sent messengers scurrying out through the street approaches with
this message:

"We're not required to be in the assembly room until eight o'clock.
Let's all wait until two minutes of eight---then go in a throng."

So the principal had a chance to catch up with his counting as
the minutes passed. So busy was he, however, that it didn't quite
occur to him to wonder why so few of the student body had as yet
come in.

Then, at 7.58, a resounding tread was heard on the stairs leading
up from the basement locker rooms. Some two hundred boys and
girls were coming up in two separate throngs. They were still
coming when the assembly bell rang. As fast as any entered they
made their way, with solemn faces, to the desk on the platform.

As Mr. Cantwell had feared, the pennies still continued to pour
in upon him. Suddenly the principal struck his desk sharply with
a ruler, then leaped to his feet. His face was whiter than ever.
It was plain that the man was struggling to control himself against
an outburst of wrath. He even forced a smile to his face a sort
of smile that had no mirth in it.

"Young ladies and young gentlemen," Mr. Cantwell rasped out, sharply,
"some of you have seen fit to plan a joke against me, and to carry
it out most audaciously. It's a good joke, and I admit that it's
on me. But it has been carried far enough. If you please---_no
more pennies_!"