The Tower Treasure thb-1 Read online

  your month's wages."

  "That is true."

  "And then the day of this robbery you suddenly have nine hundred dollars

  that you can't explain."

  Mr. Hardy's calm voice broke in. "Of course I don't like to pry into your

  private affairs, Mr. Robinson," he said, "but it would be best if you would

  dear up this matter of the money."

  "I know it looks bad," replied the caretaker doggedly. "But I've made a

  promise I can't break."

  "And you admit being familiar with the combination of the safe, too!" broke

  in Mr. Applegate. "I didn't know that before. Why didn't you tell me?"

  "I didn't consider it important."

  "And yet you come and tell me now!"

  "I have nothing to conceal. If I had taken the securities and jewels I wouldn't

  be telling you that I knew the combination."

  "Yes," agreed Mr. Hardy, "that's a point in your favor, Mr. Robinson."

  "Is it?" asked Mr. Applegate. "Robinson's just clever enough to think up a

  trick like that. He'd figure that by appearing to be honest, I'd believe he is

  honest and couldn't have committed this robbery. Very clever. But not clever

  enough. There's plenty of evidence right this minute to convict him, and I'm

  not going to delay any further."

  In a moment Mr. Applegate's voice continued, "Police station? Hello . . .

  Police station? . . . This is Applegate speaking-Applegate-Hurd Applegate. . .

  . Well, we've found our man in that robbery. . . . Yes, Robinson. . . . You

  thought so, eh?-So did I, but I wasn't sure. . . . He has practically convicted

  himself by his own story. . . . Yes, I want him arrested. . . . You'll be up right

  away? . . . Fine. . . . Good-by."

  "You're not going to have me arrested, Mr. Applegate?" the caretaker cried

  out in alarm.

  "Why not? You're the thief!"

  "It might have been better to wait a while," Mr. Hardy interposed. "At least

  until there was more evidence."

  "What more evidence do we want, Mr. Hardy," the owner of Tower Mansion

  sneered. "If Robinson wants to return the jewels and securities I'll have the

  charge withdrawn-but that's all."

  "I can't return them! I didn't take them!" Mr. Robinson defended himself.

  "You'll have plenty of time to think," Mr. Applegate declared. "You'll be in

  the penitentiary a long time-a long time."

  In the hallway the boys listened in growing excitement and dismay. The case

  had taken an abrupt and tragic turn. Slim looked as though he might collapse

  under the strain.

  "My dad's innocent," the boy muttered over and over again, clenching his

  fists. "I know he is. They can't arrest him. He never stole anything in his

  life!"

  Frank patted his friend on the shoulder. "Brace up, pal," he advised. "It

  looks discouraging just now, but I'm sure your father will be able to clear

  himself."

  "I-I'll have to tell Mother," stammered Slim. "This will break her heart. And

  my sisters-"

  Frank and Joe followed the boy down the hallway and along a corridor that

  led to the east wing of the mansion. There, in a neat but sparsely furnished

  apartment, they found Mrs. Robinson, a gentle, kind-faced woman, who was

  lame. She was seated in a chair by the window, anxiously waiting. Her two

  daughters, Paula and Tessie, twelve-year-old twins, were at her side, and all

  looked up in expectation as the boys came in.

  "What news, son?" Mrs. Robinson asked bravely, after she had greeted the

  Hardys.

  "Bad, Mother."

  "They're not-they're not-arresting him?" cried Paula, springing forward.

  Perry nodded wordlessly.

  "But they can't!" Tessie protested. "Dad couldn't do anything like that! It's

  wrong-"

  Frank, looking at Mrs. Robinson, saw her suddenly slump over in a faint. He

  sprang forward and caught the woman in his arms as she was about to fall to

  the floor.

  "Mother!" cried Slim in terror, as Frank laid Mrs. Robinson on a couch,

  then he said quickly to his sister, "Paula, bring the smelling salts and her

  special medicine."

  Perry explained that at times undue excitement caused an "attack." "I

  shouldn't have told her about Dad," the boy chided himself.

  "She'd have to know it sooner or later," Joe said kindly.

  In a moment Paula returned with the bottle of smelling salts and medicine.

  The inhalant brought her mother back to consciousness, and Paula then gave

  Mrs. Robinson the medicine. In a few moments the woman completely

  revived and apologized for having worried everyone.

  "I admit it was a dreadful shock to think my husband has been arrested," she

  said, "but surely something can be done to prove his innocence."

  Instantly Frank and Joe assured her they would do everything they could to

  find the real thief, because they too felt that Mr. Robinson was not guilty.

  The next morning, as the brothers were dressing in their room at home,

  Frank remarked, "There's a great deal about this case that hasn't come to

  the surface yet. It's just possible that the man who stole Chet Morton's car

  may have had something to do with the theft."

  Joe agreed. "He was a criminal-that much is certain. He stole an automobile

  and he tried to hold up the ticket office, so why not another robbery?"

  "Right, Joe. I just realized that we never inspected Chet's car for any dues to

  the thief, so let's do it."

