For Gold or Soul?

by Lurana Sheldon

  CHAPTER XXXIV.

  MR. FORBES REACHES A DECISION.

  Early the next morning Mr. Denton was in his office. He was almost thefirst person at the store nowadays, and, as far as he could, he lookedafter every detail of business.

  At half-past eight the sample room was thronged with drummers, and eachbuyer was carefully inspecting the goods which he intended ordering forhis special department.

  More than once Mr. Denton interrupted some low conversation where hefelt sure that a deal was being made which could not be adjusted to hisnewly awakened conscience.

  Then came the opening of the morning mail. He had always intrusted thisto others; now he gave it personal supervision.

  Quite frequently he intercepted letters that he did not understand untilhe had investigated closely, with the aid of a detective, but in eachinstance the wrong-doer was treated with mercy, he was reasoned with andcautioned, a repetition would mean discharge on the instant.

  Thus, almost daily he found fresh evidences of dishonesty, either in thefirm's dealing with manufacturers or customers, or some treachery ofemployees, whose opportunity came to them in the form of mail orders.

  Goods were ordered in this way frequently which could not be supplied,and an inferior grade was almost invariably substituted. When this wasdone the "mail order clerk's" methods were simple--either he or the firmwere profiters through the transaction.

  Mr. Denton finally thought out the solution of this unpleasant matter,and on this particular morning he summoned the advertising manager forthe firm to his office.

  Picking up a daily paper, he pointed to one of their attractive "ads."

  "Bring me a sample of these goods, Green," he said, a little sternly;"you can get them of Billings, the buyer in that department."

  "Oh, that's only a blind, sir," was the startling answer, "Mr. Billingshas some old goods that he is trying to work off. They are not quite upto the mark, but that 'ad' will sell them."

  "Do you mean by that, Green, that we are misrepresenting our goods?"asked Mr. Denton; "or, in other words, that we are advertising one gradeof goods and selling another?"

  "That's about it," said the manager, looking a little puzzled, "but it'snothing new, sir; we've always done it!"

  Mr. Denton looked at him for a moment before he spoke. He could notcensure him for what they had "always" done, neither could he blame theman for his own previous indifference on the subject.

  "Don't do it again, Green," he said very sadly, "and send Mr. Billingsto me the minute you see him."

  As Mr. Green went out Mr. Denton groaned aloud: "Would he ever get tothe end of his own dishonesty, or was he to be confronted daily by suchcontemptible trickery?"

  Just once he tried to justify his past methods, but with a sneer ofscorn he put such thoughts from him.

  As he sat in deep meditation the door opened again. He looked up, andsaw that it was Mr. Forbes who had entered.

  "I am glad to see you," said Mr. Denton, quickly, "and I hope you arefeeling entirely recovered."

  Mr. Forbes bowed slightly, as he dropped into a chair.

  "Mr. Forbes," said Mr. Denton, "I am ashamed of myself! I never knewuntil to-day that I was such a scoundrel!"

  He pointed to the paper that he still held in his hand, and in a veryfew words repeated his late conversation.

  "That is necessary in business," said Mr. Forbes shortly, "and it is, tosay the least, peculiar that you shouldn't know it!"

  "Well, it's an infamous trick!" was Mr. Denton's rejoinder. "Just thinkof the poor people whom we have defrauded in that manner!"

  "I prefer to think of the dollars it has brought into our pockets," saidMr. Forbes sullenly, "and now that we are on the subject, I may as wellsay, Mr. Denton, that I am sick and tired of this whole idioticbusiness!"

  "Do you wish to sell out?"

  Mr. Denton spoke calmly. "If so, name your price while I have the moneyto pay you."

  "Oh, you do expect to fail, then? You still have sense enough for that!"said Mr. Forbes quickly. "Then, why not give up your fad at once and runthe business properly?"

  "Do you mean as we have been running it?" asked Mr. Denton, with a sharpglance at him.

  "Certainly, with a few modifications, perhaps," was the equally sharpanswer.

  "Never!"

