CHAPTER XXVIII.
A PAINFUL SITUATION.
To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings verymildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a newsensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
Suppose she had kept the box and eaten the candy! The thought frightenedSam out of all further idea of secrecy.
In an instant he had related how he came by the candy, and the clerkswere looking at each other with questioning glances.
"'Tain't the first box of candy she's had sent her," said one. "I heardFairbanks say that she got them often from Jim Denton."
"Yes, she's cut Mag Brady out for good in that direction. Well, whyshouldn't she? She's new and as pretty as a picture!"
"But, surely, Jim Denton didn't send this box," said the detective. "Ifhe's sweet on the girl he wouldn't want to poison her."
"Well, hardly, Tyler," laughed another of the lunchers.
"Perhaps he intended it for Mag," suggested another. "If he's tired ofthe girl he may be trying to fix her."
"Pshaw! He doesn't have to resort to such measures as that! What could apoor girl do to injure Jim Denton? No, Tyler, you'll have to looksomewhere else for your poisoner, I reckon," said one of the oldest menin the whole establishment.
"Who gave you the box in the first place?" asked the detective of Sam."I mean, who told you to give it to Miss Marvin?"
Sam spoke up promptly, for he had nothing to hide.
"A kid gave it to me at the door--a messenger boy--who said he was in atearing hurry."
"Did you sign for it?" asked the detective, looking sharply at the boy.
"Naw, I didn't sign nothin'; he didn't have no ticket."
"Then he wasn't a messenger at all," was the reply, "and you are a bigdunce, Sam Watkins, that you didn't know it!"
"Well, I thought it was straight, anyhow," whispered the boy. "How was Ito guess that some one was tryin' to pisen Miss Marvin?"
Ben Tyler took the box carefully and replaced the wrapper; then, tellingSam to follow, he went straight to Mr. Denton's office.
"Now, Sam, tell Mr. Denton exactly what you have told me," said thedetective, after he had stated what had happened.
Sam repeated his story without the slightest variation. Mr. Dentoncross-questioned him, but there was nothing further to learn. A boy hadhanded the box to Sam and told him to give it to Miss Faith Marvin.
After Mr. Denton and the detective had examined the candy carefully theyheld a consultation as to what should be done about it.
"We must have it analyzed at once," said Mr. Denton, anxiously. "That isthe only way of proving the matter."
The detective nodded. He knew that came first, but it needed no analysisto convince him that the candy was poisoned.
"Has she ever received a similar box that you know of?" asked Mr.Denton.
The detective hesitated for a moment. He hardly knew how to tell him.
"I believe she has, sir," he said, after a minute; "but I would adviseyou to ask the young woman herself, for I can only repeat what may beidle gossip."
"You are right," said Mr. Denton, touching an electric button andsending the boy who answered to the department for Miss Marvin.
In less than five minutes Faith entered the office, but before he camethe detective slipped a newspaper over the box of poisoned candy, and anod of the head showed that Mr. Denton understood and approved of themovement.
"Miss Marvin," said Mr. Denton, "I wish you to answer a question: Areyou in the habit of receiving boxes of candy as presents?"
With Mr. Gunning's remarks still burning in her brain, Faith could nothelp blushing at this unexpected question.
She finally controlled herself and answered firmly:
"I have never received but two boxes since I entered your employ,sir--one a few days ago and the other this morning."
"What did you do with the candy?" asked her employer again.
"I gave the first box to a cash girl who works in my department, and theother I gave to Sam. I didn't even open them."
"Why did you not open them?" asked the detective, sharply.
Faith glanced at Mr. Denton a moment before replying.
"Yes, why did you not open them? Are you not fond of candy, MissMarvin?"
"I like it, yes, sir," was Faith's slow answer; "but the gift wasunexpected. In fact, sir, I did not want it, and so I gave away thecandy because I objected to the giver."
Faith's color had risen as she said these words, and she seemed to braceherself mentally for what was coming.
Should she answer the next question, which she felt sure would follow?It was a moment that taxed all the decision in her nature.
Mr. Denton looked at her smilingly as he prepared for the question.There was not an inkling in his brain of the true situation.
"Do you object, Miss Marvin, to telling us who sent it? Really, thequestion is important, or I would not ask it."
Faith looked from one to the other and clenched her fingersconvulsively. It seemed cruel to her to thus wound the feelings ofanother.
