Harley, the public never learned
that the awful riverside murder called by the Press in reference to
the victim's shaven skull "the barber atrocity" had any relation to the
Deepbrow case. It was physically impossible to identify the victim, and
Harley had his own reasons for concealing the truth. The house on the
wharf with its choice Oriental furniture was seized by the police;
but, strange to relate, no arrest was made in connection with this most
gruesome outrage. The man who dropped through the trap had been wounded
by one of Harley's shots, and he sank for the last time under the very
eyes of the crew of the police cutter.

It was at a late hour on the night of this concluding tragedy that I
learned the amazing truth underlying the case. Wessex was still at work
in the East End upon the hundred and one formalities which attached to
his office, and Harley and I sat in the study of my friend's chambers in
Chancery Lane.

"You see," Harley was explaining. "I got my first clue down at Deepbrow.
The tracks leading to the motor-car. They showed--to anyone not hampered
by a preconceived opinion--that the girl and Vane had not gone on
together (since the man's footprints proved him to have been running),
but that she had gone first and that he had run after her! Arguments:
(a) He heard the approach of the car; or (b) he heard her call for help.
In fact, it almost immediately became evident to me that someone else
had met her at the end of the lane; probably someone who expected her,
and whom she was going to meet when she, accidentally, encountered Vane!
The captain was not attired for an elopement, and, more significant
still, he said he should stroll to the Deep Wood, and that was where he
did stroll to; for it borders the road at this point!

"I had privately ascertained, from the postman, that Molly Clayton
actually received a letter on that morning! This resolved my last doubt.
She was not going to meet Vane on the night of her disappearance.

"Then whom?"

"The old love! He who some months earlier had had over fifty seductive
pictures of this undoubtedly pretty girl prepared for a purpose of his
own!"

"Vane interfered?"

"When the girl saw that they meant to take her away, she no doubt made
a fuss! He ran to the rescue! They had not reckoned on his being there,
but these are clever villains, who leave no clues--except for one who
has met them on their own ground!"

"On their own ground! What do you mean,