  Mr. Denton's voice rang out like the blast of a trumpet.

  "Go back to such infamous practices? Never!"

  "Very well, then," said Mr. Forbes, with sudden anger in his voice, "Ido wish to sell out! What will you give me for my interest?"

  Mr. Denton wheeled around, and looked at him eagerly.

  "I had hoped you would see things differently," he said at last. "Ithought that perhaps you would appreciate my desire, which is to makemyself more worthy of the God that made me."

  Mr. Forbes shifted uneasily, and finally rose from his chair. He wasplainly disturbed over the situation.

  "I do appreciate your efforts, and I honor them, in a way," he saidslowly, "but I have not the courage to make such a sacrifice myself, andI very much doubt if such a sacrifice is demanded. A proper observanceof religion is enough; a man need not crucify his worldly ambitions inorder to be worthy of heaven."

  "'Let him take up his cross and follow Me,'" quoted Mr. Denton. "Mycross is to do exactly as I am doing. It is not easy to bear, but I amhappy in bearing it."

  "But where will it lead to?" asked Mr. Forbes eagerly. "What proof haveyou that your reward will come? This may be a delusion that you arefollowing."

  "I am willing to risk it," said Mr. Denton, solemnly. "It is the best aman can do to follow his conscience."

  "But there are duties to one's family that must be considered," urgedMr. Forbes. "A man cannot rightfully ignore the fact that he is of theearth, earthy, and that there is something tangible needed before wesoar into the mysteries."

  "He must ignore nothing," said Mr. Denton, gravely, "but, as I saidbefore, he must follow his conscience."

  "Well, I should like to stay with you, but I cannot do it," said Mr.Forbes, "for, while I sympathize with your feelings in many respects,yet I cannot indorse your unbusiness-like actions. If you think myinterest here is worth fifty thousand dollars, you can give me thatamount, and I will go--then you will be free to spend your fortuneaccording to any freak of your fancy."

  "You are more just in your dealings than I expected," said Mr. Denton,flushing a little. "After my experience with Mr. Day, I did not look forany mercy."

  "Oh, I have a conscience, too," said Mr. Forbes, grimly, "and while Idid not know it until lately, it has made me very uncomfortable, I canassure you."

  There was a genuine ring in his voice as he spoke, and as Mr. Dentondetected it, he rose and placed his hand upon his shoulder.

  "Better stay with me, brother, and let us work together," he saidgently. "In the vineyard of the Master there can be no unrewardedlabor."

  Mr. Forbes shook his head and turned away.

  "We can attend to the legal details some other time," he said briefly."You are busy to-day, so I will not detain you."

  Mr. Denton sat down at his desk again, and as the door closed behind hispartner he bowed his head upon his bosom.

  "Alone and yet not alone," he whispered softly. "God grant me strengthto do my duty, and if my lot is failure, let me accept it bravely. It isall a man can do. He must follow his conscience."

  The door opened again, and Faith Marvin entered. She had her hat on,and was ready for the visit to Maggie Brady.

  "I wonder what she wishes to see me for?" said her employer, musingly."Is she desirous of upbraiding me, do you think, Miss Marvin?"

  "Why should she upbraid you?" asked Faith, very soberly. "You certainlyare not to blame for the actions of your son, and as for her arrest, yousimply had to do it."

  "She may say that I should have protected her from him," he answered."Some way I blame myself continually in that particular direction."

  "A girl should be able to protect herself," said Faith ster
nly. "I can'tquite understand such weakness in women, unless it is, as poor MissJennings used to say, 'the iniquities of the fathers visited upongenerations of the innocent.'"

  "I believe that fully," said Mr. Denton with a sigh. "It is one reasonwhy I am merciful in my own boy's case--my sins have been perpetuated!Can I ever efface them?"

  They left the building together, going out of one of the side doors.Just as they reached the sidewalk a handsome carriage drew up before theentrance.

  "Why, that is my own carriage!" exclaimed Mr. Denton quickly.

  The next instant James Denton sprang from the carriage and came face toface with Faith and his father.