Everyone gazed at the three clocks mounted high on the wall The wooden faces of the clocks were framed with hand-carved leaves and on the peaked roof of each was a lovely bird with wings outstretched Beneath dangling nearly to the floor were two long chains weighted by pine cones made of metal The time was one minute to ten Watch carefully Mr Hollister said Suddenly the doors of the cuckoo clocks sprang open and three little birds poked their heads out Cuckoo Cuckoo Cuckoo they called accompanied by the jangling sounds of gongs Sue clapped her hands gleefully and Pam said Oh they’re precious But on the ninth cuckoo there came a loud bang as a small stone smashed against a clock and fell to the floor at their feet Oh dear exclaimed Pam The middle cuckoo hung limply forward while the other two disappeared into their birdhouses The Hollisters wheeled about to see Joey Brill dashing toward the front door of The Trading Post In one hand he held a slingshot He shot the cuckoo Holly cried out Come on Pete We’ll get him Ricky said stoutly The two boys raced down the aisle and outside Joey Brill was nowhere to be seen That was a mean trick Pete said in disgust as the two boys gave up their search and returned to their father’s store 8
He shot the cuckoo Holly cried out 9
Inside Mr Hollister had lifted the damaged clock from the wall and placed it on top of the counter I saw Joey here earlier this morning Mr Hollister said He was looking at the cuckoo clocks but I never thought he’d do this The meanie Pam declared Yes it’s too bad Her father frowned These clocks came all the way from Germany Will we have to send this one back for repairs Pete asked No I think we can fix it here Mr Hollister replied He tried to push the cuckoo back into its house but the poor bird said Coo in a mournful tone and refused to budge Look Ricky pointed The door is cracked Daddy That’s the reason So it is his father said And the wire which holds it open is bent too Pam noticed that the door was made of two pieces of wood which had been sealed face to face I’ll get some glue she offered Pete meanwhile took a knife from his pocket and separated the two flat squares of wood so that Pam might insert the glue In doing so he noticed a small white paper between the two faces of the little door Hey look at this Pete exclaimed as he carefully pried out the paper There’s writing on it Holly observed Pam had now returned with a tube of glue When she saw the white paper spread open she said I think that’s written in German 10
You’re right Mr Hollister agreed Do you suppose it’s instructions for the cuckoo clock Pete asked I think not his father replied This message is handwritten While the others examined the strange note Pete took the glue and repaired the broken door Mr Hollister now straightened the wire and the little bird popped back into the clock Ricky and Sue meanwhile had looked about and found a round stone on the floor This is what Joey shot the poor cuckoo with Sue said Well luckily there’s not too much damage done Mr Hollister remarked cheerfully But what about the message Pete asked If it is a message Pam said laughing Who knows any German Ricky asked as he watched his father replace the cuckoo clock on the back wall of the store Pete suggested Otto Elser a German butcher who had a shop nearby That’s a good idea Mr Hollister said but I’d like to ask a favor of you two boys He glanced toward the front of the store where several customers had entered You want us to be salesmen Pete asked We’d be glad to Ricky said importantly Then we girls will visit Mr Elser Pam decided Carefully she folded the paper and put it in the pocket of her dress Maybe there is a mystery in this note Hand in hand Pam Holly and Sue walked down the street to Mr Elser’s place The butcher was a stout 11
