“Then where is the stuff?”

“Someone else may have found it. That’s the only explanation I can think of.”

“Who else could have taken it but Robinson?”

To this, Mr. Hardy was silent. In spite of his knowledge of and liking for the man, he was beginning to suspect that the caretaker may have had a hand in the affair after all.

“Either that or Jackley simply told that yarn to shield Robinson,” declared Applegate.

“I’m not going to give up this search yet,” said Mr. Hardy patiently. “Perhaps the loot was hidden somewhere about the grounds.”

So the grounds of Tower Mansion, particularly in the vicinity of the two towers, were thoroughly searched. The shrubbery was inspected but to no avail.