Faith looked at him timidly. He was a silly looking young man who wore a flaming red necktie and curled the ends of his mustache. "Another tyrant," thought Faith, but she only bowed respectfully. Already in her short term of service she was getting used to tyrants. "I am going to put you in Miss Jennings' place for a day or two," was the buyer's greeting. "I am short of girls, so you will have to do. Miss Jones will tell you what you don't know about the stock, and I hope you'll be very careful in your measurement of the ribbon." "I will do my best," said Faith, very sadly. She was soon standing behind the counter, a full-fledged saleswoman. For some reason there had been nothing said about the half day that she had lost, but Faith knew only too well that she would be heavily fined for her absence. Still, it was better than being discharged. She accepted the alternative thankfully. If Bob Hardy was in the store he kept out of the ribbon department, for Faith looked around for him nervously several times, and was greatly relieved when she did not see him. Once she overheard two cash girls talking about the robbery in the office, and as they mentioned the name of Watkins she paused involuntarily and listened. "They say he's got brain fever," said one of the girls. "Well, I'd think he'd be crazy with all that's happened." "It must be awful," said the other girl. "Why, his brother was only a kid, and, to think, he stole five hundred dollars!" Faith almost gasped for breath at this information. She tried to speak to the girl, but her lips and tongue seemed palsied. She understood now what poor Mr. Watkins had suffered, and to think she had distrusted him--even for one brief second! Several times during the forenoon she saw Maggie Brady watching her, and the hatred in her eyes was too plain for Faith not to see and understand thoroughly. Her first thought was to see Maggie and explain her conversation with James Denton, but she thought better of it later, and decided to keep silent. Miss Fairbanks was plainly upset and nervous. She scolded the girls constantly, and seemed irritated beyond measure. Whether Mr. Gunning's presence was responsible for this nervousness Faith could not tell, but it was plain that the two were on bad terms with each other. On the other hand, Mr. Gunning had many friends in the department. Miss Jones smiled at him frequently, as did several of the others. Faith was standing erect behind her counter when a sharp-looking woman came up. She began asking to see ribbons of various widths and colors. Faith tried to wait upon her as rapidly as possible, but as she was not familiar with the stock, she got sadly muddled. "How long have you been here?" asked the woman suddenly. "Only about two hours at this counter," said Faith, sadly. "I am very sorry, but I am afraid I have not waited on you properly." "Do you mean that you are a new girl altogether?" asked the woman.