Tower Mansion.
'We can't stay long,' Callie explained. 'But Frank and I just thought we'd
run out to see how you all are. And we brought something for you.'
The fruit, ham, and cake were presented. As the twins ohed and ahed over
the food, Mrs. Robinson's eyes filled with tears, 'You are dear people,' she
said. 'Frank, tell your mother I can't thank her enough.'
Frank grinned as Mrs. Robinson went on, 'Callie, we shall enjoy this fruit
very much. Many thanks.'
Paula said, 'It's a wonderful gift. Say, did you know Perry got a better job
the second day he was at the supermarket?'
'No. That's swell,' Frank replied. 'It didn't take the manager long to find
out how smart Slim is, eh?'
The twins giggled, but Mrs. Robinson said dolefully, 'I wish my husband
could find a job. Since no one around here will employ him, he is thinking of
going to another city to get work.'
'And leave you here?'
'I suppose so. We don't know what to do.'
'It's so unfair!' Paula flared up. 'My father didn't have a thing to do with
that miserable robbery, and yet he has to suffer for it just the same!'
Mrs. Robinson said to Frank hesitantly, 'Has Mr. Hardy discovered
anything-yet?'
'I don't know,' Frank admitted. 'We haven't heard from him. He's been in
New York following up some clues. But so far there's been no word.'
'We hardly dare hope that he'll be able to clear Mr. Robinson,' the woman
said sorrowfully. 'The whole case is so mysterious.'
'I've stopped thinking of it,' Tessie declared. 'If the mystery is cleared up,
okay. If it isn't-we won't starve, at any rate, and my father knows we believe
in him.'
'Yes, I suppose it doesn't do much good to keep talking about it,' agreed
Mrs. Robinson. 'We've gone over the whole matter so thoroughly that there
is nothing more to say.'
So, by tacit consent, the subject was changed and for the rest of their stay
Frank and Callie chatted of doings at school. Mrs. Robinson and the girls
invited them to remain for supper, but Callie insisted that she must go. As
they were leaving, Mrs. Robinson drew Frank to one side.
'Promise me one thing,' she said. 'Let me know as soon as your father
returns-that is, if he has any news.'
'I'll do that, Mrs. Robinson,' Frank agreed. 'I know what this suspense
must be like for you and the twins.'
'It's terrible. But as long as Fenton Hardy-and his sons-are working on the
case, I'm sure it will be straightened out.'
Callie and Frank were unusually silent all the way home. They had been
profoundly affected by the change that the Tower Mansion mystery had
caused in the lives of the Robinsons. Callie lived but a few blocks from the
Hardy home, and Frank accompanied her to the door.
'See you tomorrow,' he said.
'Yes, Frank. And I hope you'll hear good news from your father.'
The boy quickened his steps and ran eagerly into the Hardy house. Joe met
him.
'Any phone call?'
Joe shook his head. 'Mother's pretty worried that something has happened
to Dad.'
CHAPTER XII
A Disturbing Absence
ANOTHER whole day went by. When still no word had come from Mr.
Hardy, his wife phoned the New York hotel. She was told that the detective
had checked out the day before.
Discouraged and nervous about the new mystery of their father's
disappearance, Frank and Joe found it almost impossible to concentrate on
their studies.
Then, the following morning when Mrs. Hardy came to awaken them, she
wore a broad smile. 'Your father is home!' she said excitedly. 'He's all right
but has had a bad time. He's asleep now and will tell you everything after
school.'
The boys were wild with impatience to learn the outcome of his trip, but they
were obliged to curb their curiosity.
'Dad must be mighty tired,' Joe remarked, as Mrs. Hardy went downstairs
to start breakfast. 'I wonder where he came from.'
'Probably he was up all night. When he's working on a case, he forgets
about sleep. Do you think he found out anything?'
'Hope so, Frank. I wish he'd wake up and tell us. I hate to go back to school
without knowing.'
But Mr. Hardy had not awakened by the time the boys set out for school,
although they lingered until they were in danger of being late. As soon as
classes were over, they shattered all records in their race home.
Fenton Hardy was in the living room, and as they rushed in panting, he
grinned broadly. He looked refreshed after his long sleep and it was evident
that his trip had not been entirely without success, for his manner was
cheerful.
'Hello, boys! Sorry I worried you and Mother.'
'What luck, Dad?' asked Frank.
'Good and bad. Here's the story: I went to the house where Red Jackley was
boarding. Although he seemed to be an exemplary parolee, I decided to watch
him a while and try to make friends.'
'How could you do that?'
'By taking a room in the same house and pretending to be a fellow
criminal.'
'Wow!' Joe cried. 'And then?'
'Jackley himself spoiled everything. He got mixed up in a jewel robbery and
cleared out of the city. Luckily, I heard him packing, and I trailed him. The
police were watching for him and he couldn't get out of town by plane or bus.
He outwitted the police by jumping a freight on the railroad.'
'And you still followed?'
'I lost him two or three times, but fortunately I managed to pick up his trail
again. He got out of the city and into upper New York State. Then his luck
failed him. A railroad detective recognized Jackley and the chase was on. Up
to that time I had been content with just keeping behind him. I had still hoped
