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
jolly man with a mustache Because he was short he stood on a platform behind the counter which made him look much taller Hello girls he said with a heavy accent as the children walked in What would you like Can you read German Holly spoke up eagerly Jawohl jawohl Better can I read German than English the butcher said with a chuckle Big words in German I know but in English He shook his head picked up a long knife and began to sharpen it We would like you to do us a favor please Pam said to him shyly I know You would like some of my homemade knockwurst ja Not today Pam replied with a giggle We have a note in German we want you to translate for us In German Jawohl the butcher said and wiped his hands on his white apron What does jawohl mean Sue piped up The butcher chuckled It means yes indeed and I will translate your note Jawohl Pam reached up over the high counter to hand the paper to Mr Elser He examined it carefully As he looked up he glanced over the heads of the girls at something outside the window Hmm Mr Elser said frowning He read more of the note and glanced toward the street again The three sisters kept their eyes on the butcher’s face all the time Does it say something important Holly asked said Maybe yes maybe no Mr Elser mysteriously He put the note on his scales reached 12
inside the refrigerator case and pulled out a chunk of Swiss cheese He cut three slices and handed them to the girls Thank you they said and Pam added Have you translated the message already Mr Elser The butcher looked out the window again and gave a grunt Holly’s eyes roved to a tub of dill pickles beside the counter She said nothing but licked her lips Yes I have translated it the butcher said finally He picked up the note and read Three o’clock to the waterfall Six o’clock to the chimney pot Nine o’clock to the wooden stair Twelve o’clock to the golden cuckoo What does that mean Pam asked perplexed It’s a mystery of some kind the butcher answered in Germany Pam repeated what Mr Elser had translated until she had it firmly memorized Thank you so much she said Jawohl the butcher replied Wait a minute I’ll give you an envelope Taking the note he stepped down from his platform and walked away He reappeared a few moments later with an envelope which he handed to Pam This way your message is safe he said The three girls thanked him and hurried from the shop eager to return to Pete and Ricky But only two 13
