Under the Lilacs Read online

  CHAPTER XVI

  DETECTIVE THORNTON

  A few days later, Miss Celia was able to go about with her arm in asling, pale still, and rather stiff, but so much better than any oneexpected, that all agreed Mr. Paine was right in pronouncing Dr. Mills"a master hand with broken bones." Two devoted little maids waited onher, two eager pages stood ready to run her errands, and friendlyneighbors sent in delicacies enough to keep these four young personsbusily employed in disposing of them.

  Every afternoon the great bamboo lounging chair was brought out and theinteresting invalid conducted to it by stout Randa, who was head nurse,and followed by a train of shawl, cushion, foot-stool and book bearers,who buzzed about like swarming bees round a new queen. When all weresettled, the little maids sewed and the pages read aloud, with muchconversation by the way; for one of the rules was, that all shouldlisten attentively, and if any one did not understand what was read, heor she should ask to have it explained on the spot. Whoever could answerwas invited to do so, and at the end of the reading Miss Celia could askany she liked, or add any explanations which seemed necessary. In thisway much pleasure and profit was extracted from the tales Ben and Thornyread, and much unexpected knowledge as well as ignorance displayed, notto mention piles of neatly hemmed towels for which Bab and Betty werepaid like regular sewing-women.

  So vacation was not all play, and the girls found their picnics, berryparties, and "goin' a visitin'," all the more agreeable for the quiethour spent with Miss Celia. Thorny had improved wonderfully, and wasgetting to be quite energetic, especially since his sister's accident;for while she was laid up he was the head of the house, and much enjoyedhis promotion. But Ben did not seem to flourish as he had done at first.The loss of Sancho preyed upon him sadly, and the longing to go and findhis dog grew into such a strong temptation that he could hardly resistit. He said little about it; but now, and then a word escaped him whichmight have enlightened any one who chanced to be watching him. No onewas, just then, so he brooded over this fancy, day by day, in silenceand solitude, for there was no riding and driving now. Thorny was busywith his sister trying to show her that he remembered how good she hadbeen to him when he was ill, and the little girls had their own affairs.

  Miss Celia was the first to observe the change, having nothing to do butlie on the sofa and amuse herself by seeing others work or play. Ben wasbright enough at the readings, because then he forgot his troubles; butwhen they were over and his various duties done, he went to his own roomor sought consolation with Lita, being sober and quiet, and quite unlikethe merry monkey all knew and liked so well.

  "Thorny, what is the matter with Ben?" asked Miss Celia, one day, whenshe and her brother were alone in the "green parlor," as they called thelilac-tree walk.

  "Fretting about Sanch, I suppose. I declare I wish that dog had neverbeen born! Losing him has just spoilt Ben. Not a bit of fun left in him,and he won't have any thing I offer to cheer him up."

  Thorny spoke impatiently, and knit his brows over the pressed flowers hewas neatly gumming into his herbal.

  "I wonder if he has any thing on his mind? He acts as if he was hiding atrouble he didn't dare to tell. Have you talked with him about it?"asked Miss Celia, looking as if she was hiding a trouble she did notlike to tell.

  "Oh, yes, I poke him up now and then, but he gets peppery, so I let himalone. May be he is longing for his old circus again. Shouldn't blamehim much if he was; it isn't very lively here, and he's used toexcitement, you know."

  "I hope it isn't that. Do you think he would slip away without tellingus, and go back to the old life again? Don't believe he would. Benisn't a bit of a sneak; that's why I like him."

  "Have you ever found him sly or untrue in any way?" asked Miss Celia,lowering her voice.

  "No; he's as fair and square a fellow as I ever saw. Little bit low, nowand then, but he doesn't mean it, and wants to be a gentleman, only henever lived with one before, and it's all new to him. I'll get himpolished up after a while."

  "Oh, Thorny, there are three peacocks on the place, and you are thefinest!" laughed Miss Celia, as her brother spoke in his mostcondescending way with a lift of the eyebrows very droll to see.

  "And two donkeys, and Ben's the biggest, not to know when he is well offand happy!" retorted the "gentleman," slapping a dried specimen on thepage as if he were pounding discontented Ben.

