For Gold or Soul?

by Lurana Sheldon

  CHAPTER XXVI.

  SOME STARTLING CHANGES.

  As the days went by the employees of the big department store becamegradually aware that something had happened. The first intimation camefrom the daily papers, in which was given a more or less truthfulaccount of Mr. Day's withdrawal from the firm on the grounds that hedisapproved of his senior partner's new business methods.

  What these methods were it remained to be seen. The clerks were hopefulof some reforms, but for a while they only wondered and waited.

  Miss Fairbanks stopped at Faith's counter early one morning, when thestore was comparatively empty, and began talking to her in an unusuallyaffable manner.

  "There's something going to happen here soon," she said, confidently."And, in my opinion, it's going to be pretty serious. Either Mr. Dentonhas got religion, or else he's gone crazy, for he's giving us buyers alot of orders nowadays that will mean the failure of the firm if we areobliged to obey them."

  "Why, what are they, Miss Fairbanks?" Faith asked in surprise. MissJones came up also and listened for the answer.

  "Well, in the first place, we are not to beat down the drummers anymore, but are to offer them fair prices on all our orders. Then we areto learn, if possible, who makes the goods that we buy, for Mr. Dentonsays he does not want to make a profit out of some poor woman's workwhile she is going half clothed and perhaps sick and starving."

  "Why, the man is stark mad," said Miss Jones, in amazement. "As if itwas any concern of his what other people work for!"

  "I think he is quite right," remarked Faith, very soberly. "I canunderstand how he feels, and I think he is very brave to give suchorders."

  "Then he says," went on Miss Fairbanks, "that there are to be newarrangements for you girls. You are to be relieved every two hours forabout twenty minutes. That means, of course, that he is going to hire alot of new help, and I, for one, am sorry, for there'll be blunders bythe hundred."

  "Oh, perhaps not," said Faith, brightly. "I hope not, anyway, for yoursake, Miss Fairbanks. I know just how annoying it is for you, who haveso many clerks to look after."

  Miss Fairbanks looked at her gratefully, but with a little surprise. Itwas not often that one of her girls expressed any sympathy for her.

  "Then, there's to be a full hour at luncheon," continued the buyer aftera minute, "and the best of all is that we are to have a new lunch-room.No more eating in that rat hole down in the basement."

  "Well, that is good news," said Miss Jones delightedly. "Really, I beginto think that the millennium is coming!"

  "Or the Kingdom of God," said Faith, very happily. "There is no doubt inmy mind but that Mr. Denton has become a Christian."

  Both women stared at her as she spoke, but, for a wonder, neither ofthem scoffed at her statement.

  Miss Fairbanks recovered herself first and asked a very naturalquestion.

  "What do you mean by saying that he has become a Christian? Why, Mr.Denton has been a member of the church ever since I can remember."

  "Alas!" sighed Faith sadly. "That doesn't always signify, MissFairbanks. He may have accepted Christ but not Christ's spirit; but itis plain now that the very essence of godliness is awakening within him.If this is so I can predict that there will be great changes in thisstore and that every one will be for the comfort of its toilers."

  A few customers coming in cut short the conversation, and as MaggieBrady was absent the department was short-handed, as usual, so thatthere was only an odd minute or two for idling.

  "I wonder if Miss Brady is ill?" said Faith as she squeezed by MissJones in the narrow space behind the counter.

  "It will go hard with her if she doesn't show up pretty soon," was theanswer, "for between you and me, I believe Gunning hates her."

  "Oh, these dreadful hatreds," said Faith, with a sigh. "Poor Miss Bradylooks so wretched. I don't see how any one can hate her."

  "Well, you see, she was engaged to Gunning once, and she might betterhave married him than to have thrown herself away on Jim Denton."

  Cash girl Number 83 came up as she spoke. She was the girl who had firsttold Faith that Mr. Watkins was very ill and in the hospital, and it wasevident by her manner that she had something else to tell her.

  "What is it, 83?" asked Faith, expectantly. "Have you heard any news ofMr. Watkins' condition?"

  "Yes, and I've heard more'n that," said the little girl quickly, "but Iwon't spring it all on you at once, for it might shock you, MissMarvin."

  Faith was puzzled at her words, but she tried to restrain her eagernessuntil the girl had given a package to a customer and come back to thecounter.

  "Mr. Watkins is better--lots better," she said, gayly. "They say theboss has been to see him in his howling swell carriage, and they'vefixed up the matter about the money all right; they must have, becauseSammy Watkins is back in his old position."

  "Oh, that is lovely," cried Faith, clasping her hands together.

  "Well, the rest ain't so lovely!" said the cash girl, grinning, "for Isaw Mag Brady on the street last night. She was drunk as a toper, andshe says she's a-goin' to 'do' you!"

  "What!" gasped Faith, in astonishment as the cash girl finished, "MissBrady intoxicated! You surely don't mean it?"

  "Oh, don't I?" said the child, with a worldly leer. "I mean lots morethan that, only I'm too nice to say it."

  She walked away to answer another call while Faith stared first at MissFairbanks and then at Miss Jones. Both had heard the words yet they werelaughing at her amazement.

  "You are easily shocked," said Miss Fairbanks, with a shrug. "Why, anyone with half an eye could see that Mag Brady loves whiskey."

  "That's another thing that Jim Denton taught her," said Miss Jonesindifferently. "Why, I knew Mag Brady when she was as innocent as youare."

  "But can nothing be done to reclaim her?" asked Faith, eagerly. "You sayyou knew her when she was different, Miss Jones; have you ever tried tosave her from ruin?"

  "I mind my own business," said Miss Jones, haughtily, "and I find thatis all I can possibly do. Mag Brady must save herself if she wants to besaved, but, between you and me, I don't think she wants to."

  "But you--you are her friend," Faith cried, turning to Miss Fairbanks;"do promise me that you will plead with her; it might do wonders! Justthink how you would feel if the poor girl was your sister!"

  Miss Fairbanks seemed earnest and sincere as she replied:

  "I will certainly advise her if she gives me the chance. Poor girl, I amsorry for her, but I doubt if I can save her."

  "Then we must all pray that God will do so," whispered Faith, verysoberly. "It is a wrong that we will all be held responsible for; to seeher going down to destruction and not try to save her!"

  Miss Jones wheeled around and went to a customer, but Miss Fairbankspaused and looked at Faith for a moment.

  "I would give the world to possess your faith," she said, hesitatingly;"but there's no use--no use--I'm too great a sinner."

  There was no chance to reply, for she walked away as she spoke. In asecond she was talking to a customer in her usual business-like manner.As Faith turned to look over her stock she heard some one speak.

  There was a colored man at her counter holding a letter out toward her.

  "Dis yere lettah fo' you, missy," he said, with a wide grin. "Dar ain'tno name on it, honey, but I know's yo' face. Yo' is num'er fo' eleben.Reckin ain't no 'stake 'bout it!"

  "I am Number 411, certainly," said Faith, politely, "but I can't imaginewho would write me a letter; still, if you are sure it's for me, Isuppose I must accept."

  "Oh, it's fo' you all right," said the negro, decidedly, "fo' de captingp'inted yo' out on de street las' ebenin'."

  Faith took the letter and opened it hastily. As she glanced rapidly overthe writing she blushed as red as a poppy.

  "Got a mash note?" asked Miss Jones with a careless glance at theletter.

  "Not exactly," stammered Faith, "but it is almost as unpleasant. It isfrom a man whom Bob Hardy spo
ke to me about--a fellow who thinks becauseI am poor that he can buy my soul with his superfluous money!"