old woman never shows. That's
the trio that live in there--a queer lot, aren't they?"

"It's all queer!" sighed Betty. "But now that this unfortunate man's
body has been found--Wallie! do you think it possible he was thrown down
that m