“Well, Bert, what in the world are you doing here?” asked the sexton, in surprise. “Are you trying to fall down the trapdoor again?”
“No, sir,” answered the boy.
“You couldn’t, very well, anyhow,” went on the janitor. “For the door is closed.”
“I didn’t come in here for that,” said Bert. “Listen, Mr. Shull. Do you remember when the church window was broken?”
“I should say I do remember it, Bert! They said you did it, but I have my doubts of that.”
“I didn’t do it,” said Bert. “But I know who did. It was Danny Rugg, and I can prove it if I can find his gold ring on the floor. It was in the snowball he threw, and Danny was in here just now, trying to find his ring.”
Bert told all that had happened.
“I want to get Mr. Ander,” went on the Bobbsey boy. “If he and you see me find the ring, you’ll know I didn’t throw that snowball.”
“It’s a good idea, Bert!” exclaimed the sexton. “Go get the deacon, and we’ll look for the ring together—all three of us.”
Mr. Ander was surprised a few minutes later when Bert, much excited, poured out the story of the snowball, the broken window, and the lost ring.