"I would rather not tell, please, Mr. Denton," she began.
"Then I must insist," said the gentleman, "for, as I said, the matter isserious."
"If you insist, I must obey," said Faith, in some bewilderment; "but Ibeg you will forgive me for saying that your son sent me the candy."
Before the words were fairly out Mr. Denton was pale with horror. Theshock was so great that he shuddered as he looked at her.
"My son," he whispered, hoarsely. "Is that true, Miss Marvin? Is my sonone of the rascals who annoy the young women under my protection? Ishe--"
He could get no farther--his feelings overcame him.
"I am afraid he is," said Faith, very faintly, "for I have given him noright to be sending me presents."
Mr. Denton leaned back in his chair with one hand to his brow. Thedetective's ruse in covering the candy had produced results as startlingas they were suspicious.
If Faith had known of the poison in the candy no power could haveinduced her to tell what she had, but up to the present she was in totalignorance of the matter, and it was now Mr. Denton's turn to dread thenext disclosures.
"My dear child," he said at last; "I have something to tellyou--something that will shock you even more than your news shocks me;it is this, your box of candy to-day was poisoned."
Faith stared at him stupidly for the space of a second, then the fullsituation dawned slowly upon her. "If that is the case, your son did notsend it, Mr. Denton!" she cried in decided accents, "for although he isthoughtless and careless of others, he would shrink from doing such adeed as that, even though he had a motive, which he certainly hasn't!"
"I believe you," said Mr. Denton, in a tone of relief. "Whoever sent thecandy is making my son the scapegoat! You say there was no writing onthe package when you got it, young man, and no message or card when youopened it in the lunch-room?"
"I can vouch for that," said Tyler, as the boy shook his head. "I waswatching the boy when he opened the candy."
"Have you any enemies in the store that you know of, Miss Marvin--anyone who is aware that my son has sent you candy?"
Mr. Denton had turned toward Faith as he asked the question.
"More enemies than friends, I am afraid, sir," was the answer, "foralthough I have tried my best to be friendly with the girls, they alltreat me coldly; they are not at all like Miss Jennings."
"It is strange how they dislike and distrust each other," said Mr.Denton, sadly. "But I suppose it is because they have so little in life,they are constantly filled with envy over the possessions of others."
If Faith knew this to be a compliment she did not show it. So far it hadnot seemed to her that the girls were envious of her beauty.
"You may go now, Sam," said Mr. Denton, kindly, "and, see here, youngman, keep your mouth shut about this matter! Not a single word until Igive you permission!"
Sam promised faithfully, and was
glad to do so. Since he had beenrestored to his position he had silently worshiped Mr. Denton.
"Now, Miss Marvin, I must caution you as I did Sam," said the gentleman."Say nothing until the officer here has ferreted out this matter. Asingle word might put the criminal on guard, and a single utterance maydelay the triumph of justice."
He dismissed the young girl with a courteous bow, and was surprised thatshe still lingered in a pleading manner.
"Please, Mr. Denton," she cried, brokenly, "don't try to ferret thematter out! I beg of you, sir, let it drop and keep it a secret! Theinjury to your son is no greater than to me, so let it go no further, Iimplore it, Mr. Denton!"
"What, pass 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 willgrant it! Surely it was I who was to be the victim. I should be allowedto 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," criedFaith eagerly, "for a person who could do a deed like that can be savedby 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 insuch a matter.
"No, Miss Marvin," he said, firmly, "the criminal must be exposed. It isthe only way to stop a repetition of such cowardly actions!"
"It was a woman who did it without doubt!" broke in the detectivesharply, "and she'll do it again, sure, if she isn't punished! A womanthat hates like that will stop at nothing!"
Faith glanced at him reproachfully, but did not answer. She did not meanby 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 inregard to my son, I must talk with you later. You are under myprotection, and not even my own flesh and blood shall be allowed toannoy you."
"I am sure it is not his wish to annoy me," said Faith. "He just doesn'tunderstand that some girls are different from others. He has met onlythe weak ones who could not withstand his flattery, but I can take careof myself, sir, or, if not, God 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 prayalways that your trust may be as steadfast as now--that it will never beshattered on the rocks of sorrow and misfortune."
Faith passed out of his presence with a last pleading glance--she seemedto be mutely imploring his mercy toward the guilty.
For Gold or Soul? Page 28
