Joe explained that every once in a while he and Frank went down to Rocco's fruit store to act as clerks while the owner went home to supper. He stayed open evenings until nine.

"Rocco's is only a block from Sm.u.f.f's house. Sm.u.f.f knows Frank and I go there, so he wouldn't be surprised to see us in the neighborhood. I suggest that the bunch of us meet casually down near the store and one boy after another stop Sm.u.f.f to talk. Maybe we can even get him into the shop. You know Sm.u.f.f loves to eat."

"You can't hate him for that," Chet spoke up. "I'll be glad to invite him in and buy him an apple for his trip."

"A fifteen-minute delay for Sm.u.f.f is all we need," Frank said.

"I think it's a swell idea," Biff spoke up. "And I'm sure Mr. Rocco will co-operate."

"Who's going to persuade him?" Phil asked.

"That's Frank and Joe's department," Jerry replied.

Rocco was a hard-working man who had come from Italy only a few years ago. He was a simple, genial person and had great admiration for the Hardy boys.

The whole group made their way toward the fruit store, but only the Hardys went inside. The others spread out to watch for Sm.u.f.f, who was expected to leave his house soon. Each boy went over his part in the plan.

When Frank and Joe walked into the fruit store, they found the dark-eyed Rocco sorting oranges. "Buona sera" he said. "Good evening. How you like my fix the place?"

"Looks swell," Frank answered. "New bins. Better lights." Then he added, "How does your neighbor Sm.u.f.f like it?"

Rocco threw up his hands in a gesture of disgust. "Oh, that man! He make me mad. He say I charge too much. He tell me I ought to go back to old country."

"Don't pay any attention to him," Joe advised. "Say, Mr. Rocco," he went on, "you look tired. Why don't you go home for an hour or so and let Frank and me take over here?"

"You think I look tired? That worry my wife. Then Rosa say I must close up early." Rocco sighed. "You very kind boys. I do what you say. Come back six-thirty."

As Rocco removed his ap.r.o.n, he said, "I fix trash in yard to burn. You do that?"

"Glad to."

Rocco showed them a wire incinerator in the yard, then left the store. Five minutes later there was a whistle from the street. A signal from Jerry I Frank and Joe went to the front door to watch. Sm.u.f.f was just backing his car out of the driveway. As prearranged, Phil hurried over and stopped him.

The detective and the boy apparently got into an argument, but it did not last long enough to satisfy Frank and Joe. The conversation took less than two minutes, then Sm.u.f.f backed around into the street.

"Hey, Frank," said Joe, "I have an idea. Go light that trash. Make it a roaring fire!"

Without further explanation he dashed into the street, but Frank figured out what was in his brother's mind. He dashed through the store and into the yard. Quickly he lighted the papers in the incinerator in several places. The rubbish blazed l.u.s.tily.

Joe was intently watching the scene down the street. Sm.u.f.f was now being "interviewed" by Biff, and Chet came forward to urge Sm.u.f.f to take some fruit with him on his trip. The detective hesitated, then shook his head and started off in his car.

Only five of the necessary fifteen-minute delay had elapsed I Joe hesitated no longer. Running down the street, he held up one hand for the oncoming car to stop.

"Come quick, Sm.u.f.f!" he called out "There's a fire back of Rocco's!"

"Well, you put it out. I'm in a hurry!" the detective told the boy tartly.

"You mean you'd let all of Bayport burn down just because you're in a hurry?" Joe pretended to scoff.

Sm.u.f.f winced, but still did not move. Joe said, starting back to the store, "Well, Frank and I will have to take care of it alone."

This brought the detective to action. He realized he might be missing a chance to become a hero! In a flash he drove his car down the street and parked in front of the fruit store.

"Where's the fire?" Sm.u.f.f cried out, nearly b.u.mping into Frank who was dashing from the front door of Rocco's.

"The fire-is-back there-in the yard." Frank pretended to pant. "You go look and see if we ought to turn in an alarm."

Sm.u.f.f dashed inside the store and hurried to the yard. By this time the Hardys' friends had gathered in Rocco's fruit store. They asked excitedly what was going on.

"Frank! Joe!" yelled Sm.u.f.f from the rear of the store. "Where's Rocco?

Where's a pail? Where's some water?"

CHAPTER XIV.

The Confession "Rocco's not around," Joe replied to Sm.u.f.f. "There's water in the sink-in the back. Shall I call the fire department?"

"No, I can manage this," Sm.u.f.f declared. "But where's a pail?"

Frank dashed into the back room and found a pail under the sink. He filled it with water and handed the pail to Sm.u.f.f, who hurried to the yard. He doused the incinerator flames which hissed and crackled, then died.

"Some people have no sense," Sm.u.f.f commented. "The idea of anyone starting a fire, then going off and leaving it! I'll bet that was Rocco's work!

As for you boys-you had to call me. Didn't have the savvy to put out a simple fire."

"Good thing you were around," Frank observed, suppressing a smile.

"I'll say it was," Sm.u.f.f agreed. "And Chief Collig is sure goin' to hear about this."

"Oh, please don't tell him about us," Joe spoke up, half closing his eyes so Sm.u.f.f could not see the twinkle in them.

"I didn't mean that. Oscar Sm.u.f.f is no squealer. I mean Collig is goin' to hear what I did." The detective chuckled. "One more notch in my gun, as the cowboys say."

Suddenly Sm.u.f.f sobered and looked at his wrist watch. "Oh, no!" he cried out. "Ten minutes to six! I can't make my plane!"

"That's a shame," Frank said consolingly. "But cheer up, Sm.u.f.f, there's a seven-o'clock plane for Albany. I wish you luck in your interview."

