For Gold or Soul?

by Lurana Sheldon

  CHAPTER XXXI.

  MAG BRADY'S ARREST.

  There was no mistaking young Denton's words or looks. Faith could nothave been a woman and not understood their meaning.

  For a second her lids fell in a tell-tale manner, and her cheeks paledand reddened with each alternating emotion.

  She knew she must resent the young man's words at once, but herconfusion of the moment rendered her powerless to do so.

  Suddenly a thought of Maggie Brady flitted across her brain. It gave herstrength and courage to resist the spell that was upon her.

  "Your words are not sincere, I am afraid, Mr. Denton," she managed tosay. "You only think to flatter me as you have numbers of others."

  The young man leaned back quickly, and a flush of shame mounted to hisbrow.

  "God forbid!" he said, sharply. "No, you wrong me, Miss Marvin! Aswicked as I am, I would not insult you."

  "But you did once!" said Faith, bravely. "The first day I was in thestore! You bowed and smiled at me as brazenly as--as though you did notrespect me!"

  It was out at last, and Faith's mind was relieved. She had never quitebeen able to forget that occurrence.

  "That was because I did not know you," explained young Denton, lamely."I thought you might be willing to flirt a little--no one else everrefused me."

  "Is it possible?"

  Faith asked the question in out and out amazement. She could see by theyoung man's face that he was not lying.

  "The other girls were always glad enough to flirt a little," he went on."You see, they knew I had money, and was willing to spend it--you can'tblame them, Miss Marvin; they were a poverty-stricken lot! It's nowonder that the prospect of a square meal and a little recreationtempted them."

  "No, I do not blame them," said Faith, very decidedly; "but I do blameyou, Mr. Denton; it was wicked of you to tempt them."

  The young man's face fell, and he shifted his position uneasily.

  "We can't all be sincere," he said, rather irritably, "and what seemsright to one often seems wrong to another. I've been careless, I admit,and perhaps a little wicked, but don't condemn me utterly, Miss Marvin.Why not try to reform me?"

  Faith glanced at him sharply. There was not a trace of mirth in hisface. It was evident that he had asked the question in earnest.

  "I wish I could," she answered, smiling a little; "but if you reallywish to reform, you can do it yourself, Mr. Denton. You have only topray, and your God will aid you."

  "But I lack faith," he said, quickly. "I don't see things as you do,and, besides, 'the prayers of the wicked are an abomination unto theLord;' you see, I know that much about the Bible, Miss Marvin!"

  "But you will be wicked no longer when you go to Him in the rightspirit," said Faith, brightly. "Oh, go to Him, Mr. Denton. It will givesuch pleasure to your father!"

  "I'm afraid I can't," said young Denton, rising. "I have one of thosenatures that cannot accept the marvelous, and, further, I'm too great asinner to reform, I guess; but please don't forget me because of that,Miss Marvin. I would give more than I can tell to have you think well ofme."

  Again the admiring glance rested upon the fair girl's face, and it tookall Faith's composure to reply sedately.

  "I shall be glad to think well of you," she said, a little shyly; "butyou have much to undo, I'm afraid, before that can be accomplished."

  "You are thinking now of what you have heard of me," said the youngman, quickly.

  "I am thinking of what I have seen," was Faith's decided answer, "and Icannot think well of you when I look at poor Maggie Brady."

  "Don't mention her name!" cried her caller, almost angrily. "It is bad.enough for you to have to work with her, but it is worse to know thatyou are wasting your thoughts on her!"

  "Mr. Denton, I am ashamed of you!" Faith's voice rose instinctively."How dare you speak disrespectfully of one of your own victims?"

  A half sneer passed over the young man's face.

  "I thought she'd been telling a lot of tales," he said, fiercely. "Nodoubt she has blackened my character through and through! I can neverhope to overcome your impression of me, Miss Marvin!"

  "On the contrary!" said Faith, hotly, "she has never spoken of you tome! All that she ever said of you was said on those two occasions inyour presence. But she doesn't have to speak, for I can see it in herface. That girl's soul is on your conscience. You are responsible forher, Mr. Denton!"

