m," and, snatching up
his hat, Ben would have gone straight away, if Thorny had not barred his
passage.

"Come, now, don't be mad. Let's talk it over, and if I'm wrong I'll
take it all back and ask your pardon," he said, in a friendly tone,
rather scared at the consequences of his first attempt, though as sure
as ever that he was right.

"It would break my heart to have you go in that way, Ben. Stay at least
till your innocence is proved, then no one can doubt what you say now."

"Don't see how it can be proved," answered Ben, appeased by her evident
desire to trust him.

"We'll try as well as we know how, and the first thing we will do is to
give that old secretary a good rummage from top to bottom. I've done it
once, but it is just possible that the bills may have slipped out of
sight. Come, now, I can't rest till I've done all I can to comfort you
and convince Thorny."

Miss Celia rose as she spoke, and led the way to the dressing-room,
which had no outlet except through her chamber. Still holding his hat,
Ben followed with a troubled face, and Thorny brought up the rear,
doggedly determined to keep his eye on "the little scamp" till the
matter was satisfactorily cleared up. Miss Celia had made her proposal
more to soothe the feelings of one boy and to employ the superfluous
energies of the other, than in the expectation of throwing any light
upon the mystery; for she was sadly puzzled by Ben's manner, and much
regretted that she had let her brother meddle in the matter.

"There," she said, unlocking the door with the key Thorny reluctantly
gave up to her, "this is the room and that is the drawer on the right.
The lower ones have seldom been opened since we came, and hold only
some of papa's old books. Those upper ones you may turn out and
investigate as much as you----Bless me! here's something in your trap,
Thorny!" and Miss Celia gave a little skip as she nearly trod on a
long, gray tail, which hung out of the hole now filled by a plump
mouse.

But her brother was intent on more serious things, and merely pushed
the trap aside as he pulled out the drawer with an excited gesture,
which sent it and all its contents clattering to the floor.

"Confound the old thing! It always stuck so I had to give a jerk. Now,
there it is, topsy-turvy!" and Thorny looked much disgusted at his own
awkwardness.

"No harm done; I left nothing of value in it. Look back there, Ben, and
see if there is room for a paper to get