“Oh, Mr. Denton, don’t say such things!” cried Faith, “I will never talk to you again if you persist in speaking so of your father!”

The young man threw back his head and had a hearty laugh.

“You’re the most innocent little kitten I ever saw,” he said softly; “it’s a deuced shame that you have to work for a living!”

Faith’s eyes blazed angrily before he had hardly spoken the words.

“I am glad to be able to earn my living!” she said sternly; “it is ever so much nobler than to be living on one’s parents!”

The flush that mantled the young man’s brow showed that her words had struck home, but he tried to turn it off with a neatly put compliment.

“I’m a sad beggar, I know, Miss Marvin, but I’m going to reform!  I never wanted to be different until, well, until now—­to be honest.”

“You are not serious, Mr. Denton; I see laughter in your eyes,” said Faith, smiling.  “But I will get up the petition at once, as you suggest, and I shall pray that our appeal may not be in vain.”

She had paused at a street corner and was extending her hand to say good-by to the young man when a woman passed them and jostled Faith rudely.

It was Maggie Brady, the girl who loved Jim Denton.  As she faced them for a second both saw that her eyes gleamed dangerously.  Without even stopping she made a remark to Faith—­the words were hissed between her teeth with the venom of a serpent.

“You’ll be sorry for this, you little hypocrite!  I thought you were too pious to be altogether healthy!”

Faith turned as pale as death as the woman strode on; James Denton was smiling in a half-hearted manner.

“That is the result of your flirting,” Faith managed to say at last.  “Oh, Mr. Denton, can’t you see what you’ve done?  You’ve made that woman love you, and now she is going straight to destruction!”

CHAPTER XVII.

The partners do A little talking.

Mr. Forbes was at his office in the store early the next morning after his interview with Mr. Watkins.  He would have been glad to stay away for another day, but there were many details of the business that needed his attention.  Sam Watkins, his office boy, was not waiting for him as usual, but Mr. Forbes was confident that he could find him when he wanted him.  He looked around for his assistant, but he was absent also.  This fact was more annoying, because it aroused his suspicions.

“Bolted!” he muttered with an angry frown.  “Ten to one he’s run away and I’ll never get my money.”

Then he smiled a little, for he knew that Watkins had no funds with which to make his escape, but even if he had there were many ways of catching him.

As he seated himself at his desk both of his partners entered, and there were expressions of condolence offered in a punctilious manner.