The Mystery of Cleverly: A Story for Boys

THE MYSTERY OF CLEVERLY
A STORY FOR BOYS
BY GEORGE BARTON
New York, Cincinnati, Chicago BENZIGER BROTHERS PUBLISHERS OF BENZIGER’S MAGAZINE
Copyright, 1907, by Benziger Brothers
THE MYSTERY OF CLEVERLY
“If you fellows don’t open that door and let me in, there’ll be trouble in this town before long.”
The only answer was a mocking laugh from the group of boys to whom this threat was addressed.
Herbert Harkins, his face red with rage, pounded his fist on the panels of the schoolhouse without making the slightest impression upon his fellow schoolboys.
“Open the door,” he cried again, in a loud voice.
Once more a peal of laughter sounded from within. The scene of this incident was the Cleverly District School. The time was the second of January, and the occasion was the annual frolic of the boys, known as “barring out day.”
It was a custom which, originating down east, had spread to the little town in New Jersey. The method was quite simple. After the Christmas holidays the big boys put their heads together and decided on a plan of campaign. When all of the details had been arranged, it was decided to put them into execution at the first regular session of the new year. The forenoon passed off as quietly as any other day, the boys looking very sober and extremely attentive to their studies, and keeping unusual order. The moment the schoolmaster left the house for his dinner and the smaller children were started homeward, the doors and windows were suddenly and securely locked, and the older pupils proceeded to spend the afternoon in play and hilarity.