"Who was the real thief, then?"
"We can't tell you just now, sir. Wait till we find the stolen goods and we'll tell you the whole story."
Mr. Applegate took off his glasses and wiped them with his handkerchief. He glared at the boys suspiciously for a few moments. Then he called out:
"Adelia!"
A high cracked voice from the dim regions of the hallway answered.
"What d'you want?"
"Come here a minute."
There was a rustle of skirts, and then Adelia Applegate, maiden sister of the owner of Tower Mansion, appeared. She was a faded blonde woman, of thin features, and she was dressed in a gown of a fashion fifteen years back, in which every color of the spectrum fought for supremacy.
"What's the matter now?" she demanded. "Can't a body sit down to do a bit of sewin' without you hollerin' at them?"
"These boys want to look through the old tower."