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charge withdrawn-but that's all.'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.
