“Oh, yes, I think so,” Bert said. His head was clearer now and did not ache so badly. “I’ll be late, though, I suppose,” he added.
“Just a little,” chuckled the church sexton. “But I’ll tell Principal Tarton about it, and he’ll excuse you, I’m sure.”
Making certain that Bert’s clothes were now well brushed, Mr. Shull started for the side door of the church, keeping near the boy in case he felt “tottery on his pins,” as the sexton spoke of it afterward, meaning that Bert might be weak in his legs. But he wasn’t, and when he got out in the fresh, cold air he felt quite himself again.
Mr. Shull walked with Bert as far as the schoolyard gate, and there saw Henry Kling, the school janitor.
“Hello, Bert!” exclaimed Mr. Kling. “What’s the matter? Your sister just came in. She’s been back home looking for you.”
“Nan has been looking for me!” cried Bert.
“Yes. You didn’t come to school and she was worried. Mr. Tarton let her go home, thinking maybe you’d been sent on an errand some place. But Nan just came back. She was ’most crying and I asked her what the matter was. So she told me. Where in the world have you been?”
“Down in the church basement,” Bert answered, with a smile.
“Not playing hookey? Don’t tell me you tried to play hookey!” cried the janitor, who liked Bert.
“No, I fell through a trapdoor,” the boy said, and he briefly explained what had happened.