# Joe Hardy — The Secret of the Old Mill character guide > Joe Hardy in The Secret of the Old Mill by Franklin W. Dixon. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Joe **First appearance:** 0000-i-a-five-dollar-bill ## Snapshot The younger Hardy brother, quick to act and quicker to regret, whose bruised pride over a passed counterfeit bill fuels the chase. ## Who they are Joe shares his father's deductive gift but not his caution, and he feels the sting of being fooled by a stranger far more keenly than Frank does. He is the one who dives into the river to save Lester and who bristles when Uncle Dock orders them off the bank. That restless energy keeps the brothers pushing forward even when the mill men clearly want them gone. ## Relationships ### [Frank Hardy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/characters/frank_hardy) _family_ Brothers and close partners in solving mysteries, with Frank as the more cautious leader. ### [Fenton Hardy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/characters/fenton_hardy) _family_ Father and son, with Fenton trusting Joe's instincts in detective work. ### [Lester](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/characters/lester) _friendship_ Friend and occasional helper, sharing information about local events. ### [Uncle Dock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/characters/uncle_dock) _family_ Uncle and nephew, with Uncle Dock sharing his workshop and wisdom with Joe. ### [Fenton Hardy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/characters/fenton_hardy) _family_ Father and son, with Fenton trusting Joe's instincts in detective work. ### [Frank Hardy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/characters/frank_hardy) _family_ Brothers and close partners in solving mysteries, with Frank as the more cautious leader. ### [Frank Hardy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/characters/frank_hardy) _family_ Brothers and close partners in solving mysteries, with Frank as the more cautious leader. ### [Lester](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/characters/lester) _friendship_ Friend and occasional helper, sharing information about local events. ### [Uncle Dock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/characters/uncle_dock) _family_ Uncle and nephew, with Uncle Dock sharing his workshop and wisdom with Joe. ### [Lester](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/characters/lester) _friendship_ Friend and occasional helper, sharing information about local events. ## In the story ### [A Five Dollar Bill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/i-a-five-dollar-bill) Younger brother, fair-haired; contributes his change and accompanies Frank to the store and bank. ### [Counterfeit Money](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/ii-counterfeit-money) Joe is initially angry but feels better when he realizes he lost only two dollars compared to Frank's three. He suggests the experience might lead to a bigger case. ### [The Hardy Boys at School](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/iii-the-hardy-boys-at-school) Blushes at the teasing but joins Frank in good-natured responses; mentions the motorboat like Tony Prito's. ### [Another Victim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/iv-another-victim) Joins Frank on the school steps and discusses the counterfeit money situation. ### [V: Curing the Joker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/v-curing-the-joker) Proposes visiting Carl Stummer's farm and joins in the retaliation against Chet. ### [The Old Mill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/vi-the-old-mill) Eager to explore the mill; Stummer notes the boy at the mill resembles him. ### [In the Mill Race](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/vii-in-the-mill-race) Agrees with Frank about the men's suspicious appearance and suggests talking to the boy. ### [VIII: Joe's Courage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/viii-joe-s-courage) Displays immense courage by diving into the mill race to rescue Lester, fighting the current and clinging to a rock with the unconscious boy. ### [The Rescue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/ix-the-rescue) Joe struggles in the current while holding the unconscious Lester, then is rescued by Frank. ### [The New Boat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/x-the-new-boat) Joe is equally excited, takes a turn steering, and enjoys the boat's responsiveness. ### [A Man in a Hurry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/xi-a-man-in-a-hurry) Joe is fascinated by the fishermen's tales but agrees they should return; he also observes the stranger's anxious glances and the men on shore. ### [XII: Seasick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/xii-seasick) Joe disarms the stranger and helps tie him up after a physical struggle. ### [Paul Blum](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/xiii-paul-blum) Tends to the captive and knocks the revolver from Blum's hand during the struggle. ### [XIV: Con Riley Guards a Package](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/xiv-con-riley-guards-a-package) Joe joins in praising Riley's role in capturing Blum and is present when the news of Blum's escape arrives. ### [The Chase](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/xv-the-chase) Joe recalls the low gas in the Sleuth, which proves key to the capture. ### [A Plan of Action](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/xvi-a-plan-of-action) Joe agrees with Frank's plan and recalls the suspicious behavior of the men at the mill when they offered a reward. ### [XVII: What Lester Said](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/xvii-what-lester-said) Assists Frank in the investigation, asking pointed questions about the mill's activities and Lester's treatment. ### [XVIII: Suspicions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/xviii-suspicions) Accompanies Frank, witnesses the package exchange, and agrees that the mill occupants are not genuine scientists. ### [XIX: The Rug Buyer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/xix-the-rug-buyer) Returns from school with Frank; expresses anger at the rug merchant and accompanies Frank to the police station. ### [XX: A Note of Warning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/xx-a-note-of-warning) Agrees to impersonate Lester during the night investigation of the mill; excited about the plan. ### [At the Mill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/xxi-at-the-mill) Accompanies Frank, expresses concern about the bright moonlight, and agrees to the plan to climb the willow tree. ### [Through the Roof](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/xxii-through-the-roof) Follows Frank's lead, assists in enlarging the roof hole, and helps maintain silence during the infiltration. ### [The Alarm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/xxiii-the-alarm) Joe accompanies Frank, witnesses the counterfeiting, and follows his brother's lead during the escape attempt. ### [Trapped](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/xxiv-trapped) Assists Frank in the investigation and escape from the mill. ### [The Reckoning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/xxv-the-reckoning) Joe laughs at Lester's term 'detectiving' and joins Frank in celebrating the reward. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/characters/joe_hardy - 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