There was a strange meeting in Lawyer Tibbs’ office. The letter had been delivered to its rightful owner, who was, as will be recollected, “Timothy Tibbs, Esq., Att’y, Dalton.”
Mr. Stark, Leonard Lester, Mr. Royalton, and the proprietor of the office comprised the assemblage. Mr. Tibbs and Mr. Royalton had been informed of the events of the preceding six months, and knew the whole situation of affairs.
The last letter of Colonel Conrad was read by Mr. Tibbs in the presence of those assembled. It was as follows:
“DALTON, August, 18—.
“TIMOTHY TIBBS, Esq.
“Dear Sir: Events have recently been brought to light which have led me to make a new will. Strange revelations have been made, and I now see a supposed friend in the light of a treacherous enemy. The person I refer to is Geoffrey Haywood. The story of his guilt is told in certain documents brought to me by the son of my dead brother. What my action will be during Haywood’s life, I have not determined. I have made the will promptly, however, in view of the ever present fact that death may overtake me at any time. I do not mean to convey the idea that I have any forebodings of immediate dissolution, for I hope to live many years yet. But I recognize the fact that ‘in the midst of life we are in death.’ This guilt of Geoffrey Haywood I do not wish to discuss now. I simply wish to say that, in the event of my death at any time (and in the absence of any further instructions on the subject), you may look for my will, for the documents to which I have alluded, and for a considerable amount of money in gold coin—about thirty thousand dollars—in a secret recess in the east wall of my library. The recess is behind a small case of book-shelves, and may be opened by pressing on a hidden spring at——”
“Here the letter breaks off,” said Mr. Tibbs. “The corner is torn, and the next word or words are missing.”
“The next words,” said Mr. Royalton, “are ‘seven o’clock.’ Here is the missing fragment. Let us see if the two torn edges fit each other.”
“They match exactly,” said Mr. Tibbs. “See!”
All looked, and saw that it was true.