You will please allow me to pass and not follow
me any farther. It is no sign because I am working in a store that I am
not a lady and entitled to courtesy."
She started to pass him, but with a stride the fellow was before her.
"Not so fast, my fine lady," he cried with a sneer. "You don't know me,
I guess. I don't let thieves escape me so easily."
"How dare you?" cried Faith, her face flaming with anger.
"Oh, I dare anything," retorted the detective, "especially where my
reputation is at stake! I've got orders from Forbes to catch that thief,
and, as you are the easiest bird to catch, I'm just going to bag
you--that's all there is about it. I'll swear that I found this wad of
bills in your pocket, see!"
He drew a roll of money from his pocket and flourished it before her as
he spoke.
"Oh, you would never be so wicked, so dastardly, as that!" cried Faith.
"Have you no sense of honor, no manliness about you?"
Her words were so appealing that the detective winced a little. His keen
eyes shifted uneasily. He could not face her.
"I offered to warn you," he muttered at last. "There's a way out of the
fix if you are a mind to take it."
"But I am in no fix!" protested Faith. "I have done no wrong! How dare
you accuse me!"
The detective went on as though she had not spoken.
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