For Gold or Soul?

by Lurana Sheldon

  CHAPTER X.

  A STARTLING SUGGESTION.

  The gossip in the cloak-room was at its height the next morning whenFaith entered promptly at half-past seven. She looked around for MissJennings, but did not see her. The next moment her attention wasattracted by a short conversation between two of the saleswomen.

  "Well, Jack Forbes is dead at last, poor fellow," said one of them, "andthey say that his father is all broke up over it. Jack was his idealalways. It's sure to go hard with him."

  "He deserves his trouble if ever any one did," was the indifferentanswer. "He's made life miserable for lots of young men who were just asworthy as Jack ever was and just as much beloved by their mothers andfathers."

  "Well, he's being punished now all right. They say he looks like aghost. Wonder if he'll have the good taste to close the store! Or willhe keep open that day to make funeral expenses?"

  There was a shout of laughter after this remark, and Faith was surprisedto see how many of the girls joined in it.

  "Oh, here you are," said a voice at her side.

  She turned and was delighted to see Miss Jennings.

  "How pale you look, Mary! Did you tire yourself too much last night?"she asked quickly. "Really dear, you should have stayed at home. You aresick abed this very minute!"

  "That would mean a dollar, my dear Faith," said Miss Jennings sharply."I've lost three already this month so far and as I'm liable to need acoffin soon I must keep at work and earn it!"

  "Don't, Mary!" cried Faith, in genuine distress. "Don't joke about suchthings, dear. I can't bear to hear you."

  "As well laugh as cry," said Miss Jennings shortly; "but I hear thatJack Forbes is dead. I'm in hopes the firm will show proper decency bygiving us a holiday."

  "Oh, they'll do that all right, if it is only for the looks of thething," cried one of the girls who had overheard her. "You can trustthem to keep up appearances before the public, even if they dock us aday's pay in order to square it."

  "They would never do that!" cried Faith in dismay.

  "They'd do it if they dared," was the answer; "they are not above it."

  "There is Mr. Gibson now," whispered another girl as the form of themanager appeared in the doorway.

  "The store will be closed to-morrow," he said, shortly, "so you girlswant to be smart and make all the sales you can to-day. Remember thatyou are expected to do your best in such emergencies."

  As he went away the clerks all looked at each other.

  "That sounded just like Forbes himself," giggled one of the girls. "I'llbet ten dollars he sent down that message."

  "Well, we all get a day off anyway," said another, "and for my part I'mglad to laugh once while Old Forbes is crying. The shoe is on the otherfoot generally and we girls do the weeping."

  "I wonder if that detective will annoy me to-day," whispered Faith toher friend. She had already told her of the proposition which Hardy hadmade to her.

  "I wonder who the fellow is who has got his eye on you," said MissJennings, soberly. "It's the same old story. They think because we arepoor that we are to be bought and sold like puppets. You'd be surprised,Faith, to know how men look upon us girls, but never mind about it,dear; Hardy can't do anything until the superintendent comes back, andby that time Mr. Watkins may have found the money."

  "Who is Mr. Watkins?" asked Faith, who had quite forgotten the youngman.

  "He's the superintendent's lackey, but they call him an assistant," saidMiss Jennings, with a slight blush. "He's a remarkably fine young manwho would be honest if he could, but, poor soul, he's like the rest ofus--tied hand and foot! If he expresses an honest opinion, out he goesinto the street, and that means that not only himself but his motherwould starve."

  "I remember him now," said Faith; "he was in the superintendent's officewhen I applied for my position. I liked his looks; he seemed refined andhonest. I wish I could help him, but--Oh, Mary, what's the matter?"

  Miss Jennings had suddenly put her handkerchief to her lips. When shetook it down there were blood stains upon it.

  "Nothing, dear," she said as soon as she could speak, "only the last endof a hemorrhage that I had this morning."

  "But do you have to work to-day? Is it really necessary?" urged Faith.

  Miss Jennings turned to her quickly and opened her pocket-book. Therewere seventeen cents and a small photograph in the purse. Faith had justtime to recognize the picture as that of Mr. Watkins when Miss Jenningsclosed the book with a flush of annoyance.

  "That's all I've got to last out the week, Faith," she said between hercoughs, "and I have a crippled brother at home, a last legacy from myparents."

  She hurried up the stairs, with Faith close behind her. In five minutesthe work of the day had begun; goods were being taken deftly from theshelves and displayed upon the counters.

  Miss Fairbanks was on hand and as cross as ever. She went around like avirago and scolded nearly every one in her department.

