We must communicate with the Carstairs family solicitors." "I'd have done it, as soon as the butler brought me the news about Lady Carstairs," remarked Murray, "but I don't know who they are." "I do!" answered Mr.Lindsey.

"Holmshaw and Portlethorpe of Newcastle.
Here," he went on, passing a telegram form to me.

"Write out this message: 'Sir Gilbert and Lady Carstairs are both missing from Hathercleugh under strange circumstances please send some authorized person here at once.' Sign that with my name, Hugh--and take it to the post-office, and come back here." When I got back, Mr.Lindsey had evidently told Murray and Chisholm all about my adventures with Sir Gilbert, and the two men regarded me with a new interest as if I had suddenly become a person of the first importance.

And the superintendent at once fell upon me for my reticence.
"You made a bad mistake, young man, in keeping back what you ought to have told at the inquest on Phillips!" he said, reprovingly.

"Indeed, you ought to have told it before that--you should have told us." "Aye!--if I'd only known as much as that," began Chisholm, "I'd have--" "You'd probably have done just what he did!" broke in Mr.Lindsey--"held your tongue till you knew more!--so let that pass--the lad did what he thought was for the best.