The Secret of the Old Mill by Franklin W. Dixon
Two brothers, Frank and Joe Hardy, await their father's return from a detective case but encounter a stranger who tricks them into exchanging a counterfeit five-dollar bill. Disappointed and embarrassed, they learn about a wave of counterfeit money circulating in their town. Their father, Fenton Hardy, investigates a larger counterfeiting operation, which leads the boys to suspect that the old mill on Willow River is involved. The brothers decide to investigate the mill, suspecting it may be a front for counterfeiting. They meet Lester, a boy living with the mill's owner, Uncle Dock, who reveals that he is not allowed to leave or attend school. The Hardy boys deduce that the mill is suspicious, especially since Uncle Dock keeps Lester isolated and does not allow him to see the machinery. One night, they sneak into the mill and discover a printing press producing counterfeit money. They overhear the men discussing their plans to escape with the counterfeit bills. After a close call with Markel, one of the men, the Hardy boys manage to escape and inform their father, who organizes a raid on the mill. With the help of local law enforcement, they capture Uncle Dock and his associates, who are revealed to be part of a larger counterfeiting ring. The Hardy boys receive a reward for their efforts, and Lester is taken in by a kind family, ensuring a brighter future for him. The story concludes with the promise of more adventures for the Hardy boys as they continue their detective pursuits.
By Franklin W. Dixon · First published 1930 · Genre: Mystery, Adventure, Young Adult · 25 chapters · 49,601 words
First lines
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.
What this Textopian page supports
The Secret of the Old Mill is listed on Textopian as a novel by Franklin W. Dixon, dated 1930 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Franklin W. Dixon
- Date: 1930 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Adventure, Young Adult, Detective Fiction, Fiction
- Length: 49,601 words
- Structure: 25 chapters, 1,600 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Secret of the Old Mill by Franklin W. Dixon
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
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Genres
- Mystery — The plot revolves around solving a mystery related to the old mill.
- Adventure — The characters engage in adventurous activities while uncovering secrets.
- Young Adult — The book targets a young adult audience with relatable themes and characters.
- Detective Fiction — The protagonists act as amateur detectives to solve the central mystery.
Tags
Mystery · Adventure · Juvenile Fiction · Detective Story · Young Adult · Thriller · Suspense · Whodunit · Small Town · Secrets · Friendship · Loyalty
Contents
- A Five Dollar Bill
- Counterfeit Money
- The Hardy Boys at School
- Another Victim
- Curing the Joker
- The Old Mill
- In the Mill Race
- Joe's Courage
- The Rescue
- The New Boat
- A Man in a Hurry
- Seasick
- Paul Blum
- Con Riley Guards a Package
- The Chase
- A Plan of Action
- What Lester Said
- Suspicions
- The Rug Buyer
- A Note of Warning
- At the Mill
- Through the Roof
- The Alarm
- Trapped
- The Reckoning