the white moll-第13章

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broke　in　its　fury。　　The　veins　were　standing　out　on　the　side　of　his
neck　like　whipcords。　　He　could　just　move　his　forearms　a　little；　and
his　hands　reached　out　toward　her；　curved　like　claws。　　〃I'll　…〃

But　Rhoda　Gray　had　closed　the　door　behind　her；　and；　with　the　Sparrow；
was　retreating　down　the　stairs。


VII。　　FELLOW　THIEVES

Reaching　the　courtyard；　Rhoda　Gray　led　the　way　without　a　word
through　the　driveway；　and　finding　the　street　clear；　hurried　on
rapidly。　　Her　mind；　strangely　stimulated；　was　working　in　quick；
incisive　flashes。　　Her　work　was　not　yet　done。　　The　Sparrow　was　safe；
as　far　as　his　life　was　concerned；　but　her　possession　of　even　the
necklace　would　not　save　the　Sparrow　from　the　law。　　There　was　the
money　that　was　gone　from　the　safe。　　She　could　not　recover　that；　but
…　yes；　dimly；　she　began　to　see　a　way。　　She　swerved　suddenly　from
the　sidewalk　as　she　came　to　an　alleyway　…　which　had　been　her
objective　…　and　drew　the　Sparrow　in　with　her　out　of　sight　of　the
street。

The　Sparrow　gripped　at　her　hand。

〃The　White　Moll！〃　he　whispered　brokenly。　　〃God　bless　the　White
Moll！　　I　ain't　had　a　chance　to　say　it　before。　　You　saved　my　life；
and　I　…　I　…〃

In　the　semi…darkness　she　leaned　forward　and　laid　her　fingers　gently
over　the　Sparrow's　lips。

〃And　there's　no　time　to　say　it　now；　Marty；〃　she　said　quickly。　　〃You
are　not　out　of　this　yet。〃

He　swept　his　hand　across　his　eyes。

〃I　know　it；〃　he　said。　　〃I　got　to　get　those　shiners　back　up　there
somehow；　and　I　got　to　get　that　paper　they　planted　on　me。〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃Even　that　wouldn't　clear　you；〃　she　said。　　〃The　safe　has　been　looted
of　money；　as　well；　and　you　can't　replace　that。　　Even　with　only　the
money　gone；　who　would　they　first　naturally　suspect？　　You　are　known　as
a　safe…breaker；　you　have　served　a　term　for　it。　　You　asked　for　a　night
off　to　stay　with　your　mother　who　is　sick。　　You　left　Mr。　Hayden…Bond's；
we'll　say；　at　seven　or　eight　o'clock。　　It's　after　midnight　now。　　How
long　would　it　take　them　to　find　out　that　between　eight　and　midnight
you　had　not　only　never　been　near　your　mother；　but　could　not　prove　an
alibi　of　any　sort？　　If　you　told　the　truth　it　would　sound　absurd。　　No
one　in　their　sober　senses　would　believe　you。〃

The　Sparrow　looked　at　her　miserably。

〃My　God！〃　he　faltered。　　He　wet　his　lips。　　〃That's　true。〃

〃Marty；〃　she　said　quietly；　〃did　you　read　in　the　papers　that　I　had
been　arrested　last　night　for　theft；　caught　with　the　goods　on　me；
but　had　escaped？〃

The　Sparrow　hesitated。

〃Yes；　I　did；〃　he　said。　　And　then；　earnestly：　〃But　I　don't　believe
it！〃

〃It　was　true；　though；　Marty　…　all　except　that　I　wasn't　a　thief；〃
she　said　as　quietly　as　before。　　〃What　I　want　to　know　is；　in　spite
of　that；　would　you　trust　me　with　what　is　left　to　be　done　to…night；
if　I　tell　you　that　I　believe　I　can　get　you　out　of　this？〃

〃Sure；　I　would！〃　he　said　simply。　　〃I　don't　know　how　you　got　wise
about　all　this；　or　how　you　got　to　know　about　that　necklace；　but
any　of　our　crowd　would　trust　you　to　the　limit。　　Sure；　I'd　trust
you！　　You　bet　your　life！〃

〃Thank　you；　Marty；〃　she　said。　　〃Well；　then；　how　do　you　get　into　Mr。
Hayden…Bond's　house　when；　for　instance；　you　are　out　late　at　night？〃

〃I've　got　a　key　to　the　garage；〃　he　answered。　　〃The　garage　is
attached　to　the　house；　though　it　opens　on　the　side　street。〃

She　held　Out　her　hand。

The　Sparrow　fished　in　his　pocket；　and　extended　the　key　without
hesitation。

〃It's　for　the　small　door；　of　course；〃　he　explained。

〃You　haven't　got　a　flashlight；　I　suppose？〃　she　smiled。

〃Sure！　　There's　plenty　of　'em！　　Each　car's　got　one　with　its　tools
under　the　back　seat。〃

She　nodded。

〃And　now；　the　library；〃　she　said。　　〃What　part　of　the　house　is　it
in？　　How　is　it　situated？〃