Sm.u.f.f stormed out of the fruit store and disappeared with his car. The Hardys and their friends burst into roars of laughter which did not stop until a woman customer came into the shop. All the boys but Frank and Joe left.

Rocco returned at six-thirty, pleased that so much fruit had been sold during his absence. "You better salesman than Rocco." He grinned widely.

The Hardys went home, well-satisfied with their day's work. The six-o'clock plane had left without Sm.u.f.f. Their father could make his trip to the hospital without the annoying detective's interference.

Fenton Hardy did not return home until the next afternoon. When the boys came from school they found him in high spirits.

"Solved the mystery?" Joe asked eagerly.

"Practically. First of all, Jackley is dead."

"Did he confess?"

"You're not very sympathetic toward the poor fellow, Joe. Yes, he confessed.

Fortunately, Oscar Sm.u.f.f didn't show up while Jackley was talking."

Frank and Joe glanced at each other and their father smiled quietly. "I have an idea," he said, "that you two sleuths know more about this Sm.u.f.f business than you would care to tell. Well, anyhow, the Albany police and I had a clear field. I saw Jackley before he died and questioned him about the Tower robbery."

"Did he admit everything?"

"Jackley said he came to Bayport with the intention of robbery. He stole a car, smashed it up, and took Chet's. Then he went to rob the ticket office.

When he failed in that he decided to hang around town for a few days. He hit upon Tower Mansion as his next effort. Jackley entered the library with gloves on, opened the safe, and took out the jewelry and securities." "What did he do with the loot?" "That's what I'm coming to. It was not until Jackley knew he was at the point of death that he did confess to the Tower affair.

Then he said, 'Yes, I took the stuff-but I didn't dare try selling any of it right away, so I hid it. You can get all the stuff back easily. It's in the old tower-'

"That was all he said. Jackley lost consciousness then and never regained it."

"When did Sm.u.f.f get there?" Joe asked eagerly.

"Not until after Jackley had gone into a coma," Mr. Hardy replied. "We both sat by his bed, hoping the man would awaken, but he died within an hour. Just where Jackley hid the loot in the old tower, he was never able to say."

"Does Sm.u.f.f know what Jackley said?"

"No."

"If the loot's hidden in the old Applegate tower, we'll find it in no time!"

Frank exclaimed.

"Tower Mansion has two towers-the old and the new," Joe reminded him.

"We'll search the old tower first."

"The story seems likely enough," Mr. Hardy remarked. "Jackley would gain nothing by lying about it on his deathbed. He probably became panicky after he committed the robbery and hid in the old tower until he was able to get away safely. No doubt he decided to hide the stuff there and take a chance on coming back for it some time after the affair had blown over."

Joe nodded. "That was why Jackley couldn't be traced through the jewels and the bonds. They were never disposed of-they've been lying in the old tower all this time!"

"I tried to get him to tell me in just what part of the tower the loot was hidden," Mr. Hardy continued, "but he died before he could say any more."

"Too bad," said Frank. "But it shouldn't be hard to find the loot, now that we have a general idea where it is. Probably Jackley didn't hide it very carefully. Since the old tower has been unoccupied for a long time, the stuff would be safe there from snoopers."

Joe jumped up from his chair. "I think we ought to get busy and go search the old tower right away. Oh, boy! Maybe we can hand old Mr. Applegate his jewels and bonds this afternoon and clear Mr. Robinson! Let's go!"

"I'll leave it to you boys to make the search," said Mr. Hardy with a smile.

"Then you can have the satisfaction of turning over the stolen property to Mr. Applegate. I guess you can get along without me in this case from now on."

"We wouldn't have got very far if it hadn't been for you," Frank declared.

"And I wouldn't have got very far if it hadn't been for you, so we're even."

Mr. Hardy's smile broadened. "Well, good luck to you."

As the boys started from the study, Frank said, "Thanks, Dad. I only hope the Applegates don't throw us out when we ask to be allowed to look around inside the old tower."

"Just tell them," his father advised, "that you have a pretty good clue to where the bonds and jewels are hidden and they'll let you search."

Joe grinned. "Frank, we'll have that thousand-dollar reward before the day is over!"

The brothers raced from the house, confident that they were about to solve the Tower Treasure mystery.

CHAPTER XV.

The Tower Search WHEN the Hardy boys reached Tower Mansion at four o'clock the door was opened by Hurd Apple-gate himself. The tall, stooped gentleman peered at them through his thick-lensed gla.s.ses. In one hand he held a sheet of stamps.

"Yes?" he said, seemingly annoyed at being disturbed.

"You remember us, don't you?" Frank asked politely. "We're Mr. Hardy's sons."

"Fenton Hardy, the detective? Oh, yes. Well, what do you want?"

"We'd like to look through the old tower, if you don't mind. We have a clue about the robbery."

"What kind of clue?"

"We have evidence that leads us to believe the jewels and bonds were hidden by the thief in the old tower."

"Oh! You have evidence, have you?" The elderly man peered at the boys closely. "It's that rascal Robinson, I'll warrant, who gave it to you. He hid the stuff, and now he's suggesting where you might find it, just to clear himself."

Frank and Joe had not considered the affair in this light, and they gazed at Mr. Applegate in consternation. At last Joe spoke up.

"Mr. Robinson has nothing to do with this," he said. "The real thief was found. He said the loot was hidden in the old tower. If you will just let us take a look around, we'll find it for you."

"Who was the real thief?"

"We'd rather not tell you, sir, until we find the stolen property, then we'll reveal the whole story."