  Young Denton turned and looked at her searchingly.

  "So long as you believe that, there is no hope for me," he muttered.

  The next moment he bowed silently and left the apartment. When he hadgone Faith stood a moment almost trembling with excitement. She did noteven try to explain her many conflicting emotions. This much sheknew--she pitied him exceedingly, he was so young, so weak--she couldreason no further.

  When her mother came in she was crying softly. The events of the day hadcompletely unnerved her.

  Mrs. Marvin finally succeeded in comforting her a little, and thenfollowed plans for the future, both for themselves and others.

  They decided to move as soon as possible, so that they could accommodatelittle Dick in a more satisfactory manner, and also have a room for aservant and one for visitors.

  It was a pleasant programme, and its arrangement cheered Mrs. Marvinwonderfully. She was one of those women who droop under adversity, butwho spring up like a flower at the first gleam of sunshine.

  Contrary to her wishes, Faith insisted on going to the store the nextmorning. She was so decided about the matter that Mrs. Marvin dared notargue.

  "I shall say nothing about our fortune," she said, as she started,"until I see exactly how it will affect my position as a helper."

  The new cloak-room was swarming with girls when she arrived, and as soonas Lou Willis saw her she shouted to her:

  "Hello! Miss Marvin! have you heard the news? Lightning has struckdownstairs, and it is raining surprises!"

  "It's a pity lightning didn't strike the jewelry counter," calledanother voice; "but if it did, I suppose it would find Lou insulated!You'd go on talking just the same; ain't that so, Willis?"

  "I talk when I have anything to say," was the girl's curt answer, "butat present, if you please, I am addressing Miss Marvin!"

  "Dear me, how respectful we are to some folks!" was the mocking reply."How did you manage, Lou, to get that handle before the Marvin?"

  "Oh, do shut up!" was Lou's emphatic reply. "I want to tell my news andyou are not giving me the chance! They say that old Forbes has gone homesick! He can't stand the racket!"

  "What do you mean?" asked Faith, as she hung up her hat.

  "Why, the boss' religious attack has upset him completely--knocked himout in one round--and I don't much wonder. How on earth could you expectany sane man to look on at the changes in this store and not shake inhis shoes if he has money invested in the business?"

  "What has Mr. Denton done now?" asked Faith, with great interest.

  "Hired a lot of new hands, for one thing," was Lou's prompt answer,"and raised the salaries of more than half the clerks in the building!"

  "Is that so, really?" asked a dozen voices.

  "Well, as this happens to be my truthful day, you can depend upon it,"said Miss Willis, laughing. "Oh, I tell you, girls, the millennium iscoming! I expect he'll provide us soon with private carriages to ride tobusiness!"

  "Well, he has one of his own," remarked Miss Jones, from the distance."He might at least hire a stage for us in stormy weather."

  "An excellent idea!" exclaimed Faith, impulsively; "only, as we live sofar apart and there are so many of us, I'm afraid the suggestion is alittle impracticable."

  "Then let him provide a dozen," cried another girl, laughing. "What isthe cost of a dozen stages to a concern worth millions?"

  "Oh, girls!" cried cash girl Number 83, as she came bounding in, "whatdo you think has happened? Mag Brady has been arrested! They say she'sbeen trying to poison Miss Marvin!"

  Faith sank dow
n in a heap on one of the new sofas which Mr. Denton hadlately provided for their comfort.

  It was out at last, in spite of their caution. For a moment she wasstunned by the suddenness of it.

  The clerks all clustered around her and began asking questions, but shewas too dazed to even think of answering any of them.

  "I knew she'd do it!" cried Lou Willis, exultantly. "I've warned youagainst her a dozen times, Miss Marvin, but that's what you get forriling a jealous woman!"

  "She'll have a chance to get over her jealousy now," said Miss Jones."If they can prove that on her they'll send her to prison!"

  Faith staggered to her feet and faced them resolutely.

  "They shall never prove it, if I can help it," she said, finally, "for Iam sorry for Miss Brady, and I'm going to try and save her!"