"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.
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