"Tell him Bert Bobbsey wants to see him," added the boy, amazed at his
own boldness.

"Yes, you may do that," said Mr. Tetlow, as the janitor looked toward
him. Somehow the principal was beginning to doubt Bert's guilt now.

From the office window Bert watched the janitor hail the aged man, who
paused for a minute, and then, tying his team, came 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 felt he would be glad to do
him a good turn in part payment for what Bert and his chums had done
in catching the runaways.

"Mr. Carford," began Mr. Tetlow, who knew the aged man slightly,
"there has been trouble here, and Bert Bobbsey thinks perhaps you can
help clear it up. So I have asked you to step in for a moment." Then
he told about the big snowball, and mentioned how he had come to
suspect Bert.

"But Bert tells me," went on Mr. Tetlow, "that you saw him lending his
knife to Jimmie Belton last night. May I ask you, is that so?"

"Why, yes, it is," said the aged man slowly. "I'll tell you how it
was." He nodded at Bert in a friendly way, and there was a twinkle in
his deep-set eyes.

"It was just toward dusk last evening," went on Mr. Carford, "and I
was on my way home to Newton. I'd been in town buying some supplies,
and near the cross roads I met Bert and another boy."