The woman snatched her sample and hurried away, while Miss Jennings went to another customer as calmly as though nothing had happened. Faith drew a long breath. Her cheeks were fairly tingling. She glanced about a little to see whether any one else had noticed the transaction. The clerks were all moving about in their automatic way. It was plain that such occurrences as this amounted to nothing. Suddenly Faith's glance rested on a young man who was standing in the aisle where he could watch her every movement. As their eyes met he raised his hat and smiled at her brazenly. Faith gasped for breath. Her insulter was young Denton. CHAPTER VI. FAITH DISCOVERS A FRESH HORROR. Faith dropped her eyes to her desk so that she would not see the fellow, but she could still feel the insulting gaze that was bent upon her. She was glad when a great crowd of shoppers came surging in at the big doors, for the afternoons were always far busier than the mornings at this establishment. Faith soon began to wonder if the goods could possibly come up to be wrapped very much faster. Her arms as well as her back were aching. The clerks were screaming for cash girls every other minute, for besides the packer above each counter there were a number of others at different points throughout the store and all were as busy as bees through the rush hours. "There's no rest for the weary." It was Miss Jennings who spoke. She was talking to a customer, a fine-looking old lady. "I expect there isn't, dear," said the lady, pleasantly. "And you do look fagged out--I declare if you don't. I hope you get good pay for standing all day behind this counter!" Miss Jennings laughed in her harsh, dry way. "I won't shock you by telling you what I get," she said wearily. "But if all my customers were like you it would not matter so much. It's a pleasure to wait upon you! I hope you'll come often." "Dear, dear! Well, I'm sorry if they are not all kind to you," said the lady. "It is hard to have to work, but there is some good reason for it. It will all come right by and by; but tell me, child, what in the world is the matter?" There was a terrible racket on the floor overhead. As the lady asked the question a perfect bedlam broke loose. The next second the cry of "Fire!" was heard all over the building. "Quick! Come behind the counter, madam!" cried Miss Jennings, trying to draw the old lady through the gate. "There's a panic on the stairs! The mob will sweep through here directly!" In less than a minute her words came true. There was a fearful rush of feet overhead, then with shrill shrieks of fright great crowds of women and children swept down the stairway. These were swelled by a small army of male and female clerks, until the whole lower floor was filled with a mob of struggling, pushing, human beings. Miss Jennings succeeded in dragging the kind old lady behind the counter, then she began pulling away her goods as quickly as possible.