cked him up dead."

"Well?" said I.

"You're wondering if that's anything to do with Netherfield Baxter's
disappearance?" said Scarterfield. "Well--it's an odd thing, but out
of all the folk that I've made inquiry of in the town, I haven't come
across one yet who voluntarily suggested that it had! But--I do! And
you'll presently see why I think so. Now, this man, John Martindale
Lester, was accidentally killed about the beginning of the first week
in May 1904. Three or four days later, Netherfield Baxter cleared out.
I've been careful, in my conversations with the townfolk--officials,
mostly--not to appear to connect Lester's death with Baxter's
departure. But that there was a connection, I'm dead certain. Baxter
hooked it, Mr. Middlebrook, because he knew that Lester's sudden death
would lead to an examination of things at the Old Alliance Bank!"

"Ah!" said I. "I begin to see things!"

"So do I--through smoked glass, though, as yet," assented
Scarterfield. "But--it's getting clearer. Now, things at the bank were
examined--and some nice revelations came forth! To begin with, there
was a cash deficiency--not a heavy one, but quite heavy enough. In
addition to that, certain jewels were missing, which had been
deposited with the bankers for security by a lady in this
neighbourhood--they were worth some thousands of pounds. And, to add
to this, two chests of plate were gone which had been placed with the
bank some years before by the executors of the will of the late Lord
Forestburne, to be kept there till the coming of age of his heir, a
minor when his father died. Altogether, Mr. John Martindale Lester and
his accomplices, or accomplice, had helped themselves very freely to
things until then safe in the vaults and strong room."

"Have you found out if Netherfield Baxter and the temporary
bank-manager were acquainted?" I asked.

"No--that's a matter I've very carefully refrained from inquiring
into," answered Scarterfield. "So far, no one has mentioned their
acquaintanceship or association to me, and I haven't suggested it, for
I don't want to raise suspicions--I want to keep things to myself, so
that I can play my own game. No--I've never heard the two men spoken
of in connection with each other."

"What is thought in the town about Lester and the valuables?" I
inquired. "They must have some theory?"

"Oh, of course, they have," he replied. "The theory is that Lester had
accomplices in London, that he shipped t