# Uncle Dock — The Secret of the Old Mill character guide

> Uncle Dock in The Secret of the Old Mill by Franklin W. Dixon.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Dock

**First appearance:** 0005-vi-the-old-mill

## Snapshot

The blustering front man at the old mill, whose clumsy attempt to reward the boys with two five-dollar bills betrays far more than he intends.

## Who they are

Uncle Dock poses as a breakfast-food manufacturer but rules the mill with threats, striking Lester and warning the Hardy boys to stay off the riverbank. His offer of reward money is meant to be gracious, yet the way Kurt snatches the bills from his hand and nervously hands them back plants Frank's first real suspicion. Dock's temper and carelessness make him the crack in the gang's otherwise careful facade.

## Relationships

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

_family_

Uncle and nephew, with Uncle Dock often aiding the boys with his mechanical skills.

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

_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_

Brothers-in-law, with mutual respect and cooperation in family matters.

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

_family_

Uncle and nephew, with Uncle Dock often aiding the boys with his mechanical skills.

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

_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_

Brothers-in-law, with mutual respect and cooperation in family matters.

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

_family_

Uncle and nephew, with Uncle Dock often aiding the boys with his mechanical skills.

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

_family_

Brothers-in-law, with mutual respect and cooperation in family matters.

## In the story

### [XVII: What Lester Said](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/xvii-what-lester-said)

Appears angry and threatening, physically punishing Lester and ordering the Hardy boys to stay away from the mill.

### [At the Mill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/xxi-at-the-mill)

Mentioned as waiting inside the mill for Markel and the other man to begin work.

### [The Alarm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/xxiii-the-alarm)

Uncle Dock is the apparent leader of the counterfeiting ring, discussing their escape and the scale of their operation.

### [Trapped](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/xxiv-trapped)

Counterfeiter who dismisses Markel's suspicions about the noise.

### [The Reckoning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/chapters/xxv-the-reckoning)

Uncle Dock is revealed to be an impostor who planned to raise Lester in a life of crime; he is captured and sentenced.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_mill_se/characters/uncle_dock
- 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