“Don’t ask me to help you. I’ve got better things to do. Just got some new stamps in this morning and you interrupted me when I was sortin’ them out. I’ve got to get back to my work.”
The man led the way into a corridor that was heavy with dust. It had not been in use for a long time and it was bare and unfurnished. Leading off this corridor was a heavy door. It was unlocked, and when Mr. Applegate opened it the boys saw that a flight of stairs lay beyond.
“There you are. Those stairs lead up into the tower. Search away. You won’t find anything.”
“I hope we do, Mr. Applegate,” said Frank. “And I’m pretty sure we shall.”
“Yes—boys are always goin’ to do wonders. Go ahead. Live and learn. Waste your time.”
And with this parting shot, Hurd Applegate turned and hobbled back along the corridor, the sheet of stamps still in his gnarled hand. He was muttering to himself as he departed. The Hardy boys looked at one another.
“Not very encouraging, is he, Frank?”
“Not a bit of it. But it will be so much the better for us if we get the stuff back for him. He won’t think we were wasting our time then.”
“Let’s get up into the tower. I’m anxious to start.”
The tower was about five stories in height, as compared with the rest of the mansion, which had but three stories. The lower floor was empty. The floors and walls were heavy with dust. Frank and Joe first examined the stairs carefully for footprints, but there were none to be seen.