came back to her.

"He wants me to keep still. He says Mr. Ringley doesn't know who did
it."

"Did you promise to keep still, Bert?"

"No, but if I say anything Danny says he will give it to me."

A crowd of boys and girls now came up and the talk was changed. All were
having a merry time in the snow, and for the time being Bert forgot his
troubles. He and Nan gave Freddie and Flossie a long ride which pleased
the younger twins very much.

"I wish you was really and truly horses," said Flossie. "You go so
_beau_tifully!"

"And if I had a whip I could make you go faster," put in Freddie.

"For shame, Freddie!" exclaimed Nan. "Would you hit the horse that gave
you such a nice ride?"

"Let me give _you_ a ride," answered the little fellow, to change the
subject.

He insisted upon it, and soon Nan was on the sled behind Flossie, and
Bert and Freddie were hauling them along where pulling was easy. This
was great sport for Freddie, and he puffed and snorted like a real
horse, and kicked up his heels, very much to Flossie's delight.

"Gee-dap!" shrieked the little maiden. "Gee-dap!" and moved back and
forth on the sled, to make it go faster. Away went Freddie and Bert, as
fast as the legs of the little fellow could travel. They went down a
long hill and through a nice side street, and it was a good half hour
before they reached home,--just in time for a good hot supper.

CHAPTER V

BERT'S GHOST

Bert felt relieved to learn that Mr. Ringley did not know who had broken
the store window, but he was still fearful that the offense might be
laid at his door. He was afraid to trust Danny Rugg, and did not know
what the big boy might do.

"He may say I did it, just to clear himself," thought Bert. "And if Mr.
Ringley comes after me, he'll remember me sure."

But his anxiety was forgotten that evening, when some of the neighbors
dropped in for a call. There was music on the piano and some singing,
and almost before Bert and Nan knew it, it was time to go to bed.
Freddie and Flossie had already retired, worn out by their play.

But after Bert had said his prayers and found himself alone in the small
bed chamber he occupied, he could not sleep. The talk of the folks
below kept him awake at first, and even after they had gone to bed he
could not forget the happening of the day, and he could still hear the
crash of that glass as the chunk of ice went sailing through it.

At last he fell into a troubled doze,