All about them people were commenting on the size of the reward, and there were many expressions of envy for the person who should be fortunate enough to solve the mystery. "A thousand dollars!" said Frank, as they made their way out of the post office. "That's a lot of money, Joe." "I'll say it is." "And there's no reason why we haven't as good a chance of getting it as any one else." "Golly--if we only could!" "Why not? Let's get at this case in real earnest. Of course, we would do what we could anyway, but--" "A thousand dollars!" "It's worth trying for." "Dad and the police are barred from the reward, for it's their duty to find the thief if they can. But if we find him we get the money." "And we'll have the satisfaction of clearing Mr. Robinson too. Joe, let's get at this case in earnest. We have some clues right now, and we can follow them up." "I'm with you. But there's Slim now." Perry Robinson was coming down the street toward them. He looked much happier than he had been the previous evening, and when he saw the Hardy boys his face lighted up. "Dad is free," he told them. "Thanks to your father. The charge has been dropped." "Gee, but I'm glad to hear that!" exclaimed Joe. "I see they're offering a reward." "Your father convinced Mr. Applegate that it must have been an outside job. That is, that it was the work of a professional crook. And the police admitted there wasn't much evidence against dad, so they let him go. I tell you, it was a great thing for my mother and sisters. They were almost crazy with worry." "No wonder," commented Frank. "What is your father going to do now?" "I don't know," Slim admitted heavily. "Of course, we've had to move out of Tower Mansion. Mr. Applegate said that while the charge had been dropped, he wasn't altogether convinced in his own mind that dad hadn't had something to do with it. So he dismissed him." "That's tough luck. But he'll be able to get another job somewhere." "I'm not so sure about that. People aren't likely to employ a man that's been suspected of stealing. Dad tried two or three places this afternoon, but he was turned down." The Hardy boys were silent. They were sorry for the Robinsons, for they knew only too well that the family were badly off financially and that in view of the robbery it would indeed be difficult for Mr. Robinson to get another position. "We've rented a small house just outside the city," went on Slim. "It is cheap, and we'll have to get along." There was no false pride about Perry Robinson. He faced the facts as they came, and made the best of them. "But if dad doesn't get a job it will mean that I'll have to go to work." "But, Slim--you'd have to quit school!" "I can't help that. I wouldn't want to, for you know I was trying for the class medal this year. But--oh, well--"