Frank read the document. It was a letter addressed to Hanleigh and was from a lawyer in New York City. It was as follows:
“Dear Sir:
“This is to advise you that your late uncle, John Sparewell, named you as sole heir in his will, which has just been probated. Under the provisions of the will you will benefit to the extent of all Mr. Sparewell’s property, consisting of two lots of ground on the outskirts of Bayport, cash in the bank amounting to three hundred and fifty dollars, and all personal papers and belongings. In his will, Mr. Sparewell made particular mention of a notebook which was to be given into your hands after his death, stressing its importance as containing information of great value. He also gave these instructions:
“ ‘My nephew is to take this notebook, with the accompanying key to the cipher which I shall leave in a sealed envelope, and when he has made himself aware of the contents of the message I wish him to go to the place mentioned and procure the object referred to. This is to be returned to its rightful owner. In return for this favor, I name my nephew, George Hanleigh, as my sole heir.’
“We hereby take pleasure in forwarding to you the notebook and the sealed envelope mentioned by our deceased client and trust you will carry out his instructions to the letter.
Yours very truly,
Flint and Flint, Attorneys at Law.”
When Frank had concluded the reading of this document there were expressions of amazement from the other boys.
“So that’s how he came to get the notebook!” said Chet. “John Sparewell was Hanleigh’s uncle!”
“And Sparewell,” observed Frank, “is dead.”