HB 001 The Tower Treasure 1959

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C:\Sweta\ebooks\hardy boyz1\Hardy Boyz1\HB 001 The Tower Treasure 1959.pdb PDB Na e: Hardy Boys 001 - The Tower Trea Creator !D: !Ad PDB Type: T!"t "ers#o$: 0 %$#&ue !D Seed: 0 Creat#o$ Date: #/1$/1%&' 'od#(#)at#o$ Date: #/1$/1%&' *ast Ba)kup Date:: 1/1/1%&0 'od#(#)at#o$ Nu ber: 0 TH! T()! T !A*+ ! ,ran-l.n ). /.xon The Hardy Boys no. 1 Th.s .s the 1%0% rev.sed text 1ers.on 1.01. *ee rev.s.on h.story at end.
The Hardy Boys ser.es by ,ran-l.n ). /.xon2 the 3.rst 0# t.tles The 3.rst year .s the or.4.nal year. The second .s the year .t was rev.sed. 01 06 0' 08 00 0$ 0& 0# 0% 10 11 16 1' 18 10 1$ 1& 1# 1% 60 61 66 6' 68 60 6$ 6& 6# 6% '0 '1 The Tower Treas5re 1%6&2 1%0% The Ho5se on the Cl.33 1%6&2 1%0% The *ecret o3 the (ld 7.ll 1%6&2 1%$6 The 7.ss.n4 Ch5ms 1%6&2 1%$6 H5nt.n4 3or H.dden 9old 1%6#2 1%$' The *hore oad 7ystery 1%6#2 1%$8 The *ecret o3 the Caves 1%6%2 1%$0 The 7ystery o3 Cab.n :sland 1%6%2 1%$$ The 9reat A.rport 7ystery 1%'02 1%$0 )hat Happened at 7.dn.4ht 1%'12 1%$& )h.le the Cloc- T.c-ed 1%'62 1%$6 ,ootpr.nts +nder the ).ndow 1%''2 1%$6 The 7ar- on the /oor 1%'82 1%$& The H.dden Harbor 7ystery 1%'02 1%$1 The *.n.ster *.4n Post 1%'$2 1%$# A ,.45re .n H.d.n4 1%'&2 1%$0 The *ecret )arn.n4 1%'#2 1%$$ The Tw.sted Claw 1%'%2 1%$8 The /.sappear.n4 ,loor 1%802 1%$8 The 7ystery o3 the ,ly.n4 !xpress 1%812 1%$# The Cl5e o3 the Bro-en Blade 1%862 1%$% The ,l.c-er.n4 Torch 7ystery 1%8'2 1&1 The 7elted Co.ns 1%882 1%&0 The *hort )ave 7ystery 1%802 1%$$ The *ecret Panel 1%8$2 1%$% The Phantom ,re.4hter 1%8&2 1%&0 The *ecret o3 *-5ll 7o5nta.n 1%8#2 1%$$ The *.4n o3 the Croo-ed Arrow 1%8%2 1%&0 The *ecret o3 the ;ost T5nnel 1%002 1%$# The )a.l.n4 *.ren 7ystery 1%012 1%$# The *ecret o3 ).ldcat *wamp 1%062 1%$%
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The *peed /emon , AA@ and >oe Hardy cl5tched the 4r.ps o3 the.r motorcycles and stared .n horror at the oncom.n4 car. :t was careen.n4 3rom s.de to s.de on the narrow road. CHe=ll h.t 5sB )e=d better cl.mb th.s h.lls.de- and 3astBC ,ranexcla.med2 as the boys bro54ht the.r motorcycles to a screech.n4 halt and leaped o33. C(n the do5bleBC >oe cr.ed o5t as they started 5p the steep emban-ment. To the.r ama?ement2 the rec-less dr.ver s5ddenly p5lled h.s car hard to the r.4ht and t5rned .nto a s.de road on two wheels. The boys expected the car to t5rn over2 b5t .t held the d5sty 4ro5nd and sped o33 o5t o3 s.4ht. C)owBC sa.d >oe. C;et=s 4et away 3rom here be3ore the cra?y 45y comes bac-. That=s a dead-end road2 yo5 -now.C The boys scrambled bac- onto the.r motorcycles and 45nned them a b.t to 4et past the .ntersect.n4 road .n a h5rry. They rode .n s.lence 3or a wh.le2 4a?.n4 at the scene ahead. (n the.r r.4ht an emban-ment o3 t5mbled roc-s and bo5lders sloped steeply to the water below. ,rom the oppos.te s.de rose a Da44ed cl.33. The l.ttle-traveled road was w.nd.n42 and D5st w.de eno54h 3or two cars to pass. CBoy2 :=d hate to 3all o33 the ed4e o3 th.s road2C ,ranremar-ed. C:t=s a h5ndred-3oot drop.C CThat=s r.4ht2C >oe a4reed. C)e=d s5re be smashed to b.ts be3ore we ever 4ot to the bottom.C Then he sm.led. C)atch yo5r step2 ,ran-2 or /ad=s papers won=t 4et del.vered.C ,ran- reached .nto h.s Dac-et poc-et to be s5re several .mportant le4al papers wh.ch he was to del.ver 3or 7r. Hardy were st.ll there. el.eved to 3.nd them2 ,ran- ch5c-led and sa.d2 CA3ter the help we 4ave /ad on h.s latest case2 he o54ht to set 5p the 3.rm o3 Hardy and *ons.C C)hy notEC >oe repl.ed w.th a broad 4r.n. C:sn=t he one o3 the most 3amo5s pr.vate detect.ves .n the co5ntryE And aren=t we br.4ht tooEC Then2 becom.n4 ser.o5s2 he added2 C: w.sh we co5ld solve a mystery on o5r own2 tho54h.C ,ran- and >oe2 st5dents at Bayport H.4h2 were comb.n.n4 b5s.ness w.th pleas5re th.s *at5rday morn.n4 by do.n4 the errand 3or the.r 3ather. !ven tho54h one boy was dar- and the other 3a.r2 there was a mar-ed

resemblance between the two brothers. !.4hteen-year-old ,ran- was tall and dar-. >oe2 a year yo5n4er2 was blond w.th bl5e eyes. They were the only ch.ldren o3 ,enton and ;a5ra Hardy. The 3am.ly l.ved .n Bayport2 a small b5t thr.v.n4 c.ty o3 3.3ty tho5sand .nhab.tants2 located on Barmet Bay2 three m.les .nland 3rom the Atlant.c (cean. The two motorcycles wh.pped alon4 the narrow road that s-.rted the bay and led to ).llowv.lle2 the brothers= dest.nat.on. The boys too- the next c5rve neatly and started 5p a lon42 steep slope. Here the road was a mere r.bbon and badly .n need o3 repa.r. C(nce we 4et to the top o3 the h.ll .t won=t be so ro54h2C ,ranremar-ed2 as they Do5nced over the 5neven s5r3ace. CBetter road 3rom there .nto ).llowv.lle.C >5st then2 above the sharp p5t-p5t o3 the.r own motors2 the two boys heard the roar o3 a car approach.n4 3rom the.r rear at 4reat speed. They too- a moment to 4lance bac-. C;oo-s l.-e that same 45y we saw be3oreBC >oe b5rst o5t. C9ood n.4htBC At once the Hardys stopped and p5lled as close to the ed4e as they dared. ,ran- and >oe hopped o33 and stood po.sed to leap o5t o3 dan4er a4a.n .3 necessary. The car h5rtled toward them l.-e a shot. >5st when .t seemed as .3 .t co5ld not m.ss them2 the dr.ver sw5n4 the wheel abo5t v.c.o5sly and the sedan sped past. C)hewB That was closeBC ,ran- 4asped. The car had been travel.n4 at s5ch h.4h speed that the boys had been 5nable to 4et the l.cense n5mber or a 4l.mpse o3 the dr.ver=s 3eat5res. B5t they had noted that he was hatless and had a shoc- o3 red ha.r. C:3 : ever meet h.m a4a.n2C >oe m5ttered2 C:=ll -:=ll-C The boy was too exc.ted to 3.n.sh the threat. ,ran- relaxed. CHe m5st be pract.c.n4 3or some -.nd o3 race2C he remar-ed2 as the dar--bl5e sedan d.sappeared 3rom s.4ht aro5nd the c5rve ahead. The boys res5med the.r Do5rney. By the t.me they ro5nded the c5rve2 and co5ld see ).llowv.lle .n a valley alon4 the bay beneath them2 there was no trace o3 the rash motor.st. CHe=s probably hal3way across the state by th.s t.me2C >oe remar-ed. C+nless he=s .n Da.l or over a cl.332C ,ran- added. The boys reached ).llowv.lle and ,ran- del.vered the le4al papers to a lawyer wh.le >oe 45arded the motorcycles. )hen h.s brother ret5rned2 >oe s544ested2 CHow abo5t ta-.n4 the other road bac- to BayportE : don=t crave 4o.n4 over that b5mpy stretch a4a.n.C C*5.ts me. )e can stop o33 at Chet=s.C

Chet 7orton2 who was a school ch5m o3 the Hardy boys2 l.ved on a 3arm abo5t a m.le o5t o3 Bayport. The pr.de o3 Chet=s l.3e was a br.4ht yellow Dalopy wh.ch he had named F5een. He wor-ed on .t da.ly to Cso5p 5pC the en4.ne. ,ran- and >oe retraced the.r tr.p 3or a 3ew m.les2 then t5rned onto a co5ntry road wh.ch led to the ma.n h.4hway on wh.ch the 7orton 3arm was s.t5ated. As they neared Chet=s home2 ,ran- s5ddenly bro54ht h.s motorcycle to a stop and peered down .nto a cl5mp o3 b5shes .n a deep d.tch at the s.de o3 the road. C>oeB That cra?y dr.ver or somebody else had a crac--5pBC Amon4 the tall b5shes was an overt5rned bl5e sedan. The car was a total wrec-2 and lay wheels 5pward2 a mass o3 tan4led D5n-. C)e=d better see .3 there=s anyone 5nderneath2C >oe cr.ed o5t. The boys made the.r way down the c5lvert2 the.r hearts po5nd.n4. )hat wo5ld they 3.ndE A close loo- .nto the sedan and .n the .mmed.ate v.c.n.ty proved that there was no v.ct.m aro5nd. C7aybe th.s happened some t.me a4o2C sa.d >oe2 Cand-C ,ran- stepped 3orward and la.d h.s hand on the exposed en4.ne. C>oe2 .t=s st.ll warm2C he sa.d. CThe acc.dent occ5rred a short wh.le a4o. Aow :=m s5re th.s .s the red-ha.red dr.ver=s car.C CB5t what abo5t h.mEC >oe as-ed. C:s he al.veE /.d somebody resc5e h.m2 or what happenedEC ,ran- shr544ed. C(ne th.n4 : can tell yo5. !.ther he or somebody else removed the l.cense plates to avo.d .dent.3.cat.on.C The brothers were completely p5??led by the whole a33a.r. *.nce the.r ass.stance was not needed at the spot2 they cl.mbed o5t o3 the c5lvert and bac- onto the.r motorcycles. Be3ore lon4 they were .n s.4ht o3 the 7ortons= home2 a rambl.n4 3armho5se w.th an apple orchard at the rear. )hen they drove 5p the lane they saw Chet at the barnyard 4ate. CH.2 3ellaBC >oe called. Chet h5rr.ed down the lane to meet them. He was a pl5mp boy who loved to eat and was rarely w.tho5t an apple or a poc-et o3 coo-.es. H.s ro5nd2 3rec-led 3ace 5s5ally wore a sm.le. B5t today the Hardys sensed someth.n4 was wron4. As they bro54ht the.r motorcycles to a stop2 they not.ced that the.r ch5m=s cheery express.on was m.ss.n4. C)hat=s the matterEC ,ranas-ed. C:=m .n tro5ble2C Chet repl.ed. C<o5=re D5st .n t.me to help me. /.d yo5 meet a 3ellow dr.v.n4 the F5eenEC ,ran- and >oe loo-ed at each other blan-ly.

C<o5r carE Ao2 we haven=t seen .t2C sa.d >oe. C)hat=s happenedEC C:t=s been stolenBC C*tolenBC C<es. : D5st came o5t to the 4ara4e to 4et the F5een and she was 4one2C Chet answered mo5rn35lly. C)asn=t the car loc-edEC CThat=s the stran4e part o3 .t. *he was loc-ed2 altho54h the 4ara4e door was open. : can=t see how anyone 4ot away w.th .t.C CA pro3ess.onal Dob2C ,ran- commented. CA5to th.eves always carry scores o3 -eys w.th them. Chet2 have yo5 any .dea when th.s happenedEC CAot more than 3.3teen m.n5tes a4o2 beca5se that=s when : came home w.th the car.C C)e=re wast.n4 t.meBC >oe cr.ed o5t. C;et=s chase that th.e3BC CB5t : don=t -now wh.ch way he went2C Chet protested. C)e d.dn=t meet h.m2 so he m5st have 4one .n the other d.rect.on2C ,ran- reasoned. CCl.mb on beh.nd me2 Chet2C >oe 5r4ed. CThe F5een can=t 4o as 3ast as o5r motorcycles. )e=ll catch her .n no t.meBC CAnd there was only a l.ttle 4as .n my car2 anyway2C Chet sa.d exc.tedly as he sw5n4 h.msel3 onto >oe=s motorcycle. C7aybe .t has stalled by th.s t.me.C :n a 3ew moments the boys were tear.n4 down the road .n p5rs5.t o3 the a5tomob.le th.e3 :
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The Hold5p CH!T 7( T(A=* Dalopy was s5ch a br.ll.ant yellow that the boys were con3.dent .t wo5ld not be d.33.c5lt to p.c- 5p the tra.l o3 the a5to th.e3. CThe F5een=s pretty well -nown aro5nd Bay-port2C ,ranremar-ed. C)e sho5ld meet someone who saw .t.C C*eems stran4e to me2C sa.d >oe2 Cthat a th.e3 wo5ld ta-e a car l.-e that. A5to th.eves 5s5ally ta-e cars o3 a standard ma-e and color. They=re eas.er to 4et r.d o3.C

C:t=s poss.ble2C ,ran- s544ested2 Cthat the th.e3 d.dn=t steal the car to sell .t. 7aybe2 3or some reason2 he was ma-.n4 a 3ast 4etaway and he=ll abandon .t.C C;oo-BC Chet excla.med2 po.nt.n4 to a tr5c- 4arden where several men were hoe.n4 cabba4e plants. C7aybe they saw the F5een.C C:=ll as- them2C ,ran- o33ered2 and bro54ht h.s motorcycle to a stop. He scrambled over the 3ence and D5mped across the rows o3 small plants 5nt.l he reached the 3.rst 3arm hand. C/.d yo5 see a yellow Dalopy 4o by here w.th.n the past ho5rEC ,ranas-ed h.m. The lan-y old 3armer leaned on h.s hoe and p5t a hand to one ear. C!hEC he sho5ted. C/.d yo5 see a 3ellow pass alon4 here .n a br.4ht yellow carEC ,ranrepeated .n a lo5der tone. The 3armer called to h.s compan.ons. As they ambled over2 the old man removed a pl54 o3 tobacco 3rom the poc-et o3 h.s overalls and too- a hearty chew. C;ad here wants to -now .3 we saw a Dalopy come by2C he sa.d slowly. The other three 3arm hands2 all rather elderly men2 d.d not answer at once. :nstead2 they la.d down the.r hoes and the pl54 o3 tobacco was d5ly passed aro5nd the 4ro5p. ,ran- 4r.t h.s teeth. CPlease h5rry 5p and answer. The car was stolen. )e=re try.n4 to 3.nd the th.e3BC CThat soEC sa.d one o3 the men. CA hot rod2 ehEC C<es. A br.4ht yellow one2C ,ran- repl.ed. Another o3 the wor-ers removed h.s hat and mopped h.s brow. C*eems to me2C he drawled2 C: d.d see a car come by here a wh.le a4o.C CA yellow carEC CAo-=twarn=t yeller2 come to th.n- o3 .t. : 45ess2 anyhow2 .t was a del.very tr5c-2 .3 : remember r.4htly.C ,ran- strove to conceal h.s .mpat.ence. CPlease2 d.d any o3 yo5-EC C)as .t a brand-new car2 real sh.nyEC as-ed the 3o5rth member o3 the 4ro5p. CAo2 .t was an old car2 b5t .t was pa.nted br.4ht yellow2C ,ranexpla.ned. C7y nephew had one o3 them th.n4s2C the 3armer remar-ed. CAever tho54ht they was sa3e2 mysel3.C

C: don=t a4ree w.th yo52C st.ll another man spo-e 5p. CAll boys l.-e cars and yo5 m.4ht as well let =em have one they can wor- on themselves.C C<o5=re all wron4BC the dea3 man .nterr5pted. C;et the boys wor- on the 3arm tr5c-. That way they won=t 4et .nto m.sch.e3BC He 4ave a cac-l.n4 sort o3 la54h. C)ell2 son2 : 45ess we a.n=t been m5ch help to yo5. Hope yo5 3.nd the cr.tter that stole yo5r hot rod.C CThan-s2C sa.d ,ran-2 and Do.ned the other boys. CAo l5c-. ;et=s 4oBC As they approached Bayport2 the tr.o saw a 4.rl wal-.n4 alon4 the road ahead o3 them. )hen the cycl.sts drew nearer2 ,ran-=s 3ace l.4hted 5p2 3or he had reco4n.?ed Call.e *haw2 who was .n h.s class at Bayport H.4h. ,ran- o3ten dated Call.e and l.-ed her better than any 4.rl he -new. The boys bro54ht the.r motorcycles to a stop bes.de pretty2 brown-eyed Call.e. +nder one arm she was carry.n4 a sl.4htly battered pac-a4e. *he loo-ed vexed. CH.2 Call.eB )hat=s the matterEC ,ranas-ed. C<o5 loo- as .3 yo5r last 3r.end had 4one o33 .n a moon roc-et.C Call.e 4ave a m.sch.evo5s sm.le. CHow co5ld : th.n- that w.th yo5 three 3r.ends show.n4 5pE (r are yo5 abo5t to ta-e o33EC Then her sm.le 3aded and she held o5t the dama4ed pac-a4e. C;oo- at thatBC she excla.med. C:t=s yo5r 3a5lt2 Chet 7ortonBC The sto5t boy 45lped. C7-my 3a5ltE How do yo5 3.45re thatEC C)ell2 dear old 7rs. ).lls down the road .s .ll2 so : ba-ed her a ca-e.C C;5c-y 7rs. ).lls2C >oe bro-e .n. CCall.e2 :=m 3eel.n4 terr.bly .ll.C Call.e .4nored h.m. CThat man .n the car came alon4 here so 3ast that : D5mped to the s.de o3 the road and dropped my pac-a4e. :=m a3ra.d my ca-e .s r5.nedBC C)hat manEC >oe as-ed. CThe one Chet lent h.s car to.C CCall.e2 that=s the man we=re loo-.n4 3orBC ,ranexcla.med. CChet d.dn=t lend h.m the car. He stole .tBC C(hBC sa.d Call.e2 shoc-ed. CChet2 that=s a shame.C C)as he head.n4 3or BayportEC >oe as-ed. C<es2 and at the speed he was ma-.n4 the poor F5een travel2 yo5=ll never catch h.m.C Chet 4roaned. C: D5st remembered that the 4as 4a54e wasn=t wor-.n4. : 45ess the car had more 4as .n .t than : tho54ht. Ao tell.n4 where that 45y may ta-e my F5een.C

C)e=d better 4o to pol.ce headG5arters2C ,ran- s544ested. CCall.e2 w.ll yo5 descr.be th.s manEC CAll : saw2C she answered2 Cwas a bl5r2 b5t the man d.d have red ha.r.C C ed ha.rBC ,ran- 3a.rly sho5ted. C>oe2 do yo5 th.n- he co5ld be the same man we sawE The one who wrec-ed h.s own carEC >oe wa44ed h.s head. C7.racles do happen. 7aybe he wasn=t h5rt very m5ch and wal-ed to Chet=s ho5se.C CAnd helped h.msel3 to my carBC Chet added. ,ran- snapped h.s 3.n4ers. C*ayB 7aybe the wrec-ed car d.dn=t belon4 to that 3ellow-C C<o5 mean he=d stolen .t2 tooBC >oe .nterr5pted. C<es-wh.ch wo5ld ma-e h.m even more desperate to 4et away.C C)hatever are yo5 boys tal-.n4 abo5tEC Call.e as-ed. C:=ll phone yo5 ton.4ht and tell yo52C ,ran- prom.sed. C9ot to dash now.C The boys waved 4ood-by to Call.e and h5rr.ed .nto town. They went at once to Ch.e3 !?ra Coll.42 head o3 the Bayport pol.ce 3orce. He was a tall2 h5s-y man2 well -nown to ,enton Hardy and h.s two sons. The ch.e3 had o3ten t5rned to the pr.vate detect.ve 3or help .n solv.n4 part.c5larly d.33.c5lt cases. )hen the boys went .nto h.s o33.ce they 3o5nd the pol.ce ch.e3 tal-.n4 w.th three exc.ted men. (ne o3 these was :-e Harr.ty2 the old t.c-et seller at the c.ty 3erryboat o33.ce. Another was Pol.ceman Con .ley. The th.rd was (scar *m5332 a short2 sto5t man. He was .nvar.ably seen wear.n4 a chec-ered s5.t and a so3t 3elt hat. He called h.msel3 a pr.vate detect.ve and was wor-.n4 hard to earn a place on the Bayport pol.ce 3orce. C*m533=s play.n4 5p to Coll.4 a4a.n2C >oe wh.spered2 ch5c-l.n42 as the boys wa.ted 3or the ch.e3 to spea- to them. :-e Harr.ty was 3ran-ly 3r.4htened. He was a t.m.d man2 who had perched on a h.4h stool beh.nd the t.c-et w.ndow at the 3erryboat o33.ce day .n and day o5t 3or a 4ood many years. C: was D5st co5nt.n= 5p the morn.n=s rece.pts2C he was say.n4 .n a h.4h-p.tched2 exc.ted vo.ce2 Cwhen .n comes th.s 3ellow and st.c-s a revolver .n 3ront o3 my nose.C C>5st a m.n5te2C .nterr5pted Ch.e3 Coll.42 t5rn.n4 to the newcomers. C)hat can : do 3or yo5 boysEC C: came to report a the3t2C Chet spo-e 5p. C7y hot rod has been stolen.C C)hy2 .t was one o3 those cra?y hot rods th.s 3ellow droveBC :-e Harr.ty cr.ed o5t. CA yellow oneBC

CHaBC excla.med (scar *m533. CA cl5eBC He .mmed.ately p5lled a penc.l and noteboo- 3rom h.s poc-et. C7y F5eenBC sho5ted Chet. Ch.e3 Coll.4 rapped on h.s des- 3or G5.et and as-ed2 C)hat=s a G5een 4ot to do w.th all th.sEC Chet expla.ned2 then the ch.e3 related Harr.ty=s story 3or h.m. CA man drove 5p to the 3erryboat o33.ce and tr.ed to hold 5p 7r. Harr.ty. B5t a passen4er came .nto the o33.ce and the 3ellow ran away.C As the o33.cer pa5sed2 ,ran- 4ave Ch.e3 Coll.4 a br.e3 acco5nt o3 the wrec-ed bl5e sedan near the 7orton 3arm. C:=ll send some men o5t there r.4ht now.C The ch.e3 pressed a b5??er and G5.c-ly relayed h.s orders. C:t certa.nly loo-s2C >oe commented2 Cas .3 the man who stole Chet=s car and the 3ellow who tr.ed to hold 5p the 3erryboat o33.ce are the same personBC C/.d yo5 not.ce the color o3 the man=s ha.rEC ,ranas-ed 7r. Harr.ty. *m533 .nterr5pted. C)hat=s that 4ot to do w.th .tEC C:t may have a 4reat deal to do w.th .t2C ,ran- repl.ed. C)hat was the color o3 h.s ha.r2 7r. Harr.tyEC C/ar- brown and short cropped.C ,ran- and >oe loo-ed at each other2 perplexed. C<o5=re s5re .t wasn=t redEC >oe as-ed. Ch.e3 Coll.4 sat 3orward .n h.s cha.r. C)hat are yo5 dr.v.n4 at2 boysE Have yo5 some .n3ormat.on abo5t th.s manEC C)e were told2C sa.d >oe2 Cthat the 45y who stole Chet=s car had red ha.r. A 3r.end o3 o5rs saw h.m.C CThen he m5st have t5rned the Dalopy over to someone else2C Ch.e3 Coll.4 concl5ded. At th.s moment a short2 nervo5s l.ttle man was 5shered .nto the room. He was the passen4er who had 4one .nto the 3erryboat o33.ce at the t.me o3 the attempted hold5p. Ch.e3 Coll.4 had sent 3or h.m. The newcomer .ntrod5ced h.msel3 as Henry >. Brown o3 Aew <or-. He told o3 enter.n4 the o33.ce and see.n4 a man r5n away 3rom the t.c-et w.ndow w.th a revolver .n h.s hand. C)hat color was h.s ha.rEC ,ranas-ed ea4erly. C/.d yo5 not.ceEC C: can=t say : d.d2C the man repl.ed. C7y eyes were 3oc5sed on that 45n. *ay2 wa.t a m.n5teB He had red ha.r. <o5 co5ldn=t m.ss .tB :

not.ced .t a3ter he D5mped .nto the car.C (scar *m533 loo-ed bew.ldered. C<o5 say he had red ha.r.C The detect.ve t5rned to 7r. Harr.ty. CAnd yo5 say he had dar- ha.r. *ometh.n= wron4 somewhereBC He shoo- h.s head .n p5??lement. The others were p5??led too. ,ranas-ed 7r. Brown to tell once more D5st when he had not.ced the red ha.r. CA3ter the 3ellow leaned down .n the car and popped h.s head 5p a4a.n2C the Aew <or-er repl.ed. ,ran- and >oe exchan4ed 4lances. )as .t poss.ble the red ha.r was a w.4 and the th.e3 had p5t .t on D5st be3ore 7r. Brown had not.ced h.mE The boys -ept st.ll-they d.dn=t want any .nter3erence 3rom *m533 .n trac-.n4 down th.s cl5e. Harr.ty and Brown be4an to ar45e over the color o3 the th.e3=s ha.r. ,.nally Ch.e3 Coll.4 had to rap once more 3or order. C:=ll send o5t an alarm 3or both th.s hold5p man and 3or Chet=s car. : 45ess that=s all that can be done now.C +nda5nted by the.r 3a.l5re to catch the th.e32 the Hardy boys le3t pol.ce headG5arters w.th Chet 7orton. They were determ.ned to p5rs5e the case. C)e=ll tal- w.th /ad ton.4ht2 Chet2C ,ran- prom.sed. C7aybe he=ll 4.ve 5s some leads.C C: s5re hope so2 3ellows2C the.r 3r.end repl.ed as they cl.mbed onto the motorcycles. The same tho54ht was r5nn.n4 thro54h ,ran-=s and >oe=s m.nds: maybe th.s mystery wo5ld t5rn o5t to be the.r 3.rst caseB
CHAPT!
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The Threat C<(+= ! 4ett.n4 to be pretty 4ood on that motorcycle2 ,ran-2C >oe sa.d as the boys rode .nto the Hardy 4ara4e. C:=m not even scared to r.de alon4s.de yo5 any moreBC C<o5=re not scaredBC ,ran- pretended to ta-e >oe ser.o5sly. C)hat abo5t me-r.d.n4 w.th a daredev.l l.-e yo5EC C)ell2C >oe co5ntered2 Clet=s D5st adm.t that we=re both pretty 4oodBC C:t s5re was swell o3 /ad to let 5s have them2C >oe cont.n5ed. C<es2C ,ran- a4reed. CAnd .3 we=re 4o.n4 to be detect.ves2 we=ll 4et a lot o3 5se o5t o3 them.C

The boys started toward the ho5se2 pass.n4 the old-3ash.oned barn on the property. :ts 3.rst 3loor had been converted .nto a 4ymnas.5m wh.ch was 5sed a3ter school and on wee- ends by ,ran- and >oe and the.r 3r.ends. The Hardy home2 on the corner o3 H.4h and !lm streets2 was an old stone ho5se set .n a lar4e2 tree-shaded lawn. .4ht now2 croc5ses and m.n.at5re narc.ss. were st.c-.n4 the.r heads thro54h the l.4ht-4reen 4rass. CHello2 7otherBC sa.d ,ran-2 as he p5shed open the -.tchen door. 7rs. Hardy2 a pet.te2 pretty woman2 loo-ed 5p 3rom the table on wh.ch she was st533.n4 a lar4e roast.n4 ch.c-en and sm.led. Her sons -.ssed her a33ect.onately and >oe as-ed2 C/ad 5psta.rsEC C<es2 dear. He=s .n h.s st5dy.C The st5dy was ,enton Hardy=s wor-shop. AdDo.n.n4 .t was a 3.ne l.brary wh.ch conta.ned not only boo-s b5t 3.les o3 d.s45.ses2 records o3 cr.m.nal cases2 and translat.ons o3 tho5sands o3 codes. )al-.n4 .nto the st5dy2 ,ran- and >oe 4reeted the.r 3ather. C)e=re report.n4 errand accompl.shed2C ,ran- anno5nced. C,.neBC 7r. Hardy repl.ed. Then he 4ave h.s sons a search.n4 4lance. C:=d say yo5r tr.p netted yo5 more than D5st my errand.C ,ran- and >oe had learned early .n the.r boyhood that .t was .mposs.ble to -eep any secrets 3rom the.r ast5te 3ather. They ass5med that th.s ab.l.ty was one reason why he had been s5ch a s5ccess35l detect.ve on the Aew <or- C.ty pol.ce 3orce be3ore sett.n4 5p a pr.vate pract.ce .n Bay-port. C)e ran .nto some real exc.tement2C ,ransa.d2 and told h.s 3ather the whole story o3 Chet=s m.ss.n4 Dalopy2 the wrec-ed car wh.ch they s5spected had been a stolen one also2 and the attempted hold5p at the 3erryboat o33.ce. CChet=s co5nt.n4 on 5s to 3.nd h.s car2C >oe added. ,ran- 4r.nned. CThat .s2 5nless the pol.ce 3.nd .t 3.rst.C 7r. Hardy was s.lent 3or several seconds. Then he sa.d2 C/o yo5 want a l.ttle adv.ceE <o5 -now : never 4.ve .t 5nless :=m as-ed 3or .t.C He ch5c-led. C)e=ll need a lot o3 help2C >oe answered. 7r. Hardy sa.d that to h.m the most .nterest.n4 an4le to the case was the 3act that the s5spect apparently 5sed one or more w.4s as a d.s45.se. CHe may have bo54ht at least one o3 them .n Bay-port. : s544est that yo5 boys ma-e the ro5nds o3 all shops sell.n4 w.4s and see what yo5 can 3.nd o5t.C The boys 4lanced at the cloc- on the.r 3ather=s lar4e des-2 then ,ran-

sa.d2 C)e=ll have t.me to do a l.ttle sle5th.n4 be3ore clos.n4 t.me. ;et=s 4oBC The two boys made a dash 3or the door2 then both stopped short. They d.d not have the sl.4htest .dea where they were 4o.n4B *heep.shly >oe as-ed2 C/ad2 do yo5 -now wh.ch stores sell w.4sEC ).th a tw.n-le .n h.s eyes2 7r. Hardy arose 3rom the des-2 wal-ed .nto the l.brary2 and opened a 3.le drawer labeled C) thro54h H.C A moment later he p5lled o5t a th.c- 3older mar-ed ):9*: 7an53act5rers2 d.str.b5tors2 and reta.l shops o3 the world. C)hy2 /ad2 : d.dn=t -now yo5 had all th.s .n3ormat.on-C >oe be4an. H.s 3ather merely sm.led. He th5mbed thro54h the heavy shea3 o3 papers2 and p5lled one o5t. CBayport2C he read. C)ell2 three o3 these places can be el.m.nated at once. They sell only women=s ha.r p.eces. Aow let=s see. ,ran-2 4et a paper and penc.l. ,.rst there=s *chwart?=s 7asG5erade and Cost5me *hop. :t=s at &% enshaw Aven5e. Then there=s ,l.nt=s at 7ar-et and P.ne2 and one more: 5ben Brothers. That=s on 7a.n *treet D5st th.s s.de o3 the ra.lroad.C C*chwart?=s .s closest2C ,ran- spo-e 5p. C;et=s try h.m 3.rst2 >oe.C Hope35lly the boys dashed o5t to the.r motorcycles and h5rr.ed downtown. As they entered *chwart?=s shop2 a short2 pl5mp2 sm.l.n4 man came toward them. C)ell2 yo5 D5st 4ot 5nder the w.re2 3ellows2C he sa.d2 loo-.n4 5p at a lar4e old-3ash.oned cloc- on the wall. C: was 4o.n4 to close 5p promptly ton.4ht beca5se a b.4 sh.pment came .n today and : never have t.me except a3ter b5s.ness ho5rs to 5npac- and l.st my merchand.se.C C(5r errand won=t ta-e lon42C sa.d ,ran-. C)e=re sons o3 ,enton Hardy2 the detect.ve. )e=d l.-e to -now whether or not yo5 recently sold a red w.4 to a man.C 7r. *chwart? shoo- h.s head. C: haven=t sold a red w.4 .n months2 or even rented one. !verybody seems to want blond or brown or blaclately. B5t yo5 5nderstand2 : don=t 5s5ally sell w.4s at all. : rent =em.C C: 5nderstand2C sa.d ,ran-. C)e=re D5st try.n4 to 3.nd o5t abo5t a man who 5ses a red w.4 as a d.s45.se. )e tho54ht he m.4ht have bo54ht or rented .t here and that yo5 wo5ld -now h.s name.C 7r. *chwart? leaned across the co5nter. CTh.s man yo5 spea- o3-he so5nds l.-e a character. :t=s D5st poss.ble he may come .n to 4et a w.4 3rom me. :3 he does2 :=ll be 4lad to let yo5 -now.C The boys than-ed the shop-eeper and were abo5t to leave when 7r. *chwart? called2 CHold on a m.n5teBC The Hardys hoped that the dealer had s5ddenly remembered someth.n4

.mportant. Th.s was not the case2 however. ).th a 4r.n the man as-ed the boys .3 they wo5ld l.-e to help h.m open some cartons wh.ch had arr.ved and to try on the cost5mes. CThose 3ol-s at the 3actory don=t always 4et the s.?es mar-ed r.4ht2C he sa.d. C)o5ld yo5 be able to stay a 3ew m.n5tes and help meE :=ll be 4lad to pay yo5.C C(h2 we don=t want any money2C >oe spo-e 5p. CTo tell yo5 the tr5th2 :=d l.-e to see yo5r cost5mes.C 7r. *chwart? loc-ed the 3ront door o3 h.s shop2 then led the boys .nto a rear room. :t was so 3.lled w.th cost5mes o3 all -.nds and paraphernal.a 3or theatr.cal wor-2 pl5s p.les o3 cartons2 that ,ran- and >oe wondered how the man co5ld ever 3.nd anyth.n4. CHere .s today=s sh.pment2C 7r. *chwart? sa.d2 po.nt.n4 to s.x cartons stand.n4 not 3ar 3rom the rear entrance to h.s shop. To4ether he and the boys sl.t open the boxes and one by one l.3ted o5t a -.n4=s robe2 a G5een=s t.ara2 and a ;.ttle Bopeep cost5me. *5ddenly 7r. *chwart? sa.d: CHere=s a s-eleton mar-ed s.?e th.rty-e.4ht. )o5ld one o3 yo5 boys m.nd try.n4 .t onEC ,ran- p.c-ed 5p the cost5me2 5n?.pped the bac-2 and stepped .nto the s-eleton o5t3.t. :t was tremendo5s on h.m and the r.bs sa44ed l5d.cro5sly. C95ess a 3at man modeled 3or th.s2C he remar-ed2 hold.n4 the 4arment o5t to .ts 35ll w.dth. At that moment there was a lo5d rap on the 3ront door o3 the store. 7r. *chwart? made no move to answer .t. C:=m closed2C he sa.d. C;et h.m rap.C *5ddenly ,ran- had an .dea. The th.e3 who 5sed w.4s m.4ht be the late c5stomer2 com.n4 on p5rpose at th.s ho5r to avo.d meet.n4 other people. ).tho5t a word to the others2 he dashed thro54h the doorway .nto the store and toward the 3ront entrance. He co5ld va45ely see someone wa.t.n4 to be adm.tted. B5t the stran4er 4ave one loo- at the leap.n42 o5t-o3-shape s-eleton and d.sappeared .n a 3lash. At the same moment ,ran- tr.pped and 3ell headlon4. 7r. *chwart? and >oe2 hear.n4 the crash2 r5shed o5t to see what had happened. ,ran-2 hopelessly tan4led .n the s-eleton att.re2 was helped to h.s 3eet. )hen he told the others why he had made h.s 5ns5ccess35l dash to the 3ront door2 they conceded he m.4ht have a po.nt. CB5t yo5 s5re scared h.m away .n that o5t3.t2C >oe sa.d2 la54h.n4. CHe won=t be bac-BC The boys stayed 3or over hal3 an ho5r help.n4 7r. *chwart?2 then sa.d 4ood-by and went home.