  The stout boy did not bring his jalopy to school that day, so the Hardys had to

  submerge their curiosity until classes and baseball practice were over. Then,

  when Mrs. Morton picked up Chet and Iola, Frank and Joe went home with

  them.

  "I'll look under the seats," Joe offered.

  "And I'll search the trunk compartment." Frank walked to the back of the

  car and raised the cover. He began rooting under rags, papers, and discarded

  schoolbooks. Presently he gave a cry of victory.

  "Here it is! The best evidence in the world!"

  Joe and Chet rushed to his side as he held up a man's red wig.

  Frank said excitedly, "Maybe there's a clue in this hair piece!"

  An examination failed to reveal any, but Frank said he would like to show the

  wig to his father. He covered it with a handkerchief and put it carefully in an

  inner pocket. Chet drove the Hardys home.

  They assumed that their father was in his study on the second floor, and

  rushed up there and into the room without ceremony.

  "Dad, we've found a clue!" Joe cried. Then he stepped back, embarrassed,

  as he realized there was someone else in the room.

  "Sorry!" said Frank. The boys would have retreated, but Mr. Hardy's visitor

  turned around and they saw that he was Perry Robinson.

  "It's only me," said Slim. "Don't go."

  "Hi, Slim!"

  "Perry has been trying to shed a little more light on the Tower robbery,"

  explained Mr, Hardy. "But what is this clue you're talking about?"

  "It might concern the robbery," replied Frank. "It's about the red-haired

  man." He took the wig from his pocket and told where he had found it.

  Mr. Hardy's interest was kindled at once. "This seems to link up a pretty

  good chain of evidence. The man who passed you on the shore road wrecked

&nbs
p; the car he was driving, then stole Chet's, and afterward tried to hold up the

  ticket office. When he failed there, he tried another and more successful

  robbery at the Tower."

  "Do you really think the wig might help us solve the Tower robbery?" asked

  Perry, taking hope.

  "Possibly."

  "I was just telling your father," Slim went on, "that I saw a strange man

  lurking around the grounds of the mansion two days before the robbery. I

  didn't think anything of it at the time, and in the shock of Dad's arrest I

  forgot about it."

  "Did you get a good look at him? Could you describe him?" Frank asked.

  "I'm afraid I can't. It was in the evening. I was sitting by a window, studying,

  and happened to look up. I saw this fellow moving about among the trees.

  Later, I heard one of the dogs barking in another part of the grounds. Shortly

  afterward, I saw someone running across the lawn. I thought he was just a

  tramp."

  "Did he wear a hat or a cap?"

  "As near as I can remember, it was a cap. His clothes were dark."

  "And you couldn't see his face?"

  "No."

  "Well, it's not much to go on," said Mr. Hardy, "but it might be linked up

  with Frank and Joe's idea that the man who stole the jalopy may still have

  been hanging around Bayport." The detective thought deeply for a few

  moments. "I'll bring all these facts to Mr. Applegate's attention, and I'm also

  going to have a talk with the police authorities. I feel they haven't enough

  evidence to warrant holding your father, Perry."

  "Do you think you can have him released?" the boy asked eagerly.

  "I'm sure of it. In fact, I believe Mr. Applegate is beginning to realize now

  that he made a mistake."

  "It will be wonderful if we can have Dad back with us again," said Perry.

  "Of course things won't be the same for him. He'll be under a cloud of

  suspicion as long as this mystery isn't cleared up. I suppose Mr. Applegate

  won't employ him or anyone else."

  "All the more reason why we should get busy and clear up the affair," Frank

  said quickly, and Joe added, "Slim, we'll do all we can to help your father."

  CHAPTER VIII

  An Important Discovery

  WHEN the Hardy boys were on their way home from school the next

  afternoon they noticed that a crowd had collected in the vestibule of the post

  office and were staring at the bulletin board.

  "Wonder what's up now?" said Joe, pushing his way forward through the

  crowd with the agility of an eel. Frank was not slow in following.

  On the board was a large poster. The ink on it was scarcely dry. At the top,

  in enormous black letters, it read:

  $1000 REWARD

  Underneath, in slightly smaller type, was the following:

  The above reward will be paid for information leading to the arrest of the

  person or persons who broke into Tower Mansion and stole jewels and

  securities from a safe in the library.

  The reward was being offered by Hurd Apple-gate.

  "Why, that must mean the charge against Mr. Robinson has been dropped!"

  exclaimed Joe.

  "It looks like it. Let's see if we can find Slim."

  All about them people were commenting on the size of the reward, and there

  were many expressions of envy for the person who would be fortunate enough

  to solve the mystery.

  "A thousand dollars!" said Frank, as the brothers made their way out of the

  post office. "That's a lot of money, Joe."

  "I'll say it is."

  "And there's no reason why we haven't as good a chance of earning it as

  anyone else."

  "I suppose Dad and the police are barred from the reward, for it's their duty

  to find the thief if they can. But if we track him down we can get the money.

  It'll be a good sum to add to our college fund."

  "Let's go! Say, there's Slim now."