  "Come here and let me tell you something which worries me. I would notbreathe it to another soul, but I feel rather helpless, and I dare sayyou can manage the matter better than I."

  Looking much mystified, Thorny went and sat on the stool at his sister'sfeet, while she whispered confidentially in his ear: "I've lost somemoney out of my drawer, and I'm so afraid Ben took it."

  "But it's always locked up and you keep the keys of the drawer and thelittle room?"

  "It is gone, nevertheless, and I've had my keys safe all the time."

  "But why think it is he any more than Randa, or Katy, or me?"

  "Because I trust you three as I do myself. I've known the girls foryears, and you have no object in taking it since all I have is yours,dear."

  "And all mine is yours, of course. But, Celia, how could he do it? Hecan't pick locks, I know, for we fussed over my desk together, and hadto break it after all."

  "I never really thought it possible till to-day when you were playingball and it went in at the upper window, and Ben climbed up the porchafter it; you remember you said, 'If it had gone in at the garret gableyou couldn't have done that so well;' and he answered, 'Yes, I could,there isn't a spout I can't shin up, or a bit of this roof I haven'tbeen over.'"

  "So he did; but there is no spout near the little room window."

  "There is a tree, and such an agile boy as Ben could swing in and outeasily. Now, Thorny, I hate to think this of him, but it has happenedtwice, and for his own sake I must stop it. If he is planning to runaway, money is a good thing to have. And he may feel that it is his own;for you know he asked me to put his wages in the bank, and I did. He maynot like to come to me for that, because he can give no good reason forwanting it. I'm so troubled I really don't know what to do."

  She looked troubled, and Thorny put his arms about her as if to keep allworries but his own away from her.

  "Don't you fret, Cely, dear; you leave it to me. I'll fixhim--ungrateful little scamp!"

  "That is not the way to begin. I am afraid you will make him angry andhurt his feelings, and then we can do nothing."

  "Bother his feelings! I shall just say, calmly and coolly: 'Now, lookhere, Ben, hand over the money you took out of my sister's drawer, andwe'll let you off easy,' or something like that."

  "It wouldn't do, Thorny; his temper would be up in a minute, and away hewould go before we could find out whether he was guilty or not. I wish Iknew 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 openwith words of counsel then and there.

  "By Jove, I do believe Ben took it!" he broke out suddenly; "for when Iwent to his room this morning to see why he didn't come and do my boots,he shut the drawer in his bureau as quick as a flash, and looked red andqueer, for I didn't knock, and sort of startled him."

  "He wouldn't be likely to put stolen money there. Ben is too wise forthat."

  "He wouldn't keep it there, but he might be looking at it and pitch itin when I called. He's hardly spoken to me since, and when I asked himwhat his flag was at half-mast for, he wouldn't answer. Besides, youknow in the reading this afternoon he didn't listen, and when you askedwhat he was thinking about, he colored up and muttered something aboutSanch. I tell you, Celia, it looks bad--very bad," and Thorny shookhis head with a wise air.

  "It does, and yet we may be all wrong. Let us wait a little and give thepoor boy a chance to clear himself before we speak. I'd rather lose mymoney than suspect him falsely."

  "How much was it?"

  "Eleven dollars; a one went first, and
I supposed I'd miscalculatedsomewhere when I took some out; but when I missed a ten, I felt that Iought not to let it pass."

  "Look here, sister, you just put the case into my hands and let me workit up. I won't say any thing to Ben till you give the word; but I'llwatch him, and now that my eyes are open, it won't be easy to deceiveme."

  Thorny was evidently pleased with the new play of detective, andintended to distinguish himself in that line; but when Miss Celia askedhow he meant to begin, he could only respond with a blank expression:"Don't know! You give me the keys and leave a bill or two in the drawer,and may be I can find him out somehow."

