
an obligation. He regarded me as the most important of the seven.
He stated that he intended to divide his wealth into three parts - each a fortune. One was for the surviving
members of his family. Another was for the cause of the czarists. The third was to be divided into eight
portions - one each for six of the men who had befriended him; two for myself.
To me he intrusted the division of this fortune. He gave me a sealed box containing the insignia of a high
royal order, which he or his messenger would recognize. He gave me a sealed envelope containing the
names of the other six men with their descriptions.
Some day, he declared, I would receive a message simply stating a time and place for a meeting. There I
would find him or his messenger. The other six would be present, each notified independently. At that
time, I should open the box and reveal the insignia. The fortune would then be given to me without
question.
My next duty would be to open the envelope, learn the names of the other six friends, and identify them.
To each I should give his share. Should any be absent, it would depend upon me to find them and to give
their shares to them or to their heirs, if they had died.
I regarded this as a sacred trust. Upon my return to America, I constructed a hiding place and kept the
package and the envelope there. My health had failed, and I lived indoors, always remaining in that room.
For as years passed, the matter became to me the most important subject of my life.
My Russian friend was killed in the rout of the Kolchak forces. Still I maintained the trust, confident that
he had placed his affairs in the hands of some relative or trusted friend.
I have earned my reward. One week ago, I received a letter that stated the time and place of the
meeting. I added the letter to the package and the envelope which contained the names of the other six
men.
When you read this, I will be dead. Dead, before the meeting time. I rely upon you to fulfill the mission
and to receive the wealth that would have been my reward.
The secret hiding place is in my room. You must live there and guard the spot until the appointed time.
Do not regard this as an old man's whim. It is important. No one knows my secret, yet sometimes the
most secret things are discovered.
Use the utmost secrecy, Bruce. Be sure that you are alone, in my room. Go to the fireplace. Press upon
the metal border at the top of the right side. The hiding place will open. It is concealed by a stone in the
hearth.
Read the letter. Learn the time and place of the meeting. Carry the package and the sealed envelope and
go there - alone. You know your duty from then on. Destroy this letter after you have read it.
The signature of Harvey Duncan was at the bottom of the page.
THE young man stared at the words before him. He read the letter again. Each fact seemed to burn itself
into his brain. He tore the papers into fragments. He wondered what to do with them, then realized it did
not matter.
For the secret was no longer his alone. His uncle's fears had been realized. Some one had discovered the
hiding place. Bruce was positive now that he had been drugged the right before. Perhaps the hashish - if
that had been the drug - had made the strange visitor seem grotesque. But he was certain that some living
being had entered his room and had taken the documents and the package.