Number: 03Series: Original
Published: June 1, 1927
Pages: 212
Written by: Leslie McFarlane
Outline: Edward L. Stratemeyer
Cover art: Walter S. Rogers
Here's a gem: Read the book online for free on Project Gutenberg!
Story:
Counterfeit money is circulating in Bayport and the surrounding areas, and Frank and Joe quickly experience the boldness of the criminals when they are cheated out of five dollars while waiting for their father at the town’s train station.
The boys don’t think much more of the incident until they go on an outing with their group of friends and visit an old, abandoned mill by the Willow River outside of town. Three men have restarted operations at the mill, but they seem reluctant to talk about their product—and they show little gratitude when Frank and Joe rescue a young boy, who is with the men, from drowning.
However, it’s only after the Hardy Boys capture a fugitive from the nearby town of Barmet—who turns out to be distributing counterfeit bills—and later when their mother is swindled out of 800 dollars, that Frank and Joe’s suspicions of the men at the mill begin to grow.
Is there truly wholesome grain in the new product they claim to be making, or is something far more mysterious happening inside the old building?
Then there was Chet Morton–a boy who was born to be hanged, if ever there was one. He'd come to a bad end some day, that fellow. So would all the rest of them, Tony Prito, Phil Cohen, Jerry Gilroy, Biff Hooper–the whole pack of 'em.
Still, Con Riley was in a good humor that afternoon, so he unbended sufficiently to be stow a nod of greeting upon the boys. To his surprise they gathered around him.
"What has been done with Paul Blum?" asked Frank.
"He's in jail," said Riley, with the portentous frown he always assumed when discussing matters of crime. "He's in jail, and in jail he'll stay."
Main characters:
Frank Hardy
Joe Hardy
Regulars:
Fenton Hardy | Laura Hardy | Chet Morton | Jerry Gilroy | Phil Cohen | Biff Hooper | Tony Prito| Callie Shaw | Ezra Collig | Con Riley | Oscar Smuff
Guest characters:
Markel | Uncle Dock | Kurt | Lester | Paul Blum | Carl Stummer | Pollie Shaw | Mr. Moss | MacBane | Burgess | Wilkins
Locations:
Bayport (The train station, Willow River, The Turner Mill, Barmet bay) | Barmet
Trivia:
// It is in this book that the boys' boat, The Sleuth, first appears. It is explained that Frank and Joe use the rewards they earned from their first two cases to purchase the motorboat, which was described as “without comparison the finest, strongest, and quite possibly the fastest motorboat ever seen in those parts.”
// In the earliest books, and especially in this one, Chet Morton is portrayed as a real prankster—someone who loves playing tricks on his friends. The hearty appetite he would later become famous for is, at this point, a trait attributed instead to Jerry Gilroy.
// The story is said to take place a full year after "The House on the Cliff"—and once again, summer is just around the corner. However, the boys are still the same age they were a year ago...
// This is the first time that Frank, Joe, and their friends gather in the Hardy family’s barn. The barn would later become a regular meeting place for the boys, serving as the perfect spot for games and fun.
// This is also one of the few books in which Callie Shaw appears, while Iola Morton’s name is not mentioned at all.
Review:
The atmosphere that defines the earliest books is definitely present in "The Old Mill". The perilous journey across the Barmet Bay during the storm, with Paul Blum sitting watchfully with a revolver in hand, is easy to get swept up in, and the risk the boys take when they break into the old mill is enough to make your heart leap into your throat. A bit too much downtime in certain sections is the only real drawback.REVISED TEXT:
Published: 1962Pages: 174
Written by: Alistair Hunter
Outline: Harriet S. Adams
Cover art: Rudy Nappi
Revision: Drastically Altered
Story:
Have counterfeiters taken over Bayport?
That’s the suspicion Frank and Joe Hardy develop when their friend Chet is tricked into paying with fake money at a local store, and it doesn’t take long before they receive threats warning them to drop the case. A newly built, top-secret center for rocket parts becomes central to their investigation, and there are strong signs that important clues may be found around the facility.
As more ominous warnings follow, Frank and Joe begin to suspect there might be a connection between the counterfeiting operation they are investigating and a secret case their father cannot discuss—one that involves national security.
The key to solving both mysteries seems to lie in the old Turner mill. Built long ago, the mill is now owned by Elekton, the company that manufactures the highly classified electronic rocket components.
However, the mill is guarded by two Elekton employees who are anything but friendly toward Frank and Joe. They also refuse to let the boys question their fourteen-year-old errand boy, who may unknowingly hold several important clues.
Determined to crack the case, Frank and Joe must find a way to sneak into the mill and uncover the secrets hidden within.
"I have an idea!" Chet exclaimed. "Let's go earlier and take along a picnic lunch. We'll be right near Willow River. After I apply for a job, we can eat by the water. Then you fellows can help me collect bark and stone specimens."
"Microscope study, eh?" Frank grinned. "Okay. It's a deal."
At supper Aunt Gertrude commented wryly, "There'll be two moons in the sky when Chet Morton settles down to a job!"
The others laughed, then the conversation reverted once more to counterfeiting. Mr. Hardy backed up Chief Collig's statement that the bogus twenty-dollar bills being circulated were clever imitations. "I heard that the Secret Service is finding it a hard case to crack," he added.
Frank and Joe were wondering about their father's other case. They realized it must be extremely confidential, and refrained from questioning him.
Main characters:
Frank Hardy
Joe Hardy
Regulars:
Fenton Hardy | Chet Morton | Gertrude Hardy | Laura Hardy | Mr. Morton | Mrs. Morton | Iola Morton | Callie Shaw | Tony Prito | Mr. Prito (mentioned) | Ezra Collig | Oscar Smuff
Guest characters:
Ken Blake | Mr. Markel | Mr. Docker | Victor Peters | Paul Blum | Officer Roberts | Mr. Reed | Miss Benson | Mike | Mr. Evans | Mrs. Smith | Jordan
Locations:
Bayport (The train station, The Turner Mill, Willow River, The docks, Barmet Bay) | Bridgeport
Trivia:
// As in the original text, the boys receive their beloved motorboat, "The Sleuth", in this revised edition—a key milestone in Hardy Boys lore.
// Interestingly, Aunt Gertrude, who didn’t make her first appearance until book four in the original series, is already firmly established by book three in the revisions. She’s written into the story so naturally that it feels as if she’s always been part of the Hardy household.
Review:
This is, admittedly, quite entertaining, but there’s a limit to how many logical flaws I can tolerate. In this revised edition, the boys receive a flood of threats—essentially before they’ve even started investigating anything—and it’s frustratingly obvious that the threats come every time they get close to the Elekton factory, which is so central to the plot. These criminals seem to be doing everything they can to attract the boys’ attention. It’s fair enough that the author tries to link the two cases together, but how many times do Frank and Joe have to scratch their heads and wonder aloud which case the warnings are actually about—especially when they aren’t really investigating either one? You’d think five or six times would be enough, but no. That said, as mentioned, this is still an entertaining read.Thoughts on 'The Secret of the Old Mill'? Leave a comment!
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