  So the keys were given, and the little dressing-room where the oldsecretary stood was closely watched for a day or two. Ben cheered up atrifle which looked as if he knew an eye was upon him, but otherwise hewent on as usual, and Miss Celia feeling a little guilty at evenharboring a suspicion of him, was kind and patient with his moods.Thorny was very funny in the unnecessary mystery and fuss he made; hisaffectation of careless indifference to Ben's movements and his clumsyattempts to watch every one of them; his dodgings up and down stairs,ostentatious clanking of keys, and the elaborate traps he set to catchhis thief, such as throwing his ball in at the dressing-room window andsending Ben up the tree to get it, which he did, thereby proving beyonda doubt that he alone could have taken the money, Thorny thought.Another deep discovery was, that the old drawer was so shrunken that thelock could be pressed down by slipping a knife-blade between the haspand socket.

  "Now it is as clear as day, and you'd better let me speak," he said,full of pride as well as regret at this triumphant success of his firstattempt as a detective.

  "Not yet, and you need do nothing more. I'm afraid it was a mistake ofmine to let you do this; and if it has spoiled your friendship with Ben,I shall be very sorry; for I do not think he is guilty," answered MissCelia.

  "Why not?" and Thorny looked annoyed.

  "I've watched also, and he doesn't act like a deceitful boy. To-day Iasked him if he wanted any money, or should I put what I owe him withthe rest, and he looked me straight in the face with such honest,grateful eyes, I could not doubt him when he said 'Keep it, please, Idon't need any thing here, you are all so good to me.'"

  "Now, Celia, don't you be soft-hearted. He's a sly little dog, andknows my eye is on him. When I asked him what he saw in thedressing-room, after he brought out the ball, and looked sharply at him,he laughed, and said 'Only a mouse,' as saucy as you please."

  "Do set the trap there, I heard the mouse nibbling last night, and itkept me awake. We must have a cat or we shall be overrun."

  "Well, shall I give Ben a good blowing up, or will you?" asked Thorny,scorning such poor prey as mice, and bound to prove that he was in theright.

  "I'll let you know what I have decided in the morning. Be kind to Ben,meantime, or I shall feel as if I had done you harm by letting you watchhim."

  So it was left for that day, and by the next, Miss Celia had made up hermind to speak to Ben. She was just going down to breakfast when thesound of loud voices made her pause and listen. It came from Ben's room,where the two boys seemed to be disputing about something.

  "I hope Thorny has kept his promise," she thought, and hurried throughthe back entry, fearing a general explosion.

  Ben's chamber was at the end, and she could see and hear what was goingon before she was near enough to interfere. Ben stood against his closetdoor looking as fierce and red as a turkey-cock; Thorny sternlyconfronted him, saying in an excited tone, and with a threateninggesture: "You are hiding something in there, and you can't deny it."

  "I don't."

  "Better not; I insist on seeing it."

  "Well, you won't."

  "What have you been stealing now?"

  "Didn't steal it,--used to be mine,--I only took it when I wantedit."

  "I know what that means. You'd better give it back or I'll make you."

  "Stop!" cried a third voice, as Thorny put out his arm to clutch Ben,who looked ready to defend himself to the last gasp, "Boys, I willsettle this affair. Is there anything hidden in the closet, Ben?" andMiss Celia came between the belligerent parties with her one hand up topart them.

  Thorny fell back at once, looking half ashamed of his heat, and Benbriefly answered, with a gulp as if shame or anger made it hard to speaksteadily:

  "Yes 'm, there is."

  "Does it belong to you?"

  "Yes 'm, it does."

  "Where did you get it?"

  "Up to Squire's."

  "That's a lie!" muttered Thorny to himself.

  Ben's eye flashed, and his fist doubled up in spite of him, but herestrained himself out of respect for Miss Celia, who looked puzzled, asshe asked another question, not quite sure how to proceed with theinvestigation: "Is it money, Ben?"

  "No 'm, it isn't."

  "Then what can it be?"

  "Meow!" answered a fourth voice from the closet; and as Ben flung openthe door a gray kitten walked out, purring with satisfaction at herrelease.

  Miss Celia fell into a chair and laughed till her eyes were full; Thornylooked foolish, and Ben folded his arms, curled up his nose, andregarded his accuser with calm defiance, while pussy sat down to washher face as if her morning toilette had been interrupted by her suddenabduction.

