“All over, Faith, and no lives lost,” called Miss Jennings softly.

She was as absolutely colorless and apathetic as ever.

“Oh, Mary,” whispered Faith, “there’s something I must tell you.”

She bent down from her desk after looking about sharply for the buyer.

“Don’t mind about Fairbanks, she has bolted!” said Miss Jennings with a laugh.  “You can trust the heads of departments to save their own bacon!”

“But, she thought of us, too; you heard her, Mary,” said Faith.  “Poor thing, she may be irritable, but she isn’t bad-hearted.”

“I ain’t so sure about that—­but what is it, Faith?  There will be no customers for some time, probably, so you have a right to talk to me.”

Faith leaned a little lower so she could whisper in her ear.

“I just saw one of the clerks steal something,” she said, “It was during the excitement.  She has it in her pocket.”

“Oh, that’s nothing!”

Miss Jennings spoke as indifferently as ever.

“Why, what do you mean?” Faith gasped in astonishment.  “You surely do not mean that you approve of stealing!”

“Approve of it, no!” answered Miss Jennings slowly.  “But it doesn’t concern you or me, either, Faith.  The girl was probably desperate.  I do not blame her!”

“Oh, Mary!”

Faith’s words were redolent of bitter anguish.  For the first time since they met she drew a little away from her.

“You don’t understand, Faith,” said the other quickly.  She had noticed the movement, and her tone showed that she was pained by it.

“I’m afraid I don’t.”

Faith said the words coldly.  “I certainly don’t understand dishonesty in the very least.  I may be wrong, but I cannot excuse it.  It is my duty to report that girl, and I shall certainly do it.”

“You shall not!”

Miss Jennings had lost her apathy and indifference for once.  She was locking Faith steadily in the eye, her own fairly burning with anger.

“See here, Faith,” she went on, “you have a whole lot to learn, and I guess I am just as well qualified to teach you as any one.  What you don’t know about dishonesty would fill a whole library of books.  Promise me that you will say nothing about that matter until to-morrow, at least.  Promise, Faith.  It will do no harm.  If you are a Christian you must have charity.”

Faith gazed at her earnestly for the space of a second.  There was something besides anger in her new friend’s eagerness.

CHAPTER VII.

Fresh glimpses of evil.

“I promise,” said Faith, after another moment’s hesitation.  “I will hear what you have to say on the subject, Mary, but I am sure I shall still think it right to report that theft to-morrow.”

Miss Jennings turned away with a relieved expression.  The woman she had called “Kate” was just coming back behind the counter.