And now another touch of light relieved the gloom. Kathleen was next in line, and she had been forcing her lips into their most attractive smile, and keeping her eyes winsomely mellow, for the robber's benefit. Marjorie could not see the smile; she could only see that Kathleen was next. She whispered to Mallory:
"They'll get the bracelet! They'll get the bracelet!"
And Mallory could have danced with glee. But Kathleen leaned coquettishly toward the masked stranger, and threw all her art into her tone as she murmured:
"I'm sure you're too brave to take my things. I've always admired men with the courage of Claude Duval."
The robber was taken a trifle aback, but he growled: "I don't know the party you speak of—but cough up!"
"Listen to her," Marjorie whispered in horror; "she's flirting with the train-robber."
"What won't some women flirt with!" Mallory exclaimed.
The robber studied Kathleen a little more attentively, as he whipped off her necklace and her rings. She looked good to him, and so willing, that he muttered: "Say, lady, if you'll give me a kiss, I'll give you that diamond ring you got on."
"All right!" laughed Kathleen, with triumphant compliance.
"My God!" Mallory groaned, "what won't some women do for a diamond!"