"I presume you have all seen the big snow ball on the front steps.
Whoever put it there did a very wrong thing. I know several boys must
have had a hand in it, for one could not do it alone. I will now give
those who did it a chance to confess. If they will admit it, and
apologize, I will let the matter drop. If not I will punish them
severely. Now are you ready to tell, boys? I may say that I have a
clue to at least one boy who had a hand in the trick."

Mr. Tetlow paused. There was silence in the room, and the boys looked
one at the other. Who was guilty?




CHAPTER IV

THE ACCUSATION


For what seemed a long time Mr. Tetlow stood looking over the room
full of pupils. One could have heard a pin drop, so quiet was it. The
hard breathing of the boys and girls could be heard. From over in a
corner where Danny Rugg sat, came a sound of whispering.

"Quiet!" commanded the principal sharply. "There must be no talking. I
will wait one minute more for the guilty ones to acknowledge that they
rolled the big snowball on the steps. Then, if they do not speak, I
shall have something else to say."

The minute ticked slowly off on the big clock. No one spoke. Bert