no doubt he decided to hide the stuff there and take a chance on coming back for it sometime after the affair had blown over.”
“That was why he couldn’t be traced through the jewels and the bonds,” Joe said. “They were never disposed of at all. They’ve been lying in the old tower all this time.”
“I tried to get him to tell me in just what part of the tower the loot was hidden,” continued Fenton Hardy, “but he died before he could say any more. ‘I hid it in the old tower.’ He just managed to gasp that out before he became unconscious.”
“It shouldn’t be hard to find the stuff, now that we have a general idea of where it is,” Frank pointed out. “Probably he didn’t hide it very carefully. The old tower has been unoccupied for a long time and it is rarely entered. The stuff would be as safe there as if he had hidden it miles away.”
Joe got up from his chair.
“I think we ought to get busy and go search the old tower right away. Oh, boy! If we can only hand old Applegate his jewels and bonds this morning and clear Mr. Robinson. Let’s start.”
“I’ll leave it to you boys to make the search,” said Mr. Hardy, with a smile. “I’ve no doubt the stuff will be easily recovered, and you can have the satisfaction of turning it over to Mr. Applegate. I guess you can get along without me in this case from now on.”
“We wouldn’t have got very far if it hadn’t been for you.”
“And I wouldn’t have got very far if it hadn’t been for you, so we’re even,” smiled Mr. Hardy. “Be on your way, then, and good luck to you.”
“We’ll find it, never fear,” promised Frank, putting on his cap. “I hope the Applegates don’t throw us out when we ask to be allowed to look