THE HARDY BOYS THE SECRET OF THE OLD MILL By FRANKLIN W. DIXON AUTHOR OF THE HARDY BOYS: THE TOWER TREASURE THE HARDY BOYS: THE HOUSE ON THE CLIFF _ILLUSTRATED BY_ WALTER S. ROGERS NEW YORK GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS Made in the United States of America MYSTERY STORIES FOR BOYS By FRANKLIN W. DIXON THE HARDY BOYS: THE TOWER TREASURE THE HARDY BOYS: THE HOUSE ON THE CLIFF THE HARDY BOYS: THE SECRET OF THE OLD MILL (Other Volumes in Preparation) GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK Copyright, 1927, by GROSSET & DUNLAP [Illustration: HE DROPPED LIGHTLY TO THE ROOF OF THE OLD MILL.] CONTENTS I A FIVE DOLLAR BILL II COUNTERFEIT MONEY III THE HARDY BOYS AT SCHOOL IV ANOTHER VICTIM V CURING THE JOKER VI THE OLD MILL VII IN THE MILL RACE VIII JOE'S COURAGE IX THE RESCUE X THE NEW BOAT XI A MAN IN A HURRY XII SEASICK XIII PAUL BLUM XIV CON RILEY GUARDS A PACKAGE XV THE CHASE XVI A PLAN OF ACTION XVII WHAT LESTER SAID XVIII SUSPICIONS XIX THE RUG BUYER XX A NOTE OF WARNING XXI AT THE MILL XXII THROUGH THE ROOF XXIII THE ALARM XXIV TRAPPED XXV THE RECKONING _THE HARDY BOYS_ THE SECRET OF THE OLD MILL CHAPTER I A FIVE DOLLAR BILL The afternoon express from the north steamed into the Bayport station to the usual accompanying uproar of clanging bells from the lunch room, shouting redcaps, and a bellowing train announcer. Among the jostling, hurrying crowd on the platform were two pleasant-featured youths who scanned the passing coaches expectantly. "I don't see him," said Frank Hardy, the older of the pair, as he watched the passengers descending from one of the Pullman coaches. "Perhaps he stopped at some other town and intends coming in on the local. It's only an hour later," suggested his brother Joe.