to pose as a fellow fugitive and win his confidence. But when the pursuit
started in earnest, I had to join the officers.'
'And they caught Jackley?'
'Not without great difficulty. Jackley, by the way, was once a railroad man.
Strangely enough, he worked not many miles from here. He managed to steal
a railroad handcar and got away from us. But he didn't last long, for the
handcar jumped the tracks on a curve and Jackley was badly smashed up.'
'Killed?' Frank asked quickly.
'No. But he's in a hospital right now and the doctors say he hasn't much of a
chance.'
'He's under arrest?'
'Oh, yes. He's being held for the jewel thefts and also for the theft from the
actor's dressing room. But he probably won't live to answer either charge.'
'Didn't you find out anything that would connect him with the Tower
robbery?'
'Not a thing.'
The boys were disappointed, and their expressions showed it. If Red Jackley
died without confessing, the secret of the Tower robbery would die with him.
Mr. Robinson might never be cleared. He might be doomed to spend the rest
of his life under a cloud, suspected of being a thief.
'Have you talked to Jackley?' Frank asked.
'I didn't have a chance-he wasn't conscious.'
'Then you may never be able to get a confession from him.'
Fenton Hardy shrugged. 'I may be able to. If Jackley regains consciousness
and knows he's going to die, he may admit everything. I intend to see him in
the hospital and ask him about the Tower robbery.'
'Is he far away?'
'Albany. I explained my mission to the doctor in charge and he promised to
telephone me as soon as it was possible for Jackley to see anyone.'
'You say he used to work near here?' Joe asked.
'He was once employed by the railroad, and he knows all the country around
here well. Then he became mixed up in some thefts from freight cars, and
after he got out of jail, turned professional criminal. I suppose he came back
here because he is so familiar with this area.'
'I promised to call Mrs. Robinson,' Frank spoke up. 'Okay to tell her about
Jackley?'
'Yes, it may cheer her up. But ask her not to tell anyone.'
Frank dialed the number and relayed part of his father's story. The accused
man's wife was overwhelmed and relieved by the news, but promised not to
divulge the information. Just as Frank finished the call, the doorbell rang.
Frank ushered in the private detective Oscar Smuff.
'Your pa home?' he asked.
'Yes. Come in.' Frank led the way into the living room.
Smuff, although he considered himself a top-notch sleuth, stood in awe of
Fenton Hardy. He cleared his throat nervously.
'Good afternoon, Oscar,' said Mr. Hardy pleasantly. 'Won't you sit
down?'
Detective Smuff eased himself into an armchair, then glanced inquiringly at
the two boys. At once Mr. Hardy said, 'Unless your business is very private,
I'd like to have my sons stay.'
'Well, I reckon that'll be all right,' Smuff conceded. 'I hear you're working
on this Applegate case.'
'Perhaps I am.'
'You've been out of town several days,' Smuff remarked cannily, 'so I
deduced you must be workin' on it.'
'Very clever of you, Detective Smuff,' Mr. Hardy said, smiling at his visitor.
Smuff squirmed uneasily in his chair. 'I'm workin' on this case too-I'd like to
get that thousand-dollar reward, but I'd share it with you. I was just
wonderin' if you'd found any clues.'
Mr. Hardy's smile faded. He said, with annoyance, 'If I went away, it is my
own business. And if I'm working on the Tower robbery, that also is my
business. You'll have to find your own clues, Oscar.'
'Well, now, don't get on your high horse, Mr. Hardy,' the visitor
remonstrated. 'I'm just anxious to get this affair cleared up and I thought we
might work together. I heard you were with the officers what chased this
here notorious criminal Red Jackley.'
Mr. Hardy gave a perceptible start. He had no idea that news of the capture
of Jackley had reached Bayport, much less that his own participation in the
chase had become known. The local police must have received the
information and somehow Smuff had heard the news.
'What of it?' Mr. Hardy asked in a casual way.
'Did Jackley have anything to do with the Tower case?'
'How should I know?'
'Wasn't that what you were workin' on?'
'As I've told you, that's my affair.'
Detective Smuff looked sad. 'I guess you just don't want to cooperate with
me, Mr. Hardy. I was thinkin' of goin' over to the hospital where this man
Jackley is and questionin' him about the case.'
Mr. Hardy's lips narrowed into a straight line. 'You can't do that, Oscar. He
isn't conscious. The doctor won't let you see him.'
'I'm goin' to try. Jackley'll come to some time and I want to be on hand.
There's a plane at six o'clock, and I aim to leave my house about five-thirty
and catch it.' He thumped his chest in admiration. 'Detectives don't have to
show up for a plane till the last minute, eh, Mr. Hardy? Well, I'll have a talk
with Jackley tonight. And I may let you know what he says.'
'Have it your own way,' said Mr. Hardy. 'But if you take my advice you'll
not visit the hospital. You'll just spoil everything. Jackley will talk when the
times comes.'
'So there is somethin' in it!' Smuff said triumphantly. 'Well, I'm goin' over
there and get a confession!' With that he arose, stumped out of the room,
and left the house.
CHAPTER XIII
Teamwork
AFTER Smuff left the house, Mr. Hardy sat back with a gesture of despair.
'That man,' he said, 'handles an investigation so clumsily that Red Jackley
will close up like a clam if Smuff manages to question him.'
At that moment the telephone rang. The boys listened excitedly as Mr. Hardy
