"The school will come to order," said Mr. Montgomery Jadell, as soon as the pupils were seated. "I wish it understood that, though this is the last day of the session, order must be strictly observed."
"He is laying down the law," whispered Link to Harry.
"Darrow, stop your talking," said the principal, severely.
"Yes, sir."
"I have had enough trouble during this term—I want no more on this last day," went on Montgomery Jadell. "Pemberton, you may wipe off the blackboards while the others join in singing, 'Good-bye, Old School, Good-bye.'"
Frank lost no time in going to the platform, and, watching his chance, he placed the big cigar box in the teacher's desk.
In the meantime some of the other boys got excused and went into the entryway, where the principal kept his hat and coat. During the school hours Mr. Jadell always wore a long linen duster.
The pupils sang several songs and then there was an exercise in spelling.
"Thanks to my teaching you are doing fairly well," said the principal. "But you ought to do better. We will now have the declamations already arranged for."
Some visitors were coming in and these were given the use of several chairs and benches. Then Montgomery Jadell went to his desk to get out a book containing the declamations mentioned.