"There they come now, miss! Are you sure you don't want it?" "Quite sure, Sam," was Faith's answer, as she hurried away. She did not wish the clerks to know that she had been the recipient of more presents. Sam Watkins took the box directly to the men's lunch-room, which was on the same floor at the other end of the building. Being a boy, he could not long resist the temptation of candy, but just as he opened the box with a grimace of delight, Ben Tyler came in carrying a wide-awake, little Skye terrier. "I just found him in the store; some lady has lost him, I guess," said Tyler, as the others all looked at him. "I was going to send him to the 'Found desk,' but he wouldn't have it. He sticks to me as if I was his master." "I'll get him away from you, I'll bet!" said Sam, holding out a piece of candy. In a second the dog sprang out of Tyler's arms and swallowed the sweetmeat greedily. "There, you can't have any more," said Sam, after he had fed him a couple more pieces. "I've got to treat the rest of the crowd, and there won't be enough to go around." "Keep your candy, kid; we don't want it," said one of the men good-naturedly, but Sam was so interested in watching the lively little dog that, fortunately, he forgot to eat for a few minutes. "Hello! What ails the dog?" exclaimed Tyler, suddenly. "How queer he acts! I believe the stuff has made him sick already!" All eyes were turned on the poor little creature, and it was soon plain to be seen that he was suffering terribly. "It ought not to hurt him," said one of the men. "Not if it's all right," said Tyler, going over toward Sam. "Let me see your candy, my boy; I believe there's something wrong with it." Sam dropped the chocolate that he was just conveying to his mouth, and handed the box to the detective with great alacrity. "There's something in it, I'm sure," he said, after a careful scrutiny, "and I'm willing to bet the stuff is poisoned!" A final moan from the poor little dog fully justified him in his decision. "The dog is dead," said one of the clerks in a solemn voice. "So there isn't a shadow of doubt but what the candy is poisoned." CHAPTER XXVIII. A PAINFUL SITUATION. To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune. Suppose she had kept the box and eaten the candy! The thought frightened Sam out of all further idea of secrecy. In an instant he had related how he came by the candy, and the clerks were looking at each other with questioning glances. "'Tain't the first box of candy she's had sent her," said one. "I heard Fairbanks say that she got them often from Jim Denton." "Yes, she's cut Mag Brady out for good in that direction. Well, why shouldn't she? She's new and as pretty as a picture!"