story in full, to which Mr. Dudder listened in a nervous fashion. Then
Carl was called into the room.

"What do you mean by making trouble in this fashion?" demanded Mr.
Dudder wrathfully.

"I didn't make trouble," said Carl, sullenly.

"Sure an' he did that," said the Irishman.

"Mr. O'Brien says you knocked Mrs. Shrader down."

"I didn't."

"He was seen--several b'ys saw him," put in Samuel O'Brien.

"I--er--it was an accident," stammered Carl, quailing before the stern
gaze of his parent. "The--er--the snowball slipped. It didn't hit
Mammy Shrader hard, and she fell down of her own account, not because
of the snowball."

"She says th' snowball knocked her down," said Samuel O'Brien. "If ye
was my b'y I'd be afther givin' ye a good walloppin', so I would!" he
added pointedly.

"I will go and see Mrs. Shrader," said Mr. Dudder. "Carl, you remain
at home until I get back."

"Can't I go over and see Ham?"