# Jerry Gilroy — The Secret of the Old Mill character guide

> Jerry Gilroy in The Secret of the Old Mill by Franklin W. Dixon.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Jerry

**First appearance:** 0009-x-the-new-boat

## Snapshot

One of the Hardy boys' sharp-eyed chums, quick to spot a mystery at the old mill and quicker to joke about getting kicked off the premises for asking.

## Who they are

Jerry runs with the Hardy circle — Phil, Tony, Chet, Biff — and tags along when curiosity pulls the group toward the shuttered Turner mill and its strange new owners. He's the level-headed one who punctures Frank's sleuthing instinct with dry realism, yet he's also the first to notice the gaunt, haunted-looking stranger by the mill race. His offhand remark that the boy looks like he hasn't eaten in a month plants the human mystery that shadows the case.

## Relationships

### [Chet Morton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/characters/chet_morton)

_friendship_

Friends and fellow members of the local youth group, often seen together.

### [Fenton Hardy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/characters/fenton_hardy)

_professional_

Fenton hires Jerry for odd jobs or information related to cases.

### [Chet Morton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/characters/chet_morton)

_friendship_

Friends and fellow members of the local youth group, often seen together.

### [Fenton Hardy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/characters/fenton_hardy)

_professional_

Fenton hires Jerry for odd jobs or information related to cases.

### [Chet Morton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/characters/chet_morton)

_friendship_

Friends and fellow members of the local youth group, often seen together.

## In the story

### [The Hardy Boys at School](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/iii-the-hardy-boys-at-school)

Expresses concern that the Hardy boys' new motorboat will disrupt the summer baseball league; falls for Chet's prank.

### [V: Curing the Joker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/v-curing-the-joker)

Victim of Chet's pepper apple prank and later participates in the retaliation.

### [The Old Mill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/vi-the-old-mill)

Expresses curiosity about the mill and supports the hike.

### [In the Mill Race](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/vii-in-the-mill-race)

Remarks on the old man's temper and the boy's lonely appearance.

### [VIII: Joe's Courage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/viii-joe-s-courage)

Observes the rescue attempt and explains that Lester hit his head on a rock.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/characters/jerry_gilroy
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/characters