The Tower Treasure

The Tower Treasure

Original 1927 edition
Author Franklin W. Dixon
Cover artist Walter S. Rogers
Country United States
Language English
Series The Hardy Boys
Genre Children's literature/Young adult literature
Publisher Grosset & Dunlap
Publication date
 June 1, 1927, revised edition 1959
Pages original edition 216, revised edition 180
ISBN 9780448089010
OCLC 26152526
Followed by The House on the Cliff

The Tower Treasure is the first volume in the original The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories 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.[1] (This number quite understates the sales. By 1977, the Stratemeyer Syndicate's own sales records show 2,132,677 copies sold, with at an average of 70,000 copies per year between 1973 and 1976.) This book is one of the "Original 10", generally considered by historians and critics of children's literature to be the best examples of all the Hardy Boys, and Stratemeyer Syndicate, writing.

This book was written for the Stratemeyer Syndicate by Leslie McFarlane in 1927.[2] Between 1959 and 1973 the first 38 volumes were systematically revised as part of a project directed by Harriet Adams, Edward Stratemeyer's daughter.[3] While some volumes only had minor changes, the original version of this book had the plot significantly rewritten in 1959 by Harriet S. Adams.[2]

Plot summary

The story begins with Frank and Joe Hardy barely avoiding being hit by a speeding driver who they notice has bright red hair. Later, this same red-haired driver attempts a ferryboat ticket office robbery and successfully steals a yellow jalopy called 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 Queen abandoned in a public wooded area.

The excitement of finding 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 place where The Queen was found, 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 railroad handcar 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 that anything in the tower belongs to him. Frank and Joe break out of the water tower and return the securities and jewelry. Then they are rewarded a thousand dollars for returning the missing jewels. In the original version of the book Henry admits that a man who owed him money repaid a debt to him, but he was not allowed to tell anyone in case the man's other debtors found out. This was revised in the 1959 version such that Adelia reveals that she loaned Henry Robinson the money to pay off his debt. Following the revelations and with the stolen loot returned, Hurd re-hires Henry with an increase in salary and Hurd builds the greenhouse that Henry has been wanting.

Appearances (in revised edition)

Characters

Settings (Location)

Business and organizations

Adaptations

TV adaptation

The Tower Treasure became the basis of a serial shown on the Mickey Mouse Club in 1956-57 as "The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure",[4] named for the descendant of the pirate who was searching for the priceless treasure. The introduction, which was sung by Thurl Ravenscroft, was as follows,[5]

“ Gold Doubloons and Pieces of Eight,

Handed down 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,
Now where are those Gold Doubloons
and Pieces of Eight, Pieces of Eight, Pieces of Eight.

 ”

Computer game

On September 30, 2008, JoWood Productions and The Adventure Company released a PC video game based on The Tower Treasure.[6] It is titled The Hardy Boys: The Hidden Theft.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA186995.html
  2. 1 2 Keeline, James D. "Who Wrote the Hardy Boys? Secrets from the Syndicate Files Revealed" (PDF).
  3. ↑ http://www.hardyboysonline.net/content.php?page=series-canon-revisions
  4. ↑ "The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure".
  5. ↑ McMahon, Tom (September 18, 2007). "The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure". Retrieved March 4, 2010.
  6. ↑ http://www.jowood.com/?lang=en&site=2&gameid=hardyboys&pfid=
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