C7onday we=ll tac-le those other two w.4 shops2C sa.d ,ran-. The 3ollow.n4 morn.n4 the Hardy 3am.ly attended ch5rch2 then a3ter d.nner ,ran- and >oe told the.r parents they were 4o.n4 to r.de o5t to see Chet 7orton. C)e=ve been .nv.ted to stay to s5pper2C ,ran- added. CB5t we prom.se not to 4et home late.C The Hardys p.c-ed 5p Call.e *haw2 who also had been .nv.ted. 9a.ly she perched on the seat beh.nd ,ran-. CHold on2 Call.e2C >oe teased. C,ran-=s a w.ld cycl.stBC The yo5n4 people were 4reeted at the door o3 the 7orton 3armho5se by Chet=s yo5n4er s.ster :ola2 dar--ha.red and pretty. >oe Hardy tho54ht she was G5.te the n.cest 4.rl .n Bayport H.4h and dated her re45larly. As d5s- came on2 the 3.ve yo5n4 people 4athered .n the 7ortons= -.tchen to prepare s5pper. Chet2 who loved to eat2 was .n char4e2 and doled o5t var.o5s Dobs to the others. )hen he 3.n.shed2 >oe remar-ed2 CAnd what are yo5 4o.n4 to do2 b.4 boyEC The sto5t yo5th 4r.nned. C:=m the o33.c.al taster.C A howl went 5p 3rom the others. CAo wor-ee2 no eatee2C sa.d :ola 3latly. Chet 4r.nned. C(h2 well2 .3 yo5 .ns.st2 :=ll ma-e a l.ttle s.de d.sh 3or all o3 5s. How abo5t )elsh rabb.tEC C<o5=re electedBC the others chor5sed2 and Chet set to wor-. The 3armho5se -.tchen was lar4e and conta.ned a 4ro5p o3 w.ndows .n one corner. Here stood a lar4e table2 where the yo5n4 people dec.ded to eat. They had D5st sat down when the telephone ran4. Chet 4ot 5p and wal-ed o5t .n the hall to answer .t. ).th.n a m.n5te he re-entered the -.tchen2 h.s eyes b5l4.n4. C)hat=s the matterEC :ola as-ed G5.c-ly. C:- :=ve been th-threatenedBC Chet repl.ed. CThreatenedBC the others cr.ed o5t. CHowEC Chet was so 3r.4htened he co5ld hardly spea-2 b5t he mana4ed to ma-e the others 5nderstand that a man had D5st sa.d on the telephone2 C<o5=ll never 4et yo5r Dalopy bac-. And .3 yo5 don=t lay o33 try.n4 to 3.nd me or yo5r car2 yo5=re 4o.n4 to 4et h5rtBC C)hewBC cr.ed >oe. CTh.s .s 4ett.n4 ser.o5sBC Call.e and :ola had cl5tched the.r throats and were star.n4 w.ld-eyed at Chet. ,ran-2 abo5t to spea-2 happened to 4lance o5t the w.ndow toward the barn. ,or an .nstant he tho54ht h.s eyes were play.n4 tr.c-s on h.m. B5t noB They were not. A 3.45re was snea-.n4 3rom the barn and down the lane toward the h.4hway. C,ellowsBC he cr.ed s5ddenly. C,ollow meBC
CHAPT!
:1
ed 1ers5s <ellow B< TH! t.me the Hardy boys and Chet had raced 3rom the 7ortons= -.tchen2 the prowler was not .n s.4ht. Th.n-.n4 he had r5n across one o3 the 3.elds2 the three p5rs5ers scattered .n var.o5s d.rect.ons to search. >oe str5c- o5t stra.4ht ahead and pressed h.s ear to the 4ro5nd to l.sten 3or reced.n4 3ootsteps. He co5ld hear none. Presently the three boys met once more to d.sc5ss the.r 3a.l5re to catch 5p to the man2 and to G5est.on why he had been there. C/o yo5 th.n- he was a th.e3EC >oe as-ed Chet. C)hat wo5ld he stealEC C*earch me2C the sto5t boy repl.ed. C;et=s ta-e a loo-.C C: bel.eve he was carry.n4 someth.n42 b5t : co5ldn=t see what .t was2C ,ran- revealed. The barn door had not been closed yet 3or the n.4ht and the boys wal-ed .n. Chet t5rned on the l.4hts and the searchers 4a?ed aro5nd. C;oo-BC ,rancr.ed s5ddenly. He po.nted to the 3loor below the telephone extens.on .n the barn. There lay a man=s 4ray w.4. CThe .ntr5der=sBC >oe excla.med. C:t s5re loo-s so2C ,ran- a4reed. CAnd someth.n4 m5st have scared h.m. :n h.s h5rry to 4et away he m5st have dropped th.s.C ,ran- p.c-ed 5p the w.4 and exam.ned .t care35lly 3or a cl5e. CAo .dent.3y.n4 mar- .n .t. *ay2 : have an .dea2C he b5rst o5t. CThat man phoned yo5 3rom here2 Chet.C C<o5 mean he=s the one who threatened meEC C<es. :3 yo5 -now how2 yo5 can call yo5r own telephone n5mber 3rom an extens.on.C CThat=s r.4ht.C Chet was wa44.n4 h.s head. C<o5 mean that 45y bothered to come all the way here to 5se th.s phone to threaten meE )hyEC Both Hardys sa.d they 3elt the man had not come spec.3.cally 3or that reason. There was another more .mportant one. C)e m5st 3.45re .t o5t. Chet2 yo5 o54ht to be able to answer that better than anybody else. )hat .s there2 or was there2 .n th.s barn to .nterest s5ch a personEC The sto5t boy scratched h.s head and let h.s eyes wander aro5nd the b5.ld.n4. C:t wo5ldn=t be any o3 the l.vestoc-2C he sa.d slowly. CAnd

.t co5ldn=t be hay or 3eed.C *5ddenly Chet snapped h.s 3.n4ers. C7aybe : have the answer. )a.t a m.n5te2 3ellows.C He d.sappeared 3rom the barn and made a bee-l.ne 3or the 4ara4e. Chet h5rr.ed .ns.de b5t was bac- .n a 3ew seconds. C: have .tBC he sho5ted. CThat 45y came here to 4et the spare t.re 3or the Dalopy.C CThe one yo5 had .s 4oneEC ,ranas-ed. Chet nodded. He s544ested that perhaps the man was not too 3ar away. He m.4ht be on some s.de road chan4.n4 the t.re. C;et=s 3.nd o5t2C he 5r4ed. Altho54h the Hardys 3elt that .t wo5ld be a 5seless search2 they a4reed to 4o alon4. They 4ot on the.r motorcycles2 w.th Chet r.d.n4 beh.nd >oe. The boys went 5p one road and down another2 cover.n4 the terr.tory very thoro54hly. They saw no par-ed car. CAot even any ev.dence that a dr.ver p5lled o33 the road and stayed to chan4e a t.re2C ,ranremar-ed. CAo 3ootpr.nts2 no tool mar-s2 no treads.C CThat 45y m5st have had somebody aro5nd to p.c- h.m 5p2C Chet concl5ded w.th a s.4h. CCheer 5p2 Chet2C ,ransa.d2 as they wal-ed bac- to the ho5se. CThat spare t.re may t5rn o5t to be a cl5e .n th.s case.C )hen the boys entered the -.tchen a4a.n2 they were met w.th anx.o5s .nG5.r.es 3rom Call.e and :ola. C)hat .n the world were yo5 do.n4-dash.n4 o5t o3 here w.tho5t a wordEC Call.e as-ed .n a sha-.n4 vo.ce. C<es2 what=s 4o.n4 onE <o5 had 5s 3r.4htened s.lly2C :ola Do.ned .n. C,.rst Chet 4ets a threaten.n4 phone call2 and then s5ddenly all three o3 yo5 r5n o5t o3 the ho5se l.-e madmenBC CCalm down2 4.rls2C ,ransa.d sooth.n4ly. C: saw a prowler2 and we were loo-.n4 3or h.m2 b5t all we 3o5nd was th.sBC He tossed the 4ray w.4 onto a cha.r .n the hall. *5ddenly there was a lo5d wa.l 3rom Chet. C7y )elsh rabb.tB :t=s been stand.n4 so lon4 .t w.ll be r5.nedBC :ola be4an to 4.44le. C(h2 yo5 menBC she sa.d. C/o yo5 s5ppose Call.e and : wo5ld let all that 4ood cheese 4o to wasteE )e -ept that )elsh rabb.t at D5st the r.4ht temperat5re and .t .sn=t spo.led at all.C Chet loo-ed rel.eved2 as he and the others too- the.r places at the table. Altho54h there was a 4reat deal o3 banter.n4 d5r.n4 the meal2 the conversat.on .n the ma.n revolved aro5nd Chet=s m.ss.n4 Dalopy and the th.e3 who ev.dently wore ha.r d.s45.ses to s5.t h.s 3ancy. ,ran- and >oe as-ed Chet .3 they m.4ht ta-e alon4 the 4ray w.4 and

exam.ne .t more thoro54hly. There m.4ht be some -.nd o3 mar- on .t to .nd.cate e.ther the ma-er or the owner. Chet read.ly a4reed. B5t when s5pper was over2 Call.e sa.d to ,ran- w.th a teas.n4 4leam .n her eyes2 C)hy don=t yo5 hot-shot sle5ths exam.ne that w.4 nowE :=d l.-e to watch yo5r s5per-d5per methods.C C>5st 3or that2 : w.ll2C sa.d ,ran-. He went to 4et the w.4 3rom the hall cha.r2 and then la.d .t on the -.tchen table. ,rom h.s poc-et he too- a small ma4n.3y.n4 4lass and care35lly exam.ned every .nch o3 the l.n.n4 o3 the w.4. CAoth.n4 here2C he sa.d presently. The ha.r was thoro54hly exam.ned and parted strand by strand to see .3 there were any .dent.3y.n4 des.4nat.ons on the ha.r p.ece. ,ran- co5ld d.scover noth.n4. C:=m a3ra.d th.s .sn=t 4o.n4 to help 5s m5ch2C he sa.d .n d.s45st. CB5t :=ll show .t to the d.33erent w.4 men .n town.C As he 3.n.shed spea-.n4 the telephone ran4 and :ola went to answer .t. Chet t5rned wh.te and loo-ed nervo5s. )as the caller the man who had threatened h.mE And what d.d he wantE Presently :ola ret5rned to the -.tchen2 a worr.ed 3rown on her 3ace. C:t=s a man 3or yo52 Chet. He wo5ldn=t 4.ve h.s name.C Trembl.n4 v.s.bly2 Chet wal-ed slowly to the telephone. The others 3ollowed and l.stened. C<e-yes2 :=m Chet 7orton. A-no2 : haven=t 4ot my car bac-.C There was a lon4 s.lence2 as the person on the other end o3 the l.ne spo-e rap.dly. CB-b5t : haven=t any money2C Chet sa.d 3.nally. IC:J )ell2 o-ay2 :=ll let yo5 -now.C Chet h5n4 5p and wobbled to a nearby cha.r. The others bombarded h.m w.th G5est.ons. The sto5t boy too- a deep breath2 then sa.d2 C: can 4et my Dalopy bac-. B5t the man wants a lot o3 money 3or the .n3ormat.on as to where .t .s.C C(h2 :=m 4lad yo5=re 4o.n4 to 4et yo5r car bac-B Call.e excla.med. CB5t : haven=t 4ot any money2C Chet 4roaned. C)ho=s the manEC ,ran- demanded. There was another lon4 pa5se be3ore Chet answered. Then2 loo-.n4 at the wa.t.n4 4ro5p be3ore h.m2 he anno5nced s.mply2 C*m533. (scar *m533 BC H.s l.steners 4asped .n aston.shment. Th.s was the last th.n4 they expected to hear. The detect.ve was sell.n4 .n3ormat.on as to where

Chet wo5ld 3.nd h.s m.ss.n4 DalopyB C)hy2 that cheap so-and-soBC >oe cr.ed o5t an4r.ly. Chet expla.ned that *m533 had sa.d he was not .n b5s.ness 3or h.s health. He had to ma-e a l.v.n4 and any .n3ormat.on wh.ch he d54 5p as a detect.ve sho5ld be properly pa.d 3or. ,ran- shr544ed. C: s5ppose *m533 has a po.nt there. How m5ch does he want 3or the .n3ormat.on2 ChetEC CH.s 3ee .s twenty-3.ve dollarsBC C)hatBC the others cr.ed o5t. A3ter a lon4 cons5ltat.on .t was dec.ded that the yo5n4 people wo5ld pool the.r reso5rces. )hatever s5m they co5ld collect toward the twenty-3.ve dollars wo5ld be o33ered to (scar *m533 to lead them to Chet=s car. CB5t ma-e .t very pla.n2C ,ran- admon.shed2 Cthat .3 .t=s not yo5r Dalopy *m533 leads 5s to2 yo5 won=t pay h.m one n.c-el.C Chet p5t .n a call to *m533=s home. As expected2 the detect.ve 4r5mbled at the o33er o3 ten dollars b5t 3.nally accepted .t. He sa.d he wo5ld p.c- 5p the boys .n hal3 an ho5r and ta-e them to the spot. Abo5t th.s t.me 7r. and 7rs. 7orton ret5rned home. Chet and :ola=s 3ather was a 4ood-loo-.n42 Dolly man w.th h.s son=s same 4eneral b5.ld and color.n4. He was .n the real-estate b5s.ness .n Bay-port and ran the 3arm as a hobby. 7rs. 7orton was an older ed.t.on o3 her da54hter :ola and D5st as w.tty and l.4hthearted. B5t when she learned what had transp.red and that her son had been threatened2 she was worr.ed. C<o5 boys m5st be very care35l2C 7rs. 7orton adv.sed. C,rom what : hear abo5t *m5332 th.s red-ha.red th.e3 co5ld eas.ly p5t one over on h.m. *o watch yo5r stepBC Chet prom.sed that they wo5ld. C9ood l5c-BC Call.e called o5t2 as *m533 beeped h.s horn o5ts.de the door. CAnd don=t be too late. : want to hear the news be3ore : have to 4o home.C ,ran-2 >oe2 and Chet 3o5nd *m533 ent.rely 5ncomm5n.cat.ve abo5t where they were 4o.n4. He seemed to enDoy the role he was play.n4. C: -new :=d be the one to breath.s case2C he boasted. >oe co5ld not res.st the temptat.on o3 as-.n4 *m533 .3 he was 4o.n4 to lead them to the th.e3 as well as to the car. The detect.ve 3l5shed .n embarrassment and adm.tted that he d.d not have 35ll deta.ls yet on th.s part o3 the mystery. CB5t .t won=t be lon4 be3ore : capt5re that 3ellow2C he ass5red the boys. They mana4ed to -eep the.r 3aces stra.4ht and only hoped that they were not now on a w.ld-4oose chase.

Twenty m.n5tes later *m533 p5lled .nto the town o3 /5c-sworth and drove stra.4ht to a 5sed-car lot. *topp.n42 he anno5nced2 C)ell2 here we are. 9et ready to 3or- over that money2 Chet.C *m533 nodded to the attendant .n char4e2 then led the boys down a lon4 a.sle past row a3ter row o3 cars to where several Dalop.es were l.ned 5p a4a.nst a rear 3ence. T5rn.n4 le3t2 the detect.ve 3.nally pa5sed be3ore a br.4ht red car. CHere yo5 areBC sa.d *m533 4randly2 extend.n4 h.s r.4ht hand toward Chet. C7y money2 please.C The sto5t boy as well as the Hardys stared at the Dalopy. There was no G5est.on b5t that .t was the same ma-e and model as Chet=s. CThe th.e3 tho54ht he co5ld d.s45.se .t by pa.nt.n4 .t red2C *m533 expla.ned. C:s that yo5r 45essEC ,ranas-ed G5.etly. (scar *m533 3rowned. CHow else co5ld yo5 3.45re .tEC he as-ed. CThen there=ll be yellow pa.nt 5nder the red2C ,ran- went on. C;et=s ta-e a loo- to ma-e s5re.C :t was ev.dent that *m533 d.d not l.-e th.s proced5re. C*o yo5 do5bt me2 ehEC he as-ed .n an 5npleasant tone. CAnybody can 4et 3ooled2C ,rantold h.m. C)ell2 Chet2 let=s operate on th.s car.C The detect.ve stood by s5llenly as ,ran- p5lled o5t a pen-n.3e and be4an to scrape the red pa.nt o33 part o3 the 3ender.
CHAPT!
The H5nt :s :ntens.3.ed CH!<BC (scar *m533 sho5ted. C<o5 be care35l w.th that pen-n.3eB The man who owns th.s place don=t want yo5 r5.n.n= h.s carsBC ,ran- Hardy loo-ed 5p at the detect.ve. C:=ve watched my 3ather scrape o33 3lec-s o3 pa.nt many t.mes. The way he does .t2 yo5 wo5ldn=t -now anybody had made a mar-.C *m533 4r5nted. CB5t yo5=re not yo5r 3ather. !asy thereBC As ca5t.o5sly as poss.ble ,ran- p.c-ed o33 3lec-s o3 the red pa.nt .n a spot where .t wo5ld hardly be not.ceable. Ta-.n4 a 3lashl.4ht 3rom h.s poc-et2 he tra.ned .t on the spot. >oe2 lean.n4 over h.s brother=s sho5lder2 sa.d2 CThere was l.4ht-bl5e

pa.nt 5nder th.s red2 not yellow.C C .4ht2C ,ran- a4reed2 ey.n4 *m533 .ntently. The detect.ve reddened. C<o5 3ellows try.n4 to tell me th.s .sn=t Che3s DalopyEC he demanded. C)ell2 :=m tell.n4 yo5 .t .s2 and :=m r.4htBC C(h2 we haven=t sa.d yo5=re wron42C >oe spo-e 5p G5.c-ly. *ecretly he was hop.n4 that th.s was Chet=s car2 b5t reason told h.m .t was not. C)e=ll try another place2C ,ransa.d2 stra.4hten.n4 5p2 and wal-.n4 aro5nd to a 3ender on the oppos.te s.de. Here2 too2 the test .nd.cated that the car had been pa.nted l.4ht bl5e be3ore the red coat had been p5t over .t. C)ell2 maybe the th.e3 p5t bl5e on and then red2C sa.d *m533 st5bbornly. ,ran- 4r.nned. C)e=ll 4o a l.ttle deeper. :3 the owner o3 th.s establ.shment obDects2 we=ll pay 3or hav.n4 the 3enders pa.nted.C B5t tho54h ,ran- went down thro54h several layers o3 pa.nt2 he co5ld not 3.nd any s.4n o3 yellow. All th.s t.me Chet had been wal-.n4 ro5nd and ro5nd the car2 loo-.n4 .ntently at .t .ns.de and o5t. !ven be3ore ,ran- anno5nced that he was s5re th.s was not the m.ss.n4 Dalopy2 Chet was conv.nced o3 .t h.msel3. CThe F5een had a lon42 th.n dent .n the r.4ht rear 3ender2C he sa.d. CAnd that seat c5sh.on by the door had a l.ttle spl.t .n .t. : don=t th.n- the th.e3 wo5ld have bothered to 3.x them 5p.C Chet showed h.s -een d.sappo.ntment2 b5t he was 4lad that the Hardys had come alon4 to help h.m prove the tr5th. B5t *m533 was not 4.v.n4 5p the money so eas.ly. C<o5 haven=t proved a th.n42C he sa.d. CThe man who r5ns th.s place adm.tted that maybe th.s .s a stolen car. The 3ellow who sold .t to h.m sa.d he l.ved on a 3arm o5ts.de Bayport.C The Hardys and Chet were ta-en abac- 3or a moment by th.s .n3ormat.on. B5t .n a moment ,ransa.d2 C;et=s 4o tal- to the owner. )e=ll 3.nd o5t more abo5t the person who bro54ht th.s car .n.C The man who ran the 5sed-car lot was very cooperat.ve. He read.ly answered all G5est.ons the Hardys p5t to h.m. The b.ll o3 sale revealed that the 3ormer owner o3 the red Dalopy was 7elv.n *ch5ster o3 Bayport. C)hy2 we -now h.mBC ,ran- spo-e 5p. CHe 4oes to Bayport H.4h-at least2 he d.d. He and h.s 3am.ly moved 3ar away. That=s probably why he sold h.s car.C CB5t 7r. *m533 sa.d yo5 s5spected the car was stolen2C >oe p5t .n. The 5sed-car lot owner sm.led. C:=m a3ra.d maybe 7r. *m533 p5t that .dea .n my head. : d.d say that the person seemed .n an aw35l h5rry to 4et r.d o3 the car and sold .t very cheap. *omet.mes when that happens2

we dealers are a l.ttle a3ra.d to ta-e the respons.b.l.ty o3 b5y.n4 a car2 .n case .t .s stolen property. B5t at the t.me 7r. *ch5ster came .n2 : tho54ht everyth.n4 was on the level and bo54ht h.s Dalopy.C ,ransa.d that he was s5re everyth.n4 was all r.4ht2 and a3ter the dealer descr.bed 7elv.n *ch5ster2 there was no G5est.on b5t that he was the owner. *m533 was completely crest3allen. ).tho5t a word he started 3or h.s own car and the boys 3ollowed. The detect.ve d.d not tal- on the way bacto the 7orton 3arm2 and the boys2 3eel.n4 rather sorry 3or h.m2 spo-e o3 matters other than the car .nc.dent. As the Hardys and Chet wal-ed .nto the 7orton home2 the two 4.rls r5shed 3orward. C/.d yo5 3.nd .tEC :ola as-ed ea4erly. Chet s.4hed. CAnother one o3 *m533=s bl533s2C he sa.d d.s45stedly. He handed bac- the money wh.ch h.s 3r.ends had 4.ven to help pay the detect.ve. ,ran- and >oe sa.d 4ood-by2 went 3or the.r motorcycles2 and too- Call.e home. Then they ret5rned to the.r own ho5se2 showered2 and went to bed. As soon as school was over the next day2 they too- the 4ray w.4 and v.s.ted *chwart?=s shop. The owner ass5red them that the ha.r p.ece had not come 3rom h.s store. C:t=s a very cheap one2C the man sa.d rather d.sda.n35lly. ,ran- and >oe v.s.ted ,l.nt=s and 5ben Brothers= shops as well. Ae.ther place had sold the 4ray w.4. ,5rthermore2 ne.ther o3 them had had a c5stomer .n many wee-s who had wanted a red w.42 or who was .n the hab.t o3 5s.n4 w.4s or to5pees o3 var.o5s colors. CToday=s sle5th.n4 was a complete washo5t2C >oe reported that n.4ht to h.s 3ather. The 3amo5s detect.ve sm.led. C/on=t be d.sco5ra4ed2C he sa.d. C: can tell yo5 that one b.t o3 s5ccess ma-es 5p 3or a h5ndred 3alse tra.ls.C As the boys were 5ndress.n4 3or bed later2 ,ran- rem.nded h.s brother that the 3ollow.n4 day was a school hol.day. CThat=ll 4.ve 5s ho5rs and ho5rs to wor- on the case2C he sa.d enth5s.ast.cally. C)hat do yo5 s544est we doEC >oe as-ed. ,ran- shr544ed. *everal .deas were bro54ht 5p by the brothers2 b5t one wh.ch >oe proposed was 4.ven pre3erence. They wo5ld 4et hold o3 a lar4e 4ro5p o3 the.r 3r.ends. (n the theory that the th.e3 co5ld not have dr.ven a lon4 d.stance away beca5se o3 the pol.ce alarm2 the boys wo5ld ma-e an extens.ve search .n the s5rro5nd.n4 area 3or Chet=s Dalopy. C)e=ll h5nt .n every poss.ble h.d.n4 place2C he stated. !arly the next morn.n4 ,ran- h5rr.ed to the telephone and p5t .n one call a3ter another to Cthe 4an4.C These .ncl5ded2 bes.des Chet 7orton2 Al.en Hooper2 n.c-named B.33 beca5se o3 h.s 3ondness 3or a d.stant

relat.ve who was a boxer named B.33K >erry 9.lroy2 Ph.l Cohen2 and Tony Pr.to. All were st5dents at Bayport H.4h and prom.nent .n var.o5s sports. The 3.ve boys were ea4er to co-operate. They a4reed to assemble at the Hardy home at n.ne o=cloc-. :n the meant.me2 ,ran- and >oe wo5ld lay o5t a plan o3 act.on. As soon as brea-3ast was over the Hardys told the.r 3ather what they had .n m.nd and as-ed .3 he had any s544est.ons on how they m.4ht 4o abo5t the.r search. CTa-e a map2C he sa.d2 Cw.th o5r ho5se as a rad.5s and c5t p.e-shaped sect.ons. : s544est that two boys wor- to4ether.C By n.ne o=cloc- h.s sons had mapped o5t the search .n deta.l. The 3.rst recr5.t to arr.ve was Tony Pr.to2 a l.vely boy w.th a 4ood sense o3 h5mor. He was 3ollowed .n a moment by Ph.l Cohen2 a G5.et2 .ntell.4ent boy. CP5t 5s to wor-2C sa.d Tony. C: bro54ht one o3 my 3ather=s tr5c-s that he .sn=t 4o.n4 to 5se today.C Tony=s 3ather was .n the contract.n4 b5s.ness. C: can cover a lot o3 m.les .n .t.C ,ran- s544ested that Tony and Ph.l wor- to4ether. He showed them the map2 w.th Bayport as the center o3 a 4reat c.rcle2 c5t .nto 3o5r eG5al sect.ons. C*5ppose yo5 ta-e 3rom n.ne o=cloc- to twelve on th.s d.al we=ve mar-ed. 7other has a4reed to stay at home all day and act as clear.n4 ho5se 3or o5r reports. Call .n every ho5r.C C).ll do2C Tony prom.sed. CCome on2 Ph.l. ;et=s 4et 4o.n4BC The two boys were D5st start.n4 o33 when B.33 and >erry arr.ved at the Hardy home on motorcycles. B.332 blond and lon4-le44ed2 had an ambl.n4 4a.t2 w.th wh.ch he co5ld cover a tremendo5s amo5nt o3 terr.tory .n a short t.me. >erry2 an excellent 3.elder on Bayport H.4h=s baseball team2 was o3 med.5m he.4ht2 w.ry2 and stron4. B.33 and >erry were ass.4ned to the sect.on on the map des.4nated s.x to n.ne o=cloc-. They were 4.ven 35rther .nstr5ct.ons on sle5th.n42 then started o33 on the.r G5est. C)here=s ChetEC 7r. Hardy as-ed h.s sons. C)asn=t he 4o.n4 to help .n the searchEC CHe probably overslept. Chet=s been -nown to do that2C ,ransa.d w.th a 4r.n. CHe also m.4ht have ta-en t.me 3or a do5ble brea-3ast2C >oe s544ested. 7rs. Hardy2 who had stepped to the 3ront porch2 called2 CHere he comes now. :sn=t that 7r. 7orton=s carEC C<es2 .t .s2C ,ran- repl.ed.

