The manager glanced at the millionaire’s startled face for a moment and then asked, his voice showing sympathy rather than curiosity:
“Unpleasant news, Mr. Havens?”
“Decidedly so!” was the reply.
The millionaire studied over the telegram for a moment and then laid it down in front of the manager.
“Read it!” he said.
The message was brief and ran as follows:
“Ralph Hubbard murdered last night! Private key to deposit box A missing from his desk!”
“Except for the information that some one has been murdered,” Mellen said, restoring the telegram to its owner, “this means little or nothing to me. I don’t think I ever knew Ralph Hubbard!”
“Ralph Hubbard,” replied the millionaire gravely, “was my private secretary at the office of the Invincible Trust Company, New York. All the papers and information collected concerning the search for Milo Redfern passed through his hands. In fact, the letter purporting to have been written and mailed on the lower East Side of New York was addressed to him personally, but in my care.”
“And deposit box A?” asked Mellen. “Pardon me,” he added in a moment, “I don’t seek to pry into your private affairs, but the passing of the telegram to me seemed to indicate a desire on your part to take me into your confidence in this matter.”