  Perry Robinson was coming down the street toward them. He looked much

  happier than he had the previous evening, and when he saw the Hardy boys

  his face lighted up.

  "Dad is free," he told them. "Thanks to your father, the charge has been

  dropped."

  "I'm sure glad to hear that!" exclaimed Joe. "I see a reward is being

  offered." "Your father convinced Mr. Applegate that it must have been an

  outside job. And the work of a professional thief. Chief Collig admitted there

  wasn't much evidence against Dad, so they let him go. It's a great relief. My

  mother and sisters were almost crazy with worry."

  "No wonder," commented Frank. "What's your father going to do now?"

  "I don't know," Slim admitted. "Of course, we've had to move from the

  Tower Mansion estate. Mr. Applegate said that even though the charge had

  been dropped, he wasn't altogether convinced in his own mind that Dad

  hadn't had something to do with the theft. So he dismissed him."

  "That's tough luck. But your dad will be able to get another job somewhere,"

  Frank said consolingly.

  "I'm not so sure about that. People aren't likely to employ a man who's been

  suspected of stealing. Dad tried two or three places this afternoon, but he was

  turned down."

  The Hardys were silent. They felt very sorry for the Robinsons and were

  determined to do what they could to help them.

  "We've rented a small house just outside the city," Slim went on. "It's cheap

  and the neighborhood is kind of bad, but we'll have to get along."

  Frank and Joe admired Slim. There was no false pride about him. He faced

  the facts as they came, and made the best of them. "But if Dad doesn't get a

  job, it will mean that I'll have to go to work full time."

  "Why, Slim-you'd have to quit school!" Joe cried out.

  "I can't help that. I wouldn't want to, for you know I was trying for a

  scholarship. But-"

  The brothers realized how much it would mean to their chum if he had to

  leave school. Perry Robinson was an ambitious boy and one of the top ten in

  his class. He had always wanted to continue his studies and go on to a

  university, and his teachers had predicted a brilliant career for him as an

  engineer. Now it seemed that all his ambitions for a high school diploma and

  a college education would have to be given up because of this misfortune.

  Frank put an arm around Slim's shoulders. "Chin up," he said with a warm

  smile. "Joe and I are going to plug away at this affair until we get to the

  bottom of it!"

  "It's mighty good of you fellows," Slim said gratefully. "I won't forget it in a

  hurry." He tried to smile, but it was evident that the boy was deeply worried.

  When he walked away it was not with the light, carefree step which the

  Hardys associated with him.

  "What's the first move, Frank?" Joe asked.

  "We'd better get a full description of those jewels. Perhaps the thief tried to

  pawn them. Let's try all the pawnshops and see what we can find out."

  "Good idea, even if the police have already done it." Frank grinned. Then he

  sobered. "Do you think Applegate will give us a list?"

  "We won't have to ask him. Dad should have that information."

  "Let's find out right now."

  When the boys returned home, they found their father waiting for them. "I

  have n
ews for you," he said. "Your theory about the wrecked auto being

  stolen has been confirmed. Collig phoned just now and told me the true

  ownership had been traced by the engine number. Car belongs to a man over

  in Thornton."

  "Good. That's one more strike against the thief," Joe declared.

  But a moment later the boys met with disappointment when they asked their

  father for a list of the stolen jewels.

  "I'm willing to give you all the information I have," said Fenton Hardy, "but

  I'm afraid it won't be of much use. Furthermore, I'll bet I can tell just what

  you're going to do."

  "What?"

  "Make the rounds of the pawnshops to see if any of the jewels have been

  turned in."

  The Hardy boys looked at each other in amazement. "I might have guessed,"

  said Frank.

  Their father smiled. "Not an hour after I was called in on the case I had a full

  description of all those jewels in every pawnshop in the city. More than that,

  the description has been sent to jewelry firms and pawnshops in other cities

  near here, and also the New York police. Here's a duplicate list if you want it,

  but you'll just be wasting time calling at the shops. All the dealers are on the

  lookout for the jewels."

  Mechanically, Frank took the list. "And I thought it was such a bright idea!"

  "It is a bright idea. But it has been used before. Most jewel robberies are

  solved in just this manner-by tracing the thief when he tries to get rid of the

  gems."

  "Well," said Joe gloomily, "I guess that plan is all shot to pieces. Come on,

  Frank. We'll think of something else."

  "Out for the reward?" asked Mr. Hardy, chuckling.

  "Yes. And we'll get it, too!"

  "I hope you do. But you can't ask me to help you any more than I've done.

  It's my case, too, remember. So from now on, you boys and I are rivals I"

  "It's a go!"

  "More power to you!" Mr. Hardy smiled and returned to his desk.

  He had a sheaf of reports from shops and agencies in various parts of the

  state, through which he had been trying to trace the stolen jewels and

  securities, but in every case the report was the same. There had been no lead

  to the gems or the bonds taken from Tower Mansion.

  When the boys left their father's study they went outside and sat on the

  back-porch steps.

  "What shall we do now?" asked Joe.

  "I don't know. Dad sure took the wind out of our sails that time, didn't he?"