The boys scouted this theory.
"I don't think so, Dad," returned Frank. "They told a perfectly straight story. As a matter of fact, they were so anxious to get to Bayport and report the robbery that it was some time before we could get them to tell us what actually happened."
"And they could never have tied themselves up as thoroughly as they were tied," Joe declared.
"Men have been known to rob their employers before this," said Mr. Hardy. "We can't afford to overlook any possibilities."
"I think you can afford to overlook that one, sir. These men were honest, I'm sure of that."
"Well, Frank, I'll trust your judgment. I've investigated the records of the two men and they have never had anything against them, so I suppose it was an honest-to-goodness hold-up."
"It was real enough. We could see the marks in the embankment where they had been rolled down from the road," put in Joe.
"I'm sorry they couldn't give a better description of the hold-up men. All they could say was that they were both of medium height and that they wore masks. It isn't very much to go on. However, I may be able to get a line on the case when they try to get rid of the silk. The stuff is bound to turn up sooner or later
