The Hardy boys looked at one another in consternation.
Henry Robinson, the caretaker of the Tower Mansion, was the father of one of their closest chums. Perry Robinson, nicknamed “Slim,” was to have accompanied them on their jaunt to the woods that day but had failed to appear. The reason was now evident.
But that Henry Robinson should be accused of the robbery seemed absurd. The boys had met Slim’s father and he had appeared to them as a good-natured, easygoing man, the soul of truth and honesty.
“I don’t believe it,” whispered Frank.
“Neither do I,” returned his brother.
“What makes you suspect Robinson?” asked Mr. Hardy of Hurd Applegate.
“He’s the only person besides my sister and me who ever saw that safe opened and closed. He could have learned the combination if he kept his eyes and ears open. I believe he did.”
“But is that your only reason for suspecting him?”
“More than that. This morning he paid off a note at the bank. It was a note for nine hundred dollars, and I know for a fact that he didn’t have more than one hundred dollars to his name a few days ago. The Robinsons have been hard up, for they had sickness in the family last winter and Henry Robinson has had a hard time meeting his debts since then. Now where did he raise nine hundred dollars so suddenly?”
“Perhaps he has a good explanation,” said Mr. Hardy mildly. “It doesn’t do to jump at conclusions.”
“Oh, he’ll have an explanation all right!” sniffed Mr. Applegate. “But it will have to be a mighty good one to satisfy me.”