Chet=s 3ather let h.m o33 .n 3ront o3 the Hardy home and the sto5t boy h5rr.ed to the porch. C9ood morn.n42 7rs. Hardy. 9ood morn.n42 7r. Hardy. H.2 ch5msBC he sa.d cheer.ly. C*orry to be late. 7y dad had a lot o3 phon.n4 to do be3ore he le3t. : was a3ra.d .3 :=d tr.ed to walhere2 : wo5ldn=t have arr.ved 5nt.l tomorrow.C At th.s po.nt 7r. Hardy spo-e 5p. CAs : sa.d be3ore2 : th.n- yo5 boys sho5ld wor- .n twos. There are only three o3 yo5 to ta-e care o3 hal3 the terr.tory.C The detect.ve s5ddenly 4r.nned boy.shly. CHow abo5t me team.n4 5p w.th one o3 yo5EC ,ran- and >oe loo-ed at the.r dad .n del.4ht. C<o5 mean .tEC ,rancr.ed o5t. C:=ll choose yo5 as my partner r.4ht now.C C: have a 35rther s544est.on2C the detect.ve sa.d. C:t=s not 4o.n4 to ta-e yo5 3ellows more than three ho5rs to cover the area yo5=ve la.d o5t. And there=s an add.t.onal sect.on : th.n- yo5 m.4ht loo- .nto.C C)hat=s thatEC >oe .nG5.red. C).llow 9rove. That=s a par- area2 b5t there=s also a lot o3 tan4led woodland to one s.de o3 .t. 9ood place to h.de a stolen car.C 7r. Hardy s544ested that the boys meet 3or a p.cn.c l5nch at ).llow 9rove and later do some sle5th.n4 .n the v.c.n.ty. CThat .s2 prov.ded yo5 haven=t 3o5nd Chet=s Dalopy by that t.me.C 7rs. Hardy spo-e 5p. C:=ll 3.x a n.ce l5nch 3or all o3 yo52C she o33ered. CThat s5re wo5ld be swell2C Chet sa.d hast.ly. C<o5 ma-e 4rand p.cn.c l5nches2 7rs. Hardy.C ,ran- and >oe l.-ed the plan2 and .t was dec.ded that the boys wo5ld have the p.cn.c whether or not they had 3o5nd the Dalopy by one o=cloc-. 7rs. Hardy sa.d she wo5ld relay the news to the other boys when they phoned .n. Chet and >oe set o33 on the Hardy boys= motorcycles2 ta-.n4 the twelveto-three se4ment on the map. Then 7r. Hardy and ,ran- drove o33 3or the three-to-s.x area. Ho5r a3ter ho5r went by2 w.th the searchers constantly on the alert. !very 4ara4e2 p5bl.c and pr.vate2 every l.ttle-5sed road2 every patch o3 woods was thoro54hly .nvest.4ated. There was no s.4n o3 Chet=s m.ss.n4 yellow Dalopy. ,.nally at one o=cloc- ,ran- and h.s 3ather ret5rned to the Hardy home. A 3ew moments later >oe and Chet ret5rned and a h54e p.cn.c l5nch was stowed aboard the two motorcycles. )hen the three boys reached the p.cn.c area they were reG5.red to parthe.r motorcycles o5ts.de the 3ence. They 5nstrapped the l5nch bas-ets and carr.ed them down to the la-e 3ront The other boys were already there. CToo bad we can=t 4o sw.mm.n42C Tony remar-ed2 Cb5t th.s water=s pretty cold.C

F5.c-ly they 5npac-ed the 3ood and assembled aro5nd one o3 the parp.cn.c tables. C+mB <5mB Ch.c-en sandw.chesBC Chet cr.ed 4lee35lly. /5r.n4 the meal the boys exchan4ed reports on the.r morn.n4=s sle5th.n4. All had tr.ed hard b5t 3a.led to 3.nd any trace o3 the m.ss.n4 car. C(5r wor- hasn=t ended2C ,ran- rem.nded the others. CB5t :=m so st533ed :=m 4o.n4 to rest a wh.le be3ore : start o5t a4a.n.C All the other boys b5t >oe Hardy 3elt the same way and lay down on the 4rass 3or a nap. >oe2 ea4er to 3.nd o5t whether or not the woods to the.r r.4ht held the secret o3 the m.ss.n4 car2 pl5n4ed o33 alone thro54h the 5nderbr5sh. He searched 3or twenty m.n5tes w.tho5t 3.nd.n4 a cl5e to any a5tomob.le. He was on the po.nt o3 ret5rn.n4 and wa.t.n4 3or the other boys when he saw a small clear.n4 ahead o3 h.m. :t appeared to be part o3 an abandoned roadway. !xc.tedly >oe p5shed on thro54h the dense 5nder4rowth. :t was .n a lowly.n4 part o3 the 4rove and the 4ro5nd was wet. At one po.nt .t was G5.te m5ddy2 and .t was here that >oe saw someth.n4 that aro5sed h.s c5r.os.ty. CA t.reB Then maybe an a5tomob.le has been .n here2C he m5ttered to h.msel32 altho54h there were no t.re mar-s .n the .mmed.ate v.c.n.ty. CAo 3ootpr.nts2 e.ther. : 45ess someone tossed th.s t.re here.C emember.n4 h.s 3ather=s admon.t.ons on the val5e o3 develop.n4 one=s powers o3 observat.on2 >oe went closer and exam.ned the t.re. CThat tread2C he tho54ht exc.tedly2 Cloo-s 3am.l.ar.C He 4a?ed at .t 5nt.l he was s5re2 then dashed bac- to the other boys. C:=ve 3o5nd a cl5eBC he cr.ed o5t. CCome on2 everybodyBC
CHAPT!
1:
The
obbery
>(! HA /< G5.c-ly led the way .nto the swampy area as the other boys trooped alon42 everyone tal-.n4 at once. )hen they reached the spot2 Chet exam.ned the t.re and excla.med: CThere=s no m.sta-e abo5t .tB Th.s .s one o3 the t.resB )hen the th.e3 p5t on the new one2 he threw th.s away.C CPerhaps the F5een .s st.ll aro5nd2C s544ested ,ran- G5.c-ly. CThe

th.e3 may have p.c-ed th.s road as a 4ood place to h.de yo5r Dalopy 5nt.l he co5ld ma-e a 4etaway.C C:t wo5ld be an .deal place2C Chet a4reed. CPeople com.n4 to ).llow 9rove have to par- at the 4ate2 so nobody wo5ld come .n here. B5t th.s old road comes .n 3rom the ma.n h.4hway. ;et=s ta-e a loo-2 3ellows.C A scr5t.n.?.n4 search was be45n alon4 the abandoned road .n the d.rect.on o3 the h.4hway. A moment later ,ran- and Chet2 .n the lead2 cr.ed o5t s.m5ltaneo5sly. CHere=s a bypathB And here are t.re mar-sBC ,ranexcla.med. To one s.de was a narrow roadway2 almost over4rown w.th weeds and low b5shes. :t led 3rom the abandoned road .nto the depths o3 the woods. ).tho5t hes.tat.on ,ran- and Chet pl5n4ed .nto .t. Presently the roadway w.dened o5t2 then wo5nd abo5t a heavy cl5mp o3 trees. :t came to an end .n a w.de clear.n4. :n the clear.n4 stood Chet 7orton=s lost DalopyB C7y F5eenBC he yelled .n del.4ht. CHer own l.cense platesBC H.s sho5t was heard by the rest o3 the boys2 who came on a r5n. Chet=s Doy was bo5ndless. He exam.ned the car w.th m.n5te care2 wh.le h.s ch5ms crowded aro5nd. At last he stra.4htened 5p w.th a sm.le o3 sat.s3act.on. C*he hasn=t been dama4ed a b.t. All ready to r5n. The th.e3 D5st h.d the old b5s .n here and made a 4etaway. Come on2 3ellows2 cl.mb aboard. ,ree r.de to the h.4hwayBC Be3ore leav.n42 the Hardys exam.ned 3ootpr.nts le3t by the th.e3. CHe wore snea-ers2C ,ran- observed. *5ddenly Chet sw5n4 open the door and loo-ed on the 3loor. C<o5 mean he wore my snea-ers. They=re 4one.C CAnd carr.ed h.s own shoes2C >oe observed. C1ery clever. )ell2 that washes o5t one cl5e. Can=t trace the man by h.s shoe pr.nts.C C;et=s 4oBC Chet 5r4ed. He D5mped .nto the car and .n a 3ew seconds the en4.ne roared. There was barely s533.c.ent room .n the clear.n4 to perm.t h.m to t5rn the Dalopy abo5t. )hen he sw5n4 aro5nd and headed 5p the bypath2 the boys 4ave a cheer and hastened to clamber aboard. ;5rch.n4 and sway.n42 the car reached the abandoned road and 3rom there made the r5n to the ma.n h.4hway. The boys trans3erred to Tony=s tr5cand the motorcycles2 and 3ormed a parade .nto Bayport2 w.th ,ran- and >oe .n the lead. :t was the.r .ntent.on to r.de 5p to pol.ce headG5arters and anno5nce the.r s5ccess to Ch.e3 Coll.4. CAnd : hope *m533 w.ll be aro5nd2C Chet 4loated. As the 4r.nn.n4 r.ders came down 7a.n *treet2 however2 they not.ced

that no one pa.d any attent.on to them2 and there seemed to be an 5n5s5al a.r o3 mystery .n the town. People were stand.n4 .n l.ttle 4ro5ps2 4est.c5lat.n4 and tal-.n4 earnestly. Presently the Hardys saw (scar *m533 str.d.n4 alon4 w.th a portento5s 3rown. >oe called o5t to h.m. C)hat=s 4o.n4 on2 detect.veE <o5 not.ce we 3o5nd Chet=s car.C C:=ve 4ot someth.n4 more .mportant than stolen cars to worry- Hey2 what=s thatEC /etect.ve *m533 stared blan-ly2 as the 35ll .mport o3 the d.scovery 3.ltered h.s consc.o5sness. The boys wa.ted 3or *m533=s pra.se2 b5t he d.d not 4.ve .t. :nstead2 he sa.d2 C: 4ot a b.4 mystery to solve. The Tower 7ans.on has been robbedBC C9ood n.4htBC the Hardys chor5sed. Tower 7ans.on was one o3 the show places o3 Bayport. ,ew people .n the c.ty had ever been perm.tted to enter the place and the adm.rat.on wh.ch the palat.al b5.ld.n4 exc.ted was solely by reason o3 .ts exter.or appearance. B5t the 3.rst th.n4 a newcomer to Bayport 5s5ally as-ed was2 C)ho owns that ho5se w.th the towers over on the h.llEC :t was an .mmense2 rambl.n4 stone str5ct5re overloo-.n4 the bay2 and co5ld be seen 3or m.les2 s.lho5etted a4a.nst the s-y l.ne l.-e an anc.ent 3e5dal castle. The resemblance to a castle was he.4htened by the 3act that 3rom each o3 the 3ar ends o3 the mans.on arose a h.4h tower. (ne o3 these had been b5.lt when the mans.on was erected by 7aDor Apple4ate2 an eccentr.c2 ret.red old Army man who had made a 3ort5ne by l5c-y real-estate deals. <ears a4o there had been many part.es and dances .n the mans.on. B5t the Apple4ate 3am.ly had become scattered 5nt.l at last there rema.ned .n the old home only H5rd Apple4ate and h.s s.ster Adel.a. They l.ved .n the vast2 lonely mans.on at the present t.me. H5rd Apple4ate was a man abo5t s.xty2 tall2 and stooped. H.s l.3e seemed to be devoted now to the collect.on o3 rare stamps. B5t a 3ew years be3ore he had b5.lt a new tower on the mans.on2 a d5pl.cate o3 the or.4.nal one. H.s s.ster Adel.a was a ma.den lady o3 5ncerta.n years. )ell-dressed women .n Bayport were am5sed by her clothes. *he dressed .n clash.n4 colors and 5nbecom.n4 styles. H5rd and Adel.a Apple4ate were rep5ted to be enormo5sly wealthy2 altho54h they l.ved s.mply2 -ept only a 3ew servants2 and never had v.s.tors. CTell 5s abo5t the the3t2C >oe be44ed *m533. B5t the detect.ve waved h.s hand a.r.ly. C<o5=ll have to 3.nd o5t yo5rselves2C he retorted as he h5rr.ed o33. ,ran- and >oe called 4ood-by to the.r 3r.ends and headed 3or home. As they arr.ved2 the boys saw H5rd Apple4ate D5st leav.n4 the ho5se. The man tapped the steps w.th h.s cane as he came down them. )hen he heard

the boys= motorcycles he 4ave them a p.erc.n4 4lance. C9ood dayBC he 4rowled .n a 4r5d4.n4 manner and went on h.s way. CHe m5st have been as-.n4 /ad to ta-e the case2C ,ransa.d to h.s brother2 as they p5lled .nto the 4ara4e. The boys r5shed .nto the ho5se2 ea4er to 3.nd o5t more abo5t the robbery. :n the 3ront hallway they met the.r 3ather. C)e heard the Tower 7ans.on has been robbed2C sa.d >oe. 7r. Hardy nodded. C<es. 7r. Apple4ate was D5st here to tell me abo5t .t. He wants me to handle the case.C CHow m5ch was ta-enEC 7r. Hardy sm.led. C)ell2 : don=t s5ppose .t w.ll do any harm to tell yo5. The sa3e .n the Apple4ate l.brary was opened. The loss w.ll be abo5t 3orty tho5sand dollars2 all .n sec5r.t.es and Dewels.C C)hewBC excla.med ,ran-. C)hat a ha5lB )hen d.d .t happenEC C!.ther last n.4ht or th.s morn.n4. 7r. Apple-4ate d.d not 4et 5p 5nt.l a3ter ten o=cloc- th.s morn.n4 and d.d not 4o .nto the l.brary 5nt.l nearly noon. :t was then that he d.scovered the the3t.C CHow was the sa3e openedEC CBy 5s.n4 the comb.nat.on. :t was opened e.ther by someone who -new the set o3 n5mbers or else by a very clever th.e3 who co5ld detect the no.se o3 the t5mblers. :=m 4o.n4 5p to the ho5se .n a 3ew m.n5tes. 7r. Apple4ate .s to call 3or me.C C:=d l.-e to 4o alon42C >oe sa.d ea4erly. C*o wo5ld :2C ,randeclared. 7r. Hardy loo-ed at h.s sons and sm.led. C)ell2 .3 yo5 want to be detect.ves2 : s5ppose .t .s abo5t as 4ood a chance as any to watch a cr.me .nvest.4at.on 3rom the .ns.de. :3 7r. Apple4ate doesn=t obDect2 yo5 may come w.th me.C A 3ew m.n5tes later a 3ore.4n-ma-e2 cha533e5r-dr.ven car drew 5p be3ore the Hardy home. 7r. Apple4ate was seated .n the rear2 h.s ch.n rest.n4 on h.s cane. The three Hardys went o5ts.de. )hen the detect.ve ment.oned the boys= reG5est2 the man merely 4r5nted assent and moved over. ,ran- and >oe stepped .n a3ter the.r 3ather. The car headed toward Tower 7ans.on. C: don=t really need a detect.ve .n th.s caseBC H5rd Apple4ate snapped. C/on=t need one at all. :t=s as clear as the nose on yo5r 3ace. : -now who too- the st533. B5t : can=t prove .t.C C)hom do yo5 s5spectEC ,enton Hardy as-ed.

C(nly one man .n the world co5ld have ta-en the Dewels and sec5r.t.es. ob.nsonBC C ob.nsonEC C<es. Henry ob.nson-the careta-er. He=s the man.C
The Hardy boys loo-ed at each other .n consternat.on. Henry ob.nson2 the careta-er o3 the Tower 7ans.on2 was the 3ather o3 one o3 the.r closest ch5msB Perry ob.nson2 n.c-named C*l.m2C was the son o3 the acc5sed manB That h.s 3ather sho5ld be blamed 3or the robbery seemed abs5rd to the Hardy boys. They had met 7r. ob.nson 5pon several occas.ons and he had appeared to be a 4ood-nat5red2 easy4o.n4 man w.th h.4h pr.nc.ples. C: don=t bel.eve he=s 45.lty2C ,ran- wh.spered. CAe.ther do :2C ret5rned h.s brother. C)hat ma-es yo5 s5spect ob.nsonEC 7r. Hardy as-ed H5rd Apple4ate.
CHe=s the only person bes.des my s.ster and me who ever saw that sa3e opened and closed. He co5ld have learned the comb.nat.on .3 he=d -ept h.s eyes and ears open2 wh.ch :=m s5re he d.d.C C:s that yo5r only reason 3or s5spect.n4 h.mEC CAo. Th.s morn.n4 he pa.d o33 a n.ne-h5ndred-dollar note at the ban-. And : -now 3or a 3act he d.dn=t have more than one h5ndred dollars to h.s name a 3ew days a4o. Aow where d.d he ra.se n.ne h5ndred dollars so s5ddenlyEC CPerhaps he has a 4ood explanat.on2C 7r. Hardy s544ested. C(h2 he=ll have an explanat.on all r.4htBC sn.33ed 7r. Apple4ate. CB5t .t w.ll have to be a m.4hty 4ood one to sat.s3y me.C The a5tomob.le was now speed.n4 5p the w.de dr.veway that led to Tower 7ans.on and w.th.n a 3ew m.n5tes stopped at the 3ront entrance. 7r. Hardy and the two boys accompan.ed the eccentr.c man .nto the ho5se. CAoth.n4 has been d.st5rbed .n the l.brary s.nce the d.scovery o3 the the3t2C he sa.d2 lead.n4 the way there. 7r. Hardy exam.ned the open sa3e2 then too- a spec.al ma4n.3y.n4 4lass 3rom h.s poc-et. ).th m.n5te care he .nspected the d.al o3 the comb.nat.on loc-. Aext he wal-ed to each w.ndow and the door to exam.ne them 3or 3.n4erpr.nts. He as-ed 7r. Apple4ate to hold h.s 3.n4ers 5p to a stron4 l.4ht and 4ot a clear v.ew o3 the whorls and l.nes on the .ns.de o3 the t.ps. At last he shoo- h.s head. CA smooth Dob2C he observed. CThe th.e3 m5st have worn 4loves. All the 3.n4erpr.nts .n the room2 7r. Apple4ate2 seem to be yo5rs.C CAo 5se loo-.n4 3or 3.n4erpr.nts or any other ev.denceBC 7r. Apple4ate

bar-ed .mpat.ently. C:t was ob.nson2 : tell yo5.C
CPerhaps .t wo5ld be a 4ood .dea 3or me to as- h.m a 3ew G5est.ons2C 7r. Hardy adv.sed. 7r. Apple4ate ran4 3or one o3 the servants and .nstr5cted h.m to tell the careta-er to come to the l.brary at once. 7r. Hardy 4lanced at the boys and s544ested they wa.t .n the hallway. C:t m.4ht prove less embarrass.n4 to 7r. a low vo.ce. ob.nson that way2C he sa.d .n
,ran- and >oe read.ly w.thdrew. :n the hall they met 7r. ob.nson and h.s son Perry. The man was calm2 b5t pale2 and at the doorway he patted *l.m on the sho5lder. C/on=t worry2C he sa.d. C!veryth.n4 w.ll be all r.4ht.C ).th that he entered the l.brary. *l.m t5rned to h.s two 3r.ends. C:t=s 4ot to beBC he cr.ed o5t. C7y dad .s .nnocentBC
CHAPT!
1::
The Arrest , AA@ and >oe were determ.ned to help the.r ch5m prove h.s 3ather=s .nnocence. They shared h.s conv.ct.on that 7r. ob.nson was not 45.lty. C(3 co5rse he=s .nnocent2C ,ran- a4reed. CHe=ll be able to clear h.msel3 all r.4ht2 *l.m.C CB5t th.n4s loo- pretty blac- r.4ht now2C the boy sa.d. He was wh.te3aced and sha-en. C+nless 7r. Hardy can catch the real th.e32 :=m a3ra.d /ad w.ll be blamed 3or the robbery.C C!verybody -nows yo5r 3ather .s honest2C sa.d >oe consol.n4ly. CHe has been a 3a.th35l employee -even 7r. Apple4ate w.ll have to adm.t that.C C)h.ch won=t help h.m m5ch .3 he can=t clear h.msel3 o3 the char4e. And /ad adm.ts that he d.d -now the comb.nat.on o3 the sa3e2 altho54h o3 co5rse he=d never 5se .t.C CHe -new .tEC repeated >oe2 s5rpr.sed. C/ad learned the comb.nat.on acc.dentally. :t was so s.mple one co5ldn=t 3or4et .t. Th.s was how .t happened. (ne day when he was clean.n4 the l.brary 3.replace2 he 3o5nd a p.ece o3 paper w.th n5mbers on .t. He st5d.ed them and dec.ded they were the sa3e comb.nat.on. /ad la.d the paper on the des-. The w.ndow was open and he 3.45red the bree?e m5st have blown the paper to the 3loor.C C/oes 7r. Apple4ate -now thatEC

CAot yet. B5t /ad .s 4o.n4 to tell h.m now. He real.?es .t w.ll loobad 3or h.m2 b5t he=s 4o.n4 to 4.ve 7r. Apple4ate the tr5th.C ,rom the l.brary came the h5m o3 vo.ces. The harsh tones o3 H5rd Apple4ate occas.onally rose above the m5rm5r o3 conversat.on and 3.nally the boys heard 7r. ob.nson=s vo.ce r.se sharply. C: d.dn=t do .tB : tell yo5 : d.dn=t ta-e that moneyBC CThen where d.d yo5 4et the n.ne h5ndred yo5 pa.d on that noteEC demanded 7r. Apple4ate. *.lence. C)here d.d yo5 4et .tEC C:=m not at l.berty to tell yo5 or anyone else.C C)hy notEC C: 4ot the money honestly-that=s all : can say abo5t .t.C C(h2 hoBC excla.med 7r. Apple4ate. C<o5 4ot the money honestly2 yet yo5 can=t tell me where .t came 3romB A pretty storyB :3 yo5 4ot the money honestly yo5 sho5ldn=t be ashamed to tell where .t came 3rom.C C:=m not ashamed. : can only say a4a.n2 :=m not at l.berty to talabo5t .t.C C7.4hty 35nny th.n4 that yo5 sho5ld 4et n.ne h5ndred dollars so G5.c-ly. <o5 were pretty hard 5p last wee-2 weren=t yo5E Had to as- 3or an advance on yo5r month=s wa4es.C CThat .s tr5e.C CAnd then the day o3 th.s robbery yo5 s5ddenly have n.ne h5ndred dollars that yo5 can=t expla.n.C 7r. Hardy=s calm vo.ce bro-e .n. C(3 co5rse : don=t l.-e to pry .nto yo5r pr.vate a33a.rs2 7r. ob.nson2C he sa.d2 Cb5t .t wo5ld be best .3 yo5 wo5ld dear 5p th.s matter o3 the money.C C: -now .t loo-s bad2C repl.ed the careta-er do44edly. CB5t :=ve made a prom.se : can=t brea-.C CAnd yo5 adm.t be.n4 3am.l.ar w.th the comb.nat.on o3 the sa3e2 tooBC bro-e .n 7r. Apple4ate. C: d.dn=t -now that be3ore. )hy d.dn=t yo5 tell meEC C: d.dn=t cons.der .t .mportant.C CAnd yet yo5 come and tell me nowBC C: have noth.n4 to conceal. :3 : had ta-en the sec5r.t.es and Dewels : wo5ldn=t be tell.n4 yo5 that : -new the comb.nat.on.C

C<es2C a4reed 7r. Hardy2 Cthat=s a po.nt .n yo5r 3avor2 7r. ob.nson.C
C:s .tEC as-ed 7r. Apple4ate. C ob.nson=s D5st clever eno54h to th.n5p a tr.c- l.-e that. He=d 3.45re that by appear.n4 to be honest2 :=d bel.eve he .s honest and co5ldn=t have comm.tted th.s robbery. 1ery clever. B5t not clever eno54h. There=s plenty o3 ev.dence r.4ht th.s m.n5te to conv.ct h.m2 and :=m not 4o.n4 to delay any 35rther.C :n a moment 7r. Apple4ate=s vo.ce cont.n5ed2 CPol.ce stat.onE Hello . . . Pol.ce stat.onE . . . Th.s .s Apple4ate spea-.n4-Apple4ate-H5rd Apple4ate. . . . )ell2 we=ve 3o5nd o5r man .n that robbery. . . . <es2 ob.nson. . . . <o5 tho54ht so2 ehE-*o d.d :2 b5t : wasn=t s5re. . . . He has pract.cally conv.cted h.msel3 by h.s own story. . . . <es2 : want h.m arrested. . . . <o5=ll be 5p r.4ht awayE . . . ,.ne. . . . 9ood-by.C C<o5=re not 4o.n4 to have me arrested2 7r. Apple4ateEC the careta-er cr.ed o5t .n alarm. C)hy notE <o5=re the th.e3BC C:t m.4ht have been better to wa.t a wh.le2C 7r. Hardy .nterposed. CAt least 5nt.l there was more ev.dence.C C)hat more ev.dence do we want2 7r. Hardy2C the owner o3 Tower 7ans.on sneered. C:3 ob.nson wants to ret5rn the Dewels and sec5r.t.es :=ll have the char4e w.thdrawn-b5t that=s all.C C: can=t ret5rn themB : d.dn=t ta-e themBC 7r. h.msel3. ob.nson de3ended
C<o5=ll have plenty o3 t.me to th.n-2C 7r. Apple4ate declared. C<o5=ll be .n the pen.tent.ary a lon4 t.me-a lon4 t.me.C :n the hallway the boys l.stened .n 4row.n4 exc.tement and d.smay. The case had ta-en an abr5pt and tra4.c t5rn. *l.m loo-ed as tho54h he m.4ht collapse 5nder the stra.n. C7y dad=s .nnocent2C the boy m5ttered over and over a4a.n2 clench.n4 h.s 3.sts. C: -now he .s. They can=t arrest h.m. He never stole anyth.n4 .n h.s l.3eBC ,ran- patted h.s 3r.end on the sho5lder. CBrace 5p2 pal2C he adv.sed. C:t loo-s d.sco5ra4.n4 D5st now2 b5t :=m s5re yo5r 3ather w.ll be able to clear h.msel3.C C:- :=ll have to tell 7other2C stammered *l.m. CTh.s w.ll brea- her heart. And my s.sters-C ,ran- and >oe 3ollowed the boy down the hallway and alon4 a corr.dor that led to the east w.n4 o3 the mans.on. There2 .n a neat b5t sparsely 35rn.shed apartment2 they 3o5nd 7rs. ob.nson2 a 4entle2 -.nd-3aced woman2 who was lame. *he was seated .n a cha.r by the w.ndow2 anx.o5sly wa.t.n4. Her two da54hters2 Pa5la and Tess.e2 twelve-year-old tw.ns2 were at her s.de2 and all loo-ed 5p .n expectat.on as the boys came .n. C)hat news2 sonEC 7rs. ob.nson as-ed bravely2 a3ter she had 4reeted

the Hardys. CBad2 7other.C CThey=re not-they=re not-arrest.n4 h.mEC cr.ed Pa5la2 spr.n4.n4 3orward. Perry nodded wordlessly. CB5t they can=tBC Tess.e protested. C/ad co5ldn=t do anyth.n4 l.-e thatB :t=s wron4-C ,ran-2 loo-.n4 at 7rs. ob.nson2 saw her s5ddenly sl5mp over .n a 3a.nt. He spran4 3orward and ca54ht the woman .n h.s arms as she was abo5t to 3all to the 3loor. C7otherBC cr.ed *l.m .n terror2 as ,ranla.d 7rs. ob.nson on a co5ch2 then he sa.d G5.c-ly to h.s s.ster2 CPa5la2 br.n4 the smell.n4 salts and her spec.al med.c.ne.C Perry expla.ned that at t.mes 5nd5e exc.tement ca5sed an Cattac-.C C: sho5ldn=t have told her abo5t /ad2C the boy ch.ded h.msel3. C*he=d have to -now .t sooner or later2C >oe sa.d -.ndly. :n a moment Pa5la ret5rned w.th the bottle o3 smell.n4 salts and med.c.ne. The .nhalant bro54ht her mother bac- to consc.o5sness2 and Pa5la then 4ave 7rs. ob.nson the med.c.ne. :n a 3ew moments the woman completely rev.ved and apolo4.?ed 3or hav.n4 worr.ed everyone. C: adm.t .t was a dread35l shoc- to th.n- my h5sband has been arrested2C she sa.d2 Cb5t s5rely someth.n4 can be done to prove h.s .nnocence.C :nstantly ,ran- and >oe ass5red her they wo5ld do everyth.n4 they co5ld to 3.nd the real th.e32 beca5se they too 3elt that 7r. ob.nson was not 45.lty. The next morn.n42 as the brothers were dress.n4 .n the.r room at home2 ,ranremar-ed2 CThere=s a 4reat deal abo5t th.s case that hasn=t come to the s5r3ace yet. :t=s D5st poss.ble that the man who stole Chet 7orton=s car may have had someth.n4 to do w.th the the3t.C >oe a4reed. CHe was a cr.m.nal-that m5ch .s certa.n. He stole an a5tomob.le and he tr.ed to hold 5p the t.c-et o33.ce2 so why not another robberyEC C .4ht2 >oe. : D5st real.?ed that we never .nspected Chet=s car 3or any d5es to the th.e32 so let=s do .t.C The sto5t boy Hardys had to pract.ce were ,ran- and >oe d.d not br.n4 h.s Dalopy to school that day2 so the s5bmer4e the.r c5r.os.ty 5nt.l classes and baseball over. Then2 when 7rs. 7orton p.c-ed 5p Chet and :ola2 went home w.th them.
C:=ll loo- 5nder the seats2C >oe o33ered. CAnd :=ll search the tr5n- compartment.C ,ran- wal-ed to the bac- o3

the car and ra.sed the cover. He be4an root.n4 5nder ra4s2 papers2 and d.scarded schoolboo-s. Presently he 4ave a cry o3 v.ctory. CHere .t .sB The best ev.dence .n the worldBC >oe and Chet r5shed to h.s s.de as he held 5p a man=s red w.4. ,ransa.d exc.tedly2 C7aybe there=s a cl5e .n th.s ha.r p.eceBC An exam.nat.on 3a.led to reveal any2 b5t ,ransa.d he wo5ld l.-e to show the w.4 to h.s 3ather. He covered .t w.th a hand-erch.e3 and p5t .t care35lly .n an .nner poc-et. Chet drove the Hardys home. They ass5med that the.r 3ather was .n h.s st5dy on the second 3loor2 and r5shed 5p there and .nto the room w.tho5t ceremony. C/ad2 we=ve 3o5nd a cl5eBC >oe cr.ed. Then he stepped bac-2 embarrassed2 as he real.?ed there was someone else .n the room. C*orryBC sa.d ,ran-. The boys wo5ld have retreated2 b5t 7r. Hardy=s v.s.tor t5rned aro5nd and they saw that he was Perry ob.nson. C:t=s only me2C sa.d *l.m. C/on=t 4o.C CH.2 *l.mBC CPerry has been try.n4 to shed a l.ttle more l.4ht on the Tower robbery2C expla.ned 7r2 Hardy. CB5t what .s th.s cl5e yo5=re tal-.n4 abo5tEC C:t m.4ht concern the robbery2C repl.ed ,ran-. C:t=s abo5t the redha.red man.C He too- the w.4 3rom h.s poc-et and told where he had 3o5nd .t. 7r. Hardy=s .nterest was -.ndled at once. CTh.s seems to l.n- 5p a pretty 4ood cha.n o3 ev.dence. The man who passed yo5 on the shore road wrec-ed the car he was dr.v.n42 then stole Chet=s2 and a3terward tr.ed to hold 5p the t.c-et o33.ce. )hen he 3a.led there2 he tr.ed another and more s5ccess35l robbery at the Tower.C C/o yo5 really th.n- the w.4 m.4ht help 5s solve the Tower robberyEC as-ed Perry2 ta-.n4 hope. CPoss.bly.C C: was D5st tell.n4 yo5r 3ather2C *l.m went on2 Cthat : saw a stran4e man l5r-.n4 aro5nd the 4ro5nds o3 the mans.on two days be3ore the robbery. : d.dn=t th.n- anyth.n4 o3 .t at the t.me2 and .n the shoc- o3 /ad=s arrest : 3or4ot abo5t .t.C C/.d yo5 4et a 4ood loo- at h.mE Co5ld yo5 descr.be h.mEC ,ranas-ed. C:=m a3ra.d : can=t. :t was .n the even.n4. : was s.tt.n4 by a w.ndow2 st5dy.n42 and happened to loo- 5p. : saw th.s 3ellow mov.n4 abo5t amon4 the trees. ;ater2 : heard one o3 the do4s bar-.n4 .n another part o3 the 4ro5nds. *hortly a3terward2 : saw someone r5nn.n4 across the lawn. : tho54ht he was D5st a tramp.C

C/.d he wear a hat or a capEC CAs near as : can remember2 .t was a cap. H.s clothes were dar-.C CAnd yo5 co5ldn=t see h.s 3aceEC CAo.C C)ell2 .t=s not m5ch to 4o on2C sa.d 7r. Hardy2 Cb5t .t m.4ht be l.n-ed 5p w.th ,ran- and >oe=s .dea that the man who stole the Dalopy may st.ll have been han4.n4 aro5nd Bayport.C The detect.ve tho54ht deeply 3or a 3ew moments. C:=ll br.n4 all these 3acts to 7r. Apple4ate=s attent.on2 and :=m also 4o.n4 to have a tal- w.th the pol.ce a5thor.t.es. : 3eel they haven=t eno54h ev.dence to warrant hold.n4 yo5r 3ather2 Perry.C C/o yo5 th.n- yo5 can have h.m releasedEC the boy as-ed ea4erly. C:=m s5re o3 .t. :n 3act2 : bel.eve 7r. Apple4ate .s be4.nn.n4 to real.?e now that he made a m.sta-e.C C:t w.ll be wonder35l .3 we can have /ad bac- w.th 5s a4a.n2C sa.d Perry. C(3 co5rse th.n4s won=t be the same 3or h.m. He=ll be 5nder a clo5d o3 s5sp.c.on as lon4 as th.s mystery .sn=t cleared 5p. : s5ppose 7r. Apple4ate won=t employ h.m or anyone else.C CAll the more reason why we sho5ld 4et b5sy and clear 5p the a33a.r2C ,ransa.d G5.c-ly2 and >oe added2 C*l.m2 we=ll do all we can to help yo5r 3ather.C
CHAPT!
1:::
An :mportant /.scovery )H!A the Hardy boys were on the.r way home 3rom school the next a3ternoon they not.ced that a crowd had collected .n the vest.b5le o3 the post o33.ce and were star.n4 at the b5llet.n board. C)onder what=s 5p nowEC sa.d >oe2 p5sh.n4 h.s way 3orward thro54h the crowd w.th the a4.l.ty o3 an eel. ,ran- was not slow .n 3ollow.n4. (n the board was a lar4e poster. The .n- on .t was scarcely dry. At the top2 .n enormo5s blac- letters2 .t read: L1000 !)A /
+nderneath2 .n sl.4htly smaller type2 was the 3ollow.n4: The above reward w.ll be pa.d 3or .n3ormat.on lead.n4 to the arrest o3 the person or persons who bro-e .nto Tower 7ans.on and stole Dewels and sec5r.t.es 3rom a sa3e .n the l.brary.