  When Maggie Brady came in she looked weary and jaded, and the paint onher face made her more conspicuous than ever.

  During a lull in the business Faith heard her speaking to Miss Fairbanksin a tone that showed plainly that she was very confidential with thebuyer.

  "Jim Denton took me to the theatre last night and we had an elegantsupper after. It cost him a pile, I tell you, for I just laid myself outto be expensive. It's the only way I have of getting square with thefirm. What the old man makes his son blows in; that's right, ain't it,Fairbanks?" she winked at the woman as she finished.

  "Sure," replied Miss Fairbanks in a lower tone; "but look out for him,Mag, there's a new star in the heavens. I wouldn't trust Jim Dentonaround the corner, and you wouldn't either if you were wiser."

  "Oh, I'm not afraid of that, if that's what you mean," said the girl.She nodded her head in Faith's direction, but did not deign to look ather.

  "She's a beauty all right," was the buyer's reply, "and she doesn't haveto improve on nature a little bit, eh, Maggie?"

  "She won't keep that color long in this store," sneered Miss Brady."She'll fade like all the rest of us, and it won't take long either."

  "Miss Fairbanks," gasped Miss Jennings from behind the counter, "I can'tstand up any longer. You will have to excuse me."

  "Well, you do look sick, so I suppose you can go. But as it is only teno'clock I shall have to call it a full day, Miss Jennings."

  "Call it anything you like," whispered Miss Jennings hoarsely; "only letme lie down, on the floor or anywhere."

  Faith sprang down from her high perch without an instant of hesitation.

  "Let me take her to the cloak-room, please, Miss Fairbanks," she begged."Miss Jennings is my friend--do, please, let me take her."

  "Nonsense! Get back to your desk this instant, packer! If she is toosick to go alone one of the cash girls can take her. Come, hurry along;there are customers coming."

  Faith gave a despairing sob as she climbed back to her seat. MissJennings was desperately ill--she was sure of it.

  Suddenly it occurred to her what a really brave fellow Mr. Watkins was.She had heard Mr. Forbes tell him to have Miss Jennings discharged, yetfor two days he had disregarded the order.

  That, and the picture of the young man in Miss Jennings' purse toldFaith a story as plain as words could have done. The two were lovers,she was positive of it, she began to wonder if Mr. Watkins knew of hissweetheart's condition.

  "Move faster there, packer!" called Miss Fairbanks crossly. "Can't yousee the lady is waiting for her parcel while you are loitering?"

  "Oh, I am in no hurry at all, madam," said a calm, lady-like voice. "Donot hurry the poor girl, please. She is probably tired."

  "She has no right to be tired at this time in the morning"--MissFairbanks was trying to be polite, but her voice was still snappy.

  "Are you never tired at this hour?" asked the lady, calmly. "Ifrequently wake tired, and from no especial reason. In this case Ishould think it surprising if she ever felt rested."

&
nbsp; "Oh, they get used to it--we all do," said Miss Fairbanks, stammering."Or, at least, we must do our work just the same. We are not supposed tohave feelings."

  "Pray, tell me who are your judges, madam?" The lady spoke more sharply."Who dares to say that human beings who earn their living have nofeelings?"

  "Well, if they don't say so out loud that is what they think," repliedthe buyer. "Why, we'd be discharged before night if we were to complainof too much work. They want machines in these stores, and we are thenearest substitutes."

  "Well, why don't you all rebel and force your employers to thinkdifferently? Mind, I don't tell you to do it. I am just asking forinformation."

  "It would do no good; we would simply lose our places, and for each oneof us there would be ten applicants to-morrow."

  Miss Fairbanks spoke the truth, and she spoke it sadly.

  For the second time Faith was inclined to think that the woman was notbad-hearted.

  "The law should step in and regulate such matters," said the lady. "Somuch authority should not be allowed to a few human beings. A fewarrests for manslaughter would not be amiss. I have just seen one womanwho is being killed by this slavery, and there are plenty more behindthese counters."

  "But no jury could convict our employers, if that is what you mean."Miss Fairbanks was gasping over the startling suggestion.

  "I'm not so sure," said the lady thoughtfully. "If they could see what Ihave just seen they might possibly do it There is a young woman dyingthis minute down in that villainous cloak-room."

  With a smothered groan Faith sprang swiftly to the floor.

  "It is Mary--my friend," she cried out in agony. "No, Miss Fairbanks,you shall not stop me! I will go to Miss Jennings!"