Part 32 (2/2)

”Please, Mr. Denton,” she cried, brokenly, ”don't try to ferret the matter out! I beg of you, sir, let it drop and keep it a secret! The injury to your son is no greater than to me, so let it go no further, I implore it, Mr. Denton!”

”What, pa.s.s an attempted murder by!” exclaimed Mr. Denton in amazement.

”I am astonished, Miss Marvin, that you should make such a suggestion!”

”But I do make it!” cried Faith desperately, ”and I beg that you will grant it! Surely it was I who was to be the victim. I should be allowed to forgive the culprit!”

”On what grounds?” asked Mr. Denton, who was trying to exercise justice.

”On the grounds that it will do no good to expose or punish,” cried Faith eagerly, ”for a person who could do a deed like that can be saved by mercy, but not by justice!”

Mr. Denton looked thoughtfully, but he could not accede to her request.

He did not believe that even a Christian could ignore the laws of man in such a matter.

”No, Miss Marvin,” he said, firmly, ”the criminal must be exposed. It is the only way to stop a repet.i.tion of such cowardly actions!”

”It was a woman who did it without doubt!” broke in the detective sharply, ”and she'll do it again, sure, if she isn't punished! A woman that hates like that will stop at nothing!”

Faith glanced at him reproachfully, but did not answer. She did not mean by word or look to betray her suspicions.

”I will not ask you to state whom you suspect, Miss Marvin,” said Mr.

Denton, ”for I see in your face that you would not tell me; but in regard to my son, I must talk with you later. You are under my protection, and not even my own flesh and blood shall be allowed to annoy you.”

”I am sure it is not his wish to annoy me,” said Faith. ”He just doesn't understand that some girls are different from others. He has met only the weak ones who could not withstand his flattery, but I can take care of myself, sir, or, if not, G.o.d will protect me.”

”Alas! you do not know human nature yet, my child,” said Mr. Denton, gazing at her with an expression of almost fatherly interest, ”but pray always that your trust may be as steadfast as now--that it will never be shattered on the rocks of sorrow and misfortune.”

Faith pa.s.sed out of his presence with a last pleading glance--she seemed to be mutely imploring his mercy toward the guilty.

CHAPTER XXIX.

A VISITOR AT THE FLAT.

For the next few days Faith heard no more about the box of poisoned candy, but she was not allowed to entirely forget it, for Ben Tyler, the detective, almost haunted the department.

If he was looking for the culprit there he did not show it, for he laughed and chatted with all the girls whenever he had an opportunity.

Maggie Brady had come back to find her ”bargain counter” gone, but Miss Fairbanks had already received orders to put her behind the regular counter.

This brought Faith and Maggie nearer together than ever, and the hatred in Maggie's face was very apparent, although she schooled herself to be fairly pleasant.

Faith treated her as kindly as possible, but for all that she occasionally caught Maggie glaring at her between half closed lids in a manner that thrilled her with fresh suspicions.

At those times Faith felt a nervousness that she could not control. She almost dreaded to turn her back upon the morbid young woman.

More than once she thought of Lou Willis' words that ”Maggie Brady was a sneak and a coward, who waited until dark before attacking the object of her hatred.”

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