The reward was be.n4 o33ered by H5rd Apple-4ate. C)hy2 that m5st mean the char4e a4a.nst 7r. excla.med >oe. ob.nson has been droppedBC
C:t loo-s l.-e .t. ;et=s see .3 we can 3.nd *l.m.C All abo5t them people were comment.n4 on the s.?e o3 the reward2 and there were many express.ons o3 envy 3or the person who wo5ld be 3ort5nate eno54h to solve the mystery. CA tho5sand dollarsBC sa.d ,ran-2 as the brothers made the.r way o5t o3 the post o33.ce. CThat=s a lot o3 money2 >oe.C C:=ll say .t .s.C CAnd there=s no reason why we haven=t as 4ood a chance o3 earn.n4 .t as anyone else.C C: s5ppose /ad and the pol.ce are barred 3rom the reward2 3or .t=s the.r d5ty to 3.nd the th.e3 .3 they can. B5t .3 we trac- h.m down we can 4et the money. :t=ll be a 4ood s5m to add to o5r colle4e 35nd.C C;et=s 4oB *ay2 there=s *l.m now.C Perry ob.nson was com.n4 down the street toward them. He loo-ed m5ch happ.er than he had the prev.o5s even.n42 and when he saw the Hardy boys h.s 3ace l.4hted 5p. C/ad .s 3ree2C he told them. CThan-s to yo5r 3ather2 the char4e has been dropped.C C:=m s5re 4lad to hear thatBC excla.med >oe. C: see a reward .s be.n4 o33ered.C C<o5r 3ather conv.nced 7r. Apple4ate that .t m5st have been an o5ts.de Dob. And the wor- o3 a pro3ess.onal th.e3. Ch.e3 Coll.4 adm.tted there wasn=t m5ch ev.dence a4a.nst /ad2 so they let h.m 4o. :t=s a 4reat rel.e3. 7y mother and s.sters were almost cra?y w.th worry.C CAo wonder2C commented ,ran-. C)hat=s yo5r 3ather 4o.n4 to do nowEC C: don=t -now2C *l.m adm.tted. C(3 co5rse2 we=ve had to move 3rom the Tower 7ans.on estate. 7r. Apple4ate sa.d that even tho54h the char4e had been dropped2 he wasn=t alto4ether conv.nced .n h.s own m.nd that /ad hadn=t had someth.n4 to do w.th the the3t. *o he d.sm.ssed h.m.C CThat=s to54h l5c-. B5t yo5r dad w.ll be able to 4et another Dob somewhere2C ,ransa.d consol.n4ly. C:=m not so s5re abo5t that. People aren=t l.-ely to employ a man who=s been s5spected o3 steal.n4. /ad tr.ed two or three places th.s a3ternoon2 b5t he was t5rned down.C The Hardys were s.lent. They 3elt very sorry 3or the determ.ned to do what they co5ld to help them. ob.nsons and were
C)e=ve rented a small ho5se D5st o5ts.de the c.ty2C *l.m went on. C:t=s

cheap and the ne.4hborhood .s -.nd o3 bad2 b5t we=ll have to 4et alon4.C ,ran- and >oe adm.red *l.m. There was no 3alse pr.de abo5t h.m. He 3aced the 3acts as they came2 and made the best o3 them. CB5t .3 /ad doesn=t 4et a Dob2 .t w.ll mean that :=ll have to 4o to wor- 35ll t.me.C C)hy2 *l.m-yo5=d have to G5.t schoolBC >oe cr.ed o5t. C: can=t help that. : wo5ldn=t want to2 3or yo5 -now : was try.n4 3or a scholarsh.p. B5t-C The brothers real.?ed how m5ch .t wo5ld mean to the.r ch5m .3 he had to leave school. Perry ob.nson was an amb.t.o5s boy and one o3 the top ten .n h.s class. He had always wanted to cont.n5e h.s st5d.es and 4o on to a 5n.vers.ty2 and h.s teachers had pred.cted a br.ll.ant career 3or h.m as an en4.neer. Aow .t seemed that all h.s amb.t.ons 3or a h.4h school d.ploma and a colle4e ed5cat.on wo5ld have to be 4.ven 5p beca5se o3 th.s m.s3ort5ne. ,ran- p5t an arm aro5nd *l.m=s sho5lders. CCh.n 5p2C he sa.d w.th a warm sm.le. C>oe and : are 4o.n4 to pl54 away at th.s a33a.r 5nt.l we 4et to the bottom o3 .tBC C:t=s m.4hty 4ood o3 yo5 3ellows2C *l.m sa.d 4rate35lly. C: won=t 3or4et .t .n a h5rry.C He tr.ed to sm.le2 b5t .t was ev.dent that the boy was deeply worr.ed. )hen he wal-ed away .t was not w.th the l.4ht2 care3ree step wh.ch the Hardys assoc.ated w.th h.m. C)hat=s the 3.rst move2 ,ran-EC >oe as-ed. C)e=d better 4et a 35ll descr.pt.on o3 those Dewels. Perhaps the th.e3 tr.ed to pawn them. ;et=s try all the pawnshops and see what we can 3.nd o5t.C C9ood .dea2 even .3 the pol.ce have already done .t.C ,ran- 4r.nned. Then he sobered. C/o yo5 th.n- Apple4ate w.ll 4.ve 5s a l.stEC C)e won=t have to as- h.m. /ad sho5ld have that .n3ormat.on.C C;et=s 3.nd o5t r.4ht now.C )hen the boys ret5rned home2 they 3o5nd the.r 3ather wa.t.n4 3or them. C: have news 3or yo52C he sa.d. C<o5r theory abo5t the wrec-ed a5to be.n4 stolen has been con3.rmed. Coll.4 phoned D5st now and told me the tr5e ownersh.p had been traced by the en4.ne n5mber. Car belon4s to a man over .n Thornton.C C9ood. That=s one more str.-e a4a.nst the th.e32C >oe declared. B5t a moment later the boys met w.th d.sappo.ntment when they as-ed the.r 3ather 3or a l.st o3 the stolen Dewels. C:=m w.ll.n4 to 4.ve yo5 all the .n3ormat.on : have2C sa.d ,enton Hardy2 Cb5t :=m a3ra.d .t won=t be o3 m5ch 5se. ,5rthermore2 :=ll bet : can tell D5st what yo5=re 4o.n4 to do.C C)hatEC

C7a-e the ro5nds o3 the pawnshops to see .3 any o3 the Dewels have been t5rned .n.C The Hardy boys loo-ed at each other .n ama?ement. C: m.4ht have 45essed2C sa.d ,ran-. The.r 3ather sm.led. CAot an ho5r a3ter : was called .n on the case : had a 35ll descr.pt.on o3 all those Dewels .n every pawnshop .n the c.ty. 7ore than that2 the descr.pt.on has been sent to Dewelry 3.rms and pawnshops .n other c.t.es near here2 and also the Aew <or- pol.ce. Here=s a d5pl.cate l.st .3 yo5 want .t2 b5t yo5=ll D5st be wast.n4 t.me call.n4 at the shops. All the dealers are on the loo-o5t 3or the Dewels.C 7echan.cally2 ,ran- too- the l.st. CAnd : tho54ht .t was s5ch a br.4ht .deaBC C:t .s a br.4ht .dea. B5t .t has been 5sed be3ore. 7ost Dewel robber.es are solved .n D5st th.s manner-by trac.n4 the th.e3 when he tr.es to 4et r.d o3 the 4ems.C C)ell2C sa.d >oe 4loom.ly2 C: 45ess that plan .s all shot to p.eces. Come on2 ,ran-. )e=ll th.n- o3 someth.n4 else.C C(5t 3or the rewardEC as-ed 7r. Hardy2 ch5c-l.n4. C<es. And we=ll 4et .t2 tooBC C: hope yo5 do. B5t yo5 can=t as- me to help yo5 any more than :=ve done. :t=s my case2 too2 remember. *o 3rom now on2 yo5 boys and : are r.vals :C C:t=s a 4oBC C7ore power to yo5BC 7r. Hardy sm.led and ret5rned to h.s des-. He had a shea3 o3 reports 3rom shops and a4enc.es .n var.o5s parts o3 the state2 thro54h wh.ch he had been try.n4 to trace the stolen Dewels and sec5r.t.es2 b5t .n every case the report was the same. There had been no lead to the 4ems or the bonds ta-en 3rom Tower 7ans.on. )hen the boys le3t the.r 3ather=s st5dy they went o5ts.de and sat on the bac--porch steps. C)hat shall we do nowEC as-ed >oe. C: don=t -now. /ad s5re too- the w.nd o5t o3 o5r sa.ls that t.me2 d.dn=t heEC C:=ll say he d.d. B5t .t was D5st as well. He saved 5s a lot o3 tro5ble.C C<es2 we m.4ht have been 4o.n4 aro5nd .n c.rcles2C ,ran- conceded. >oe wa44ed h.s head. C:t loo-s as .3 /ad has the .ns.de trac- on the case-.n the c.ty2 anyway.C

C)hat have yo5 4ot .n m.ndEC >oe as-ed. CTo concentrate on the co5ntry. )e started o5t to 3.nd the th.e3 beca5se he stole Chet=s car. ;et=s start all over a4a.n 3rom that po.nt.C C7ean.n4EC C7r. ed ).4 may have come bac- to the woods expect.n4 to 5se Chet=s car a4a.n2 and-C C,ran-2 yo5=re a 4en.5sB <o5 3.45re the 45y may have le3t a cl5e by acc.dentC C!xactly.C ,.red w.th enth5s.asm once more2 the brothers called to 7rs. Hardy where they were 4o.n42 then set o33 on the.r motorcycles. A3ter par-.n4 them at the p.cn.c s.te2 the brothers once more set o33 3or the .solated spot where the Dalopy had been h.dden. !veryth.n4 loo-ed the same as .t had be3ore2 b5t ,ran- and >oe exam.ned the 4ro5nd care35lly 3or new 3ootpr.nts. They 3o5nd none2 b5t >oe po.nted o5t s.x-.nch c.rc5lar mar-s at re45lar .ntervals. CThey=re D5st the s.?e o3 a man=s str.de2C he remar-ed2 Cand : d.dn=t not.ce them be3ore.C C: d.dn=t e.ther2C sa.d ,ran-. C/o yo5 s5ppose that th.e3 t.ed pads onto h.s shoes to -eep h.m 3rom ma-.n4 3ootpr.ntsEC C;et=s see where they lead.C The boys 3ollowed the c.rc5lar mar-s thro54h the th.c-et. They had not 4one 3ar when the.r eyes l.4hted 5p w.th exc.tement. CAnother d5eBC >oe yelled. CAnd th.s t.me a swell oneBC
CHAPT!
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.val /etect.ves C7A<B!2C ,ransa.d w.th a 4r.n2 C/ad w.ll ta-e 5s .nto h.s camp when he sees theseBC C>5st a m.n5te2C >oe spo-e 5p. C: tho54ht we were r.vals now2 and yo5 and : have to solve th.s mystery alone to earn the reward.C ,ran- held 5p a man=s battered 3elt hat and an old Dac-et. C:3 these belon4 to that th.e32 : th.n- we=ve earned the money alreadyBC He 3elt thro54h the poc-ets o3 the Dac-et2 b5t they were empty. CAo

cl5e here2C he sa.d. CTh.s hat has a label2 tho54h-Aew <or- C.ty store2C sa.d >oe. CAnd the coat2 too2C ,ran- added. C*ame shop. )ell2 one th.n4 .s s5re. :3 they do belon4 to the th.e32 he never meant to leave them. The labels are a dead 4.veaway.C CHe m5st have been 3r.4htened o332C >oe concl5ded. C7aybe when he 3o5nd that Chet=s Dalopy was 4one2 he 3elt he=d better scram2 and 3or4ot the coat and hat.C C)hat :=d l.-e to -now2C ,ransa.d2 C.s whether some ha.rs 3rom that red w.4 may be .n the hat.C >oe 4r.nned. CBr.4ht boy.C He carr.ed the hat to a spot where the s5nl.4ht 3.ltered down thro54h the trees and loo-ed .ntently at the .ns.de2 even t5rn.n4 down the band. C<oweeB *5ccessBC he yelled. ,ran- 4a?ed at two short strands o3 red ha.r. They loo-ed exactly l.-e those .n the w.4 wh.ch the boys had 3o5nd. >oe s.4hed. C: 45ess we=ll have to tell /ad abo5t th.s. He has the w.4.C C .4ht.C ,ran- and >oe h5rr.ed home2 cl5tch.n4 the.r prec.o5s cl5es 3.rmly. 7r. Hardy was st.ll .n h.s st5dy when h.s sons ret5rned. The detect.ve loo-ed 5p2 3ran-ly s5rpr.sed to see them home so soon. There was the s5sp.c.on o3 a tw.n-le .n h.s eyes. C)hatB 7ore cl5esBC he excla.med. C<o5=re really on the Dob.C C<o5 bet we have more cl5esBC cr.ed ,ran- ea4erly. He told the boys= story and la.d the hat and Dac-et on a table. C)e=re t5rn.n4 these over to yo5.C CB5t : tho54ht yo5 two were wor-.n4 on th.s case as my r.vals.C CTo tell the tr5th2C sa.d ,ran-2 Cwe don=t -now what to do w.th the d5e we=ve 3o5nd. :t leads to Aew <or- C.ty.C 7r. Hardy leaned 3orward .n h.s des- cha.r as ,ran- po.nted o5t the labels and the two strands o3 red ha.r. CAnd bes.des2C ,ran- went on2 C: 45ess the only way to prove that the th.e3 owns these clothes .s by compar.n4 the ha.rs .n the hat w.th the red w.4. And >oe and : don=t have the w.4.C ).th a 4r.n the detect.ve went to h.s 3.les and bro54ht .t o5t. CCh.e3 Coll.4 le3t th.s here.C The strands o3 ha.r were compared and matched per3ectlyB C<o5 boys have certa.nly made 3.ne pro4ress2C 7r. Hardy pra.sed h.s sons. He sm.led. CAnd s.nce yo5 have2 :=ll let yo5 .n on a l.ttle secret. Ch.e3 Coll.4 as-ed me to see what : co5ld 3.45re o5t o3 the

w.4. He says there=s no ma-er=s name on .t.C CAnd there .sn=tEC >oe as-ed. H.s 3ather=s eyes tw.n-led once more. C: 45ess Coll.4=s ass.stants weren=t very thoro54h. At any rate2 : d.scovered there=s an .nner l.n.n4 and on that .s the ma-er=s name. He=s .n Aew <or- C.ty and : was D5st th.n-.n4 abo5t 3ly.n4 there to tal- to h.m. Aow yo5 boys have 4.ven me a do5ble .ncent.ve 3or 4o.n4.C ,ran- and >oe beamed w.th pleas5re2 then s5ddenly the.r 3aces clo5ded. C)hat=s the matterEC 7r. Hardy as-ed them. >oe answered. C:t loo-s as .3 yo5=re 4o.n4 to solve the case all alone.C CAoth.n4 o3 the sort2C the detect.ve repl.ed. CThe person who bo54ht the w.4 may not have 4.ven h.s name. The hat may have been p5rchased a lon4 t.me a4o2 and .t .sn=t l.-ely that the cler- who sold .t w.ll remember who bo54ht .t. The same w.th the Dac-et.C ,ran- and >oe br.4htened. CThen the case .s 3ar 3rom solved2C ,ransa.d. CAll these are 4ood leads2 however2C 7r. Hardy sa.d. CThere .s always the chance that the store may not be 3ar 3rom where the s5spect l.ves. Tho54h .t=s a sl.m chance2 we can=t a33ord to overloo- anyth.n4. :=ll ta-e these art.cles to the c.ty and see what : can do. :t may mean everyth.n4 and .t may mean noth.n4. /on=t be d.sappo.nted .3 : come bac- empty-handed. And don=t be s5rpr.sed .3 : come bac- w.th some val5able .n3ormat.on.C 7r. Hardy tossed the w.42 coat2 and hat .nto a ba4 that was stand.n4 open near h.s des-. The detect.ve was acc5stomed to be.n4 called away s5ddenly on stran4e errands2 and he was always prepared to leave at a moment=s not.ce. CAot m5ch 5se start.n4 now2C he sa.d2 4lanc.n4 at h.s watch. CB5t :=ll 4o to the c.ty 3.rst th.n4 .n the morn.n4. :n the meant.me2 yo5 boys -eep yo5r eyes and ears open 3or more cl5es. The case .sn=t over yet by any means.C 7r. Hardy p.c-ed 5p some papers on h.s des-2 as a h.nt that the .nterv.ew was over2 and the boys le3t the st5dy. They were .n a state o3 h.4h exc.tement when they went to bed that n.4ht and co5ld not 4et to sleep. CThat th.e3 m5st be pretty smart2C m5rm5red >oe2 a3ter they had tal-ed lon4 .nto the n.4ht. CThe smarter croo-s are2 3ellow has any -.nd o3 a down. :=ve heard /ad say :3 he was really clever2 the harder they 3all2C ,ran- repl.ed. C:3 th.s record2 .t won=t ta-e lon4 3or /ad to r5n h.m that there .s no s5ch th.n4 as a clever croo-. he wo5ldn=t be a croo- at all.C
C<es2 : 45ess there=s someth.n4 .n that2 too. B5t .t shows that we=re not 5p a4a.nst any amate5r. Th.s 3ellow .s a sl.ppery c5stomer.C

CHe=ll have to be m.4hty sl.ppery 3rom now on. (nce /ad has a 3ew cl5es to wor- on he never lets 5p t.ll he 4ets h.s man.C CAnd don=t 3or4et 5s2C sa.d >oe2 yawn.n4. ).th that the boys 3ell asleep. )hen they went down to brea-3ast the 3ollow.n4 morn.n4 ,ran- and >oe learned that the.r 3ather had le3t 3or Aew <or- on an early-morn.n4 plane. The.r mother remar-ed2 C:=ll be so rel.eved when he 4ets bac-. *o o3ten these m.ss.ons t5rn o5t to be dan4ero5s.C *he went on to say that her h5sband had prom.sed to phone her .3 he wasn=t 4o.n4 to be bac- by s5ppert.me. *5ddenly she added w.th a tantal.?.n4 sm.le2 C<o5r 3ather sa.d he m.4ht have a s5rpr.se 3or yo5 .3 he rema.ns .n Aew <or-.C 7rs. Hardy re35sed to d.v5l4e another word. The boys went to school2 b5t all thro54h the morn.n4 co5ld scarcely -eep the.r m.nds on st5d.es. They -ept wonder.n4 how ,enton Hardy was 3ar.n4 on h.s G5est .n Aew <or- and what the s5rpr.se was. *l.m ob.nson was at school that day2 b5t a3ter classes he con3.ded to the Hardys that he was leav.n4 3or 4ood. C:t=s no 5se2C he sa.d. C/ad can=t -eep me .n school any lon4er and .t=s 5p to me to p.tch .n and help the 3am.ly. :=m to start wortomorrow at a s5permar-et.C CAnd yo5 wanted to 4o to colle4eBC excla.med ,ran-. C:t=s a shameBC CCan=t be helped2C repl.ed Perry w.th a 4r.mace. C: cons.der mysel3 l5c-y to have stayed .n school th.s lon4. :=ll have to 4.ve 5p all those colle4e plans and settle down .n the b5s.ness world. There=s one 4ood th.n4 abo5t .t-:=ll have a chance to learn s5permar-et wor- 3rom the 4ro5nd 5p. :=m start.n4 .n the rece.v.n4 department.C He sm.led. CPerhaps .n abo5t 3.3ty years :=ll be head o3 the 3.rmBC C<o5=ll ma-e 4ood at whatever yo5 tac-le2C >oe ass5red h.m. CB5t :=m sorry yo5 won=t be able to 4o thro54h colle4e as yo5 planned. /on=t 4.ve 5p hope yet2 *l.m. (ne never -nows what may happen. Perhaps the th.e3 who d.d rob Tower 7ans.on w.ll be 3o5nd.C ,ran- and >oe wanted to tell *l.m abo5t the cl5es they had d.scovered the prev.o5s day2 b5t the same tho54ht came .nto the.r m.nds-that .t wo5ld be 5n3a.r to ra.se any 3alse hopes. *o they sa.d 4ood-by and w.shed h.m 4ood l5c-. Perry tr.ed hard to be cheer35l2 b5t h.s sm.le was very 3a.nt as he t5rned away 3rom them and wal-ed down the street. C: s5re 3eel sorry 3or h.m2C sa.d ,ran-2 as he and >oe started 3or home. CHe was s5ch a hard wor-er .n school and co5nted so m5ch on 4o.n4 to colle4e.C C)e=ve D5st 4ot to clear 5p the Tower robbery2 that=s all there .s to .tBC declared h.s brother. As they neared the Hardy home2 the boys= steps G5.c-ened. )o5ld they

3.nd that the.r 3ather had ret5rned w.th the .n3ormat.on on the .dent.ty o3 the th.e3E (r was he st.ll .n Aew <or-E And were they abo5t to share another o3 h.s secretsE
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A *le5th.n4 Tr.p , AA@ and >oe=s 3.rst stop was the Hardy 4ara4e. ;oo-.n4 .n2 they saw that only 7rs. Hardy=s car was there. The.r 3ather had ta-en h.s sedan to the a.rport and not bro54ht .t bac-. C/ad=s not homeBC >oe cr.ed exc.tedly. CAow we=ll hear what the s5rpr.se .s.C /ash.n4 .nto the -.tchen2 he called2 C7otherBC C:=m 5psta.rs2 dear2C 7rs. Hardy called bac-. The boys r5shed 5p the 3ront sta.rway two steps at a t.me. The.r mother met them at the door o3 the.r bedroom. *m.l.n4 broadly2 she po.nted to a pac-ed s5.tcase on ,ran-=s bed. The boys loo-ed p5??led. Aext2 3rom her dress poc-et2 7rs. Hardy bro54ht o5t two plane t.c-ets and some dollar b.lls. *he handed a t.c-et and hal3 the money to each o3 her sons2 say.n42 C<o5r 3ather wants yo5 to meet h.m .n Aew <or- to help h.m on the case.C ,ran- and >oe were speechless 3or a moment2 then they 4rabbed the.r mother .n a bear h54. CTh.s .s s5perBC >oe excla.med. C)hat a s5rpr.seBC ,ran- loo-ed a33ect.onately at h.s mother. C<o5 s5re were b5sy today4ett.n4 o5r plane t.c-ets and money. : w.sh yo5 were 4o.n4 too.C 7rs. Hardy la54hed. C)hen : 4o to Aew <or- 3or a wee- end : want to have 35n w.th yo5 boys2 not trot aro5nd to pol.ce stat.ons and th.eves= h.de-o5tsBC she teased. C:=ll 4o some other t.me. )ell2 let=s h5rry downsta.rs. There=s a snac- ready 3or yo5. Then :=ll dr.ve my detect.ve sons to the a.rport.C :n less than two ho5rs the boys were on the plane to Aew <or- C.ty. +pon land.n4 there2 they were met by 7r. Hardy. He too- them to h.s hotel2 where he had en4a4ed an adDo.n.n4 room 3or them. :t was not 5nt.l the doors were closed that he bro54ht 5p the s5bDect o3 the mystery. CThe case has ta-en an .nterest.n4 t5rn2 and may .nvolve cons.derable research. That=s why : tho54ht yo5 m.4ht help me.C CTell 5s what has happened so 3ar2C ,ran- reG5ested ea4erly. 7r. Hardy sa.d that .mmed.ately 5pon arr.v.n4 .n the c.ty he had 4one to the o33.ce o3 the company wh.ch had man53act5red the red w.4. A3ter send.n4 .n h.s card to the mana4er he had been adm.tted read.ly.

CThat=s beca5se the name o3 ,enton Hardy .s -nown 3rom the Atlant.c to the Pac.3.cBC >oe .nterDected pro5dly. The detect.ve 4ave h.s son a w.n- and went on w.th the story. C =*ome o3 o5r c5stomers .n tro5ble2 7r. HardyE= the mana4er as-ed me when : la.d the red w.4 on h.s des-. C =Aot yet2= : sa.d. =B5t one o3 them may be .3 : can trace the p5rchaser o3 th.s w.4.= CThe mana4er p.c-ed .t 5p. He .nspected .t care35lly and 3rowned. =)e sell ma.nly to an excl5s.ve theatr.cal trade. : hope none o3 the actors has done anyth.n4 wron4.= C =Can yo5 tell me who bo54ht th.s oneE= : as-ed. C =)e ma-e w.4s only to order2= the mana4er sa.d. He pressed a b5tton at the s.de o3 h.s des-. A boy came and departed w.th a wr.tten messa4e. =:t may be d.33.c5lt. Th.s w.4 .s not a new one. :n 3act2 : wo5ld say .t was 3ash.oned abo5t two years a4o.= C =A lon4 t.me. B5t st.ll-= : enco5ra4ed h.m2C the detect.ve went on. C:n a 3ew m.n5tes a bespectacled elderly man sh533led .nto the o33.ce .n response to the mana4er=s s5mmons. C =@a533man2 here2= the mana4er sa.d2 =.s o5r expert. )hat he doesn=t -now abo5t w.4s .sn=t worth -now.n4.= Then2 t5rn.n4 to the old man2 he handed h.m the red w.4. = emember .t2 @a533manE= CThe old man loo-ed at .t do5bt35lly. Then he 4a?ed at the ce.l.n4. = ed w.4-red w.4-= he m5ttered. C =Abo5t two years old2 .sn=t .tE= the mana4er prompted. C =Aot G5.te. <ear=n a hal32 :=d say. ;oo-s l.-e a comedy-character type. )a.t=11 : th.n-. There a.n=t been so many o3 o5r c5stomers play.n= that -.nd o3 a part .ns.de a year and a hal3. ;et=s see. ;et=s see.= The old man paced 5p and down the o33.ce2 m5tter.n4 names 5nder h.s breath. *5ddenly he stopped2 snapp.n4 h.s 3.n4ers. C =: have .t2= he sa.d. =:t m5st have been 7orley who bo54ht that w.4. That=s who .t wasB Harold 7orley. He=s play.n= .n *ha-espearean reperto.re w.th Haml.n=s company. 1ery 35ssy abo5t h.s w.4s. Has to have =em D5st so. : remember he bo54ht th.s one2 beca5se he came .n here abo5t a month a4o and ordered another l.-e .t.= C =)hy wo5ld he do thatE= : as-ed h.m. C@a533man shr544ed h.s sho5lders. =A.n=t none o3 my b5s.ness. ;ots o3 actors -eep a do5ble set o3 w.4s. 7orley=s play.n= down at the Crescent Theater r.4ht now. Call h.m 5p.= C =:=ll 4o and see h.m2= : told the men. And that=s D5st what we=ll do2 ,ran- and >oe2 a3ter a b.te o3 s5pper.C C<o5 don=t th.n- th.s actor .s the th.e32 do yo5EC ,ranas-ed .n ama?ement. CHow co5ld he have 4one bac- and 3orth to Bayport so

G5.c-lyE And .sn=t he play.n4 here .n town every n.4htEC 7r. Hardy adm.tted that he too was p5??led. He was certa.n 7orley was not the man who had worn the w.4 on the day the Dalopy was stolen2 3or the *ha-espearean company had been play.n4 a three wee-s= r5n .n Aew <or-. :t was .mprobable2 .n any case2 that the actor was a th.e3. The three Hardys arr.ved at 7r. 7orley=s dress.n4 room hal3 an ho5r be3ore c5rta.n t.me. 7r. Hardy presented h.s card to a s5sp.c.o5s doorman at the Crescent2 b5t he and h.s sons were 3.nally adm.tted bac-sta4e and shown down a br.ll.antly l.4hted corr.dor to the dress.n4 room o3 Harold 7orley. :t was a sn54 place2 w.th p.ct5res on the walls2 a potted plant .n the w.ndow overloo-.n4 the alleyway2 and a r54 on the 3loor. *eated be3ore a m.rror w.th electr.c l.4hts at e.ther s.de was a sto5t l.ttle man2 almost totally bald. He was d.l.4ently r5bb.n4 creamy sta4e ma-e-5p on h.s 3ace. He d.d not t5rn aro5nd2 b5t eyed h.s v.s.tors .n the m.rror2 cas5ally tell.n4 them to s.t down. 7r. Hardy too- the only cha.r. The boys sG5atted on the 3loor. C(3ten heard o3 yo52 7r. Hardy2C the actor sa.d .n a s5rpr.s.n4ly deep vo.ce that had a com.cal e33ect .n contrast to h.s d.m.n5t.ve appearance. C9lad to meet yo5. )hat -.nd o3 call .s th.sE *oc.al -or pro3ess.onalEC CPro3ess.onal.C 7orley cont.n5ed r5bb.n4 the ma-e-5p on h.s Dowls. C(5t w.th .t2C he sa.d br.e3ly. C!ver see th.s w.4 be3oreEC 7r. Hardy as-ed h.m2 lay.n4 the ha.r p.ece on the ma-e-5p table. 7orley t5rned 3rom the m.rror2 and an express.on o3 del.4ht crossed h.s pl5mp co5ntenance. C)ell2 :=ll say :=ve seen .t be3oreBC he declared. C(ld @a533man-the best w.4ma-er .n the co5ntry -made th.s 3or me abo5t a year and a hal3 a4o. )here d.d yo5 4et .tE : s5re d.dn=t th.n- :=d ever see th.s red w.4 a4a.n.C C)hyEC C*tolen 3rom me. *ome low-down snea- 4ot .n here and cleaned o5t my dress.n4 room one n.4ht d5r.n4 the per3ormance. Aerv.est th.n4 : ever heard o3. Came r.4ht .n here wh.le : was do.n4 my st533 o5t 3ront2 4rabbed my watch and money and a d.amond r.n4 : had ly.n4 by the m.rror2 too- th.s w.4 and a co5ple o3 others that were aro5nd2 and beat .t. Aobody saw h.m come or 4o. 75st have 4ot .n by that w.ndow.C 7orley tal-ed .n short2 rap.d sentences2 and there was no m.sta-.n4 h.s s.ncer.ty. CAll the w.4s were red2C he stated. C: d.dn=t worry so m5ch abo5t the other w.4s2 beca5se they were 3or old plays2 b5t th.s one was be.n4 5sed r.4ht alon4. @a533man made .t spec.ally 3or me. : had to 4et h.m to ma-e another. B5t say-where d.d yo5 3.nd .tEC

