The Happy Hollisters and the Cuckoo Clock Mystery

The Happy Hollisters and the Cuckoo Clock Mystery — page 5
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