CHAPTER XXI.
A CHANGE IN MR. DENTON.
"Well, Hardy what have you found out about the Watkins family? Somethingsatisfactory, I hope!"
Mr. Forbes spoke to the detective with unusual good nature.
But Hardy closed the office door and advanced to the desk where thesuperintendent was sitting.
"On the contrary, sir; I have found things very unsatisfactory," was hisanswer. "Watkins is in the hospital, half dead from brain fever, hismother is a feeble old woman without a penny, and as for that youngscamp who stole your money, he's among the missing--he's vamoosedentirely!"
"Well, why don't you find him?" asked Mr. Forbes, a little lesspleasantly. "That's what I told you to do! Didn't you understand myorders?"
"I haven't had time to find him," muttered the detective, sullenly."He's been spirited away. I think he's out of the city."
"So you see no way of getting back that three hundred dollars. Well,there's got to be a way! We can't afford to lose it!"
"Lose what?" asked Mr. Denton, coming in just then.
Mr. Forbes hastily repeated the detective's information.
"You say the mother is penniless and young Watkins critically ill? Well,I should think that was trouble enough for one family," said Mr. Dentonslowly. "Mr. Forbes, it is my wish that you should stop right here! Iwish you to drop the matter of the money completely."
"What!"
Mr. Forbes wheeled around in his chair and stared at his partner.
"I mean it," said Mr, Denton, "and, what is more, I command it! Assenior partner of this firm I expect my orders to be respected!"
Mr. Forbes made a heroic effort at self-control. When he could trusthis voice he attempted to answer.
"Perhaps you have forgotten, Mr. Denton, that we are drawing on ourfunds very heavily this week. There are those alterations in thebasement to satisfy the Board of Health and two hundred dollars for thatMiss Jennings' funeral. Neither of these expenses would have beenincurred if I had not been absent so much of late; but is it wise, doyou think, to add to these the three hundred that Sam Watkins robbed usof?"
Mr. Denton seemed to ignore the last half of the sentence. His mind wasdwelling upon the other things mentioned.
"What I have not forgotten, Mr. Forbes, is this," he said, quietly:"That funeral that you speak of has given us one of the biggest free'ads.' that this firm has ever enjoyed. Why, the space it occupies inone paper alone is worth at least a thousand dollars! And, so far as thealterations are concerned--well, I have just ordered them stopped. I'mgoing to close up that room to employees altogether!"
If the sky had fallen Mr. Forbes could not have been any more surprised.Even the hardened detective almost gasped in astonishment.
"But you have no right to do this," growled Mr. Forbes. "You shouldconsult your partners in such matters, Mr. Denton."
Mr. Denton smiled grimly at the angry man's words.
"You are partners, nominally, yes," he said slowly, "but I hardly thinkit would pay either you or Mr. Day to oppose me."
His words were very true, as Mr. Forbes well knew. Both he and Mr. Daywere deeply indebted to their senior partner. He "owned them body andsoul," as many persons would express it.
"I have been doing a lot of thinking in the past two days, Mr. Forbes,"went on Mr. Denton, "but as you would hardly appreciate my sentiments, Iwill keep my thoughts to myself a little longer. Here, Hardy, you areexcused from the Watkins affair! Go back to your duties in the store,and see that you are very careful not to annoy any innocent persons."
Bob Hardy made his way out of the office almost in a daze. He had beenin the service of the store ever since it was opened, but suchinstructions as these meant a brand-new departure.
"I wonder what the deuce has got into him, anyway," he muttered. "Hetalks like a man that's got struck with religion!"
As he walked slowly down the stairs to the first floor of the buildinghe met a brother detective, who stared at him curiously.
"What's the matter, Hardy? Look's if you'd had a shock! Been havin' aset-to with old Forbes, I'll bet a dollar!"
"You're wrong," was Hardy's answer. "It was the old man this time.There's something wrong with the boss. I think he's getting religion!"
"Get out! You don't mean it!" said the other fellow, contemptuously.
"Don't I?" said Hardy. "Well, you just listen to this!"
He repeated the conversation that had just taken place in thesuperintendent's office.
"Whew! That does sound like it!" said his companion, whose name was BenTyler. "He's off his trolley completely, especially about the money!"
"Well, that makes two trow-downs I've got this week," said Hardy,sourly, "but I got the fifty from that masher that I was telling youabout! You remember, the swell that calls himself Captain Deering?"
"Yes, I remember," laughed Tyler. "So he caught his bird, did he, or,rather, you caught her for him!"
"I guess it worked all right," said Hardy, slowly. "He met her andtalked with her, and that's usually enough. Still, he was glum as anoyster when he gave me the money."
"Mr. Hardy," called a voice at the foot of the stairs. "Come down,quick; you are wanted! There's a shop-lifter over in the hosierydepartment!"
Mr. Hardy stopped long enough to hear the words, then he made his waydirectly to the department mentioned.
He paused at the counter and began examining some goods, and as he didso one of the clerks came up to him as though she expected to wait onhim.
"Is this the one?" muttered the detective under his breath, at the sametime making a slight motion toward the woman.
"Can't say," whispered the clerk. "I just missed the goods. There weresix pairs of hose--they all went together."
Hardy glanced again at the woman, whose face was drawn and haggard. Shewas by far the poorest customer at the counter.
"'Taint's no use tacklin' them others," he whispered to the clerk, "forif I ever nabbed a rich one she'd make things lively for me--but I guessit's the poor one that's got 'em, anyway."
"She looks desperate," answered the clerk, leaning over the counter."And, you know, she could sell 'em and make a little something."
Hardy nodded knowingly, with his keen glance still on the woman. As shemoved slowly away from the counter he followed her at a distance.
Five minutes later she had reached the ribbon department. As she stoppedat the counter Faith went forward to wait on her.
"I would like a yard of white ribbon, miss," said the poor womantimidly. "This cheap ribbon, please, for I haven't much money. It's togo on the shroud of a poor dead neighbor."
Faith measured the ribbon quickly and made out a check. As she turnedfor the woman's money she smiled at her pleasantly.
The next moment Bob Hardy stepped forward and tapped the woman on theshoulder.
"You are wanted in the office, madam," he said, very rudely. "You'vebeen stealing goods in the store, and have got them in your pocket!"
With a cry of terror the poor woman looked up into his face.
"It is false!" she cried wildly. "I never stole a penny's worth in mylife! Oh, miss, don't let him touch me! I'm an honest woman!"
In a second Faith darted from her place behind the counter. When shereached the aisle she threw her arms around the woman.
"Stand back, Bob Hardy! Don't you dare to touch her!" she cried,sharply. "Are you so blinded with wickedness that you can't see she ishonest?"
For Gold or Soul? Page 21
