He was as awkward as if she had proposed to him, she answered for him: "Oh, but of course you are. The women wouldn't let a big, handsome, noble brave giant like you escape long." He mopped his brow in agony as she went on: "I'm sure you're a very chivalrous man. I'm sure you would give your life to rescue a maiden in distress. Well, here's your chance. Won't you please hold the train?" She actually had her cheek almost against his shoulder, though she had to poise atiptoe to reach him. Mallory's dismay was changing to a boiling rage, and the conductor was a pitiable combination of Saint Anthony and Tantalus. "I--I'd love to oblige you," he mumbled, "but it would be as much as my job's worth." "How much is that?" Marjorie asked, and added reassuringly, "If you lost your job I'm sure my father would get you a better one." "Maybe," said the conductor, "but--I got this one." Then his rolling eyes caught sight of the supposed husband gesticulating wildly and evidently clearing for action. He warned Marjorie: "Say, your husband is motioning at you." "Don't mind him," Marjorie urged, "just listen to me. I implore you. I----" Seeing that he was still resisting, she played her last card, and, crying, "Oh, you can't resist my prayers so cruelly," she threw her arms around his neck, sobbing, "Do you want to break my heart?" Mallory rushed into the scene and the conductor, tearing Marjorie's arms loose, retreated, gasping, "No! and I don't want your husband to break my head." Mallory dragged Marjorie away, but she shook her little fist at the conductor, crying: "Do you refuse? Do you dare refuse?" "I've got to," the conductor abjectly insisted. Marjorie blazed with fury and the siren became a Scylla. "Then I'll see that my father gets you discharged. If you dare to speak to me again, I'll order my husband to throw you off this train. To think of being refused a simple little favor by a mere conductor! of a stupid old emigrant train!! of all things!!!" Then she hurled herself into a chair and pounded her heels on the floor in a tantrum that paralyzed Mallory. Even the conductor tapped him on the shoulder and said: "You have my sympathy." CHAPTER XXVII THE DOG-ON DOG AGAIN As the conductor left the Mallorys to their own devices, it rushed over him anew what sacrilege had been attempted--a fool bride had asked him to stop the Trans-American of all trains!--to go shopping of all things! He stormed into the smoking room to open the safety valve of his wrath, and found the porter just coming out of the buffet cell with a tray, two hollow-stemmed glasses and a bottle swaddled in a napkin. "Say, Ellsworth, what in ---- do you suppose that female back there wants?--wants me to hold the Trans-American while----" But the porter was in a flurry himself. He was about to serve champagne, and he cut the conductor short: