THE rooms in the new tower had been furnished when it was built. But only on rare occasions when the Applegates had visitors were the rooms occupied, the owner stated.
In the first one Frank, Joe, and Mr. Applegate found nothing, although they looked carefully in closets, bureaus, highboys, and under the large pieces of furniture. They even turned up mattresses and rugs. When they were satisfied that the loot had not been hidden there, they ascended the stairs to the room above. Again their investigation proved fruitless.
Hurd Applegate, being a quick-tempered man, fell back into his old mood. The boys’ story had convinced him, but when they had searched the rooms in the tower without success, he showed his disgust.
“It’s a hoax!” he snorted. “Adelia was right. I’ve been made a fool of! And all because of Robinson!”
“I can’t understand it!” Joe burst out. “Jackley said he hid the stuff in the tower.”
“If that fellow did hide the jewels and bonds in one of the towers,” Applegate surmised, “someone else must have come in and taken them-maybe someone working with him. Or else Robinson found the loot right after the robbery and kept it for himself.”
“I’m sure Mr. Robinson wouldn’t do that,” Joe objected.
“Then where did he get the nine hundred dollars? Explain that. Robinson won’t!”
On the way back to the main part of the mansion, Hurd Applegate elaborated on his theory. The fact that the loot had not been found seemed to convince him all over again that Robinson was involved in some way.
“Like as not he was in league with Jackley!” the man stated flatly.