Before Danny could answer Mr. Rugg stepped forward and took the ring from the deacon.
“Why, yes, that’s Danny’s ring!” exclaimed the boy’s father. “I bought it for his birthday. He told me he lost it at school. I guess he did, for only yesterday I met the principal and he said the ring hadn’t been found.”
“Well, it’s found now,” said Mr. Ander, with a little smile at Bert. “And though Danny didn’t exactly lose it at school, it was near there. That’s your ring, isn’t it, Danny?” he asked.
“Yes—yes, sir,” faltered the boy. “It’s my birthday ring.”
“Don’t you want to know where we found it—where Bert and I found it?” went on the deacon.
“Yes—yes, sir, I—I guess I do.” Danny’s voice was low.
“Maybe you can guess where we found it,” went on the deacon, while Mr. Rugg looked curiously at his son and then at the visitors. “I think you can guess, Danny, but I’m going to tell you.
“Bert and I and Mr. Shull, the sexton, found your ring in the church balcony, right under the broken stained-glass window. The window was broken by a snowball thrown through it, Danny. The ring must have been in the snowball, and when the snow melted the ring fell out on the floor and into a crack. It has been there ever since. Danny Rugg, were you in the church this afternoon looking for this lost ring?”
The deacon’s voice was now stern.
Danny hung his head.