C(h2 my sons located .t d5r.n4 some detect.ve wor- we=re on. The croole3t th.s beh.nd. : was try.n4 to trace h.m by .t.C 7orley d.d not .nG5.re 35rther. CThat=s all the help : can 4.ve yo52C he sa.d. CThe pol.ce never d.d learn who cleaned o5t my dress.n4 room2C CToo bad. )ell2 :=ll probably 4et h.m some other way. 9.ve me a l.st and descr.pt.on o3 the art.cles he too- 3rom yo5. Probably : can trace h.m thro54h that.C C9lad to2C sa.d 7orley. He reached .nto a drawer and drew o5t a sheet o3 paper wh.ch he handed to the detect.ve. CThat=s the same l.st : 4ave the pol.ce when : reported the robbery. A5mber o3 the watch2 and everyth.n4. : d.dn=t bother to ment.on the w.4s. ,.45red they wo5ldn=t be .n any cond.t.on to wear .3 : d.d 4et them bac-.C 7r. Hardy 3olded the l.st and p5t .t .n h.s poc-et. 7orley 4lanced at h.s watch2 ly.n4 3ace 5p bes.de the m.rror2 and 4ave an exclamat.on. C*533er.n4 *ebastopolB C5rta.n .n 3.ve m.n5tes and :=m not hal3 made 5p yet. !xc5se me2 3ol-s2 b5t :=ve 4ot to 4et on my horse. :n th.s b5s.ness :=ll be ready .n a m.n5te= doesn=t 4o.C He se.?ed a st.c- o3 4rease pa.nt and 3ever.shly res5med the tas- o3 alter.n4 h.s appearance to that o3 the character he was portray.n4 at that even.n4=s per3ormance. 7r. Hardy and h.s sons le3t. They made the.r way o5t to the street. CAot m5ch l5c- there2C ,ran- commented. C!xcept thro54h 7r. 7orley=s stolen Dewelry2C h.s 3ather rem.nded h.m. C:3 that=s located .n a pawnshop2 .t may lead to the th.e3. )ell2 boys2 wo5ld yo5 l.-e to 4o .nto the theater v.a the 3ront entrance and see the showEC C<es2 /ad2C the brothers repl.ed2 and >oe added2 CTomorrow we=ll try to 3.nd o5t the name and address o3 the th.e3 thro54h h.s coat and hatEC C .4ht2C the detect.ve sa.d. The Hardys enDoyed the per3ormance o3 The 7erchant o3 1en.ce w.th 7r. 7orley as ;a5ncelot 9obbo2 and la54hed h.lar.o5sly at h.s comedy and 4est5res. The next morn.n4 the detect.ve and h.s sons v.s.ted the store 3rom wh.ch the th.e3=s Dac-et and hat had been p5rchased. They were told that the styles were three years o5t o3 date and there was no way to tell who had bo54ht them. CThe art.cles2C the head o3 the men=s s5.t department s544ested2 Cmay have been p.c-ed 5p more recently at a secondhand cloth.n4 store.C The Hardys than-ed h.m and le3t. CAll th.s tr.p 3or noth.n4.C >oe 4ave a s.4h. H.s 3ather la.d a hand on the boy=s sho5lder. CA 4ood detect.ve2C he sa.d2 Cnever s.4hs w.th d.sco5ra4ement nor becomes .mpat.ent. :t tooyears o3 pers.stence to solve some 3amo5s cases.C

He s544ested that the.r next e33ort be devoted to do.n4 some research .n the c.ty=s pol.ce 3.les. *.nce 7r. Hardy had 3ormerly been a member o3 the Aew <or- C.ty detect.ve 3orce2 he was perm.tted to search the records at any t.me. ,ran- and >oe accompan.ed h.m to headG5arters and the wor- be4an. ,.rst came a r5n-down on any -nown Aew <or- cr.m.nals who 5sed d.s45.ses. (3 these men2 the Hardys too- the reports on the ones who were th.n and o3 med.5m he.4ht. Aext came a chec- by telephone on the whereabo5ts o3 these people. All co5ld be acco5nted 3or as wor-.n4 some d.stance 3rom Bayport at the t.me o3 the the3ts2 w.th one except.on. C:=ll bet he=s o5r manBC ,ranexcla.med. CB5t where .s he nowEC
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Anx.o5s )a.t.n4 TH! s5spect2 the Hardys learned2 was o5t o3 pr.son on parole. H.s name was >ohn >ac-ley2 b5t he was -nown as ed >ac-ley beca5se when ca54ht be3ore 4o.n4 to pr.son he had been wear.n4 a red w.4. CHe l.ves r.4ht here .n Aew <or-2 and maybe he=s bac- home by th.s t.me2C >oe spo-e 5p. C;et=s 4o see h.m.C C>5st a m.n5te2C 7r. Hardy sa.d2 hold.n4 5p h.s hand. C: don=t l.-e to leave 7other alone so lon4. Bes.des2 .n th.s type o3 sle5th.n4 three detect.ves to4ether are too not.ceable to a croo-. Th.s >ac-ley may or may not be o5r man. B5t .3 he .s2 he=s probably dan4ero5s. : want yo5 boys to ta-e the even.n4 plane home. :=ll phone the ho5se the m.n5te the th.e3 .s .n c5stody.C CAll r.4ht2 /ad2C h.s sons chor5sed2 tho54h secretly d.sappo.nted that they had to leave. )hen they reached home2 ,ran- and >oe learned that the.r mother had been wor-.n4 on the case 3rom a completely d.33erent an4le. Hers was the h5man.tar.an s.de. C: went to call on the ob.nsons to try to bolster the.r sp.r.ts2C she sa.d. C: told them abo5t yo5r tr.p to Aew <or- and that seemed to cheer them a lot. 7onday :=m 4o.n4 to ba-e a ham and a ca-e 3or yo5 to ta-e to them. 7rs. ob.nson .sn=t well and can do l.ttle .n the -.tchen.C CThat=s swell o3 yo5BC ,ransa.d adm.r.n4ly. C:=ll 4o.C >oe told them he had a tenn.s match to play. C:=ll do the next errand2C he prom.sed. 7onday2 d5r.n4 a chan4e o3 classes2 ,ran- met Call.e *haw .n the

corr.dor. CH.tC she sa.d. C)hat 4reat problem .s on /etect.ve Hardy=s m.ndE <o5 loo- as .3 yo5=d lost yo5r best cr.m.nalBC ,ran- 4r.maced. C7aybe : have2C he sa.d. He told Call.e that he had phoned home at noon con3.dently expect.n4 to hear that h.s 3ather had reported the arrest o3 the real th.e3 o3 the Apple-4ate money and the exonerat.on o3 7r. ob.nson. CB5t there was no word2 Call.e2 and :=m worr.ed /ad may be .n dan4er.C C: don=t blame yo52C she sa.d. C)hat do yo5 th.n- has happenedEC C)ell2 yo5 never can tell when yo5=re deal.n4 w.th cr.m.nals.C CAow2 ,ran-2 yo5=re not try.n4 to tell me yo5r 3ather wo5ld let h.msel3 4et trappedEC Call.e sa.d. CAo2 : don=t th.n- he wo5ld2 Call.e. 7aybe /ad hasn=t ret5rned beca5se he st.ll hasn=t 3o5nd the man he was loo-.n4 3or.C C)ell2 : certa.nly hope that th.e3 .s ca54ht2C sa.d Call.e. CB5t2 ,ran-2 nobody really bel.eves 7r. ob.nson d.d .tBC CAobody b5t H5rd Apple4ate and the men who employ people. +nt.l they 3.nd the man who d.d ta-e the st5332 7r. ob.nson .s o5t o3 a Dob.C C:=m 4o.n4 over to see the ob.nsons soon. )here are they l.v.n4EC
,ran- 4ave Call.e the address. Her eyes w.dened. C)hy2 that=s .n one o3 the poorest sect.ons o3 the c.tyB ,ran-2 : had no .dea the ob.nsons= pl.4ht was that badBC C:t .s-and .t=ll be a lot worse 5nless 7r. ob.nson 4ets wor- pretty soon. *l.m=s earn.n4s aren=t eno54h to ta-e care o3 the whole 3am.ly. *ay2 Call.e2 how abo5t 4o.n4 over to the ob.nsons= w.th me a3ter schoolE 7other=s send.n4 a ham and a ca-e.C C:=d love to2C Call.e a4reed. The two parted at the door o3 the al4ebra teacher=s classroom. As soon as the last bell had r5n42 ,ran- and Call.e le3t the b5.ld.n4 to4ether. ,.rst they stopped at the *haw ho5se to leave the 4.rl=s boo-s. C: th.n- :=ll ta-e some 3r5.t to the ob.nsons2C Call.e sa.d2 and G5.c-ly 3.lled a ba4 w.th oran4es2 bananas2 and 4rapes. )hen the co5ple reached the Hardy home2 ,ranas-ed h.s mother .3 any messa4es had come. CAo2 not yet2C she answered. ,ransa.d noth.n4 to her abo5t be.n4 concerned over h.s 3ather2 as he t5c-ed the ham 5nder one arm and p.c-ed 5p the ca-ebox. B5t a3ter he and Call.e reached the street2 he a4a.n con3.ded h.s concern to Call.e. C:t does seem stran4e yo5 haven=t heard anyth.n42C she adm.tted. CB5t don=t 3or4et the old say.n42 =Ao news .s 4ood news2= so don=t worry.C

C:=ll ta-e yo5r adv.ce2C ,ran- a4reed. CAo 5se wear.n4 a so5r looaro5nd the ob.nsons.C C(r when yo5=re w.th me2 e.ther2C Call.e sa.d2 toss.n4 her head teas.n4ly. ,ran- ha.led an approach.n4 b5s bo5nd 3or the sect.on o3 the c.ty .n wh.ch the ob.nsons l.ved. He and Call.e cl.mbed aboard. :t was a lon4 r.de and the streets became less attract.ve as they neared the o5ts-.rts o3 Bayport. C:t=s a shame2 that=s what .t .sBC declared Call.e abr5ptly. CThe ob.nsons were always acc5stomed to hav.n4 everyth.n4 so n.ceB And now they have to l.ve hereB (h2 : hope yo5r 3ather catches the man who comm.tted that robbery-and soonBC Her eyes 3lashed and 3or a moment she loo-ed so 3.erce that ,ranla54hed. C: s5ppose yo5=d l.-e to be the D5d4e and D5ry at h.s tr.al2 ehEC C:=d 4.ve h.m a h5ndred years .n Da.lBC Call.e declared. )hen they came to the street where the ob.nsons had moved they 3o5nd that .t was an even poorer thoro54h3are than they had expected. There were small ho5ses badly .n need o3 pa.nt and repa.rs. *habb.ly dressed ch.ldren were play.n4 .n the roadway. At the 3ar end o3 the street stood a small cotta4e that somehow contr.ved to loo- homel.-e .n sp.te o3 the s5rro5nd.n4s. The p.c-et 3ence had been repa.red and the yard had been cleaned 5p. CTh.s .s where they l.ve2C sa.d ,ran-. Call.e sm.led. C:t=s the neatest place on the whole street.C Pa5la and Tess.e answered the.r -noc-. The tw.ns= 3aces l.4hted 5p w.th pleas5re when they saw who the callers were. C,ran- and Call.eBC they excla.med. CCome .n.C The callers were 4reeted w.th -.ndly d.4n.ty by 7rs. ob.nson. *he loo-ed pale and th.n b5t had the same sel3-possess.on she had always shown at Tower 7ans.on. C)e can=t stay lon42C Call.e expla.ned. CB5t ,ran- and : D5st tho54ht we=d r5n o5t to see how yo5 all are. And we bro54ht someth.n4 3or yo5.C The 3r5.t2 ham2 and ca-e were presented. As the tw.ns ohed and ahed over the 3ood2 7rs. ob.nson=s eyes 3.lled w.th tears2 C<o5 are dear people2C she sa.d. C,ran-2 tell yo5r mother : can=t than- her eno54h.C ,ran- 4r.nned as 7rs. ob.nson went on2 CCall.e2 we shall enDoy th.s 3r5.t very m5ch. 7any than-s.C Pa5la sa.d2 C:t=s a wonder35l 4.3t. *ay2 d.d yo5 -now Perry 4ot a better Dob the second day he was at the s5permar-etEC

CAo. That=s swell2C ,ran- repl.ed. C:t d.dn=t ta-e the mana4er lon4 to 3.nd o5t how smart *l.m .s2 ehEC The tw.ns 4.44led2 b5t 7rs. ob.nson sa.d dole35lly2 C: w.sh my h5sband co5ld 3.nd a Dob. *.nce no one aro5nd here w.ll employ h.m2 he .s th.n-.n4 o3 4o.n4 to another c.ty to 4et wor-.C CAnd leave yo5 hereEC C: s5ppose so. )e don=t -now what to do.C C:t=s so 5n3a.rBC Pa5la 3lared 5p. C7y 3ather d.dn=t have a th.n4 to do w.th that m.serable robbery2 and yet he has to s533er 3or .t D5st the sameBC 7rs. ob.nson sa.d to ,ran- hes.tantly2 CHas 7r. Hardy d.scovered anyth.n4-yetEC C: don=t -now2C ,ran- adm.tted. C)e haven=t heard 3rom h.m. He=s been .n Aew <or- 3ollow.n4 5p some cl5es. B5t so 3ar there=s been no word.C C)e hardly dare hope that he=ll be able to clear 7r. ob.nson2C the woman sa.d sorrow35lly. CThe whole case .s so myster.o5s.C C:=ve stopped th.n-.n4 o3 .t2C Tess.e declared. C:3 the mystery .s cleared 5p2 o-ay. :3 .t .sn=t-we won=t starve2 at any rate2 and my 3ather -nows we bel.eve .n h.m.C C<es2 : s5ppose .t doesn=t do m5ch 4ood to -eep tal-.n4 abo5t .t2C a4reed 7rs. ob.nson. C)e=ve 4one over the whole matter so thoro54hly that there .s noth.n4 more to say.C *o2 by tac.t consent2 the s5bDect was chan4ed and 3or the rest o3 the.r stay ,ran- and Call.e chatted o3 do.n4s at school. 7rs. ob.nson and the 4.rls .nv.ted them to rema.n 3or s5pper2 b5t Call.e .ns.sted that she m5st 4o. As they were leav.n42 7rs. ob.nson drew ,ran- to one s.de. CProm.se me one th.n42C she sa.d. C;et me -now as soon as yo5r 3ather ret5rns-that .s2 .3 he has any news.C C:=ll do that2 7rs. ob.nson2C ,ran- a4reed. C: -now what th.s s5spense m5st be l.-e 3or yo5 and the tw.ns.C C:t=s terr.ble. B5t as lon4 as ,enton Hardy-and h.s sons-are wor-.n4 on the case2 :=m s5re .t w.ll be stra.4htened o5t.C Call.e and ,ran- were 5n5s5ally s.lent all the way home. They had been pro3o5ndly a33ected by the chan4e that the Tower 7ans.on mystery had ca5sed .n the l.ves o3 the ob.nsons. Call.e l.ved b5t a 3ew bloc-s 3rom the Hardy home2 and ,ran- accompan.ed her to the door. C*ee yo5 tomorrow2C he sa.d. C<es2 ,ran-. And : hope yo5=ll hear 4ood news 3rom yo5r 3ather.C The boy G5.c-ened h.s steps and ran ea4erly .nto the Hardy ho5se. >oe

met h.m. CAny phone callEC >oe shoo- h.s head. C7other=s pretty worr.ed that someth.n4 has happened to /ad.C
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A /.st5rb.n4 Absence AA(TH! whole day went by. )hen st.ll no word had come 3rom 7r. Hardy2 h.s w.3e phoned the Aew <or- hotel. *he was told that the detect.ve had chec-ed o5t the day be3ore. /.sco5ra4ed and nervo5s abo5t the new mystery o3 the.r 3ather=s d.sappearance2 ,ran- and >oe 3o5nd .t almost .mposs.ble to concentrate on the.r st5d.es. Then2 the 3ollow.n4 morn.n4 when 7rs. Hardy came to awa-en them2 she wore a broad sm.le. C<o5r 3ather .s homeBC she sa.d exc.tedly. CHe=s all r.4ht b5t has had a bad t.me. He=s asleep now and w.ll tell yo5 everyth.n4 a3ter school.C The boys were w.ld w.th .mpat.ence to learn the o5tcome o3 h.s tr.p2 b5t they were obl.4ed to c5rb the.r c5r.os.ty. C/ad m5st be m.4hty t.red2C >oe remar-ed2 as 7rs. Hardy went downsta.rs to start brea-3ast. C: wonder where he came 3rom.C CProbably he was 5p all n.4ht. )hen he=s wor-.n4 on a case2 he 3or4ets abo5t sleep. /o yo5 th.n- he 3o5nd o5t anyth.n4EC CHope so2 ,ran-. : w.sh he=d wa-e 5p and tell 5s. : hate to 4o bac- to school w.tho5t -now.n4.C B5t 7r. Hardy had not awa-ened by the t.me the boys set o5t 3or school2 altho54h they l.n4ered 5nt.l they were .n dan4er o3 be.n4 late. As soon as classes were over2 they shattered all records .n the.r race home. ,enton Hardy was .n the l.v.n4 room2 and as they r5shed .n pant.n42 he 4r.nned broadly. He loo-ed re3reshed a3ter h.s lon4 sleep and .t was ev.dent that h.s tr.p had not been ent.rely w.tho5t s5ccess2 3or h.s manner was cheer35l. CHello2 boysB *orry : worr.ed yo5 and 7other.C C)hat l5c-2 /adEC as-ed ,ran-. C9ood and bad. Here=s the story: : went to the ho5se where ed >ac-ley was board.n4. Altho54h he seemed to be an exemplary parolee2 : dec.ded to watch h.m a wh.le and try to ma-e 3r.ends.C

CHow co5ld yo5 do thatEC CBy ta-.n4 a room .n the same ho5se and pretend.n4 to be a 3ellow cr.m.nal.C C)owBC >oe cr.ed. CAnd thenEC C>ac-ley h.msel3 spo.led everyth.n4. He 4ot m.xed 5p .n a Dewel robbery and cleared o5t o3 the c.ty. ;5c-.ly2 : heard h.m pac-.n42 and : tra.led h.m. The pol.ce were watch.n4 3or h.m and he co5ldn=t 4et o5t o3 town by plane or b5s. He o5tw.tted the pol.ce by D5mp.n4 a 3re.4ht on the ra.lroad.C CAnd yo5 st.ll 3ollowedEC C: lost h.m two or three t.mes2 b5t 3ort5nately : mana4ed to p.c- 5p h.s tra.l a4a.n. He 4ot o5t o3 the c.ty and .nto 5pper Aew <or- *tate. Then h.s l5c- 3a.led h.m. A ra.lroad detect.ve reco4n.?ed >ac-ley and the chase was on. +p to that t.me : had been content w.th D5st -eep.n4 beh.nd h.m. : had st.ll hoped to pose as a 3ellow 354.t.ve and w.n h.s con3.dence. B5t when the p5rs5.t started .n earnest2 : had to Do.n the o33.cers.C CAnd they ca54ht >ac-leyEC CAot w.tho5t 4reat d.33.c5lty. >ac-ley2 by the way2 was once a ra.lroad man. *tran4ely eno54h2 he wor-ed not many m.les 3rom here. He mana4ed to steal a ra.lroad handcar and 4ot away 3rom 5s. B5t he d.dn=t last lon42 3or the handcar D5mped the trac-s on a c5rve and >ac-ley was badly smashed 5p.C C@.lledEC ,ranas-ed G5.c-ly. CAo. B5t he=s .n a hosp.tal r.4ht now and the doctors say he hasn=t m5ch o3 a chance.C CHe=s 5nder arrestEC C(h2 yes. He=s be.n4 held 3or the Dewel the3ts and also 3or the the3t 3rom the actor=s dress.n4 room. B5t he probably won=t l.ve to answer e.ther char4e.C C/.dn=t yo5 3.nd o5t anyth.n4 that wo5ld connect h.m w.th the Tower robberyEC CAot a th.n4.C The boys were d.sappo.nted2 and the.r express.ons showed .t. :3 ed >ac-ley d.ed w.tho5t con3ess.n42 the secret o3 the Tower robbery wo5ld d.e w.th h.m. 7r. ob.nson m.4ht never be cleared. He m.4ht be doomed to spend the rest o3 h.s l.3e 5nder a clo5d2 s5spected o3 be.n4 a th.e3. CHave yo5 tal-ed to >ac-leyEC ,ranas-ed. C: d.dn=t have a chance-he wasn=t consc.o5s.C CThen yo5 may never be able to 4et a con3ess.on 3rom h.m.C

,enton Hardy shr544ed. C: may be able to. :3 >ac-ley re4a.ns consc.o5sness and -nows he=s 4o.n4 to d.e2 he may adm.t everyth.n4. : .ntend to see h.m .n the hosp.tal and as- h.m abo5t the Tower robbery.C C:s he 3ar awayEC CAlbany. : expla.ned my m.ss.on to the doctor .n char4e and he prom.sed to telephone me as soon as .t was poss.ble 3or >ac-ley to see anyone.C C<o5 say he 5sed to wor- near hereEC >oe as-ed. CHe was once employed by the ra.lroad2 and he -nows all the co5ntry aro5nd here well. Then he became m.xed 5p .n some the3ts 3rom 3re.4ht cars2 and a3ter he 4ot o5t o3 Da.l2 t5rned pro3ess.onal cr.m.nal. : s5ppose he came bac- here beca5se he .s so 3am.l.ar w.th th.s area.C C: prom.sed to call 7rs. abo5t >ac-leyEC ob.nson2C ,ran- spo-e 5p. C(-ay to tell her
C<es2 .t may cheer her 5p. B5t as- her not to tell anyone.C ,ran- d.aled the n5mber and relayed part o3 h.s 3ather=s story. The acc5sed man=s w.3e was overwhelmed and rel.eved by the news2 b5t prom.sed not to d.v5l4e the .n3ormat.on. >5st as ,ran- 3.n.shed the call2 the doorbell ran4. ,ran- 5shered .n the pr.vate detect.ve (scar *m533. C<o5r pa homeEC he as-ed. C<es. Come .n.C ,ran- led the way .nto the l.v.n4 room. *m5332 altho54h he cons.dered h.msel3 a top-notch sle5th2 stood .n awe o3 ,enton Hardy. He cleared h.s throat nervo5sly. C9ood a3ternoon2 (scar2C sa.d 7r. Hardy pleasantly. C)on=t yo5 s.t downEC /etect.ve *m533 eased h.msel3 .nto an armcha.r2 then 4lanced .nG5.r.n4ly at the two boys. At once 7r. Hardy sa.d2 C+nless yo5r b5s.ness .s very pr.vate2 :=d l.-e to have my sons stay.C C)ell2 : rec-on that=ll be all r.4ht2C *m533 conceded. C: hear yo5=re wor-.n4 on th.s Apple4ate case.C CPerhaps : am.C C<o5=ve been o5t o3 town several days2C *m533 remar-ed cann.ly2 Cso : ded5ced yo5 m5st be wor-.n= on .t.C C1ery clever o3 yo52 /etect.ve *m5332C 7r. Hardy sa.d2 sm.l.n4 at h.s v.s.tor. *m533 sG5.rmed 5neas.ly .n h.s cha.r. C:=m wor-.n= on th.s case too-:=d l.-e to 4et that tho5sand-dollar reward2 b5t :=d share .t w.th yo5. : was D5st wonder.n= .3 yo5=d 3o5nd any cl5es.C

7r. Hardy=s sm.le 3aded. He sa.d2 w.th annoyance2 C:3 : went away2 .t .s my own b5s.ness. And .3 :=m wor-.n4 on the Tower robbery2 that also .s my b5s.ness. <o5=ll have to 3.nd yo5r own cl5es2 (scar.C C)ell2 now2 don=t 4et on yo5r h.4h horse2 7r. Hardy2= the v.s.tor remonstrated. C:=m D5st anx.o5s to 4et th.s a33a.r cleared 5p and : tho54ht we m.4ht wor- to4ether. : heard yo5 were w.th the o33.cers what chased th.s here notor.o5s cr.m.nal ed >ac-ley.C 7r. Hardy 4ave a percept.ble start. He had no .dea that news o3 the capt5re o3 >ac-ley had reached Bayport2 m5ch less that h.s own part.c.pat.on .n the chase had become -nown. The local pol.ce m5st have rece.ved the .n3ormat.on and somehow *m533 had heard the news. C)hat o3 .tEC 7r. Hardy as-ed .n a cas5al way. C/.d >ac-ley have anyth.n4 to do w.th the Tower caseEC CHow sho5ld : -nowEC C)asn=t that what yo5 were wor-.n= onEC CAs :=ve told yo52 that=s my a33a.r.C /etect.ve *m533 loo-ed sad. C: 45ess yo5 D5st don=t want to cooperate w.th me2 7r. Hardy. : was th.n-.n= o3 4o.n= over to the hosp.tal where th.s man >ac-ley .s and G5est.on.n= h.m abo5t the case.C 7r. Hardy=s l.ps narrowed .nto a stra.4ht l.ne. C<o5 can=t do that2 (scar. He .sn=t consc.o5s. The doctor won=t let yo5 see h.m.C C:=m 4o.n= to try. >ac-ley=ll come to some t.me and : want to be on hand. There=s a plane at s.x o=cloc-2 and : a.m to leave my ho5se abo5t 3.ve-th.rty and catch .t.C He th5mped h.s chest .n adm.rat.on. C/etect.ves don=t have to show 5p 3or a plane t.ll the last m.n5te2 eh2 7r. HardyE )ell2 :=ll have a tal- w.th >ac-ley ton.4ht. And : may let yo5 -now what he says.C CHave .t yo5r own way2C sa.d 7r. Hardy. CB5t .3 yo5 ta-e my adv.ce yo5=ll not v.s.t the hosp.tal. <o5=ll D5st spo.l everyth.n4. >ac-ley w.ll tal- when the t.mes comes.C C*o there .s someth.n= .n .tBC *m533 sa.d tr.5mphantly. C)ell2 :=m 4o.n= over there and 4et a con3ess.onBC ).th that he arose2 st5mped o5t o3 the room2 and le3t the ho5se.
CHAPT!
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TeamworA,T! *m533 le3t the ho5se2 7r. Hardy sat bac- w.th a 4est5re o3 despa.r. CThat man2C he sa.d2 Chandles an .nvest.4at.on so cl5ms.ly that ed >ac-ley w.ll close 5p l.-e a clam .3 *m533 mana4es to G5est.on

h.m.C At that moment the telephone ran4. The boys l.stened exc.tedly as 7r. Hardy answered. CHello. . . . (h2 yes2 doctor. ... :s that soE . . . >ac-ley w.ll probably l.ve only 5nt.l morn.n4E ... : can see h.m. . . . ,.ne. . . . Than- yo5. 9ood-by.C The detect.ve p5t bac- the rece.ver and t5rned to the boys. C:=ll ta-e that s.x-o=clocplane to Albany. B5t .3 *m533 4oes too2 .t may r5.n everyth.n4. The Albany pol.ce and : m5st G5est.on >ac-ley 3.rst.C C)hen=s the next commerc.al 3l.4ht a3ter s.xEC >oe as-ed. C*even o=cloc-.C CThen2C sa.d ,ran-2 C*m533 can ta-e that one and G5est.on >ac-ley later. Come on2 >oe. ;et=s see what we can do to help /adBC C/on=t yo5 boys do anyth.n4 rash2C the.r 3ather warned. C)e won=t.C ,ran- led the way o5tdoors and started wal-.n4 down the street. C)hat=s on yo5r m.ndEC >oe as-ed as they B reached the corner. C)e m5st 3.45re o5t how to -eep /etect.ve *m533 .n Bayport 5nt.l seven o=cloc-.C CB5t howEC C: don=t -now yet2 b5t we=ll 3.nd a way. )e can=t have h.m b5rst.n4 .nto that hosp.tal room and spo.l.n4 the chance o3 /ad=s 4ett.n4 a con3ess.on. *m533 m.4ht r5.n th.n4s so the case w.ll never be solved.C C<o5=re r.4ht.C The brothers wal-ed alon4 the street .n s.lence. They real.?ed that the s.t5at.on was 5r4ent. B5t tho54h they rac-ed the.r bra.ns try.n4 to th.n- o3 a way to prevent /etect.ve *m533 3rom catch.n4 the s.x-o=clocplane2 .t seemed hopeless. C;et=s ro5nd 5p o5r 4an42C >oe s544ested 3.nally. CPerhaps they=ll have some .deas.C The Hardys 3o5nd the.r 3r.ends on the tenn.s co5rts o3 Bayport H.4h. CH.2 3ellowsBC called Chet 7orton when he saw ,ran- and >oe approach.n4. C<o5=re too late 3or a 4ame. )here=ve yo5 beenEC C)e had someth.n4 .mportant to do2C ,ran- repl.ed. C*ay2 we need yo5r help.C C)hat=s the matterEC as-ed Tony Pr.to.

C(scar *m533 .s try.n4 to w.n that tho5sand-dollar reward and 4et h.msel3 on the Bayport pol.ce 3orce by .nter3er.n4 .n one o3 /ad=s cases2C ,ranexpla.ned. C)e can=t tell yo5 m5ch more than that. B5t the ma.n th.n4 .s2 we want to -eep h.m 3rom catch.n4 the s.x-o=clocplane. )e-er- don=t want h.m to 4o 5nt.l seven.C C)hat do yo5 want 5s to doEC B.ll Hooper as-ed. CHelp 5s 3.45re o5t how to -eep *m533 .n Bay-port 5nt.l seven o=cloc-.C C).tho5t hav.n4 Ch.e3 Coll.4 loc- 5s 5pEC >erry 9.lroy p5t .n. CAre yo5 ser.o5s abo5t th.s2 ,ran-EC CAbsol5tely. :3 *m533 4ets to a certa.n place be3ore /ad can2 the case w.ll be r5.ned. And : don=t m.nd tell.n4 yo5 that .t has someth.n4 to do w.th *l.m ob.nson.C Chet 7orton wh.stled. C(h2 hoB : catch on. The Tower b5s.ness. :3 that=s .t2 we=ll ma-e s5re the s.x-o=clocplane leaves here w.tho5t that n5tty detect.ve.C Chet had a spec.al d.sl.-e 3or *m5332 beca5se the man had once reported h.m 3or sw.mm.n4 .n the bay a3ter ho5rs. C*o o5r problem2C sa.d Ph.l solemnly2 C.s to -eep *m533 here and -eep o5t o3 tro5ble o5rselves.C C .4ht.C C)ell2C >erry 9.lroy sa.d2 Clet=s p5t o5r heads to4ether2 3ellows2 and wor- o5t a plan.C A do?en .deas were p5t 3orth2 each w.lder than the one be3ore. B.33 Hooper2 w.th a w.de 4r.n2 went so 3ar as to propose -.dnap.n4 *m5332 b.nd.n4 h.m hand and 3oot2 and sett.n4 h.m adr.3t .n the bay .n an open boat. C)e co5ld resc5e h.m later2C he sa.d. The proposal was so r.d.c5lo5s that the others howled w.th la54hter. Ph.l Cohen s544ested sett.n4 the detect.ve=s watch bac- an ho5r. That plan2 as ,ran- observed2 was a 4ood one except 3or the m.nor d.33.c5lty o3 lay.n4 hands on the watch. C)e m.4ht send h.m a warn.n4 not to ta-e a plane be3ore seven o=cloc-2C Tony Pr.to sa.d2 Cand s.4n .t w.th a s-5ll and crossbones.C CThat=s a -een .dealC Chet cr.ed enth5s.ast.cally. C;et=s do .tBC C)a.t a m.n5te2 3ellows2C ,ran- spo-e 5p. C:3 *m533 ever 3o5nd o5t who wrote .t2 we=d be 5p to o5r nec-s .n tro5ble. )e co5ld all be arrestedBC C: -nowBC >oe cr.ed s5ddenly2 snapp.n4 h.s 3.n4ers. C)hy d.dn=t : th.no3 .t be3oreE And .t=s so s.mple2 too.C C)ell2 tell 5sBC ,ran- 5r4ed. >oe expla.ned that every once .n a wh.le he and ,ran- went down to occo=s 3r5.t store to act as cler-s wh.le the owner went home to

s5pper. He stayed open even.n4s 5nt.l n.ne. C occo=s .s only a bloc- 3rom *m533=s ho5se. *m533 -nows ,ran- and : 4o there2 so he wo5ldn=t be s5rpr.sed to see 5s .n the ne.4hborhood. : s544est that the b5nch o3 5s meet cas5ally down near the store and one boy a3ter another stop *m533 to tal-. 7aybe we can even 4et h.m .nto the shop. <o5 -now *m533 loves to eat.C C<o5 can=t hate h.m 3or that2C Chet spo-e 5p. C:=ll be 4lad to .nv.te h.m .n and b5y h.m an apple 3or h.s tr.p.C CA 3.3teen-m.n5te delay 3or *m533 .s all we need2C ,ransa.d. C: th.n- .t=s a swell .dea2C B.33 spo-e 5p. CAnd :=m s5re 7r. w.ll co-operate.C C)ho=s 4o.n4 to pers5ade h.mEC Ph.l as-ed. CThat=s ,ran- and >oe=s department2C >erry repl.ed. occo was a hard-wor-.n4 man who had come 3rom :taly only a 3ew years a4o. He was a s.mple2 4en.al person and had 4reat adm.rat.on 3or the Hardy boys. The whole 4ro5p made the.r way toward the 3r5.t store2 b5t only the Hardys went .ns.de. The others spread o5t to watch 3or *m5332 who was expected to leave h.s ho5se soon. !ach boy went over h.s part .n the plan. )hen ,ran- and >oe wal-ed .nto the 3r5.t store2 they 3o5nd the dar-eyed occo sort.n4 oran4es. CB5ona seraC he sa.d. C9ood even.n4. How yo5 l.-e my 3.x the placeEC C;oo-s swell2C ,ran- answered. CAew b.ns. Better l.4hts.C Then he added2 CHow does yo5r ne.4hbor *m533 l.-e .tEC occo threw 5p h.s hands .n a 4est5re o3 d.s45st. C(h2 that manB He ma-e me mad. He say : char4e too m5ch. He tell me : o54ht to 4o bac- to old co5ntry.C C/on=t pay any attent.on to h.m2C >oe adv.sed. C*ay2 7r. occo2C he went on2 Cyo5 loo- t.red. )hy don=t yo5 4o home 3or an ho5r or so and let ,ran- and me ta-e over hereEC C<o5 th.n- : loo- t.redE That worry my w.3e. Then osa say : m5st close 5p early.C occo s.4hed. C<o5 very -.nd boys. : do what yo5 say. Come bac- s.x-th.rty.C As occo removed h.s apron2 he sa.d2 C: 3.x trash .n yard to b5rn. <o5 do thatEC C9lad to.C occo showed them a w.re .nc.nerator .n the yard2 then le3t the store. ,.ve m.n5tes later there was a wh.stle 3rom the street. A s.4nal 3rom >erry : ,ran- and >oe went to the 3ront door to watch. *m533 was D5st bac-.n4 h.s car o5t o3 the dr.veway. As prearran4ed2 Ph.l h5rr.ed over occo

and stopped h.m. The detect.ve and the boy apparently 4ot .nto an ar45ment2 b5t .t d.d not last lon4 eno54h to sat.s3y ,ran- and >oe. The conversat.on tooless than two m.n5tes2 then *m533 bac-ed aro5nd .nto the street. CHey2 ,ran-2C sa.d >oe2 C: have an .dea. 9o l.4ht that trash. 7a-e .t a roar.n4 3.reBC ).tho5t 35rther explanat.on he dashed .nto the street2 b5t ,ran3.45red o5t what was .n h.s brother=s m.nd. He dashed thro54h the store and .nto the yard. F5.c-ly he l.4hted the papers .n the .nc.nerator .n several places. The r5bb.sh bla?ed l5st.ly. >oe was .ntently watch.n4 the scene down the street. *m533 was now be.n4 C.nterv.ewedC by B.332 and Chet came 3orward to 5r4e *m533 to ta-e some 3r5.t w.th h.m on h.s tr.p. The detect.ve hes.tated2 then shoo- h.s head and started o33 .n h.s car. (nly 3.ve o3 the necessary 3.3teen-m.n5te delay had elapsed : >oe hes.tated no lon4er. 5nn.n4 down the street2 he held 5p one hand 3or the oncom.n4 car to stop. CCome G5.c-2 *m533BC he called o5t CThere=s a 3.re bac- o3 occo=sBC
C)ell2 yo5 p5t .t o5t. :=m .n a h5rryBC the detect.ve told the boy tartly. C<o5 mean yo5=d let all o3 Bayport b5rn down D5st beca5se yo5=re .n a h5rryEC >oe pretended to sco33. *m533 w.nced2 b5t st.ll d.d not move. >oe sa.d2 start.n4 bac- to the store2 C)ell2 ,ran- and : w.ll have to ta-e care o3 .t alone.C Th.s bro54ht the detect.ve to act.on. He real.?ed he m.4ht be m.ss.n4 a chance to become a heroB :n a 3lash he drove h.s car down the street and par-ed .n 3ront o3 the 3r5.t store. C)here=s the 3.reEC *m533 cr.ed o5t2 nearly b5mp.n4 .nto ,ran- who was dash.n4 3rom the 3ront door o3 occo=s. CThe 3.re-.s-bac- there-.n the yard.C ,ran- pretended to pant. C<o5 4o loo- and see .3 we o54ht to t5rn .n an alarm.C *m533 dashed .ns.de the store and h5rr.ed to the yard. By th.s t.me the Hardys= 3r.ends had 4athered .n occo=s 3r5.t store. They as-ed exc.tedly what was 4o.n4 on. C,ran-B >oeBC yelled *m533 3rom the rear o3 the store. C)here=s )here=s a pa.lE )here=s some waterEC occoE
CHAPT!
":1
The Con3ess.on

