The Tower Treasure
Page 12
“How about Chief Collig?” Frank asked. “And we’ll report Hobo Johnny to him.”
“And we’ll invite the Robinsons to hear the announcement,” Joe added.
The detective said he thought there should be a grand meeting at the Applegates’ home of everyone involved with the tower mystery. He suggested that when the boys called up, they try to arrange such a meeting for that very evening.
Frank was selected to make the report to Hurd Applegate; the others could hear the elderly man exclaim in amazement. “I didn’t think you’d do it!” he said over and over again.
Shouting for his sister, he relayed the message, then said, “Adelia wants me to tell you she’s the most relieved woman in all of Bayport. She never did like any of this business.”
The Applegates readily agreed to a meeting at their home early that evening and insisted that Mr. Robinson be there. Mr. Hardy was to see to it that Chief Collig released the man at once.
“This is going to be a lot of fun,” Frank declared at supper. “Mother, I think you should come along? Will you?”
“I’d love to,” Mrs. Hardy replied. “I’d like to hear what the Applegates and Mr. Robinson and Chief Collig are going to say.”
“And Chet should be there too,” Joe said. “After all, it was his stolen car that gave us the clue to Red Jackley.” Chet was called and gave a whoop of delight. He agreed to meet the Hardy family at the Tower Mansion.
“There’s one more person who ought to attend,” said Frank with a twinkle in his eye. “Oscar Smuff. I’d like to watch his face, too.”
“At least we should tell him that the mystery has been solved,” Joe spoke up.
Frank waited until his father had phoned Chief Collig, who promised to release Mr. Robinson at once and bring him out to the Applegates’ home. Then Frank called Detective Smuff. He could not resist the temptation to keep Smuff guessing a little longer, and merely invited him to join the conference for a big surprise.
At eight o’clock one car after another arrived at the Tower Mansion. When the Hardy family walked in they found all the Robinsons there. The twins rushed up to Frank and Joe and hugged them. Slim and his father shook the brothers’ hands fervently and Mr. Robinson said, “How can I ever thank you?”
There were tears in his wife’s eyes and her voice trembled as she added her appreciation for what the Hardy boys had done. “You’ll never know what this means to us,” she said.
Oscar Smuff was the last to arrive. Instantly he demanded to know what was going on. Frank and Joe had hoped to have a little fun with him, but Tessie and Paula, unable to restrain their enthusiasm, shouted, “Frank and Joe Hardy found the jewelry and the papers! They’re real heroes!”
As Frank and Joe reddened in embarrassment, Detective Smuff looked at them disbelievingly. “You!” he almost screamed. “You mean the Hardy boys found the treasure?”
As all the others nodded, Slim spoke up, “This means that my father is completely exonerated.”
“But how about that nine hundred dollars?” Smuff demanded suspiciously. “What’s the explanation of where your father got that?”
Mr. Robinson straightened up. “I’m sorry,” he said, “but I must keep my promise to remain silent about that money.”
To everyone’s amazement, Adelia Applegate arose and went to stand by the man’s side. “I will tell you where Robinson got that money,” she said dramatically. “At my own suggestion I loaned it to him.”
“You!” her brother shouted disbelievingly.
“Yes, this was one time when I didn’t ask your advice because I knew you wouldn’t agree. I knew Robinson needed the money and I really forced him to borrow it, but made him promise to tell no one where he got it. Then when the robbery took place, I didn’t know what to think. I was sick over the whole affair, and I’m very, very glad everything’s cleared up.”
Miss Applegate’s announcement astounded her listeners. Robinson stood up, shook her hand, and said in a shaky voice, “Thank you, Miss Adelia.”
Hurd Applegate cleared his throat, then said, “I’d like to make an announcement. Will you all please sit down?”
After everyone had taken seats in the large living room of the mansion, the owner went on, “My sister Adelia and I have been talking things over. This whole robbery business has taught us a great lesson. In the future we’re not going to be so standoffish from the residents of Bayport. We’re going to dedicate part of our grounds—the part with the pond—as a picnic and swimming spot for the townspeople.”
“Super!” exclaimed Chet, and Mrs. Hardy said, “I know everyone will appreciate that.”
“I haven’t finished,” Hurd Applegate went on. “I want to make a public apology to Mr. Robinson. Adelia and I are extremely sorry for all the trouble we’ve caused him. Robinson, if you will come back and work for us, we promise to treat you like the gentleman you are. We will increase your salary and we have decided to build that greenhouse you want. You’ll have free rein to raise all the rare flowers you wish to.”
There was a gasp from everyone in the room. All eyes were turned on Mr. Robinson. Slowly he arose from his chair, walked over to Mr. Applegate, and shook his hand.
“No hard feelings,” he said. “I’ll be happy to have my old position back, and with the new greenhouse, I’m sure I’ll win a lot of blue ribbons for you and Miss Adelia.”
As he returned to his chair, Mr. Applegate said, “There is just one more item of business—the reward. The thousand-dollar reward goes to Frank and Joe Hardy, who solved the mystery of the Tower treasure.”
“A thousand bucks!” exclaimed Detective Smuff.
“Dollars, Mr. Smuff—dollars!” Adelia Applegate corrected him severely. “No slang, please, not in Tower Mansion.”
“One thousand iron men,” Smuff continued, unheeding. “One thousand round, fat, juicy smackers. For two high school boys! And a real detective like me—”
The thought was too much for him. He dropped his head in his hands and groaned aloud. Frank and Joe did not dare look at each other. They were finding it difficult to restrain their laughter.
“Yes, a thousand dollars,” Hurd Applegate went on. “Five hundred to each boy.”
He took the two checks from a pocket and handed one each to Frank and Joe, who accepted them with thanks. Mr. Applegate now invited his guests into the dining room for sandwiches, cake, and cold drinks.
As Frank and Joe ate, they were congratulated over and over by the others in the room. They accepted it all with a grin, but secretly, each boy had a little feeling of sadness that the case had ended. They hoped another mystery would soon come their way, and one did at THE HOUSE ON THE CLIFF.
“Later, on the way home, Mr. Hardy asked his sons, ”What are you fellows going to do with all that money?”
Frank had an instant answer. “Put most of it in the bank.”
And Joe added, “Frank and I for some time have wanted to build a crime lab on the second floor of our barn. Now we can do it. All right, Dad?”
The detective smiled and nodded. “An excellent ideal”