Do not alarm yourself. You will be advised further in good time
as to terms. Be prepared to part with one million dollars.
Your daughter is well.
X.
No. 3, the message just received, the one over which Wilbur Gaylord was
so exercised, contained the details promised:
Note carefully the following instructions. On the night of
January 18 you will see to it that a plane leaves Mitchel
Field, Long Island, at precisely eleven o’clock. If the
night is not clear, the start will be made on the first
clear night thereafter. The plane will carry, in addition
to the usual navigating lights, a single spotlight which
will be pointing straight up and will serve to identify
the machine from others which may be aloft at that hour.
The plane will carry two parcels, carefully wrapped and
padded and each containing five hundred thousand dollars
in gold currency. These will be attached to parachutes of
the proper size, and to the underside of the parcels will
be affixed small electric torches, that their progress
through the air may be noted.
Thus equipped, the pilot will fly over the course herewith
given, namely, Rye, Port Chester, Stamford, Bridgeport,
Milford, New Haven, Saybrook, New London, Willimantic, Putnam,
Stafford Springs to Boston. He will keep a sharp lookout,
and when he shall perceive on the ground an equilateral
triangle, having at its respective corners a red, a white
and a blue light, he shall at once release the parachutes
to which are attached the parcels containing the money. He
will then keep on his way. An attempt to land would be
unhealthy, to say the least. If this is not clear, send a
random message in your private code and it will be picked
up, whereupon such further information as is required will
be cheerfully given.