"Will you let me call in Mr. Carford?" asked Bert of the principal.

"Call in Mr. Carford?" repeated Mr. Tetlow in some surprise. "What
for?"

"Because, sir," said Bert eagerly, "he saw me lend my knife to Jimmie
Belton last night, and he can tell you that I went on home, leaving my
knife with Jimmie."

"Ha! Do you mean to say that Jimmie dropped it in the ice on the
school steps?"

"No, Mr. Tetlow, I don't mean to say that. But I can prove by Mr.
Carford that I went home last night without my knife. Please call him
in."

Bert thought of the strange old man, who had made such an odd remark
concerning the Bobbsey family. And Bert was determined to find out
what it meant, but, as yet, he had had no chance, as his father was
still away on a business trip.

"Very well, we shall see what Mr. Carford has to say," spoke the
principal. "And I will have Jimmie Belton in also."

Mr. Tetlow pressed a bell button that called the janitor, and the
latter, who was still chopping away at the frozen steps, came to see
what was wanted.

"Just call to that old gentleman going past in the bob sled to come in
here," said Mr. Tetlow. "He is Mr. Carford."