'Don't pay any attention to him,' Joe advised. 'Say, Mr. Rocco,' he went
on, 'you look tired. Why don't you go home for an hour or so and let Frank
and me take over here?'
'You think I look tired? That worry my wife. Then Rosa say I must close up
early.' Rocco sighed. 'You very kind boys. I do what you say. Come back
six-thirty.'
As Rocco removed his apron, he said, 'I fix trash in yard to burn. You do
that?'
'Glad to.'
Rocco showed them a wire incinerator in the yard, then left the store. Five
minutes later there was a whistle from the street. A signal from Jerry I Frank
and Joe went to the front door to watch. Smuff was just backing his car out
of the driveway. As prearranged, Phil hurried over and stopped him.
The detective and the boy apparently got into an argument, but it did not last
long enough to satisfy Frank and Joe. The conversation took less than two
minutes, then Smuff backed around into the street.
'Hey, Frank,' said Joe, 'I have an idea. Go light that trash. Make it a
roaring fire!'
Without further explanation he dashed into the street, but Frank figured out
what was in his brother's mind. He dashed through the store and into the
yard. Quickly he lighted the papers in the incinerator in several places. The
rubbish blazed lustily.
Joe was intently watching the scene down the street. Smuff was now being
'interviewed' by Biff, and Chet came forward to urge Smuff to take some
fruit with him on his trip. The detective hesitated, then shook his head and
started off in his car.
Only five of the necessary fifteen-minute delay had elapsed I Joe hesitated no
longer. Running down the street, he held up one hand for the oncoming car to
stop.
'Come quick, Smuff!' he called out 'There's a fire back of Rocco's!'
'Well, you put it out. I'm in a hurry!' the detective told the boy tartly.
'You mean you'd let all of Bayport burn down just because you're in a
hurry?' Joe pretended to scoff.
Smuff winced, but still did not move. Joe said, starting back to the store,
'Well, Frank and I will have to take care of it alone.'
This brought the detective to action. He realized he might be missing a
chance to become a hero! In a flash he drove his car down the street and
parked in front of the fruit store.
'Where's the fire?' Smuff cried out, nearly bumping into Frank who was
dashing from the front door of Rocco's.
'The fire-is-back there-in the yard.' Frank pretended to pant. 'You go look
and see if we ought to turn in an alarm.'
Smuff dashed inside the store and hurried to the yard. By this time the
Hardys' friends had gathered in Rocco's fruit store. They asked excitedly
what was going on.
'Frank! Joe!' yelled Smuff from the rear of the store. 'Where's Rocco?
Where's a pail? Where's some water?'
CHAPTER XIV
The Confession
'Rocco's not around,' Joe replied to Smuff. 'There's water in the sink-in the
back. Shall I call the fire department?'
'No, I can manage this,' Smuff declared. 'But where's a pail?'
Frank dashed into the back room and found a pail under the sink. He filled it
with water and handed the pail to Smuff, who hurried to the yard. He doused
the incinerator flames which hissed and crackled, then died.
'Some people have no sense,' Smuff commented. 'The idea of anyone
starting a fire, then going off and leaving it! I'll bet that was Rocco's work!
As for you boys-you had to call me. Didn't have the savvy to put out a simple
fire.'
'Good thing you were around,' Frank observed, suppressing a smile.
'I'll say it was,' Smuff agreed. 'And Chief Collig is sure goin' to hear about
this.'
'Oh, please don't tell him about us,' Joe spoke up, half closing his eyes so
Smuff could not see the twinkle in them.
'I didn't mean that. Oscar Smuff is no squealer. I mean Collig is goin' to hear
what I did.' The detective chuckled. 'One more notch in my gun, as the
cowboys say.'
Suddenly Smuff sobered and looked at his wrist watch. 'Oh, no!' he cried
out. 'Ten minutes to six! I can't make my plane!'
'That's a shame,' Frank said consolingly. 'But cheer up, Smuff, there's a
seven-o'clock plane for Albany. I wish you luck in your interview.'
Smuff stormed out of the fruit store and disappeared with his car. The
Hardys and their friends burst into roars of laughter which did not stop until
a woman customer came into the shop. All the boys but Frank and Joe left.
Rocco returned at six-thirty, pleased that so much fruit had been sold during
his absence. 'You better salesman than Rocco.' He grinned widely.
The Hardys went home, well-satisfied with their day's work. The six-o'clock
plane had left without Smuff. Their father could make his trip to the hospital
without the annoying detective's interference.
Fenton Hardy did not return home until the next afternoon. When the boys
came from school they found him in high spirits.
'Solved the mystery?' Joe asked eagerly.
'Practically. First of all, Jackley is dead.'
'Did he confess?'
'You're not very sympathetic toward the poor fellow, Joe. Yes, he confessed.
Fortunately, Oscar Smuff didn't show up while Jackley was talking.'
Frank and Joe glanced at each other and their father smiled quietly. 'I have
an idea,' he said, 'that you two sleuths know more about this Smuff business
than you would care to tell. Well, anyhow, the Albany police and I had a clear
field. I saw Jackley before he died and questioned him about the Tower
robbery.'
'Did he admit everything?'
'Jackley said he came to Bayport with the intention of robbery. He stole a
car, smashed it up, and took Chet's. Then he went to rob the ticket office.
When he failed in that he decided to hang around town for a few days. He hit
upon Tower Mansion as his next effort. Jackley entered the library with
gloves on, opened the safe, and took out the jewelry and securities.' 'What
