o extort money
from me."

The old cashier attempted to spring at him, but the strong hands of
indignant, pitying friends held him back.

Suddenly he stopped short, saying, with a dignity wonderful to behold:

"It is not necessary, I think, to ask any of you, who all know me so
well and know also my little Margery, not to give credence to so heinous
a statement. I am going from this place, friends. I would not stay
another moment in this villain's employ, nor would my Margery, though he
weighed us down with all the wealth the world holds. Come, Margery."

The crowd slowly parted, making way for them, and together Margery and
her father passed through the line of sympathizing faces, hand in
hand--the old man white, stern and resolute, pretty Margery sobbing as
though her heart would break.

Mr. Wright, the manager, who had been--like the old cashier--fully five
and twenty years beneath that roof, turned and faced the throng, saying,
huskily:

"Mr. Armstrong, I herewith tender you my resignation. My friend of a
lifetime is going, and I shall go, too."

"And I," "And I," "And I," quickly rang out, voice after voice.

"Confound you all, I discharge the whole lot of you!" shouted Kendale,
now quite sobered by the excitement he was passing through. "Don't think
your going troubles me even a little bit. The set of men don't live who
will ever trouble me or my business!"

With great rapidity the men fled from the private office, and, without
waiting even to close their ledgers, took down their coats and hats, got
into them quickly and filed downstairs.

Kendale never could fully comprehend how it happened that in five
minutes' time the five hundred employees of the place heard what had
occurred, and in less time than it takes to recount it the strangest
event that had ever taken place in the annals of a great New York
business house occurred--there was a mighty uproar and by one accord the
great throng of employees quitted their tasks--badly as they needed
work--and dashed out into the street, leaving the vast emporium to the
hundreds of astonished customers with which it was crowded at that hour.

For an instant Kendale was horror-stricken when he realized what was
occurring.

"God Almighty!" he gasped, "I am ruined, disgraced! A thousand furies
take that girl; but she shall pay dearly for this. The police will be
here to quell the riot and disperse the crowd outside, and turn out the
people who are still inside!