The Tower Treasure

Infobox Book
name = The Tower Treasure
orig title =
translator =


author = Franklin W. Dixon
cover_artist =
country =
language = English
series = The Hardy Boys
subject =
genre = Children's literature/Young adult literature
publisher = Grosset & Dunlap
release_date = June 1,1927 (Updated Release in 1959)
media_type =
pages = 192 (Updated release page count: 180)
size_weight =
isbn = ISBN 0-448-08901-7
preceded_by =
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 for the United States, with 2,209,774 copies sold as of 2001. [http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA186995.html] This book is one of the "Original 10", generally considered to be the best examples of the Hardy Boys, and Stratemeyer Syndicate, writing.

Plot summary

That story begins with Frank and Joe Hardy barely avoiding being hit by a speeding driver with bright red hair. 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 as a result of Applegate's accusation. The only 'proof' of Henry Robinson's guilt is that he was suddenly able to pay off a debt, and refused 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 named John "Red" Jackley who is fond of using disguises. 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. 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 break out of the water tower and return the securities and jewelery. 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.

Appearances (in revised edition)

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

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

Business and organizations

*Bayport & Coast Line Railroad
*Bayport Police Department
*Hamlin’s company

Adaptations

TV adaptation

"The Tower Treasure" became the basis of the serial shown on the "Mickey Mouse Club" 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, was as follows: fact|date = May 2007

cquote|Gold Doubloons and Pieces of Eight,all belong to Applegate,
from buccaneers,
who fought for years,
for Gold Doubloons, and Pieces of Eight.
Handed down in a pirate's chest,
the gold they sailed for east and west,
the treasure bright,
that made men fight,
til none were left
to bury the chest.
So now the gold and Pieces of Eight,
all belong to Applegate,
the chest is here,
but, wait,
where are all the Gold Doubloons
and Pieces of Eight, Pieces of Eight, Pieces of Eight.

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.

References