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 worked over the top of the drawer . I felt quite a crack , but I do n't believe it is possible for things to slip out ; the place was never full enough to overflow in any way . '' Miss Celia spoke to Ben , who was kneeling down to pick up the scattered papers , among which were two marked dollar bills , -- Thorny 's bait for the 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 Ben dropped the handful of what looked like rubbish . `` Something warm and wiggly inside of it , '' answered Ben , stooping to examine the contents of the little scarlet bundle . `` Baby mice ! Ai n't they funny ? Look just like mites of young pigs . We 'll have to kill 'em if you 've caught their mamma , '' he said , forgetting his own trials in boyish curiosity about his `` find . '' Miss Celia stooped also , and gently poked the red cradle with her finger ; for the tiny mice were nestling deeper into the fluff with small squeals of alarm . Suddenly she cried out : `` Boys , boys , I 've found the thief ! Look here ; pull out these bits and see if they wo n't make up my lost bills . '' Down went the motherless babies as four ruthless hands pulled apart their cosey nest , and there , among the nibbled fragments , appeared enough finely printed , greenish paper , to piece out parts of two bank bills . A large cypher and part of a figure one were visible , and that accounted for the ten ; but though there were other bits , no figures could 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 to the tell-tale letters spread forth on the table , over which all three had been eagerly bending .
`` No ; I beg your pardon , and I 'm very sorry that we did n't look more carefully before we XXXXX , then we all should have been spared this pain . ''
asked believe bending demanded dropped pointing put saying see spoke