  "That's all very well, but it doesn't mend matters much, so you needn'tlaugh, Celia," began Thorny, recovering himself, and stubbornly bent onsifting the case to the bottom, now he had begun.

  "Well, it would, if you'd let a feller alone. She said she wanted acat, so I went and got the one they gave me when I was at the Squire's.I went early and took her without asking, and I had a right to,"explained Ben, much aggrieved by having his surprise spoiled.

  "It was very kind of you, and I'm glad to have this nice kitty. We willshut her up in my room to catch the mice that plague me," said MissCelia, picking up the little cat, and wondering how she would get hertwo angry boys safely down stairs.

  "The dressing-room, she means; you know the way, and you don't need keysto get in," added Thorny, with such sarcastic emphasis that Ben feltsome insult was intended, and promptly resented it.

  "You won't get me to climb any more trees after your balls, and my catwon't catch any of your mice, so you needn't ask me."

  "Cats don't catch thieves, and they are what I'm after!"

  "What do you mean by that?" fiercely demanded Ben.

  "Celia has lost some money out of her drawer, and you won't let me seewhat's in yours; So I thought, perhaps, you'd got it!" blurted outThorny, finding it hard to say the words, angry as he was, for the faceopposite did not look like a guilty one.

  For a minute, Ben did not seem to understand him, plainly as he spoke;then he turned an angry scarlet, and, with a reproachful glance at hismistress, opened the little drawer so that both could see all that itcontained.

  "They ain't any thing; but I'm fond of 'em they are all I've got--Iwas afraid he'd laugh at me that time, so I wouldn't let him look--itwas father's birthday, and I felt bad about him and Sanch--" Ben'sindignant voice got more and more indistinct as he stumbled on, andbroke down over the last words. He did not cry, however, but threw backhis little treasures as if half their sacredness was gone; and, making astrong effort at self-control, faced around, asking of Miss Celia, witha grieved look,

  "Did you think I'd steal anything of yours?"

  "I tried not to, Ben, but what could I do? It was gone, and you the onlystranger about the place."

  "Wasn't there any one to think bad of but me? he said, so sorrowfullythat Miss Celia made up her mind on the spot that he was as innocent ofthe theft as the kitten now biting her buttons, no other refreshmentbeing offered.

  "Nobody, for I know my girls well. Yet, eleven dollars are gone, and Icannot imagine where or how for both drawer and door are always locked,because my papers and valuables are in that room."

  "What a lot! But how could I get it if it was locked up?" and Ben lookedas if that question was unanswerable.


  "Folks that can climb in at windows for a ball, can go the same way formoney, and get it easy enough when they've only to pry open an oldlock!"

  Thorny's look and tone seemed to make plain to Ben all that they hadbeen suspecting, and, being innocent, he was too perplexed and unhappyto defend himself. His eye went from one to the other, and, seeing doubtin both faces, his boyish heart sunk within him; for he could provenothing, and his first impulse was to go away at once.

  "I can't say any thing, only that I didn't take the money. You won'tbelieve it, so I'd better go back where I come from. They weren't sokind, but they trusted me, and knew I wouldn't steal a cent. You maykeep my money, and the kitty, too; I don't want 'em," and, snatching uphis hat, Ben would gone straight away, if Thorny had not barred hispassage.

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

  "It would break my heart to have you go in that way, Ben. Stay at leasttill 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 evidentdesire to trust him.

  "We'll try as well as we know how, and the first thing we will do is togive that old secretary a good rummage from top to bottom. I've done itonce, but it is just possible that the bills may have slipped out ofsight. Come, now, I can't rest till I've done all I can to comfort youand convince Thorny." Miss Celia rose as she spoke, and led the way tothe dressing-room, which had no outlet except through her chamber. Stillholding his hat, Ben followed with a troubled face, and Thorny broughtup the rear, doggedly determined to keep his eye on "the little scamp"till the matter was satisfactorily cleared up. Miss Celia had made herproposal more to soothe the feelings of one boy and to employ thesuperfluous energies of the other, than in the expectation of throwingany 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 reluctantlygave 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 someof papa's old books. Those upper ones you may turn out and investigateas much as you-- Bless me! here's something in your trap," Thorny andMiss Celia gave a little skip as she nearly trod on a long, gray tall,which hung out of the bole now filled by a plump mouse.