C occo=s not aro5nd2C >oe repl.ed to *m533. CThere=s water .n the s.n-.n the bac-. *hall : call the 3.re departmentEC CAo2 : can mana4e th.s2C *m533 declared. CB5t where=s a pa.lEC ,ran- dashed .nto the bac- room and 3o5nd a pa.l 5nder the s.n-. He 3.lled .t w.th water and handed the pa.l to *m5332 who h5rr.ed to the yard. He do5sed the .nc.nerator 3lames wh.ch h.ssed and crac-led2 then d.ed. C*ome people have no sense2C *m533 commented. CThe .dea o3 anyone start.n4 a 3.re2 then 4o.n4 o33 and leav.n4 .tB :=ll bet that was occo=s wor-B As 3or yo5 boys-yo5 had to call me. /.dn=t have the savvy to p5t o5t a s.mple 3.re.C C9ood th.n4 yo5 were aro5nd2C ,ran- observed2 s5ppress.n4 a sm.le. C:=ll say .t was2C *m533 a4reed. CAnd Ch.e3 Coll.4 .s s5re 4o.n= to hear abo5t th.s.C C(h2 please don=t tell h.m abo5t 5s2C >oe spo-e 5p2 hal3 clos.n4 h.s eyes so *m533 co5ld not see the tw.n-le .n them. C: d.dn=t mean that. (scar *m533 .s no sG5ealer. : mean Coll.4 .s 4o.n= to hear what : d.d.C The detect.ve ch5c-led. C(ne more notch .n my 45n2 as the cowboys say.C *5ddenly *m533 sobered and loo-ed at h.s wr.st watch. C(h2 noBC he cr.ed o5t. CTen m.n5tes to s.xB : can=t ma-e my planeBC CThat=s a shame2C ,ransa.d consol.n4ly. CB5t cheer 5p2 *m5332 there=s a seven-o=clocplane 3or Albany. : w.sh yo5 l5c- .n yo5r .nterv.ew.C *m533 stormed o5t o3 the 3r5.t store and d.sappeared w.th h.s car. The Hardys and the.r 3r.ends b5rst .nto roars o3 la54hter wh.ch d.d not stop 5nt.l a woman c5stomer came .nto the shop. All the boys b5t ,ranand >oe le3t. occo ret5rned at s.x-th.rty2 pleased that so m5ch 3r5.t had been sold d5r.n4 h.s absence. C<o5 better salesman than occo.C He 4r.nned w.dely. The Hardys went home2 well-sat.s3.ed w.th the.r day=s wor-. The s.xo=clocplane had le3t w.tho5t *m533. The.r 3ather co5ld ma-e h.s tr.p to the hosp.tal w.tho5t the annoy.n4 detect.ve=s .nter3erence. ,enton Hardy d.d not ret5rn home 5nt.l the next a3ternoon. )hen the boys came 3rom school they 3o5nd h.m .n h.4h sp.r.ts. C*olved the mysteryEC >oe as-ed ea4erly. CPract.cally. ,.rst o3 all2 >ac-ley .s dead.C C/.d he con3essEC C<o5=re not very sympathet.c toward the poor 3ellow2 >oe. <es2 he con3essed. ,ort5nately2 (scar *m533 d.dn=t show 5p wh.le >ac-ley was tal-.n4.C

,ran- and >oe 4lanced at each other and the.r 3ather sm.led G5.etly. C: have an .dea2C he sa.d2 Cthat yo5 two sle5ths -now more abo5t th.s *m533 b5s.ness than yo5 wo5ld care to tell. )ell2 anyhow2 the Albany pol.ce and : had a clear 3.eld. : saw >ac-ley be3ore he d.ed and G5est.oned h.m abo5t the Tower robbery.C C/.d he adm.t everyth.n4EC C>ac-ley sa.d he came to Bayport w.th the .ntent.on o3 robbery. He stole a car2 smashed .t 5p2 and too- Chet=s. Then he went to rob the t.c-et o33.ce. )hen he 3a.led .n that he dec.ded to han4 aro5nd town 3or a 3ew days. He h.t 5pon Tower 7ans.on as h.s next e33ort. >ac-ley entered the l.brary w.th 4loves on2 opened the sa3e2 and too- o5t the Dewelry and sec5r.t.es.C C)hat d.d he do w.th the lootEC CThat=s what :=m com.n4 to. :t was not 5nt.l >ac-ley -new he was at the po.nt o3 death that he d.d con3ess to the Tower a33a.r. Then he sa.d2 =<es2 : too- the st533-b5t : d.dn=t dare try sell.n4 any o3 .t r.4ht away2 so : h.d .t. <o5 can 4et all the st533 bac- eas.ly. :t=s .n the old tower-= CThat was all he sa.d. >ac-ley lost consc.o5sness then and never re4a.ned .t.C C)hen d.d *m533 4et thereEC >oe as-ed ea4erly. CAot 5nt.l a3ter >ac-ley had 4one .nto a coma2C 7r. Hardy repl.ed. C)e both sat by h.s bed2 hop.n4 the man wo5ld awa-en2 b5t he d.ed w.th.n an ho5r. >5st where >ac-ley h.d the loot .n the old tower2 he was never able to say.C C/oes *m533 -now what >ac-ley sa.dEC CAo.C C:3 the loot=s h.dden .n the old Apple4ate tower2 we=ll 3.nd .t .n no t.meBC ,ranexcla.med. CTower 7ans.on has two towers-the old and the new2C >oe rem.nded h.m. C)e=ll search the old tower 3.rst.C CThe story seems l.-ely eno54h2C 7r. Hardy remar-ed. C>ac-ley wo5ld 4a.n noth.n4 by ly.n4 abo5t .t on h.s deathbed. He probably became pan.c-y a3ter he comm.tted the robbery and h.d .n the old tower 5nt.l he was able to 4et away sa3ely. Ao do5bt he dec.ded to h.de the st533 there and ta-e a chance on com.n4 bac- 3or .t some t.me a3ter the a33a.r had blown over.C >oe nodded. CThat was why >ac-ley co5ldn=t be traced thro54h the Dewels and the bonds. They were never d.sposed o3-they=ve been ly.n4 .n the old tower all th.s t.meBC C: tr.ed to 4et h.m to tell me .n D5st what part o3 the tower the loot was h.dden2C 7r. Hardy cont.n5ed2 Cb5t he d.ed be3ore he co5ld say any more.C CToo bad2C sa.d ,ran-. CB5t .t sho5ldn=t be hard to 3.nd the loot2 now

that we have a 4eneral .dea where .t .s. Probably >ac-ley d.dn=t h.de .t very care35lly. *.nce the old tower has been 5nocc5p.ed 3or a lon4 t.me2 the st533 wo5ld be sa3e there 3rom snoopers.C >oe D5mped 5p 3rom h.s cha.r. C: th.n- we o54ht to 4et b5sy and 4o search the old tower r.4ht away. (h2 boyB 7aybe we can hand old 7r. Apple4ate h.s Dewels and bonds th.s a3ternoon and clear 7r. ob.nsonB ;et=s 4oBC C:=ll leave .t to yo5 boys to ma-e the search2C sa.d 7r. Hardy w.th a sm.le. CThen yo5 can have the sat.s3act.on o3 t5rn.n4 over the stolen property to 7r. Apple4ate. : 45ess yo5 can 4et alon4 w.tho5t me .n th.s case 3rom now on.C C)e wo5ldn=t have 4ot very 3ar .3 .t hadn=t been 3or yo52C ,randeclared. CAnd : wo5ldn=t have 4ot very 3ar .3 .t hadn=t been 3or yo52 so we=re even.C 7r. Hardy=s sm.le broadened. C)ell2 4ood l5c- to yo5.C As the boys started 3rom the st5dy2 ,ransa.d2 CThan-s2 /ad. : only hope the Apple4ates don=t throw 5s o5t when we as- to be allowed to loo- aro5nd .ns.de the old tower.C C>5st tell them2C h.s 3ather adv.sed2 Cthat yo5 have a pretty 4ood cl5e to where the bonds and Dewels are h.dden and they=ll let yo5 search.C >oe 4r.nned. C,ran-2 we=ll have that tho5sand-dollar reward be3ore the day .s overBC The brothers raced 3rom the ho5se2 con3.dent that they were abo5t to solve the Tower Treas5re mystery.
CHAPT!
"1
The Tower *earch )H!A the Hardy boys reached Tower 7ans.on at 3o5r o=cloc- the door was opened by H5rd Apple-4ate h.msel3. The tall2 stooped 4entleman peered at them thro54h h.s th.c--lensed 4lasses. :n one hand he held a sheet o3 stamps. C<esEC he sa.d2 seem.n4ly annoyed at be.n4 d.st5rbed. C<o5 remember 5s2 don=t yo5EC ,ranas-ed pol.tely. C)e=re 7r. Hardy=s sons.C C,enton Hardy2 the detect.veE (h2 yes. )ell2 what do yo5 wantEC C)e=d l.-e to loo- thro54h the old tower2 .3 yo5 don=t m.nd. )e have a cl5e abo5t the robbery.C C)hat -.nd o3 cl5eEC

C)e have ev.dence that leads 5s to bel.eve the Dewels and bonds were h.dden by the th.e3 .n the old tower.C C(hB <o5 have ev.dence2 have yo5EC The elderly man peered at the boys closely. C:t=s that rascal ob.nson2 :=ll warrant2 who 4ave .t to yo5. He h.d the st5332 and now he=s s544est.n4 where yo5 m.4ht 3.nd .t2 D5st to clear h.msel3.C ,ran- and >oe had not cons.dered the a33a.r .n th.s l.4ht2 and they 4a?ed at 7r. Apple4ate .n consternat.on. At last >oe spo-e 5p. C7r. ob.nson has noth.n4 to do w.th th.s2C he sa.d. CThe real th.e3 was 3o5nd. He sa.d the loot was h.dden .n the old tower. :3 yo5 w.ll D5st let 5s ta-e a loo- aro5nd2 we=ll 3.nd .t 3or yo5.C C)ho was the real th.e3EC C)e=d rather not tell yo52 s.r2 5nt.l we 3.nd the stolen property2 then we=ll reveal the whole story.C 7r. Apple4ate too- o33 h.s 4lasses and w.ped them w.th h.s hand-erch.e3. He stared at the boys s5sp.c.o5sly 3or a 3ew moments. Then he called o5t: CAdel.aBC ,rom the d.m .nter.or o3 the hallway a h.4h 3em.n.ne vo.ce answered. C)hat do yo5 wantEC CCome here a m.n5te.C There was a r5stle o3 s-.rts2 and Adel.a Apple4ate appeared. A 3aded blond woman o3 th.n 3eat5res2 she was dressed .n a 3ash.on o3 3.3teen years be3ore2 .n wh.ch every color o3 the spectr5m 3o54ht 3or s5premacy. C)hat=s the matterEC she demanded. C: can=t s.t down to do a b.t o3 sew.n4 w.tho5t yo5 .nterr5pt.n4 me2 H5rd.C CThese boys want to loo- thro54h the old tower.C C)hat 3orE +p to some m.sch.e3EC ,ran- and >oe 3eared she wo5ld not 4.ve her consent. ,ransa.d G5.etly2 C)e=re do.n4 some wor- 3or o5r dad2 the detect.ve ,enton Hardy.C CThey th.n- they can 3.nd the bonds and Dewels .n the tower2C H5rd Apple4ate expla.ned. C(h2 they do2 do theyEC the woman sa.d .c.ly. CAnd what wo5ld the bonds and Dewels be do.n4 .n the old towerEC C)e have ev.dence that they were h.dden there a3ter the robbery2C ,rantold her.

7.ss Apple4ate v.ewed the boys w.th obv.o5s s5sp.c.on. CAs .3 any th.e3 wo5ld be s.lly eno54h to h.de them r.4ht .n the ho5se he robbedBC she sa.d .n a tone o3 3.nal.ty. C)e=re D5st try.n4 to help yo52C >oe p5t .n co5rteo5sly. C9o ahead2 then2C sa.d 7.ss Apple4ate w.th a s.4h. CB5t even .3 yo5 tear the old tower to p.eces2 yo5 won=t 3.nd anyth.n4. :t=s all 3ool.shness.C ,ran- and >oe 3ollowed H5rd Apple4ate thro54h the 4loomy halls and corr.dors that led toward the old tower. He sa.d he was .ncl.ned to share h.s s.ster=s op.n.on that the boys= search wo5ld be .n va.n. C)e=ll ma-e a try at .t2 anyway2 7r. Apple4ate2C ,ransa.d. C/on=t as- me to help yo5. :=ve 4ot a bad -nee. Anyway2 : D5st rece.ved some new stamps th.s a3ternoon. <o5 .nterr5pted me when : was sort.n4 them. : m5st 4et bac- to my wor-.C The man reached a corr.dor that was heav.ly covered w.th d5st. :t apparently had not been .n 5se 3or a lon4 t.me and was bare and 5n35rn.shed. At the end was a heavy door. :t was 5nloc-ed2 and when 7r. Apple4ate opened .t2 the boys saw a sG5are room. Almost .n the center o3 .t rose a 3l.4ht o3 wooden sta.rs w.th a heav.ly ornamented bal5strade. The sta.rway tw.sted and t5rned to the roo32 3.ve 3loors above. (pen.n4 3rom each 3loor was a room. CThere yo5 are2C 7r. Apple4ate anno5nced. C*earch all yo5 want to. B5t yo5 won=t 3.nd anyth.n4-o3 that :=m certa.n.C ).th th.s part.n4 remar- he t5rned and hobbled bac- alon4 the corr.dor2 the sheet o3 stamps st.ll .n h.s 4narled hand. The Hardy boys loo-ed at each other. CAot very enco5ra4.n42 .s heEC >oe remar-ed. CHe doesn=t deserve to 4et h.s st533 bac-2C ,randeclared 3latly2 then shr544ed. C;et=s 4et 5p .nto the tower and start the search.C ,ran- and >oe 3.rst exam.ned the d5sty sta.rs care35lly 3or 3ootpr.nts2 b5t none were to be seen. CThat seems G5eer2C ,ranremar-ed. C:3 >ac-ley was here recently yo5=d th.n- h.s 3ootpr.nts wo5ld st.ll show. >5d4.n4 by th.s d5st2 there hasn=t been anyone .n the tower 3or at least a year.C CPerhaps the d5st collects more G5.c-ly than we th.n-2C >oe co5ntered. C(r the w.nd may 4et .n here and blow .t aro5nd.C An .nspect.on o3 the 3.rst 3loor o3 the old tower revealed that there was no place where the loot co5ld have been h.dden except 5nder the sta.rs. B5t they 3o5nd noth.n4 there. The boys ascended to the next 3loor2 and entered the room to the le3t o3 the sta.r well. :t was as drab and bare as the one they had D5st le3t. Here a4a.n the d5st lay th.c- and the m5r-y w.ndows were almost

obsc5red w.th cobwebs. There was an atmosphere o3 a4e and decay abo5t the ent.re place2 as .3 .t had been abandoned 3or years. CAoth.n4 here2C sa.d ,ran- a3ter a G5.c- 4lance aro5nd. C(n we 4o.C They made the.r way 5p to the next 3loor. A3ter search.n4 th.s room and 5nder the sta.rway2 they had to adm.t de3eat. The 3loor above was a d5pl.cate o3 the 3.rst and second. :t was bare and cheerless2 deep .n d5st. There was not the sl.4htest s.4n o3 a h.d.n4 place2 or any .nd.cat.on that another h5man be.n4 had been .n the tower 3or a lon4 t.me. C/oesn=t loo- very prom.s.n42 >oe. *t.ll2 >ac-ley may have 4one r.4ht to the top o3 the tower.C The search cont.n5ed w.tho5t s5ccess 5nt.l the boys reached the roo3. Here a trap door wh.ch sw5n4 .nward led to the top o3 the tower. ,ran- 5nlatched .t and p5lled on the door. :t d.d not b5d4e. C:=ll help yo52C >oe o33ered. To4ether the brothers yan-ed on the st5bborn trap door o3 the old tower. *5ddenly .t 4ave way completely2 ca5s.n4 both boys to lose the.r balance. ,ran- 3ell bac-ward down the sta.rway. >oe2 w.th a cry2 toppled over the ra.l.n4 .nto spaceB ,ran- 4rabbed a sp.ndle o3 the bal5strade and -ept h.msel3 3rom sl.d.n4 3arther down the steps. He had seen >oe=s pl5n4e and expected the next moment to hear a s.c-en.n4 th5d on the 3loor 3.ve stor.es below. C>oeBC he m5rm5red as he p5lled h.msel3 5pr.4ht. C(h2 >oeBC To ,ran-=s ama?ement2 he heard no th5d and now loo-ed over the bal5strade. H.s brother was not ly.n4 5nconsc.o5s at the bottom o3 the tower. :nstead2 he was cl.n4.n4 to two sp.ndles o3 the sta.rway on the 3loor below. ,ran-2 heav.n4 a tremendo5s s.4h o3 rel.e32 ran down and helped p5ll >oe to the sa3ety o3 the steps. Both boys sat down to catch the.r breaths and recover 3rom the.r 3alls. ,.nally >oe sa.d2 CThan-s. ,or a second : s5re tho54ht : was 4o.n4 to end my career as a detect.ve r.4ht hereBC C: 45ess yo5 can also than- o5r 4ym teacher 3or the tr.c-s he ta54ht yo5 on the bars2C ,ranremar-ed. C<o5 m5st have 4rabbed those sp.ndles w.th 3lash-camera speed.C Presently the boys t5rned the.r eyes 5pward. An express.on hal3way between a 4r.n and a worr.ed 3rown crossed the.r 3aces. C7r. Apple4ate2C >oe remar-ed2 C.sn=t 4o.n4 to l.-e hear.n4 we r5.ned h.s trap door.C CAo. ;et=s see .3 we can p5t .t bac- .n place.C

The boys cl.mbed the sta.rway and exam.ned the dama4e. They 3o5nd that the h.n4es had p5lled away 3rom rotted wood. A new p.ece wo5ld have to be p5t .n to hold the door .n place. CBe3ore we 4o downsta.rs2C sa.d >oe2 Clet=s loo- o5t on the roo3. )e tho54ht maybe the loot was h.dden there. ememberEC ,ran- and >oe cl.mbed o5ts.de to a narrow2 ra.l.n4ed wal- that ran aro5nd the 3o5r s.des o3 the sG5are tower. There was noth.n4 on .t. C(5r only reward 3or all th.s wor- .s a 4ood v.ew o3 Bayport2C ,ranremar-ed r5e35lly. Below lay the b5stl.n4 l.ttle c.ty2 and to the east was Barmet Bay2 .ts waters spar-l.n4 .n the late a3ternoon. C/ad was 3ooled by >ac-ley2 : 45ess2C ,ransa.d slowly. CThere hasn=t been anyone .n th.s tower 3or years.C The boys 4a?ed mood.ly over the c.ty2 then down at the 4ro5nds o3 Tower 7ans.on. The many roo3s o3 the ho5se .tsel3 were 3ar below2 and d.rectly across 3rom them rose the heavy b5l- o3 the new tower. C/o yo5 th.n- >ac-ley m.4ht have meant the new towerEC >oe excla.med s5ddenly. C/ad sa.d he spec.3.ed the old one.C CB5t he may have been m.sta-en. !ven the new one loo-s old. ;et=s as7r. Apple4ate .3 we may search the new tower2 too.C C:t=s worth try.n42 anyway. B5t :=m a3ra.d when we tell h.m abo5t the trap door2 he=ll say no.C The brothers went down thro54h the open.n4. They l.3ted the door .nto place2 latched .t2 and then wed4ed ,ran-=s small poc-et noteboo- .nto the dama4ed s.de. The door held2 b5t ,ran- and >oe -new that w.nd or ra.n wo5ld eas.ly d.slod4e .t. The boys h5rr.ed down the steps and thro54h the corr.dor to the ma.n part o3 the ho5se. Adel.a Apple4ate popped her head o5t o3 a doorway. C)here=s the lootEC she as-ed. C)e d.dn=t 3.nd any2C ,ran- adm.tted. The woman sn.33ed. C: told yo5 soB *5ch a waste o3 t.meBC C)e th.n- now2C >oe spo-e 5p2 Cthat the stolen property .s probably h.dden .n the new tower.C C:n the new towerBC 7.ss Apple4ate cr.ed o5t. CAbs5rdB : s5ppose yo5=ll want to 4o po-.n4 thro54h there now.C C:3 .t wo5ldn=t be too m5ch tro5ble.C

C:t wo5ld be too m5ch tro5ble2 .ndeedBC she shr.lled. C: shan=t have boys r5mma4.n4 thro54h my ho5se on a w.ld-4oose chase l.-e th.s. <o5=d better leave at once2 and 3or4et all th.s nonsense.C Her vo.ce had attracted the attent.on o3 H5rd Apple4ate2 who came hobbl.n4 o5t o3 h.s st5dy. CAow what=s the matterEC he demanded. H.s s.ster told h.m and s5ddenly h.s 3ace creased .n a tr.5mphant sm.le. CAhaB *o yo5 d.dn=t 3.nd anyth.n4 a3ter allB <o5 tho54ht yo5=d clear ob.nson2 b5t yo5 haven=t done .t.C CAot yet2C ,ran- answered. CThese boys have the a5dac.ty2C 7.ss Apple4ate bro-e .n2 Cto want to 4o loo-.n4 thro54h the new tower.C H5rd Apple4ate stared at the boys. C)ell2 they can=t do .tBC he snapped. CAre yo5 boys try.n4 to ma-e a 3ool o3 meEC he as-ed2 sha-.n4 a 3.st at them. ,ran- and >oe exchan4ed 4lances and nodded at each other. They wo5ld have to reveal the.r reason 3or th.n-.n4 the loot was .n the new tower. C7r. Apple4ate2C ,ran- be4an2 Cthe .n3ormat.on abo5t where yo5r stolen st533 .s h.dden came 3rom the man who too- the Dewels and the bonds. And .t wasn=t 7r. ob.nson.C C)hatB <o5 mean .t was someone elseE Has he been ca54htEC CHe was capt5red b5t he=s dead now.C C/eadE )hat happenedEC H5rd Apple4ate as-ed .n exc.tement. CH.s name was ed >ac-ley and he was a notor.o5s cr.m.nal. /ad 4ot on h.s tra.l and >ac-ley tr.ed to escape on a ra.lroad handcar. :t smashed 5p and he was 3atally .nD5red2C ,ranexpla.ned. C)here d.d yo5 4et yo5r .n3ormat.on thenEC 7r. Apple4ate as-ed. ,rantold the whole story2 end.n4 w.th2 C)e tho54ht >ac-ley m.4ht have made a m.sta-e and that .t=s the new tower where he h.d the loot.C H5rd Apple4ate r5bbed h.s ch.n med.tat.vely. :t was ev.dent that he was .mpressed by the boys= story. C*o th.s 3ellow >ac-ley con3essed to the robbery2 ehEC CHe adm.tted everyth.n4. He had once wor-ed aro5nd here and -new the Bayport area well. He had been han4.n4 aro5nd the c.ty 3or several days be3ore the robbery.C C)ell2C Apple4ate sa.d slowly2 C.3 he sa.d he h.d the st533 .n the old tower and .t=s not there2 .t m5st be .n the new tower2 as yo5 say.C C).ll yo5 let 5s search .tEC >oe as-ed ea4erly.

C<es2 and :=ll help. :=m D5st as ea4er to 3.nd the Dewels and bonds as yo5 are. Come on2 boysBC H5rd Apple4ate led the way across the mans.on toward a door wh.ch opened .nto the new tower. Aow that the man was .n a 4ood mood2 ,randec.ded that th.s was an opport5ne t.me to tell h.m abo5t the trap door. He d.d so2 o33er.n4 to pay 3or the repa.r. C(h2 that=s all r.4ht2C sa.d 7r. Apple4ate. C:=ll have .t 3.xed. :n 3act2 ob.nson- (h2 : 3or4ot. :=ll 4et a carpenter.C He sa.d no more2 b5t G5.c-ened h.s steps. ,ran- and >oe 4r.nned. (ld 7r. Apple4ate had not even repr.manded themB The mans.on owner opened the door to the new tower and stepped .nto a corr.dor. ,ran- and >oe2 t.n4l.n4 w.th exc.tement2 3ollowed.
CHAPT!
"1:
A *5rpr.se TH! rooms .n the new tower had been 35rn.shed when .t was b5.lt. B5t only on rare occas.ons when the Apple4ates had v.s.tors were the rooms occ5p.ed2 the owner stated. :n the 3.rst one ,ran-2 >oe2 and 7r. Apple4ate 3o5nd noth.n42 altho54h they loo-ed care35lly .n closets2 b5rea5s2 h.4hboys2 and 5nder the lar4e p.eces o3 35rn.t5re. They even t5rned 5p mattresses and r54s. )hen they were sat.s3.ed that the loot had not been h.dden there2 they ascended the sta.rs to the room above. A4a.n the.r .nvest.4at.on proved 3r5.tless. H5rd Apple4ate2 be.n4 a G5.c--tempered man2 3ell bac- .nto h.s old mood. The boys= story had conv.nced h.m2 b5t when they had searched the rooms .n the tower w.tho5t s5ccess2 he showed h.s d.s45st. C:t=s a hoaxBC he snorted. CAdel.a was r.4ht. :=ve been made a 3ool o3B And all beca5se o3 ob.nsonBC C: can=t 5nderstand .tBC >oe b5rst o5t. C>ac-ley sa.d he h.d the st533 .n the tower.C C:3 that 3ellow d.d h.de the Dewels and bonds .n one o3 the towers2C Apple4ate s5rm.sed2 Csomeone else m5st have come .n and ta-en themmaybe someone wor-.n4 w.th h.m. (r else ob.nson 3o5nd the loot r.4ht a3ter the robbery and -ept .t 3or h.msel3.C C:=m s5re 7r. ob.nson wo5ldn=t do that2C >oe obDected. ob.nson
CThen where d.d he 4et the n.ne h5ndred dollarsE !xpla.n that. won=tBC (n the way bac- to the ma.n part o3 the mans.on2 H5rd Apple4ate

elaborated on h.s theory. The 3act that the loot had not been 3o5nd seemed to conv.nce h.m all over a4a.n that ob.nson was .nvolved .n some way. C;.-e as not he was .n lea45e w.th >ac-leyBC the man stated 3latly. A4a.n ,ran- and >oe protested that the ex-careta-er d.d not hobnob w.th cr.m.nals. Aevertheless2 the Hardys were p5??led2 d.sappo.nted2 and alarmed. The.r search had only res5lted .n .mpl.cat.n4 7r. ob.nson more deeply .n the mystery. Bac- .n the hallway o3 the ma.n ho5se they met Adel.a Apple4ate2 who crowed tr.5mphantly when she saw the search party ret5rn.n4 emptyhanded. C/.dn=t : tell yo5EC she cr.ed. CH5rd Apple4ate2 yo5=ve let these boys ma-e a 3ool o3 yo5BC *he escorted the Hardys to the 3ront door2 wh.le her brother2 sha-.n4 h.s head perplexedly2 went bac- to h.s st5dy. C)e s5re messed th.n4s 5p2 ,ran-2C >oe declared2 as they wal-ed toward the.r motorcycles. C: 3eel l.-e a d5d roc-et.C C7e too.C They h5rr.ed home to tell the.r 3ather the d.sappo.nt.n4 news. ,enton Hardy was ama?ed to hear that the stolen val5ables had not been located .n e.ther tower. C<o5=re s5re yo5 went over the place thoro54hlyEC C!very .nch o3 .t. There wasn=t a s.4n o3 the loot. ,rom the d5st .n the old tower2 :=d say no one had been there 3or a4es2C ,ran- repl.ed. C*tran4e2C the detect.ve m5ttered. C:=m s5re >ac-ley wasn=t ly.n4. He had absol5tely noth.n4 to 4a.n by dece.v.n4 me. =: h.d .t .n the old tower.= Those were h.s very words. And what co5ld he mean b5t the old tower o3 Tower 7ans.onE And why sho5ld he be so care35l to say the old towerE *.nce he was 3am.l.ar w.th Bayport2 he probably -new that the mans.on has two towers2 the old and the new.C C(3 co5rse2 .t may be that we d.dn=t search thoro54hly eno54h2C >oe remar-ed. CThe loot co5ld be h.dden 5nder the 3loor.n4 or beh.nd a movable wall panel. )e d.dn=t loo- there.C CThat=s the only sol5t.on2C 7r. Hardy a4reed. C:=m st.ll not sat.s3.ed that the stolen property .sn=t there. :=m 4o.n4 to as- Apple4ate to perm.t another search o3 both towers. And now2 : th.n- yo5r mother wants yo5 to do an errand downtown.C 7rs. Hardy expla.ned what she wanted and ,ran- and >oe were soon on the.r motorcycles a4a.n. )hen the boys reached the b5s.ness sect.on o3 Bayport they 3o5nd that >ac-ley=s con3ess.on had already become -nown. The local rad.o stat.on had broadcast .t .n the a3ternoon news pro4ram and people everywhere were d.sc5ss.n4 .t. /etect.ve *m533 wal-ed alon4 the street loo-.n4 as .3 he wo5ld b.te the head o33 the 3.rst person who ment.oned the case to h.m. )hen he saw the Hardy boys he 4lowered.

