" And turning to the official he asked if there
were any other signs of violence on the body.
The answer came deliberately, "Yes, she has evidently been battered to
death."
Mr. Gryce's lips closed with grim decision. "A most brutal murder,"
said he and lifting up the cloth with a hand that visibly trembled,
he softly covered her face.
"Well," said I as we slowly paced back up the pier, "there is one
thing certain, she is not the one who disappeared from Mr. Blake's
house."
"I am not so sure of that."
"How!" said I. "You believed Fanny lied when she gave that
description of the missing girl upon which we have gone till now?"
Mr. Gryce smiled, and turning back, beckoned to the official behind
us. "Let me have that description," said he, "which I distributed
among the Harbor Police some days ago for the identification of a
certain corpse I was on the lookout for."
The man opened his coat and drew out a printed paper which at Mr.
Gryce's word he put into my hand. It ran as follows:
Look out for the body of a young girl, tall, well shaped but thin,
of fair complexion and golden hair of a peculiar bright and
beautiful color, and when found, acquaint me at once.
G.
"I don't understand," began I.
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