"I--I didn't do it on purpose," said Danny. "The knife must have
slipped out of my pocket." But no one believed that, for Danny was
known to have a grudge against Bert, and that was reason enough for
trying to throw the blame on our little hero.

But Bert was soon cleared, for, a little later, when Mr. Tetlow called
the school together, saying that he had been mistaken in regard to
Bert, and relating what had come out about the knife, several of the
boys who, with Danny had placed the big ball on the steps, admitted
their part in it.

They were all punished, but Danny most of all, for his mean act in
trying to make it look as though Bert had done it.

"Well," said Mr. Carford, as he took his leave, having helped to prove
Bert's innocence "this time I have had a chance to do a Bobbsey a
favor, in return for one you did me, Bert."

"Yes, sir," answered Bert, not knowing what else to say. He was
puzzling over what strange connection there might be between his
family and Mr. Carford.

"Come up and see me sometime," said the aged man. "And bring your
brother and sisters, Bert. I'll be glad to see them at my place. I'm
going to stay home all this winter. I'm getting too old to go to Snow
Lodge anymore."

Bert wondered what Snow Lodge was, but he did not like to ask.

Thus was cleared up the mystery of the big snowball, and Bert's many