Both boys wanted to tell their chum about the clues they had discovered the previous day, but the same thought was in their minds⁠—that it would be unwise to raise false hopes. It would go much harder with Perry, they knew, if he began to think the capture of the thief was imminent, only to have the hope dashed to earth again. So they said goodbye to him and wished him good luck. Perry tried hard to be cheerful, but his smile was very faint as he turned away from them and walked off down the street.

“Gosh, but I’m sorry for him,” said Frank as they went home. “He was such a hard worker in school and he counted so much on going to college.”

“We’ve just got to clear up the Tower robbery, that’s all there is to it!” declared his brother.

“Perhaps Dad is back by now. There’s a train from New York at three o’clock. Let’s hurry home and see.”