"No!" he said. "That's probably what brought Hollis down to Scarnham! A cheque for ten thousand pounds! And—incomplete!"
The three men bent wonderingly over the bit of pink paper. Neale's quick eyes took in its contents at a glance.
London: May 12th, 1912.
Vanderkiste, Mullineau & Company,
563 Lombard Street, E.C.
Pay .............................. or Order
the sum of Ten Thousand Pounds
£10,000.00.
...................
"That's extraordinary!" exclaimed Neale. "Date and amount filled in—and the names of payee and drawer omitted! What does it mean?"
"Ah!" said Starmidge, "when we know that, Mr. Neale, we shall know a lot! But I'm pretty sure of one thing. Mr. Hollis came down here intending to pay somebody ten thousand pounds. And—he wasn't exactly certain who that somebody was!"
"Good!" muttered Polke. "Good! That looks like it."
"So," said Starmidge, "he didn't fill in either the name of the payee or his own name until he was—sure! See, Mr. Neale!"
"Why did he fill in the amount?" remarked Neale, sceptically.
Starmidge winked at Polke.
"Very likely to dangle before somebody's eyes," he answered slyly. "Can't you reconstruct the scene, Mr. Neale? 'Here you are!' says Hollis, showing this cheque. 'Ten thousand of the very best, lying to be picked up at my bankers. Say the word, and I'll fill in your name and mine!' Lay you a pound to a penny that's been it, gentlemen!"