C)ell2C he 4r5nted2 C: hear yo5 4ot the st533 bac-.C C: w.sh we had2C ,ransa.d 4l5mly. C)hatBC the detect.ve cr.ed o5t2 br.4hten.n4 at once. C<o5 d.dn=t 4et .tE : tho54ht they sa.d on the rad.o that th.s 3ellow >ac-ley had told yo5r 3ather where he h.d .t.C CHe d.d. B5t how d.d the news lea- o5tEC C>ac-ley=s door who was wal-.n4 d.dn=t 3.nd the >ac-ley say the needEC wasn=t closed all the t.me. (ne o3 the other pat.ents by the room heard the con3ess.on and sp.lled .t. *o yo5 loot a3ter allB Ha-haB That=s a 4ood oneB /.dn=t st533 was h.dden .n the old towerE )hat more do yo5
C)ell2 .t wasn=t thereBC >oe retorted hotly. C>ac-ley m5st have made a m.sta-eBC C>ac-ley made a m.sta-eBC *m533 cont.n5ed cheer35lly. C:t loo-s l.-e the Do-e=s on yo5 3ellows and yo5r 3atherBC The wo5ld-be sle5th went on down the street2 ch5c-l.n4 to h.msel3. )hen ,ran- and >oe ret5rned home they 3o5nd that 7r. Hardy had been .n to5ch w.th H5rd Apple4ate and had conv.nced h.m that a more deta.led search o3 the towers wo5ld be adv.sable. CBoys2C he sa.d2 Cwe=ll 4o there d.rectly a3ter s5pper. : th.n- we=d better not wa.t 5nt.l tomorrow.C At seven o=cloc- the detect.ve and h.s sons presented themselves at the Tower 7ans.on. H5rd Apple4ate met them at the door. C:=m lett.n4 yo5 ma-e th.s search2C he sa.d as he led them toward the old tower2 Cb5t :=m conv.nced yo5 won=t 3.nd anyth.n4. :=ve tal-ed the case over w.th Ch.e3 Coll.4. He=s .ncl.ned to th.n- that ob.nson .s beh.nd .t all and :=m s5re he .s.C CB5t how abo5t >ac-ley=s con3ess.onEC 7r. Hardy as-ed h.m. CThe ch.e3 says that co5ld be a bl.nd. >ac-ley d.d .t to protect ob.nson. They were wor-.n4 to4ether.C C: -now .t loo-s bad 3or ob.nson2C 7r. Hardy adm.tted2 Cb5t : want to 4.ve the towers another close exam.nat.on. : heard >ac-ley ma-e the con3ess.on and : don=t bel.eve he was ly.n4.C C7aybe. 7aybe. B5t :=m tell.n4 yo5 .t was a hoax.C C:=ll bel.eve that only .3 : don=t 3.nd anyth.n4 .ns.de or o5ts.de e.ther tower2C 7r. Hardy declared2 h.s mo5th set .n a 4r.m l.ne. C)ell2 come on2 let=s 4et started2C H5rd Apple-4ate sa.d2 5nloc-.n4 the door lead.n4 to the old tower. !a4erly the 3o5r set to wor-. They started at the top o3 the old tower and wor-ed downward. The.r .nvest.4at.on le3t no poss.b.l.ty 5nto5ched.

All the walls were tapped 3or hollow so5nds wh.ch m.4ht .nd.cate secret h.d.n4 places. The 3loors were exam.ned closely 3or s.4ns o3 any recent d.st5rbance to the wood. B5t the m.ss.n4 Dewels and bonds were not located. ,.nally the 4ro5p reached the 4ro5nd 3loor a4a.n. CAoth.n4 to do b5t 4o on to the new tower2C 7r. Hardy commented br.e3ly. C:=ll have to rest and eat someth.n4 be3ore : do any more2C H5rd Apple4ate sa.d wear.ly. He led the way to the d.n.n4 room where sandw.ches and m.l- had been set o5t. CHelp yo5rselves2C he .nv.ted. He h.msel3 too- only crac-ers and m.l- when they all sat down. A3ter the br.e3 stop 3or re3reshment2 the Hardys and the mans.on owner t5rned the.r attent.on to the new tower. A4a.n they searched care35lly. )alls and part.t.ons were tapped and 3loors were so5nded. !very b.t o3 35rn.t5re was m.n5tely exam.ned. Aot an .nch o3 space escaped the scr5t.ny o3 the detect.ve and h.s helpers. As the search drew to a close and the loot st.ll had not been 3o5nd2 7r. Hardy remar-ed2 C:t certa.nly loo-s as .3 the stolen property was never h.dden here by >ac-ley. And 35rthermore2 there=s no ev.dence that .3 he d.d h.de .t here2 anyone came .n to ta-e .t away.C C<o5 mean2C sa.d ,ran-2 C.t=s proo3 that 7r. hereEC C!xactly.C C7aybe not2C 7r. Apple4ate conceded. CB5t .t st.ll doesn=t prove he wasn=t .n cahoots w.th the th.e3BC C:=m not 4o.n4 to 4.ve 5p th.s search yet2C 7r. Hardy sa.d determ.nedly. CPerhaps the loot was h.dden somewhere o5ts.de the old tower.C He expla.ned that .t wo5ld be d.33.c5lt to exam.ne the 4ro5nds properly at n.4ht. C).th yo5r perm.ss.on2 7r. Apple4ate2 my sons and : w.ll ret5rn at s5nr.se tomorrow morn.n4 and start wor- a4a.n.C As the owner rel5ctantly nodded h.s assent2 7r. Hardy t5rned to ,ran- and >oe and sm.led. C)e o54ht to be able to prove o5r po.nt be3ore schoolt.me.C The boys2 who had had no t.me to prepare any homewor-2 rem.nded the.r 3ather that a note 3rom h.m to the pr.nc.pal wo5ld be a 4reat help. The detect.ve sm.led2 and as soon as they reached home he wrote one o5t2 then sa.d 4ood n.4ht. ,ran- and >oe 3elt as .3 the.r eyes had hardly closed when they opened them a4a.n to see the.r 3ather stand.n4 between the.r beds. CT.me to 4et 5p .3 yo5 want to be .n on the search2C he anno5nced. The boys bl.n-ed sleep.ly2 then spran4 o5t o3 bed. *howers awa-ened them 35lly and they dressed G5.c-ly. 7rs. Hardy was .n the -.tchen when they entered .t and brea-3ast was ready. The s5n was D5st r.s.n4 over a d.stant h.ll. C!veryth.n4 hot th.s morn.n42C 7rs. Hardy sa.d. C:t=s ch.lly o5ts.de.C ob.nson d.d not come .n

The men5 .ncl5ded hot applesa5ce2 oatmeal2 poached e44s on toast2 and cocoa. Brea-3ast was eaten almost .n s.lence to avo.d any delay2 and w.th.n twenty m.n5tes the three Hardy sle5ths were on the.r way. C: see yo5 p5t spades .n the car2 /ad2C ,ranremar-ed. C: ta-e .t we=re 4o.n4 to do some d.44.n4.C C<es2 .3 we don=t locate the loot h.dden above 4ro5nd some place.C )hen the Hardys reached Tower 7ans.on they .nst.t5ted the.r h5nt w.tho5t not.3y.n4 the Apple-4ates2 who2 they were s5re2 were st.ll asleep. !veryth.n4 .n the v.c.n.ty o3 both towers was scr5t.n.?ed. Bo5lders were overt5rned2 the space 5nder the s5mmerho5se exam.ned by 3lashl.4ht2 every stone .n the masonry tested to see .3 .t co5ld be d.slod4ed. Aot a cl5e t5rned 5p. C: 45ess we d.42C ,ran- stated 3.nally. He chose a bed o3 perenn.al b5shes at the 3oot o3 the old tower where there had been recent plant.n42 and p5shed one o3 the spades .n deep w.th h.s 3oot. The tool h.t an obstr5ct.on. !xc.tedly ,ran- shoveled away the d.rt aro5nd the spot. :n hal3 a m.n5te he 4ave a cry o3 del.4ht. CA chestB :=ve 3o5nd a b5r.ed chestBC
CHAPT!
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An +nexpected ,.nd TH ():A9 o5t the d.rt .n 4reat spade35ls2 ,ran- 5ncovered the chest completely. :t was abo5t two 3eet lon42 s.x .nches w.de2 and a 3oot deep. CThe treas5reBC >oe cr.ed o5t2 r5nn.n4 5p. 7r. Hardy was at h.s son=s heels and loo-ed .n ama?ement at ,ran-=s d.scovery. The boy l.3ted the chest o5t o3 the hole and .nstantly be4an to ra.se the l.d on wh.ch there was no loc-. !veryone held h.s breath. Had the Hardys really 5ncovered the Dewels and sec5r.t.es stolen 3rom the Apple4atesE ,ran- 3l5n4 bac- the l.d. The three sle5ths stared at the contents. They had never been more s5rpr.sed .n the.r l.ves. ,.nally >oe 3o5nd h.s vo.ce. CAoth.n4 b5t a lot o3 3lower b5lbsBC The 3.rst shoc- o3 d.sappo.ntment over2 the detect.ve and h.s sons b5rst .nto la54hter. The contents o3 the chest were s5ch a 3ar cry 3rom what they had expected that now the s.t5at.on seemed r.d.c5lo5s. C)ell2 one th.n4 .s s5re2C sa.d ,ran-. C ed >ac--ley never b5r.ed th.s chest. : wonder who d.dEC

C: can answer that2C a vo.ce beh.nd them repl.ed2 and the Hardys t5rned to see H5rd Apple-4ate2 clad .n bathrobe and sl.ppers2 wal-.n4 toward them. C9ood morn.n42 7r. Apple4ate2C the boys chor5sed2 and the.r 3ather added2 C<o5 see we=re on the Dob. ,or a co5ple o3 moments we tho54ht we had 3o5nd yo5r stolen property.C H5rd Apple4ate=s 3ace too- on a stern loo-. C<o5 d.dn=t 3.nd my sec5r.t.es2C he sa.d2 Cb5t maybe yo5 have 3o5nd a cl5e to the th.e3. ob.nson b5r.ed that chest 35ll o3 b5lbs. That=s what he=s done w.th Adel.a=s Dewelry and my sec5r.t.esB He=s b5r.ed them some place2 b5t :=d be w.ll.n4 to bet anyth.n4 .t wasn=t on the 4ro5nds here.C ,ran-2 real.?.n4 the man was not .n a 4ood h5mor th.s morn.n42 tr.ed to steer the conversat.on away 3rom the stolen val5ables. C7r. Apple4ate2C he sa.d2 Cwhy d.d 7r. ob.nson b5ry these 3lower b5lbs hereEC The owner o3 Tower 7ans.on 4ave a l.ttle snort. CThat man=s n5tty abo5t 5n5s5al 3lowers. He sent to !5rope 3or these b5lbs. They have to be -ept .n a cool2 dar- place 3or several months2 so he dec.ded to b5ry them. He=s always do.n4 someth.n4 G5eer l.-e that. )hy2 do yo5 -now what he tr.ed to 4et me to doE P5t 5p a 4reenho5se here on the property so he co5ld ra.se all -.nds o3 rare 3lowers.C CThat so5nds l.-e a swell hobby2C >oe spo-e 5p. C*well noth.n4BC 7r. Apple4ate repl.ed. C: 45ess yo5 don=t -now how m5ch 4reenho5ses cost. And bes.des2 4row.n4 rare 3lowers ta-es a lot o3 t.me. ob.nson had eno54h to do w.tho5t 3.ddl.n4 aro5nd w.th ma-.n4 4reat b.4 da.s.es o5t o3 l.ttle w.ld ones2 or t5rn.n4 cowsl.ps .nto orch.dsBC ,ran- wh.stled. C:3 7r. ob.nson can do that2 he=s a 4en.5sBC
C9en.5s-that=s a Do-eBC sa.d 7r. Apple4ate. C)ell2 4o on w.th yo5r d.44.n4. : want th.s mystery cleared 5p.C :t was dec.ded that 7r. Hardy2 w.th h.s s5per.or powers o3 observat.on2 wo5ld scr5t.n.?e the 4ro5nd near both towers. )herever .t loo-ed as .3 the 4ro5nd had been t5rned over recently2 the boys wo5ld d.4 at the spot. The chest o3 3lower b5lbs was care35lly replaced and the d.rt shoveled over .t. CHere=s a place where yo5 m.4ht d.42C 7r. Hardy called presently 3rom the oppos.te s.de o3 the old tower. )hen the boys arr.ved w.th the.r spades2 he sa.d2 C: have an .dea a do4 d54 5p th.s spot and probably all yo5=ll 3.nd .s a bee3 bone. B5t we don=t want to m.ss anyth.n4.C Th.s t.me >oe=s spade h.t the obDect wh.ch had been b5r.ed. As h.s 3ather had prophes.ed2 .t proved to be only a bone secreted by some do4. The three Hardys trans3erred the.r wor- to the new tower. All th.s t.me H5rd Apple4ate had been loo-.n4 on .n s.lence. ,rom the corners o3 the.r eyes2 the Hardys co5ld catch an express.on o3 sat.s3act.on on the elderly man=s 3ace.

7r. Hardy 4lanced at h.s wr.st watch2 then sa.d2 C)ell2 boys2 : 45ess th.s .s o5r last try.C He .nd.cated another spot a 3ew 3eet away. C<o5 3ellows m5st 4et cleaned 5p and 4o to school.C +nda5nted by the.r 3a.l5res so 3ar2 ,ran- and >oe d54 .n w.th a w.ll. :n a 3ew moments they had 5ncovered another small chest. C)ow2 th.s one .s heavyBC ,ransa.d as he l.3ted .t 3rom the hole. CThen maybe-maybe .t=s the stolen propertyBC >oe excla.med. !ven 7r. Apple4ate showed -een .nterest th.s t.me and leaned over to ra.se the l.d h.msel3. The box conta.ned several sac-s. CThe DewelsBC >oe cr.ed o5t. CAnd that 3lat-shaped sac- co5ld conta.n the sec5r.t.esBC ,ransa.d enth5s.ast.cally. 7r. Apple4ate p.c-ed 5p one o3 the c.rc5lar ba4s and G5.c-ly 5nt.ed the str.n4 wo5nd abo5t the top. H.s 3ace too- on a loo- o3 5tter d.s45st. C*eedsBC he 3a.rly sho5ted. 7r. Hardy had already p.c-ed 5p the 3lat sac-. He loo-ed almost as d.sappo.nted as 7r. Apple-4ate. C,lower catalo4sBC he excla.med. CThey seem to be .n var.o5s 3ore.4n lan45a4es.C C(h2 ob.nson was always send.n4 3or th.n4s 3rom all over the world2C the Tower 7ans.on owner remar-ed. C: told h.m to destroy them. He pa.d too m5ch attent.on to that st533 when he m.4ht have been do.n4 someth.n4 5se35l. : s5ppose he b5r.ed the catalo4s2 so : wo5ldn=t 3.nd them.C A3ter a lon4 breath the elderly man went on2 C)ell2 we=ve reached the end o3 the l.ne. <o5 Hardys haven=t proved a th.n42 b5t yo5=ve certa.nly torn 5p my ho5se and 4ro5nds.C The three sle5ths had to adm.t th.s was tr5e b5t told h.m they were st.ll 3.red by two hopes: to clear 7r. ob.nson o3 the char4e a4a.nst h.m2 and to 3.nd the stolen property. As they p5t the.r spades bac.nto the Hardy car2 7r. Apple4ate .nv.ted them .nto the ho5se to wash and have a b.te to eat. C: 45ess yo5 boys co5ld do w.th a second brea-3ast2C he added2 and the brothers tho54ht2 C7aybe at t.mes 7r. Apple4ate .sn=t s5ch a bad sort.C They accepted the .nv.tat.on and enDoyed the meal o3 wa33les and honey. The.r 3ather then drove them to Bayport H.4h. ,ran- and >oe had no sooner stepped 3rom the car than they heard the.r names called. T5rn.n42 they saw :ola 7orton and Call.e *haw com.n4 toward them. CH.2 boysBC CH.2 4.rlsBC

C*ay2 d.d yo5 hear what happened early th.s morn.n4EC Call.e as-ed. CAo. *chool called o33 3or todayEC >oe as-ed ea4erly. C: w.sh .t were.C Call.e sobered. C:t=s abo5t 7r. arrested a4a.nBC ob.nson. He=s been
CAoBC The Hardys stared at Call.e2 th5nderstr5c-. C)hyEC ,ran- demanded. :ola too- 5p the story2 say.n4 that she and Chet had heard the bad news on the rad.o that morn.n4. They had stopped at the ob.nsons= home2 when the.r 3ather bro54ht them to school2 to 3.nd o5t more abo5t what had happened. C:t seems that Ch.e3 Coll.4 has an .dea 7r. ob.nson was .n lea45e w.th the th.e3 >ac-ley2 that man yo5r 3ather 4ot the con3ess.on 3rom. *o he arrested h.m. Poor 7rs. ob.nsonB *he doesn=t -now what to do.C CAnd 7r. ob.nson had D5st mana4ed to 3.nd another Dob2C Call.e sa.d sadly. C(h2 can=t yo5 boys do someth.n4EC C)e=re wor-.n4 on the case as hard as we can2C ,ran- repl.ed2 and told the 4.rls abo5t the.r sle5th.n4 the even.n4 be3ore and early that morn.n4. At that moment the school bell ran4 and the yo5n4 people had to separate. ,ran- and >oe were deeply concerned by what they had D5st heard. At l5nch they met >erry2 Ph.l2 Tony2 and Chet 7orton and told them the news. CTh.s .s to54h on *l.m2C Ph.l remar-ed. CTo54h on the whole 3am.ly2C Chet declared. The boys d.sc5ssed the s.t5at.on 3rom all an4les and rac-ed the.r bra.ns 3or some way .n wh.ch they co5ld help the ob.nsons. They concl5ded that only the act5al d.scovery o3 the stolen Dewels and bonds wo5ld clear 7r. ob.nson o3 the s5sp.c.on wh.ch h5n4 over h.m. CThat means there=s only one th.n4 to do2C ,ransa.d. C)e m5st 3.nd that lootBC A3ter school he and >oe played baseball 3or the reG5.red per.od2 then went d.rectly home. They had no heart 3or 35rther sports act.v.t.es. :t was a d5ll2 4loomy day2 .nd.cat.ve o3 ra.n and th.s d.d not ra.se the boys= sp.r.ts. ,ran-2 who was restless2 3.nally s544ested2 C;et=s ta-e a wal-.C C7aybe .t=ll help clear the cobwebs 3rom o5r bra.ns2C >oe a4reed. They told the.r mother they wo5ld be home by s5ppert.me2 then set o33. The brothers wal-ed m.le a3ter m.le2 and then2 as they t5rned bac-2 they were drawn as .3 by ma4nets to Tower 7ans.on. CTh.s place .s be4.nn.n4 to ha5nt me2C sa.d >oe2 as they wal-ed 5p the dr.veway. *5ddenly ,ran- ca54ht h.s brother=s arm. C: D5st had an .dea. 7aybe

>ac-ley .n h.s deathbed con3ess.on was con35sed and meant some other robbery he comm.tted. Bes.des2 at some t.me .n every mystery the most .nnocent-seem.n4 people become s5spect. )hat proo3 .s there that the Apple4ates haven=t p5lled a hoaxE ,or reasons o3 the.r own they m.4ht say that the th.n4s had been stolen 3rom the.r sa3e. /on=t 3or4et that /ad d.dn=t 3.nd any 3.n4erpr.nts on .t except 7r. Apple4ate=s.C C,ran-2 yo5=ve 4ot a po.nt there. That man and h.s s.ster act so mean somet.mes2 : wo5ldn=t p5t .t past them to be try.n4 to cheat the .ns5rance company2C sa.d >oe. C!xactly2C h.s brother a4reed. C,or the moment2 let=s play .t th.s way. )e=ll pretend they=re s5spects and do a l.ttle spy.n4 abo5t th.s place.C :nstantly the boys le3t the roadway and d.sappeared amon4 the shr5bbery that l.ned .t. 7a-.n4 the.r way ca5t.o5sly2 they moved 3orward toward Tower 7ans.on. The place was .n dar-ness w.th the except.on o3 three l.4hted rooms on the 3.rst 3loor. C)hat=s yo5r .dea2 ,ran-EC h.s brother wh.spered. CTo learn someth.n4 that m.4ht tell 5s whether or not the Apple4ates are .mpl.cated .n the robberyEC C<es. 7aybe we=ll 4et a cl5e .3 we -eep o5r eyes and ears open.C The boys wal-ed 3orward .n s.lence. They approached the mans.on 3rom the end where the old tower stood. *omewhere2 not 3ar 3rom them2 they s5ddenly heard 3ootsteps on the 4ravel wal-. :n a 3lash the brothers dod4ed beh.nd a tree. The 3ootsteps came closer and the boys wa.ted to see who was approach.n4. )as .t one o3 the Apple4ates2 or someone elseE Be3ore they co5ld 3.nd o5t2 the person=s 3ootsteps receded and the boys emer4ed 3rom the.r h.d.n4 place. *5ddenly a 4lar.n4 l.4ht was beamed d.rectly on them. :t came 3rom the top room o3 the old towerB
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A *tartl.n4 /ed5ct.on C/+C@BC ,ran- ordered .n a hoarse wh.sper2 G5.c-ly dropp.n4 to the 4ro5nd. :nstantly >oe threw h.msel3 3ace down alon4s.de h.s brother. C<o5 th.n- the person w.th the 3lashl.4ht .n the tower saw 5sEC ,ranas-ed. CHe co5ld have2 b5t maybe not. )e s5re went down 3ast.C The stron4 3lashl.4ht was not tra.ned on them a4a.n. :t was beamed o5t a w.ndow o3 the tower .n another d.rect.on2 then t5rned o33.

C)ell2 what sayEC >oe as-ed. C*hall we 4o on 5p to the mans.on and cont.n5e o5r sle5th.n4EC ,ran- was o3 the op.n.on that .3 they d.d2 they m.4ht 4et .nto tro5ble. !ven .3 they had not been reco4n.?ed2 the person .n the tower probably had spotted them. C:=d l.-e to 3.nd o5t who was .n the tower2C >oe ar45ed. C:t=s D5st poss.ble that the Apple4ates don=t -now anyth.n4 abo5t h.m.C ,ran- la54hed G5.etly. C/on=t let yo5r .ma4.nat.on r5n away w.th yo52C he adv.sed. As the boys debated abo5t whether to leave the 4ro5nds or to 4o 3orward2 the matter was s5ddenly ta-en o5t o3 the.r hands. ,rom aro5nd the corner o3 the tower r5shed a h54e pol.ce do42 4rowl.n4 and bar-.n4. :t apparently had scented the brothers and was bo5nd.n4 d.rectly toward them. ,ran- and >oe started to r5n pell-mell2 b5t were 5nable to -eep ahead o3 the do4. :n a 3ew moments he bloc-ed the.r path menac.n4ly and set 5p a 3eroc.o5s bar-.n4. C: 45ess we=re ca54ht2C ,ransa.d. CAnd : hope th.s old 3ellow won=t ta-e a p.ece o5t o3 my le4.C The two boys tr.ed to ma-e 3r.ends w.th the an.mal2 b5t he wo5ld not let them b5d4e. C)ell2 what do we do nowEC >oe as-ed .n d.s45st as the do4 cont.n5ed to 4rowl menac.n4ly. C)a.t to be resc5ed2C ,ran- repl.ed tersely. A moment later they saw a bobb.n4 l.4ht com.n4 .n the.r d.rect.on and presently 7r. Apple4ate appeared. He loo-ed 2at the boys .n complete aston.shment. C<o5 3ellows never 4.ve 5p2 do yo5EC he remar-ed. C)hat have yo5 been do.n4-more d.44.n4EC The brothers d.d not reply at once. They were embarrassed at hav.n4 been d.scovered2 b5t rel.eved that the man d.d not s5spect what they had really .ntended to do. The owner o3 Tower 7ans.on too- the.r laco3 response to mean he was r.4ht. C:=m D5st not 4o.n4 to have any more o3 my 4ro5nds r5.ned2C he sa.d 4r533ly. C:=ve borrowed th.s watchdo42 ex2 and he=s 4o.n4 to -eep everybody away. :3 yo5 have any reason 3or want.n4 to see me2 yo5=d better phone 3.rst2 and :=ll -eep ex cha.ned.C C)ho was 5p .n the tower w.th a 3lashl.4htEC ,ranas-ed the elderly man. C7y s.ster. *he 4ot .t .nto her head that maybe she was smarter than yo5 3ellows and co5ld 3.nd the stolen st533 .n the old tower2 b5t she

d.dn=tBC ,ran- and >oe s5ppressed 4r.ns as he went on. CAnd then Adel.a dec.ded to 3lash that h.4h-powered 3lashl.4ht aro5nd the 4ro5nds2 th.n-.n4 we m.4ht have a lot o3 c5r.o5s v.s.tors beca5se o3 the p5bl.c.ty. Apparently she p.c-ed yo5 5p.C The boys la54hed. C<es2 she d.d2C ,ran- adm.tted. CBetween her and : 45ess yo5 needn=t worry abo5t any prowlers.C ,ran- and >oe sa.d 4ood n.4ht to H5rd Apple4ate and started down the dr.veway. Th.s t.me the do4 d.d not 3ollow them. He rema.ned at the man=s s.de 5nt.l the Hardys were o5t o3 s.4ht. As they tr5d4ed homeward2 >oe remar-ed2 CTh.s seems to be o5r day 3or exc.t.n4 events that 3.??le o5t l.-e wet 3.rewor-s.C C<es. Aoth.n4 to show 3or all o5r wor-.C At s5pper enco5nter 3ather .3 45.lty o3 both 7r. and 7rs. Hardy la54hed at the boys= story o3 the.r w.th the do4. Then they became ser.o5s when ,ranas-ed h.s he tho54ht there was a chance that the Apple4ates m.4ht be 3alsely report.n4 a robbery. ex2
C:t=s poss.ble2 o3 co5rse2C the detect.ve answered. CB5t the Apple4ates are so well-to-do : can=t see any po.nt .n the.r try.n4 s5ch a th.n4. : bel.eve .t=s best 3or 5s to st.c- to the or.4.nal .dea -that someone really d.d ta-e Dewels and sec5r.t.es 3rom the sa3e2 and that the person was >ac-ley.C As the boys were 4o.n4 to bed that n.4ht2 ,ranremar-ed to h.s brother2 CTomorrow .s *at5rday and we have the whole day 3ree. : vote we set o5rselves the 4oal o3 solv.n4 the mystery be3ore n.4ht.C CA b.4 order2 b5t :=m w.th yo52C >oe repl.ed w.th a 4r.n. They were 5p early and be4an to d.sc5ss what co5rse o3 sle5th.n4 they sho5ld 3ollow. C: th.n- we o54ht to start o33 on a completely new tac-2C >oe s544ested. C:n wh.ch d.rect.onEC ,ranas-ed h.m. C:n the d.rect.on o3 the ra.lroad.C >oe went on to expla.n that one th.n4 they had not done was 3.nd o5t abo5t ed >ac-ley=s hab.ts when he had wor-ed aro5nd Bayport. :3 they co5ld tal- to one or more persons who had -nown h.m2 they m.4ht p.c- 5p some new cl5e wh.ch wo5ld lead them to the stolen property. C9ood .dea2 >oe2C h.s brother a4reed. C;et=s ta-e o5r l5nch and ma-e an all-day tr.p on o5r motorcycles.C C,.ne.C 7r. Hardy had le3t the ho5se very early2 so h.s sons d.d not see h.m. )hen h.s w.3e heard the boys= plan2 she tho54ht .t an excellent one and .mmed.ately o33ered to ma-e some sandw.ches 3or them. By the t.me they were ready to leave she had two small boxes pac-ed w.th a hearty p.cn.c

l5nch. C9ood-by and 4ood l5c-BC 7rs. Hardy called as the brothers rode o33. CThan-s2 7other2 3or everyth.n4BC the yo5n4 detect.ves chor5sed as they started o33. )hen ,ran- and >oe reached the Bayport ra.lroad stat.on2 they G5est.oned the stat.onmaster2 and learned that he had been w.th the company only a year and had not -nown ed >ac-ley. C/.d he wor- on a passen4er tra.nEC the man as-ed. C: don=t th.n- so2C ,ran- repl.ed. C: bel.eve he was employed as a ma.ntenance man.C CThen2C sa.d the stat.onmaster2 C:=d adv.se yo5 to 4o o5t alon4 the h.4hway to the ra.lroad cross.n4s and .nterv.ew a co5ple o3 old 3la4men who are st.ll aro5nd. Both o3 them seem to -now everybody and everyth.n4 connected w.th the ra.lroad 3or the past 3.3ty years.C He ch5c-led. The boys -new o3 two 4rade cross.n4s some m.les o5t o3 town and now headed 3or them. At the 3.rst one they learned that the re45lar 3la4man was home .ll and h.s s5bst.t5te had never heard o3 ed >ac-ley. ,ranand >oe went on. At the next cross.n4 they 3o5nd old 7.-e Hal-ley2 the 3la4man there2 b5sy at h.s Dob. H.s br.4ht bl5e eyes searched the.r 3aces 3or a moment2 then he ama?ed them by say.n42 C<o5=re ,ran- and >oe Hardy2 sons o3 the 3amo5s detect.ve ,enton Hardy.C C<o5 -now 5sEC ,ranas-ed. C: m5st con3ess : don=t recall hav.n4 met yo5 be3ore.C CAnd yo5 a.n=t2C the man responded. CB5t : ma-e .t a r5le to memor.?e every 3ace : see .n the newspapers. Aever -now when there=s 4o.n= to be an acc.dent and : m.4ht be called on to .dent.3y some people.C The boys 45lped at th.s 4r5esome tho54ht2 then ,ranas-ed Halley .3 he remembered a ra.lroad man named ed >ac-ley. C: recollect a man named >ac-ley2 b5t he wasn=t never called ed when : -new h.m. : rec-on he=s the same 3ellow2 tho54h. <o5 mean the one that : read went to Da.lEC CThat=s the manBC CHe o5t o3 the pen yetEC 7.-e Halley G5est.oned. CHe d.ed2C >oe repl.ed. C(5r dad .s wor-.n4 on a case that has some connect.on w.th >ac-ley and we=re D5st try.n4 to 3.nd o5t someth.n4 abo5t h.m.C CThen what yo5 want to do2C sa.d the 3la4man2 C.s 4o down to the Bayport and Coast ;.ne a.lroad. That=s where >ac-ley 5sed to wor-. He was aro5nd the stat.on at Cherryv.lle. That a.n=t so 3ar 3rom here.C He po.nted .n a northerly d.rect.on. CThan-s a m.ll.on2C sa.d ,ran-. C<o5=ve helped 5s a lot.C

The brothers set o33 on the.r motorcycles 3or Cherryv.lle. )hen they came to the small town2 a pol.ceman d.rected them to the ra.lroad stat.on2 wh.ch was abo5t a hal3 m.le o5t o3 town. The stat.on stood .n a depress.on below a new h.4hway2 and was reached by a c5rv.n4 road wh.ch ran parallel to the trac-s 3or several h5ndred 3eet. The b5.ld.n4 .tsel3 was small2 sG5are2 and very m5ch .n need o3 pa.nt. A 3ew nearby 3rame b5.ld.n4s were .n a bad state o3 d.srepa.r. An old wooden water tan-2 abo5t seventy yards 3rom one s.de o3 the stat.on ho5se2 sa44ed precar.o5sly. At the same d.stance on the other s.de rose another water tan-. Th.s one2 pa.nted red2 was o3 metal and .n m5ch better cond.t.on. ,ran- and >oe par-ed the.r motorcycles and went .nto the stat.on. A man .n h.s sh.rt sleeves and wear.n4 a 4reen v.sor was b5stl.n4 abo5t beh.nd the t.c-et w.ndow. CAre yo5 the stat.onmasterEC ,ran- called to h.m. The man came 3orward. C:=m >a-e-stat.onmaster2 and t.c-et seller2 and ba44a4e sl.n4er2 and express handler2 and ma.l carr.er2 and Dan.tor2 and even r.ce thrower. <o5 name .t. :=m yo5r man.C The boys b5rst .nto la54hter2 then >oe sa.d2 C:3 there=s anybody here who can tell 5s what we want to -now2 :=m s5re .t=s yo5. B5t 3.rst2 what do yo5 mean yo5=re a r.ce throwerEC The stat.on a4ent 4533awed. C)ell2 .t don=t happen o3ten2 b5t when a br.de and 4room comes down here to ta-e a tra.n2 : D5st 4o o5t2 4rab some o3 the r.ce2 and throw .t alon4 w.th everybody else. : rec-on .3 that=ll ma-e =em happy2 : want to be part o3 the proceed.n=s.C A4a.n the Hardys roared w.th la54hter. Then ,ran- .nG5.red .3 the man had -nown ed >ac-ley. C: s5re d.d2C >a-e repl.ed. C,5nny -.nd o3 3ellow. )or- l.-e mad one m.n5te2 then loa3 on the Dob the next. (ne th.n4 abo5t h.m2 he never wanted nobody to 4.ve h.m any orders.C C/.d yo5 -now that he d.ed recentlyEC ,ranas-ed. CAo2 : d.dn=t2C the stat.onmaster answered. C:=m real sorry to hear that. >ac-ley wasn=t a bad sort when : -new h.m. >5st 4ot to -eep.n= the wron4 -.nd o3 company2 : 45ess.C CCan yo5 tell 5s any part.c5lar character.st.cs he hadEC ,ranG5est.oned. >a-e scratched h.s head above h.s v.sor. ,.nally he sa.d2 CThe th.n4 : remember most abo5t >ac-ley .s that he was a re45lar mon-ey. He was n.mble as co5ld be2 rac.n= 5p and down 3re.4ht-car ladders.C At that moment they heard a tra.n wh.stle and the man sa.d h5rr.edly2 C9ot to leave yo5 now2 boys. Come bac- some other t.me when : a.n=t so b5sy. 9ot to meet th.s tra.n.C

