he had nearly forgotten came suddenly to his mind,

rgotten, was the sight of an elderly gentleman driving past the school in a sled. I

in Mr. Carford?" asked

epeated Mr. Tetlow in so

knife to Jimmie Belton last night, and he can tell y

at Jimmie dropped it in th

I can prove by Mr. Carford that I went home l

g the Bobbsey family. And Bert was determined to find out what it meant, but,

ord has to say," spoke the principal.

anitor, and the latter, who was still chopping awa

past in the bob sled to come in here,

to see him," added the boy,

he janitor looked toward him. Somehow the pri

on toward the school. Bert's heart was lighter now. He was sure the old gentleman would bear out what he had said, and Bert

and Bert Bobbsey thinks perhaps you can help clear it up. So I have asked you to step in for

at you saw him lending his knife to Jimmie B

tell you how it was." He nodded at Bert in a friend

nd I was on my way home to Newton. I'd been in town buying some

mmie," said

nd when I came up to them I offered them a ride as far as I was going. They got in, and Bert here was whittling aw

ones, so on the way home I cut another. Then just before Mr. Carford gave us the ride, Jimmie came along and asked me to lend him my kni

iringly at Mr. Carford

ie he called him-his knife. I saw the two boys separate and Jimmie carried off Bert'

what I did, Bert. But there still remains the question of how your knife got

. Tetlow. I would

cipal called a messenger and sent him for Jimmie, wh

ked Jimmie this question quickly: "What did you d

ange look came over his face. He clappe

it to Da

ugg!" cr

tart making that sailboat I was telling you about, I forgot all about promising you that I'd bring it back after supper. Then Danny came over, and he helped me wi

e it to him?" as

ht he would do as he said. He took the

ve it to me!" sa

d not," said the principal. "I t

red boldly around at those in the office.

step, and let it freeze there to make it look as though Bert h

mered Danny

eard the whole story. Jimmie has told how you prom

ed, and finally he broke down and admitted that he had b

only one!" he excl

ll confess now, after I tell them what has happened. Danny, it was very wrong of you to play su

pocket." But no one believed that, for Danny was known to have a grudge against

g that he had been mistaken in regard to Bert, and relating what had come out about the knife, se

of all, for his mean act in trying to m

d to prove Bert's innocence "this time I have had a chance t

o say. He was puzzling over what strange connectio

and sisters, Bert. I'll be glad to see them at my place. I'm going to st

now Lodge was, but h

wball, and Bert's many friends were as glad as

a thaw, and the boys and girls had much fun on the ice, a numb

lidays would soon be at hand. Then would come a three week's vacatio

said Nan with a shiver, as she looked

ould be about the

country during the win

rcus in the barn, wit

as busy over a

master and crack a big whip and

for Mr. Bobbsey's business trip, in relation to lumber

Bobbsey, coming into the room just then with a

nice!"

gs us something

Carford," thought Bert. "I wonder what