heart showed him how nearly he had struck home, how certainly he
had shattered her cool indifference of manner.

He leaned forward, so close that even in the roar of the train
his low whisper reached her. "Shall I tell you why the hold-ups
didn't find more money on your father or in the express car, Miss
Mackenzie?"

She was shaken, so much so that her agitation trembled on her
lips.

"Shall I tell you why your hand went to your breast when I first
mentioned that the train was going to be held up, and again when
your father's eyes were firing a mighty pointed question at you?"

"I don't know what you mean," she retorted, again mistress of
herself.

Her gallant bearing compelled his admiration. The scornful eyes,
the satirical lift of the nostrils, the erect, graceful figure,
all flung a challenge at him. He called himself hard names for
putting her on the rack, but the necessity to make her believe in
him was strong within him.

"I noticed you went right chalky when I announced the hold-up,
and I thought it was because you were scared. That was where I
did you an injustice, ma'am, and you can call this an apology.
You've got sand. If it hadn't been for what you carry in the
chamois skin hanging on the chain round your neck you would have
enjoyed every minute of the little entertainment. You're as game