crowed triumphantly when she saw the search party returning empty-handed.
'Didn't I tell you?' she cried. 'Hurd Applegate, you've let these boys make a
fool of you!'
She escorted the Hardys to the front door, while her brother, shaking his
head perplexedly, went back to his study.
'We sure messed things up, Frank,' Joe declared, as they walked toward
their motorcycles. 'I feel like a dud rocket.'
'Me too.'
They hurried home to tell their father the disappointing news. Fenton Hardy
was amazed to hear that the stolen valuables had not been located in either
tower. 'You're sure you went over the place thoroughly?'
'Every inch of it. There wasn't a sign of the loot. From the dust in the old
tower, I'd say no one had been there for ages,' Frank replied.
'Strange,' the detective muttered. 'I'm sure Jackley wasn't lying. He had
absolutely nothing to gain by deceiving me. 'I hid it in the old tower.' Those
were his very words. And what could he mean but the old tower of Tower
Mansion? And why should he be so careful to say the old tower? Since he
was familiar with Bayport, he probably knew that the mansion has two
towers, the old and the new.'
'Of course, it may be that we didn't search thoroughly enough,' Joe
remarked. 'The loot could be hidden under the flooring or behind a movable
wall panel. We didn't look there.'
'That's the only solution,' Mr. Hardy agreed. 'I'm still not satisfied that the
stolen property isn't there. I'm going to ask Applegate to permit another
search of both towers. And now, I think your mother wants you to do an
errand downtown.'
Mrs. Hardy explained what she wanted and Frank and Joe were soon on
their motorcycles again. When the boys reached the business section of
Bayport they found that Jackley's confession had already become known.
The local radio station had broadcast it in the afternoon news program and
people everywhere were discussing it.
Detective Smuff walked along the street looking as if he would bite the head
off the first person who mentioned the case to him. When he saw the Hardy
boys he glowered.
'Well,' he grunted, 'I hear you got the stuff back.'
'I wish we had,' Frank said glumly.
'What!' the detective cried out, brightening at once. 'You didn't get it? I
thought they said on the radio that this fellow Jackley had told your father
where he hid it.'
'He did. But how did the news leak out?'
'Jackley's door wasn't closed all the time. One of the other patients who was
walking by the room heard the confession and spilled it. So you didn't find the
loot after all! Ha-ha! That's a good one! Didn't Jackley say the stuff was
hidden in the old tower? What more do you need?'
'Well, it wasn't there!' Joe retorted hotly. 'Jackley must have made a
mistake!'
'Jackley made a mistake!' Smuff continued cheerfully. 'It looks like the
joke's on you fellows and your father!' The would-be sleuth went on down
the street, chuckling to himself.
When Frank and Joe returned home they found that Mr. Hardy had been in
touch with Hurd Applegate and had convinced him that a more detailed
search of the towers would be advisable.
'Boys,' he said, 'we'll go there directly after supper. I think we'd better not
wait until tomorrow.'
At seven o'clock the detective and his sons presented themselves at the Tower
Mansion. Hurd Applegate met them at the door.
'I'm letting you make this search,' he said as he led them toward the old
tower, 'but I'm convinced you won't find anything. I've talked the case over
with Chief Collig. He's inclined to think that Robinson is behind it all and I'm
sure he is.'
'But how about Jackley's confession?' Mr. Hardy asked him.
'The chief says that could be a blind. Jackley did it to protect Robinson.
They were working together.'
'I know it looks bad for Robinson,' Mr. Hardy admitted, 'but I want to give
the towers another close examination. I heard Jackley make the confession
and I don't believe he was lying.'
'Maybe. Maybe. But I'm telling you it was a hoax.'
'I'll believe that only if I don't find anything inside or outside either tower,'
Mr. Hardy declared, his mouth set in a grim line.
'Well, come on, let's get started,' Hurd Apple-gate said, unlocking the door
leading to the old tower.
Eagerly the four set to work. They started at the top of the old tower and
worked downward. Their investigation left no possibility untouched. All the
walls were tapped for hollow sounds which might indicate secret hiding
places. The floors were examined closely for signs of any recent disturbance
to the wood. But the missing jewels and bonds were not located. Finally the
group reached the ground floor again.
'Nothing to do but go on to the new tower,' Mr. Hardy commented briefly.
'I'll have to rest and eat something before I do any more,' Hurd Applegate
said wearily. He led the way to the dining room where sandwiches and milk
had been set out. 'Help yourselves,' he invited. He himself took only
crackers and milk when they all sat down.
After the brief stop for refreshment, the Hardys and the mansion owner
turned their attention to the new tower. Again they searched carefully. Walls
and partitions were tapped and floors were sounded. Every bit of furniture
was minutely examined. Not an inch of space escaped the scrutiny of the
detective and his helpers.
As the search drew to a close and the loot still had not been found, Mr. Hardy
remarked, 'It certainly looks as if the stolen property was never hidden here
by Jackley. And furthermore, there's no evidence that if he did hide it here,
anyone came in to take it away.'
'You mean,' said Frank, 'it's proof that Mr. Robinson did not come in
here?'
'Exactly.'
'Maybe not,' Mr. Applegate conceded. 'But it still doesn't prove he wasn't
in cahoots with the thief!'
'I'm not going to give up this search yet,' Mr. Hardy said determinedly.
'Perhaps the loot was hidden somewhere outside the old tower.'
He explained that it would be difficult to examine the grounds properly at
