The Tower Treasure
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| The Tower Treasure | |
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| Author | Franklin W. Dixon |
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| Language | English |
| Series | The Hardy Boys |
| Genre(s) | Children's literature/Young adult literature |
| Publisher | Grosset & Dunlap |
| Publication date | June 1,1927 (Updated Release in 1959) |
| Pages | 192 (Updated release page count: 180) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-448-08901-7 |
| Followed by | The House on the Cliff |
The Tower Treasure is the first volume in the original The Hardy Boys book series published by Grosset & Dunlap. The book ranks 55th on Publishers Weekly's All-Time Bestselling Children's Book List with 2,209,774 copies sold as of 2001. [1] This book is one of the "Original 10", generally considered to be the best examples of the Hardy Boys, and Stratemeyer Syndicate, writing.
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary (revised edition)
That story begins with Frank and Joe Hardy barely avoiding being almost hit by a red-haired speeding driver. Later, this same red-haired driver attempts a ferryboat ticket office robbery and successfully steals a TBS yellow jalopy called the Queen from the Hardys' friend, Chet Morton. Due to one witness reporting that the villain had dark hair, the Hardys assume he is using a red wig. It is learned that the thief returned to Chet's home to steal a tire, helping Frank and Joe to find the Queen abandoned in a swampy area.
The excitement of finding the Queen is quickly gone when it is reported that there has been a robbery of forty thousand dollars in securities and jewels from the Tower Mansion owned by siblings Hurd and Adelia Applegate. Hurd Applegate is convinced that the Tower's caretaker, Henry Robinson, is the guilty party. The Hardys are especially concerned by this accusation because Henry's son, Perry, is a friend of theirs who will have to quit school to work since his father can no longer get a job due to Applegate's accusation. A big reason for the belief that Henry Robinson is guilty is due to a debt he was suddenly able to pay off. Henry refuses to reveal where he got the money to pay off the debt.
The Hardys suspect that the red-haired man may be involved with the Tower robbery and search the Queen, finding the red wig. The Hardys' dad, detective Fenton Hardy, learns that the wig was manufactured in New York City. The three Hardys go to New York and learn of a criminal fond of using disguises named John "Red" Jackley. Soon, Jackley is injured in a train accident causing him to be hospitalized. About to die, Jackley confesses that he committed the Tower Mansion robbery and put the loot "in the old tower..." Jackley dies before he is able to explain further. After searches inside and outside of the Tower Mansion the stolen loot is still not found.
Frank and Joe decide to go to the railroad where Jackley used to work to find out more information. While investigating, they see two water towers nearby. The Hardys realize that Jackley was referring to the old water tower and not the Tower Mansion as being the location of the stolen loot. Inside the water tower they find the stolen items but are locked in the tower by a man calling himself Hobo Johnny. Johnny feels anything in the tower belongs to him. Frank and Joe manage to break out of the water tower to return the securities and jewellery. Adelia reveals that she loaned Henry Robinson the money to pay off his debt. Following his sister's revelation and with the stolen loot returned, Hurd re-hires Henry with an increase in salary. This first Hardy Boys adventure ends with Frank and Joe hoping "another mystery would soon come their way," and one did in The House on the Cliff in which the two brothers decide to build a crime lab in their barn.
[edit] Appearances (in revised edition)
[edit] Characters
- Adelia Applegate
- Hurd Applegate
- Henry J. Brown
- Phil Cohen
- Ezra Collig
- Jerry Gilroy
- Launcelot Gobbo
- Mike Halley
- Fenton Hardy
- Frank Hardy
- Joe Hardy
- Laura Hardy
- Biff Hooper
- Ike Harrity
- John ‘‘Red’’ Jackley
- Hobo Johnny
- Jake
- Kauffman
- Harold Morley
- Chet Morton
- Iola Morton
- Mr. Morton
- Mrs. Morton
- Tony Prito
- Con Riley
- Henry Robinson
- Mrs. Robinson
- Paula Robinson
- Perry Robinson
- Tessie Robinson
- Rocco
- Rosa
- Melvin Schuster
- Mr. Schwartz
- Callie Shaw
- Oscar Smuff
[edit] Locations
- Albany
- Bayport
- Bayport High
- Bayport Police Station
- Bayport Railroad Station
- Cherryville
- Crescent Theater
- Ducksworth
- Elm Street
- Flint’s
- Hardys’ house
- High Street
- Main Street
- Market Street
- Morton farm
- New York City
- Pine Street
- Renshaw
- Rocco’s
- Ruben Street
- Schwartz’s Masquerade and Costume Shop
- Shakespearenn
- Shaw house
- Thornton
- Tower Mansion
- Willow Grove
- Willowville
[edit] Business and organizations
- Bayport & Coast Line Railroad
- Bayport Police Department
- Hamlin’s company
[edit] Adaptations
[edit] TV adaptation
The Tower Treasure became the basis of the serial shown on the Mickey Mouse Club back in 1956-57 as the "Mystery of the Applegate Treasure", named for the descendant of the pirate, who was searching for the priceless treasure. The introduction, which was sung and spoken, went like this:[citation needed]
| “ | Gold Doubloons and Pieces of Eight,
all belong to Applegate, |
” |
[edit] Computer game
On September 26, 2007, JoWooD and The Adventure Company, announced that they will release a PC video game based on The Tower Treasure, in the fall of 2008.
[edit] Book Covers
Older versions of the cover of The Tower Treasure include:
| Image:The Tower Treasure Version One.jpg | Image:The Tower Treasure Version Two.jpg | Image:The Tower Treasure Version Three.jpg |
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