"But why don't you hurry ?" She tossed him the discarded dress.

He was seized with fresh panic as he took the thing.
"I don't like to," he said, sullenly.
"Look at all the money we'll have!" urged the brother.
"Here," said the girl, beguilingly, "when you've done it I'll give you two long sucks of my lemon candy." She took the enticing combination from Merle and held it fair before his yearning eyes; the last rite of a monstrous seduction was achieved.

The victim wavered and was lost.

He took the dress.
"Whistle if any one comes," he said, and withdrew behind the headstone of the late Jonas Whipple.

He--of the modest sex--would not disrobe in public.