  But her brother was intent on more serious things, and merely pushed thetrap aside as he pulled out the drawer with an excited gesture, whichsent 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 ownawkwardness.

  "No harm done; I left nothing of value in it. Look back there, Ben, andsee if there is room for a paper to get worked over the top of thedrawer. I felt quite a crack, but I don't believe it is possible forthings to slip out; the place was never full enough to overflow in anyway."

  Miss Celia spoke to Ben, who was kneeling down to pick up the scatteredpapers, among which were two marked dollar bills,--Thorny's bait forthe thief. Ben looked into the dusty recess, and then put in his hand,saying carelessly,--

  "There's nothing but a bit of red stuff."

  "My old pen-wiper--Why, what's the matter?" asked Miss Celia, as Bendropped the handful of what looked like rubbish.

  "Something warm and wiggly inside of it," answered Ben, stooping toexamine the contents of the little scarlet bundle. "Baby mice! Ain'tthey funny? Look just like mites of young pigs. We'll have to kill 'emif you've caught their mamma," he said, forgetting his own trials inboyish curiosity about his "find."

  Miss Celia stooped also, and gently poked the red cradle with herfinger; for the tiny mice were nestling deeper into the fluff with smallsqueals of alarm. Suddenly she cried out: "Boys, boys, I've found thethief! Look here; pull out these bits and see if they won't make up mylost bills."

  Down went the motherless babies as four ruthless hands pulled aparttheir cosey nest, and there, among the nibbled fragments, appearedenough finely printed, greenish paper, to piece out parts of two bankbills. A large cypher and part of a figure one were visible, and thataccounted for the ten; but though there were other bits, no figurescould be found, and they were willing to take the other bill on trust.

  "Now, then, am I a thief and a liar?" demanded Ben, pointing proudly tothe tell-tale letters spread forth on the table, over which all threehad been eagerly bending.

  "No; I beg your pardon, and I'm very sorry that we didn't look morecarefully before we spoke, then we all should have been spared thispain."

  "All right, old fellow, forgive and forget. I'll never think hard ofyou again,--on my honor I won't."

  As they spoke, Miss Celia and her brother held out their hands franklyand heartily. Ben shook both, but with a difference; for he pressed thesoft one gratefully, remembering that its owner had always been good tohim; but the brown paw he gripped with a vengeful squeeze that madeThorny pull it away in a hurry, exclaiming, good-naturedly, in spite ofboth physical and mental discomfort,--

  "Come, Ben, don't you bear malice; for you've got the laugh on yourside, and we feel pretty small. I do, any way; for, after my fidgets,all I've caught is a mouse!"

  "And her family. I'm so relieved I'm almost sorry the poor littlemother is dead--she and her babies were so happy in the oldpen-wiper," said Miss Celia, hastening to speak merrily, for Ben stilllooked indignant, and she was much grieved at what had happened.

  "A pretty expensive house," began Thorny, looking about for theinteresting orphans, who had been left on the floor while theirpaper-hangings were examined.

  No further anxiety need be felt for them, however; Kitty had come uponthe scene, and as judge, jury, and prisoner, turned to find the littlewitnesses, they beheld the last pink mite going down Pussy's throat inone mouthful.

  "I call that summary justice,--the whole family executed on the spot!Give Kit the mouse also, and let us go to breakfast. I feel as if I hadfound my appetite, now this worry is off my mind," said Miss Celia,laughing so infectiously that Ben had to join in spite of himself, asshe took his arm and led him away with a look which mutely asked hispardon over again.

  "Rather lively for a funeral procession," said Thorny, following withthe trap in his hand and Puss at his heels, adding, to comfort his prideas a detective:

  "Well, I said I'd catch the thief, and I have, though it is rather asmall one!"