“We don’t know for sure that he did it,” cautioned Bert.
“It would be just like him to do it!” declared Nan. “Are you going to tell mother?”
“Sure!”
And when Mrs. Bobbsey heard what had happened she advised Bert to speak nothing but the truth and not to accuse Danny unless he was sure that lad had broken the window.
“That’s the trouble,” sighed Bert. “I can’t be sure, but I feel pretty certain that Danny did it.”
“It will all come out right,” his mother told him. “And of course you must not say that you broke the window if you didn’t. Mr. Tarton is too fair a man to let you be accused without good proof.”
And it was not very good proof that Sam Todd could give when later in the day he and Bert went to the principal’s office. Sam told his story over again.
“Yes,” Bert admitted, “I did have some snowballs in my hand. Danny Rugg and Sam had been throwing at John Marsh, and he ran to where I was. I was going to help John fight, but there wasn’t any need. And I tossed away my snowballs before I got within a block of the school.”
“So did I,” said Sam. “And I think I saw you throw yours at the church window, Bert. Maybe you didn’t mean to break it, but you did.”
“No, I didn’t!” insisted Bert stoutly.