After the capture of Uncle Dock and his associates, Fenton Hardy and
the Secret Service men had wasted no time. Frank had remembered the New
York address of the mysterious Burgess, that he had heard Uncle Dock
mention, and a telegram to the New York police resulted in the arrest
of this man, who turned out to be the brains of the gang, the man who
had arranged for the distribution of the spurious bills. The crooks in
Barmet village, and the rascally woman in black were also apprehended.
"The machinery in the mill," Mr. Hardy told his sons, "was the most
complete and efficient they could obtain. Markel, it seems, was at one
time an expert photo-engraver. He furnished the engravings that enabled
them to make such an excellent imitation of United States currency,
while Uncle Dock and the other man helped him turn out the bills.
Burgess saw to it that they got the proper paper and also planned the
distribution. There were enough bad bills lying on the table when we
raided the place to have netted them almost half a million dollars
between them."
Thanks to the quick work of the officers, not one member of the gang
had escaped. In Burgess' rooms had been found a notebook containing the
names and addresses of the agents he had working for him, distributing
the counterfeit money throughout the country, and by the next day every
man had been apprehended.
The two Secret Service men who had aided in the final round-up of the
counterfeiters at the old mill called personally at the Hardy home next
day to congratulate the boys.
"We've been working around here for almost a week trying to get the
goods on these men," said one, "but never once did we think of the old
mill. What made you suspicious of that place?"
Frank told him how they had first learned that strangers had taken over
the mill and told of their first visit to the place.
"To tell the truth," he said, "my first suspicions were when Uncle Dock
offered to give us a reward for helping save Lester from the river. He
took two five dollar bills from his pocket and offered them to us. Then
the other man snatched them from him, turned around, and later offered
them to us again."
The Secret Service man smiled.
"Uncle Dock offered you two counterfeit bills and the other man was
afraid they would be detected and that you would know where they came
from."
"I suppose that was his idea. But it made me suspicious. After that,
Joe and I kept watching the place and as everything seemed to indicate
that something suspicious was going on at the mill we made up our mind
to pay them a visit."
"And a very lucky thing it was that you did. It was a smart piece of
work and I want to assure you that the Government won't forget it."
The Government did not forget it. Before the month was out, the Hardy
boys had received a check for one thousand dollars as a reward for the
part they had played in the capture of the counterfeiters.