`` Bother his feelings ! I shall just say , calmly and coolly : ` Now , look here , Ben , hand over the money you took out of my sister 's drawer , and we 'll let you off easy , ' or something like that . '' `` It would n't do , Thorny ; his temper would be up in a minute , and away he would go before we could find out whether he was guilty or not . I wish I knew how to manage . '' `` Let me think , '' and Thorny leaned his chin on the arm of the chair , staring hard at the knocker as if he expected the lion 's mouth to open with words of counsel then and there . `` By Jove , I do believe Ben took it ! '' he broke out suddenly ; `` for when I went to his room this morning to see why he did n't come and do my boots , he shut the drawer in his bureau as quick as a flash , and looked red and queer , for I did n't knock , and sort of startled him . '' `` He would n't be likely to put stolen money there . Ben is too wise for that . '' `` He would n't keep it there , but he might be looking at it and pitch it in when I called . He 's hardly spoken to me since , and when I asked him what his flag was at half-mast for , he would n't answer . Besides , you know in the reading this afternoon he did n't listen , and when you asked what he was thinking about , he colored up and muttered something about Sanch . I tell you , Celia , it looks bad -- very bad , '' and Thorny shook his head with a wise air . `` It does , and yet we may be all wrong . Let us wait a little and give the poor boy a chance to clear himself before we speak . I 'd rather lose my money than suspect him falsely . '' `` How much was it ? '' `` Eleven dollars ; a one went first , and I supposed I 'd miscalculated somewhere when I took some out ; but when I missed a ten , I felt that I ought not to let it pass . '' `` Look here , sister , you just put the case into my hands and let me work it up . I wo n't say any thing to Ben till you give the word ; but I 'll watch him , and now that my eyes are open , it wo n't be easy to deceive me . ''
Thorny was evidently pleased with the new play of detective , and intended to distinguish himself in that line ; but when Miss XXXXX asked how he meant to begin , he could only respond with a blank expression : `` Do n't know !
Ben Celia Jove Sanch Thorny dollars first half-mast knocker minute