on them before the month is over. I only hope, when we do come
across them, it will not be to find their betters too much mixed up with
their devilish practices." And I related to him what Fanny had told me a
few evenings before.

"The coil is tightening," said he. "What the end will be I don't know.
Crime, said she? I wish I knew in what blind hole of the earth that girl
we are after lies hidden."

As if in answer to this wish the door opened and one of our men came
in with a letter in his hand. "Ha!" exclaimed Mr. Gryce, after he had
perused it, "look at that."

I took the letter from his hand and read:

The dead body of a girl such as you describe was found in the East
river off Fiftieth Street this morning. From appearance has been
dead some time. Have telegraphed to Police Headquarters for
orders. Should you wish to see the body before it is removed to
the Morgue or otherwise disturbed, please hasten to Pier 48 E. R.
GRAHAM.

"Come," said I, "let's go and see for ourselves. If it should be the
one--"

"The dinner party proposed by Mr. Blake for to-night, may have its
interruptions," he remarked.

I do not wish to make my story any longer than is necessary, but I must
say that when in an hour or so later, I stood with Mr. Gryce before the
unconscious form of that poor drowned girl I felt an unusual degree
of awe stealing over me: there was so much mystery connected with this
affair, and the parties implicated were of such standing and repute.

I almost dreaded to see the covering removed from her face lest I should
behold, what? I could not have told if I had tried.

"A trim made body enough," cried the official in charge as Mr. Gryce
lifted an end of the cloth that enveloped her and threw it back. "Pity
the features are not better preserved."

"No need for us to see the features," exclaimed I, pointing to the locks
of golden red hair that hung in tangled masses about her. "The hair is
enough; she is not the one." And I turned aside, asking myself if it was
relief I felt.

To my surprise Mr. Gryce did not follow.

"Tall, thin, white face, black eyes." I heard him whisper to himself.
"It is a pity the features are not better preserved."

"But," said I, taking him by the arm, "Fanny spoke particularly of
her hair being black, while this girl's--Good heavens!" I suddenly
ejaculated as I looked again at the prostrate form befo