must be following somebody." 

 Faith looked at her a moment before she spoke again. 

 "I wonder if there is any truth in what that girl said about the robbery in the office. I've been thinking of it ever since. She looked at me so funny! And see, Mary, that detective is watching me, too, he has hardly taken his eyes off me since we entered the car. It can't be possible that they think I took the money, can it? You know I was in the office early yesterday morning." 

 She spoke so timidly that Miss Jennings gave her a sharp glance. Then she turned involuntarily and looked at the detective. 

 "God help you if Hardy is after you," she whispered with a shudder. "That fellow is a fiend about making arrests. He'd accuse his own mother of stealing, I believe, if he thought he could win the regard of old Forbes by doing it!" 

 

 CHAPTER VIII. 

 A FIENDISH PROPOSITION. 

 When Faith left the car Bob Hardy followed her. He made no attempt to conceal the fact that he was watching her, and when Faith had reached the middle of a block of vacant lots he quickened his steps and was soon beside her. 

 "Just a minute, miss," he said, tapping her lightly on the shoulder. 

 Faith wheeled around and confronted him with cold dignity. 

 "Well, what do you wish with me, sir?" she asked quietly. "I noticed that you were following me. Have you had orders to do so?" 

 "Not exactly, miss," said the detective, a little disconcertedly, "but you are in a pretty bad fix over that money affair, and I just thought I'd put you on your guard as a sort of favor." 

 "What?" 

 Faith's voice fairly vibrated with indignation. "Explain yourself, sir. I do not understand you?" 

 "Oh, if you insist," said the detective with a disagreeable leer, "I won't be so unkind as to disappoint a lady." 

 He stepped a little to one side as he spoke, and his eyes wandered scrutinizingly over Faith's lovely face 

 Prev. P 27/163 next