The Hardys le3t h.m and ,ran- s544ested2 C;et=s eat o5r l5nch and then come bac-.C They 3o5nd a l.ttle 4rove o3 trees bes.de the ra.lroad trac-s and propped the.r motorcycles a4a.nst a lar4e tree. C:=m starved2C sa.d ,ran-2 seat.n4 h.msel3 5nder the tree and open.n4 h.s box o3 l5nch. CBoy2 th.s .s 4oodBC >oe excla.med a moment later as he b.t h5n4r.ly .nto a th.c- roast bee3 sandw.ch. C:3 >ac-ley had only stayed w.th the ra.lroad company2C ,ran- observed as he m5nched a dev.led e442 C.t wo5ld=ve been better 3or everyone.C CHe s5re ca5sed a lot o3 tro5ble be3ore he d.ed2C >oe a4reed. CAnd he=s ca5sed a lot more s.nce2 the way th.n4s have 4one. ,or the ob.nsons2 espec.ally.C The boys 4a?ed re3lect.vely down the trac-s2 4leam.n4 .n the s5n. The ra.ls stretched 3ar .nto the d.stance. (nly a 3ew h5ndred 3eet 3rom the place where they were seated2 the Hardys co5ld see both water tan-s: the d.lap.dated2 weatherbeaten wooden one2 w.th some o3 the r5n4s m.ss.n4 3rom the ladder that led 5p .ts s.de2 and the sG5at2 metal tan-2 perched on sp.ndly le4s. ,ran- too- a b.te o3 h.s sandw.ch and chewed .t tho54ht35lly. The s.4ht o3 the two water towers had 4.ven h.m an .dea2 b5t at 3.rst .t seemed to h.m too abs5rd 3or cons.derat.on. He was wonder.n4 whether or not he sho5ld ment.on .t to h.s brother. Then he not.ced that >oe2 too2 was 4a?.n4 .ntently down the trac-s at the tan-s. >oe ra.sed a coo-y to h.s l.ps absently2 attempted a b.te2 and m.ssed the coo-y alto4ether. *t.ll he cont.n5ed 4a?.n4 3.xedly .n the same d.rect.on. ,.nally >oe t5rned and loo-ed at h.s brother. Both -new that they were th.n-.n4 the .dent.cal th.n4. CTwo water towers2C ,ransa.d .n a low b5t exc.ted tone. CAn old one and a newer one2C >oe m5rm5red. CAnd >ac-ley sa.d-C CHe h.d the st533 .n the old tower.C CHe was a ra.lroad man.C C)hy notEC >oe sho5ted2 spr.n4.n4 to h.s 3eet C)hy co5ldn=t .t have been th.s old water tower he meantE He 5sed to wor- aro5nd here.C CA3ter all2 he d.dn=t say the old tower o3 Tower 7ans.on. He D5st sa.d =old tower=BC C,ran-2 : bel.eve we=ve st5mbled on a terr.3.c d5eBC >oe sa.d

D5b.lantly. C:t wo5ld be the nat5ral th.n4 3or >ac-ley to come to h.s 3ormer ha5nts a3ter the robberyBC C .4htBC ,ran- a4reed. CAnd when he d.scovered that Chet=s Dalopy was 4one2 he probably tho54ht that the pol.ce were hot on h.s tra.l2 so he dec.ded to h.de the loot some place he -new-where no one else wo5ld s5spect. The old water towerB Th.s m5st be the placeBC
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;ootB ;+ACH2 motorcycles-everyth.n4 else was 3or4ottenB ).th w.ld yells o3 exc.tement2 ,ran- and >oe h5rr.ed down the emban-ment wh.ch 3lan-ed the r.4ht o3 way. B5t as they came to a 3ence that separated the trac-s 3rom the 4rass and weeds that 4rew alon4 the s.de2 they stopped short. *omeone on the h.4hway above was so5nd.n4 a car horn. ;oo-.n4 5p2 they reco4n.?ed the dr.ver. *m533B C(h2 4ood n.4htBC >oe cr.ed o5t. CThe last person we want to see r.4ht now2C ,ransa.d .n d.s45st. C)e=ll 4et r.d o3 h.m .n a h5rry2C >oe determ.ned. The boys t5rned aro5nd and cl.mbed bac- 5p the emban-ment. By th.s t.me (scar *m533 had stepped 3rom h.s car and was wal-.n4 down to meet the boys. C)ell2 : 3o5nd yo52C he sa.d. C<o5 mean yo5=ve been loo-.n4 3or 5sEC ,ranas-ed .n aston.shment. The detect.ve 4r.nned. ).th an .n4rat.at.n4 a.r he expla.ned to the boys that he had tra.led them 3or m.les. He had seen them leave home on the.r motorcycles2 and almost ca54ht 5p w.th them at the Bayport stat.on2 only to lose them. B5t the stat.onmaster had revealed the Hardys= next dest.nat.on2 and the asp.r.n4 sle5th had hastened to talto the 3la4man2 7.-e Halley. CHe told me :=d 3.nd yo5 here2C *m533 sa.d2 sel3-sat.s3act.on ev.dent .n h.s tone. CB5t why do yo5 want 5sEC >oe demanded. C:=ve come to ma-e a propos.t.on2C *m533 anno5nced. C:=ve 4ot a swell cl5e abo5t >ac-ley and that loot he h.d2 b5t : need somebody to help me

.n the search. How abo5t .t2 3ellowsE :3 old *m533 lets yo5 .n on h.s secret2 w.ll yo5 help h.mEC ,ran- and >oe were asto5nded at th.s t5rn o3 events. /.d the man really -now someth.n4 .mportantE (r was he s5ddenly becom.n4 clever and try.n4 to tr.c- the Hardys .nto d.v5l4.n4 what they -newE (ne th.n4 the brothers were s5re o3: they wanted noth.n4 to do w.th (scar *m533 5nt.l they had searched the old water tower. CThan-s 3or the compl.ment2C ,ransa.d. He 4r.nned. C>oe and : th.nwe=re pretty 4ood o5rselves. )e=re 4lad yo5 do.C CThen yo5=ll wor- w.th meEC *m533 as-ed2 h.s eyes l.4ht.n4 5p .n ant.c.pat.on. C: d.dn=t say yes and : d.dn=t say no2C ,ran- co5ntered. He 4lanced at >oe2 who was stand.n4 .n bac- o3 the detect.ve. >oe shoo- h.s head v.4oro5sly. CTell yo5 what2 *m5332C ,ran- went on. C)hen >oe and : 4et bac- to Bayport2 we=ll loo- yo5 5p. )e came o5t here to have a p.cn.c l5nch and relax.C *m533=s 3ace 3ell. B5t he was not 4.v.n4 5p so eas.ly. C)hen : drove 5p2 : saw yo5 r5nn.n4 l.-e mad down the ban-. /o yo5 call that relax.n4EC C(h2 when yo5 s.t aro5nd awh.le eat.n42 yo5r le4s 3eel -.nd o3 cramped2C >oe told h.m. CAnyway2 we have to -eep .n pract.ce 3or the Bayport H.4h baseball team.C *m533 loo-ed as .3 he d.d not -now whether or not he was be.n4 -.dded. B5t 3.nally he sa.d2 C(-ay2 3ellows. :3 yo5=ll 4et .n to5ch w.th me the 3.rst o3 the wee-2 : can prom.se yo5 a b.4 s5rpr.se. <o5=ve proved yo5 can=t w.n the tho5sand-dollar reward alone2 so we may as well each 4et a share o3 .t. :=ve already adm.tted : need help to solve th.s mystery.C He t5rned and slowly ambled 5p the emban-ment to h.s car. The boys waved 4ood-by to the detect.ve and wa.ted 5nt.l he was 3ar o5t o3 s.4ht and they were s5re he wo5ld not ret5rn. Then ,ran- and >oe h5rr.ed down to the trac-s2 va5lted the 3ence2 and ran pell-mell toward the old water tower. C:3 only we have st5mbled on the secretBC ,ransa.d enth5s.ast.cally. C:t=ll clear 7r. ob.nson-C
C)e w.ll earn the reward by o5rselves-C CBest o3 all2 /ad w.ll be pro5d o3 5s.C The old water tower reared 3orlornly alon4s.de the trac-s. At close G5arters .t seemed even more decrep.t than 3rom a d.stance. )hen the boys 4lanced at the ladder w.th .ts many r5n4s m.ss.n42 they wondered .3 they wo5ld be able to ascend to the top on .t. C:3 >ac-ley cl.mbed th.s ladder we can too2C sa.d ,ranas he stopped2 pant.n42 at the bottom. C;et=s 4oBC

He be4an to scramble 5p the rotted wood r5n4s. He had ascended only 3o5r o3 them when there came an alarm.n4 crac-B CCare35lBC >oe cr.ed o5t 3rom below. ,ran- cl5n4 to the r5n4 above D5st as the one beneath h.m snapped 5nder h.s we.4ht. He drew h.msel3 5p and ca5t.o5sly p5t h.s 3oot on the next r5n4. Th.s one was 3.rmer and held h.s we.4ht. CHeyBC >oe called 5p. C/on=t brea- all the r5n4sB : want to come 5p tooBC ,ran- cont.n5ed to cl.mb the ladder as h.s brother be4an the ascent. )hen they came to any place where a r5n4 had bro-en o332 the boys were obl.4ed to ha5l themselves 5p by ma.n 3orce. B5t 3.nally ,ran- reached the top and wa.ted 5nt.l >oe was D5st beneath h.m. CThere=s a trap door 5p here lead.n4 down .nto the tan-2C ,ran- called. C)ell2 3or Pete=s sa-e2 be care35l2C >oe warned. C)e don=t want any more acc.dents w.th trap doors.C The boys cl.mbed onto the roo3 o3 the tower2 wh.ch swayed 5nder the.r we.4ht. Both 35lly real.?ed the.r per.l. C)e can=t 4.ve 5p nowBC sa.d ,ran-2 and scrambled over the s5r3ace o3 the roo3 5nt.l he reached the trap door. >oe 3ollowed. They 5nlatched and ra.sed the door2 then peered down .nto the recesses o3 the abandoned water tan-. :t was abo5t seven 3eet .n depth and twelve .n d.ameter. ,ran- lowered h.msel3 thro54h the open.n42 b5t cl5n4 to the r.m 5nt.l he was s5re2 3rom 3eel.n4 aro5nd w.th h.s 3eet2 that the 3loor wo5ld not brea- thro54h. C:t=s o-ay2C he told >oe2 who 3ollowed h.s brother .ns.de. !a4erly the boys peered abo5t the d.m .nter.or. The place seemed to be partly 3.lled w.th r5bb.sh. There was a G5ant.ty o3 old l5mber2 m.scellaneo5s b.ts o3 steel ra.ls2 battered t.n pa.ls2 and crowbars2 all p.led .n helter-s-elter 3ash.on. At 3.rst 4lance there was no s.4n o3 the Apple4ates= stolen possess.ons. CThe Dewels and bonds m5st be here somewhere2C >oe declared. CB5t .3 >ac-ley d.d p5t the st533 here2 he wo5ldn=t have le3t .t r.4ht o5t .n the open. :t=s probably h.dden 5nder some o3 th.s D5n-.C ,ran- p5lled o5t a 3lashl.4ht and sw5n4 .t aro5nd. :n .ts 4low >oe be4an to h5nt 3rant.cally2 cast.n4 as.de the old pa.ls and p.eces o3 l5mber. (ne ent.re hal3 o3 the tower was searched w.tho5t res5lt. ,rant5rned the 3lashl.4ht to the 3ar s.de and noted that a n5mber o3 boards had been p.led 5p .n a rather orderly cr.sscrossed manner. C>oe2C sa.d ,ran-2 C:=d say these boards hadn=t been thrown here acc.dentally. :t s5re loo-s as .3 somebody had placed them del.berately to h.de someth.n4 5nderneath.C C<o5=re r.4ht.C ;.-e a terr.er a3ter a bone2 >oe d.ved toward the p.le. Hast.ly he p5lled away the boards.

evealed .n the neat l.ttle h.d.n4 place lay a ba4. :t was an ord.nary 45nny sac-2 b5t as >oe dra44ed .t o5t he 3elt s5re that the search 3or the Apple4ate property had come to an end. CTh.s m5st be .tBC he ex5lted. CThe Tower treas5reBC ,ran- smothered a whoop o3 Doy. >oe carr.ed the sac- .nto the l.4ht beneath the trap door. CH5rry 5pB (pen .tBC ,ran- 5r4ed. ).th trembl.n4 3.n4ers >oe be4an to 5nt.e the cord aro5nd the sac-. There were many -nots2 and as >oe wor-ed at them2 ,ran- 3.d4eted nervo5sly. C;et me try2C he sa.d .mpat.ently. At last2 w.th both Hardys wor-.n4 on the st5bborn -nots2 the cord was 5nt.ed and the ba4 4aped open. >oe pl5n4ed one hand .nto .t and w.thdrew an old-3ash.oned bracelet o3 prec.o5s stones. C>ewelryBC CHow abo5t the sec5r.t.esEC A4a.n >oe 4roped .nto the sac-. H.s 3.n4ers enco5ntered a b5l-y pac-et. )hen he p5lled .t o5t2 the boys excla.med .n 5n.son: CThe bondsBC The b5ndle o3 papers2 held to4ether by an elast.c band2 proved to be the sec5r.t.es. The 3.rst o3 the doc5ments was a ne4ot.able bond 3or one tho5sand dollars .ss5ed by the c.ty o3 Bayport. C7r. Apple4ate=s propertyBC ,rancr.ed o5t tr.5mphantly. C>oe2 do yo5 real.?e what th.s meansE )e=ve solved the mysteryBC The brothers loo-ed at each other almost 5nbel.ev.n4ly2 then each slapped the other on the bac-. C)e d.d .tB )e d.d .tBC >oe cr.ed o5t D5b.lantly. ,ran- 4r.nned. CAnd w.tho5t old *m5332C he sa.d. CAow 7r. ob.nson=s cleared 3or s5reBC >oe excla.med. CThat=s the best part o3 solv.n4 th.s mystery.C C<o5=re r.4htBC The boys reDo.ced over the.r d.scovery 3or another 35ll m.n5te2 then dec.ded to h5rry bac- to Bayport w.th the prec.o5s sac-. C<o5 4o down 3.rst2 ,ran-2C sa.d >oe. C:=ll toss the sac- to yo5 and then come mysel3.C He p.c-ed 5p the ba4 and was abo5t to ho.st .t to h.s sho5lders when both boys heard a so5nd on the roo3 o3 the tower. They loo-ed 5p to see an ev.l-loo-.n42 5nshaven man peer.n4 down at them.

CHaltBC he ordered. C)ho are yo5EC ,ranas-ed. CThey call me Hobo >ohnny2C the man repl.ed. CTh.s here .s my G5arters and anyth.n4 .n .t belon4s to me. <o5 4ot no r.4ht .n my room. <o5 can=t ta-e anyth.n4 away. And t=an-s 3or 3.nd.n4 the wad. : never tho54ht to loo- aro5nd.C >oe2 ta-en abac- a moment2 now sa.d2 C<o5 may sleep here2 b5t th.s .s ra.lroad property. <o5 don=t own what=s .n th.s tower. Aow 4o on down the ladder2 so we can leave.C C*o yo5=re 4o.n4 to 3.4ht2 ehEC Hobo >ohnny sa.d .n an 54ly tone. C:=ll see abo5t thatBC ).tho5t warn.n4 the trap door was slammed sh5t and loc-ed 3rom the o5ts.deB
CHAPT!
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The !scape C;!T 5s o5t o3 hereBC ,ran- sho5ted at Hobo >ohnny. C<o5 can=t 4et away w.th th.sBC >oe yelled. The man on the water tower roo3 4ave a lo5d 4533aw. C<o5 th.n- : a.n=t 4ot no bra.ns. )ell2 : 4ot eno54h to -now when :=m well o33. : a.n=t .n no h5rry to collect that treas5re yo5 3o5nd .n the tower. A 3ew days 3rom now w.ll be all r.4ht 3or me to sell .t.C CA 3ew days 3rom nowEC >oe excla.med2 horr.3.ed. CBy that t.me we=ll be s533ocated or d.e o3 starvat.on.C ,ran- p5t an arm aro5nd h.s .mp5ls.ve brother=s sho5lder. :n a low tone he sa.d2 C)e won=t do e.ther2 >oe. : don=t th.n- .t=s 4o.n4 to be too hard to 4et o5t o3 here. :3 not by the trap door2 we=ll hac- o5r way o5t thro54h one s.de o3 the tan-.C >oe calmed down and both boys became s.lent. Th.s seemed to worry Hobo >ohnny2 who called down2 C)hat=re yo5 45ys 5p toEC Ao answer. C(-ay. :=m leav.n4 yo5 now2 b5t :=ll be bac- 3or that treas5re. /on=t try any 35nny st533 or yo5=ll 4et h5rtBC The man on the roo3 wa.ted a 3ew moments 3or an answer. he sh533led across the tower to the ladder. ece.v.n4 none2
C: hope he doesn=t brea- all the r5n4s2C sa.d >oe worr.edly. C)e won=t be able to 4et down.C

A4a.n ,ran- patted h.s brother on the sho5lder. C: not.ced an .ron p.pe r5nn.n4 3rom the top o3 th.s tower to the bottom2C he sa.d. C:3 necessary2 we can sl.de down the p.pe.C CHow lon4 do yo5 th.n- we sho5ld wa.t be3ore try.n4 to brea- o5t o3 hereEC >oe as-ed. Be3ore reply.n42 ,ran- pondered the s.t5at.on. Aot -now.n4 anyth.n4 abo5t Hobo >ohnny=s hab.ts2 he wondered how 3ar away 3rom the tower the man wo5ld 4o. :3 not 3ar2 the boys m.4ht 3.nd h.m wa.t.n4 below and a to54h person to handle. ,.nally2 ,randec.ded that s.nce the tramp had sa.d he wo5ld ret5rn .n an ho5r2 he m5st be plann.n4 to 4o some d.stance away2 perhaps to 4et a co5ple o3 h.s hobo 3r.ends to come bacand help h.m. C:=d say that .3 we leave .n 3.3teen m.n5tes we=ll be sa3e2C was ,ran-=s concl5s.on. !very second seemed l.-e an ho5r2 b5t 3.nally when the 3.3teen m.n5tes were 5p2 the boys l.3ted a plan- and tr.ed to p5sh 5p the trap door. :t wo5ld not b5d4e. C)here do we try nextEC >oe G5est.oned. ,ran- was exam.n.n4 the seams aro5nd the trap door w.th the 3lashl.4ht. Presently he po.nted o5t a sect.on where the wood loo-ed completely dr.ed o5t. C:t sho5ldn=t be too hard to ram a hole here2 >oe. Then yo5 can boost me 5p2 so : can reach thro54h and t5rn the handle on the loc-.C >oe p.c-ed 5p a crowbar and Dabbed the sharp end between the ed4e o3 the trap door and the board next to .t. There was a spl.nter.n4 so5nd. He 4ave the tool another tremendo5s p5sh. The seam w.dened. Aow he and ,ran- to4ether wed4ed the end o3 the crowbar 5p thro54h the open.n4. :n a 3ew moments they had spr5n4 the two boards 3ar eno54h apart so that ,ran-2 by stand.n4 on >oe=s sho5lders2 co5ld reach h.s arm thro54h the open.n4. He 3o5nd the handle wh.ch loc-ed the trap door and t5rned .t. >oe p5shed 5p the door w.th the plan-. The boys were 3reeB ,ran- p5lled h.msel3 5p thro54h the open.n4 and h5rr.ed to the ed4e o3 the roo3. He loo-ed all aro5nd below. Hobo >ohnny was not .n s.4htK .n 3act2 there was no one to be seen anywhere. CClear 3.eld ahead :C he anno5nced. Aow the boys be4an to carry o5t the.r or.4.nal .ntent.on o3 remov.n4 the stolen property 3rom the old water tower. ,ran- went bac- to the trap door and >oe handed 5p the sac-2 then Do.ned h.s brother on the roo3. The older boy went down the ladder G5.c-ly and h.s brother tossed the treas5re to h.m. >oe lost no t.me .n 3ollow.n4. C)e=d better 4et away 3rom here .n a h5rryBC ,ran- adv.sed2 and both

boys spr.nted to the.r motorcycles. C;et=s d.v.de th.s st533. :t=ll be eas.er to carry2C ,ran- s544ested. He opened the sac- and handed >oe the b5ndle o3 sec5r.t.es2 wh.ch the boy Dammed .nto h.s poc-et. ,ran- st533ed the sac- conta.n.n4 the Dewelry .nto h.s own s.de poc-et. Then they hopped onto the.r motorcycles2 stepped on the starters2 and roared down the road toward Bay-port. :t was not 5nt.l they were several m.les 3rom the old water tower that the Hardys relaxed. 9r.ns spread over the.r 3aces. C: don=t -now who=s 4o.n4 to be the most s5rpr.sed-H5rd or Adel.a Apple4ate2 or Ch.e3 Coll.4 or-C C: have another 45ess-/adBC sa.d ,ran-. C: 45ess yo5=re r.4ht2C >oe a4reed. CAnd the most d.sappo.nted person .s 4o.n4 to be one (scar *m533BC C)hat cl5e do yo5 s5ppose he wanted 5s to 3ollowEC C:t=s my .dea he d.dn=t have any. He D5st wanted to hoo- on to 5s and then cla.m the 4lory .3 we 3o5nd the treas5re2 so Coll.4 wo5ld 4.ve h.m a Dob on the 3orce.C C)here do yo5 th.n- we o54ht to ta-e these val5ablesEC >oe as-ed presently. The boys d.sc5ssed th.s as they covered nearly a m.le o3 4ro5nd and 3.nally came to the concl5s.on that s.nce H5rd Apple4ate had 4.ven the.r 3ather the Dob o3 3.nd.n4 the stolen property2 the detect.ve sho5ld be the one to ret5rn .t to the owners. Hal3 an ho5r later the brothers p5lled .nto the Hardy dr.veway and soon were overwhelm.n4 the.r parents w.th the 4ood news. C:t=s wonder35lB *.mply wonder35lBC 7rs. Hardy cr.ed o5t2 h544.n4 each o3 her sons. The.r 3ather=s 3ace wore a broad 4r.n. C:=m certa.nly pro5d o3 yo52C he sa.d2 and slapped ,ran- and >oe on the bac-. C<o5 boys shall have the honor o3 ma-.n4 the anno5ncement to the Apple-4ates.C CHow abo5t Ch.e3 Coll.4EC ,ranas-ed. CAnd we=ll report Hobo >ohnny to h.m.C CAnd we=ll .nv.te the ob.nsons to hear the anno5ncement2C >oe added.
The detect.ve sa.d he tho54ht there sho5ld be a 4rand meet.n4 at the Apple4ates= home o3 everyone .nvolved w.th the tower mystery. He s544ested that when the boys called 5p2 they try to arran4e s5ch a meet.n4 3or that very even.n4. ,ran- was selected to ma-e the report to H5rd Apple4ateK the others co5ld hear the elderly man excla.m .n ama?ement. C: d.dn=t th.n- yo5=d do .tBC he sa.d over and over a4a.n.

*ho5t.n4 3or h.s s.ster2 he relayed the messa4e2 then sa.d2 CAdel.a wants me to tell yo5 she=s the most rel.eved woman .n all o3 Bayport. *he never d.d l.-e any o3 th.s b5s.ness.C The Apple4ates read.ly a4reed to a meet.n4 at the.r home early that even.n4 and .ns.sted that 7r. ob.nson be there. 7r. Hardy was to see to .t that Ch.e3 Coll.4 released the man at once. CTh.s .s 4o.n4 to be a lot o3 35n2C ,randeclared at s5pper. C7other2 : th.n- yo5 sho5ld come alon4E ).ll yo5EC C:=d love to2C 7rs. Hardy repl.ed. C:=d l.-e to hear what the Apple4ates and 7r. ob.nson and Ch.e3 Coll.4 are 4o.n4 to say.C CAnd Chet sho5ld be there too2C >oe sa.d. CA3ter all2 .t was h.s stolen car that 4ave 5s the cl5e to ed >ac-ley.C Chet was called and 4ave a whoop o3 del.4ht. He a4reed to meet the Hardy 3am.ly at the Tower 7ans.on. CThere=s one more person who o54ht to attend2C sa.d ,ran- w.th a tw.n-le .n h.s eye. C(scar *m533. :=d l.-e to watch h.s 3ace2 too.C CAt least we sho5ld tell h.m that the mystery has been solved2C >oe spo-e 5p. ,ran- wa.ted 5nt.l h.s 3ather had phoned Ch.e3 Coll.42 who prom.sed to release 7r. ob.nson at once and br.n4 h.m o5t to the Apple4ates= home. Then ,ran- called /etect.ve *m533. He co5ld not res.st the temptat.on to -eep *m533 45ess.n4 a l.ttle lon4er2 and merely .nv.ted h.m to Do.n the con3erence 3or a b.4 s5rpr.se. At e.4ht o=cloc- one car a3ter another arr.ved at the Tower 7ans.on. )hen the Hardy 3am.ly wal-ed .n they 3o5nd all the ob.nsons there. The tw.ns r5shed 5p to ,ran- and >oe and h544ed them. *l.m and h.s 3ather shoo- the brothers= hands 3ervently and 7r. ob.nson sa.d2 CHow can : ever than- yo5EC There were tears .n h.s w.3e=s eyes and her vo.ce trembled as she added her apprec.at.on 3or what the Hardy boys had done. C<o5=ll never -now what th.s means to 5s2C she sa.d. (scar *m533 was the last to arr.ve. :nstantly he demanded to -now what was 4o.n4 on. ,ran- and >oe had hoped to have a l.ttle 35n w.th h.m2 b5t Tess.e and Pa5la2 5nable to restra.n the.r enth5s.asm2 sho5ted2 C,ran- and >oe Hardy 3o5nd the Dewelry and the papersB They=re real heroesBC As ,ran- and >oe reddened .n embarrassment2 /etect.ve *m533 loo-ed at them d.sbel.ev.n4ly. C<o5BC he almost screamed. C<o5 mean the Hardy boys 3o5nd the treas5reEC As all the others nodded2 *l.m spo-e 5p2 CTh.s means that my 3ather .s completely exonerated.C CB5t how abo5t that n.ne h5ndred dollarsEC *m533 demanded s5sp.c.o5sly. C)hat=s the explanat.on o3 where yo5r 3ather 4ot thatEC

7r. ob.nson stra.4htened 5p. C:=m sorry2C he sa.d2 Cb5t : m5st -eep my prom.se to rema.n s.lent abo5t that money.C To everyone=s ama?ement2 Adel.a Apple4ate arose and went to stand by the man=s s.de. C: w.ll tell yo5 where ob.nson 4ot that money2C she sa.d dramat.cally. CAt my own s544est.on : loaned .t to h.m.C C<o5BC her brother sho5ted d.sbel.ev.n4ly. C<es2 th.s was one t.me when : d.dn=t as- yo5r adv.ce beca5se : -new yo5 wo5ldn=t a4ree. : -new ob.nson needed the money and : really 3orced h.m to borrow .t2 b5t made h.m prom.se to tell no one where he 4ot .t. Then when the robbery too- place2 : d.dn=t -now what to th.n-. : was s.c- over the whole a33a.r2 and :=m very2 very 4lad everyth.n4=s cleared 5p.C 7.ss Apple4ate=s anno5ncement asto5nded her l.steners. ob.nson stood 5p2 shoo- her hand2 and sa.d .n a sha-y vo.ce2 CThan- yo52 7.ss Adel.a.C H5rd Apple4ate cleared h.s throat2 then sa.d2 C:=d l.-e to ma-e an anno5ncement. ).ll yo5 all please s.t downEC A3ter everyone had ta-en seats .n the lar4e l.v.n4 room o3 the mans.on2 the owner went on2 C7y s.ster Adel.a and : have been tal-.n4 th.n4s over. Th.s whole robbery b5s.ness has ta54ht 5s a 4reat lesson. :n the 35t5re we=re not 4o.n4 to be so stando33.sh 3rom the res.dents o3 Bayport. )e=re 4o.n4 to ded.cate part o3 o5r 4ro5nds-the part w.th the pond-as a p.cn.c and sw.mm.n4 spot 3or the townspeople.C C*5perBC excla.med Chet2 and 7rs. Hardy sa.d2 C: -now everyone w.ll apprec.ate that.C C: haven=t 3.n.shed2C H5rd Apple4ate went on. C: want to ma-e a p5bl.c apolo4y to 7r. ob.nson. Adel.a and : are extremely sorry 3or all the tro5ble we=ve ca5sed h.m. ob.nson2 .3 yo5 w.ll come bac- and wor- 3or 5s2 we prom.se to treat yo5 l.-e the 4entleman yo5 are. )e w.ll .ncrease yo5r salary and we have dec.ded to b5.ld that 4reenho5se yo5 want. <o5=ll have 3ree re.n to ra.se all the rare 3lowers yo5 w.sh to.C There was a 4asp 3rom everyone .n the room. All eyes were t5rned on 7r. ob.nson. *lowly he arose 3rom h.s cha.r2 wal-ed over to 7r. Apple4ate2 and shoo- h.s hand. CAo hard 3eel.n4s2C he sa.d. C:=ll be happy to have my old pos.t.on bac-2 and w.th the new 4reenho5se2 :=m s5re :=ll w.n a lot o3 bl5e r.bbons 3or yo5 and 7.ss Adel.a.C As he ret5rned to h.s cha.r2 7r. Apple4ate sa.d2 CThere .s D5st one more .tem o3 b5s.ness-the reward. The tho5sand-dollar reward 4oes to ,ran- and >oe Hardy2 who solved the mystery o3 the Tower treas5re.C CA tho5sand b5c-sBC excla.med /etect.ve *m533. C/ollars2 7r. *m533-dollarsBC Adel.a Apple-4ate corrected h.m severely2 CAo slan42 please2 not .n Tower 7ans.on.C C(ne tho5sand .ron men2C *m533 cont.n5ed2 5nheed.n4. C(ne tho5sand

ro5nd2 3at2 D5.cy smac-ers. ,or two h.4h school boysB And a real detect.ve l.-e me-C The tho54ht was too m5ch 3or h.m. He dropped h.s head .n h.s hands and 4roaned alo5d. ,ran- and >oe d.d not dare loo- at each other. They were 3.nd.n4 .t d.33.c5lt to restra.n the.r la54hter. C<es2 a tho5sand dollars2C H5rd Apple4ate went on. C,.ve h5ndred to each boy.C He too- the two chec-s 3rom a poc-et and handed one each to ,ran- and >oe2 who accepted them w.th than-s. 7r. Apple4ate now .nv.ted h.s 45ests .nto the d.n.n4 room 3or sandw.ches2 ca-e2 and cold dr.n-s. As ,ran- and >oe ate2 they were con4rat5lated over and over by the others .n the room. They accepted .t all w.th a 4r.n2 b5t secretly2 each boy had a l.ttle 3eel.n4 o3 sadness that the case had ended. They hoped another mystery wo5ld soon come the.r way2 and one d.d at TH! H(+*! (A TH! C;:,,. C;ater2 on the way home2 7r. Hardy as-ed h.s sons2 C)hat are yo5 3ellows 4o.n4 to do w.th all that moneyEC ,ran- had an .nstant answer. CP5t most o3 .t .n the ban-.C And >oe added2 C,ran- and : 3or some t.me have wanted to b5.ld a cr.me lab on the second 3loor o3 o5r barn. Aow we can do .t. All r.4ht2 /adEC The detect.ve sm.led and nodded. CAn excellent .deaBC TH! !A/ TH! T()! T !A*+ ! ,ran-l.n ). /.xon The Hardy Boys no. 1 ev.s.on h.story: 1.01 +pdated sl.4htly to .nd.cate whe.ch vers.on o3 the text th.s .s.

HB 001 The Tower Treasure 1959

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