〃It's　on　the　ground　floor　at　the　back；〃　he　told　her。　　〃The　little
short　passage　from　the　garage　opens　on　the　kitchen；　then　the　pantry；
and　then　there's　a　little　cross　hallway；　and　the　dining…room　is　on
the　left；　and　the　library　on　the　right。　　But　ain't　I　going　with　you？〃

She　shook　her　head　again。

〃You're　going　home；　Marty　…　after　you've　sent　me　a　taxicab。　　If　you
were　seen　in　that　neighborhood　now；　let　alone　by　any　chance　seen　in
the　house；　nothing　could　save　you。　　You　understand　that；　don't　you？
Now；　listen！　　Find　a　taxi；　and　send　it　here。　　Tell　the　chauffeur　to
pick　me　up；　and　drive　me　to　the　corner　of　the　cross　street；　one　block
in　the　rear　of　Mr。　Hayden…Bond's　residence。　　Don't　mention　Hayden…Bond's
name。　　Give　the　chauffeur　simply　street　directions。　　Be　careful　that
he　is　some　one　who　doesn't　know　you。　　Tell　him　he　will　be　well　paid
…　and　give　him　this　to　begin　with。〃　She　thrust　a　banknote　into　the
Sparrow's　hand。　　〃You're　sure　to　find　one　at　some　all…night　cabaret
around　here。　　And　remember；　when　you　go　home　afterward；　not　a　word
to　your　mother！　　And　not　a　word　to…morrow；　or　ever…to　any　one！
You've　simply　done　as　you　told　your　employer　you　were　going　to　do
…　spent　the　night　at　home。〃

〃But　you；〃　he　burst　out；　and　his　words　choked　a　little。　　〃I　…　I
can't　let　you　go；　and　…〃

〃You　said　you　would　trust　me；　Marty；〃　she　said。　　〃And　if　you　want
to　help　me；　as　well；　don't　waste　another　moment。　　I　shall　need　every
second　I　have　got。　　Quick！　　Hurry！〃

〃But　…〃

She　pushed　him　toward　the　street。

〃Run！〃　she　said　tensely。　　〃Hurry；　Marty；　hurry！〃

She　drew　back　into　the　shadows。　　She　was　alone　now。　　The　Sparrow's
racing　footsteps　died　away　on　the　pavement。　　Her　mind　reverted　to
the　plan　that　she　had　dimly　conceived。　　It　became　detailed；　concrete
now；　as　the　minutes　passed。　　And　then　she　heard　a　car　coming　along
the　previously　deserted　street；　and　she　stepped　out　on　the　sidewalk。
It　was　the　taxi。

〃You　know　where　to　go；　don't　you？〃　she　said　to　the　chauffeur；　as
the　cab　drew　up　at　the　curb；　and　the　man　leaned　out　and　opened　the
door。

〃Yes'm；〃　he　said。

〃Please　drive　fast；　then；〃　she　said；　as　she　stepped　in。

The　taxi　shot　out　from　the　curb；　and　rattled　forward　at　a　rapid
pace。　　Rhoda　Gray　settled　back　on　the　cushions。　　A　half　whimsical；
half　weary　little　smile　touched　her　lips。　　It　was　much　easier；　and
infinitely　safer；　this　mode　of　travel；　than　that　of　her　earlier
experience　that　evening；　but；　earlier　that　evening；　she　had　had　no
one　to　go　to　a　cab　rank　for　her；　and　she　had　not　dared　to　appear
in　the　open　and　hail　one　for　herself。　　The　smile　vanished；　and　the
lips　became；　pursed　and　grim。　　Her　mind　was　back　on　that　daring；
and　perhaps　a　little　dangerous；　plan；　that　she　meant　to　put　into
execution。　　Block　after　block　was　traversed。　　It　was　a　long　way
uptown；　but　the　chauffeur's　initial　and　generous　tip　was　bearing
fruit。　　The　man　was　losing　no　time。

Rhoda　Gray　calculated　that　they　had　been　a　little　under　half　an
hour　in　making　the　trip；　when　the　taxi　finally　drew　up　and　stopped
at　a　corner；　and　the　chauffeur；　again　leaning　out；　opened　the　door。

〃Wait　for　me；〃　she　instructed；　and　handed　the　man　another　tip　…　and；
with　a　glance　about　her　to　get　her　location；　she　hurried　around　the
corner；　and　headed　up　the　cross　street。

She　had　only　a　block　now　to　go　to　reach　the　Hayden…Bond　mansion　on
the　corner　of　Fifth　Avenue　ahead　…　less　than　that　to　reach　the
garage；　which　opened　on　the　cross　street　here。　　She　had　little　fear
of　personal　identification　now。　　Here　in　this　residential　section
and　at　this　hour　of　night；　it　was　like　a　silent　and　deserted　city；
even　Fifth　Avenue；　just　ahead；　for　all　its　lights；　was　one　of　the
loneliest　places　at　this　hour　in　all　New　York。　　True；　now　and　then；
a　car　might　race　up　or　down　the　great　thoroughfare；　or　a　belated
pedestrian's　footsteps　ring　and　echo　hollow　on　the　pavement；　where
but　a　few　hours　before　the　traffic…squad　struggled　valiantly；　and
sometimes　vainly；　with　the　congestion　…　but　that　was　all。

She　could　make　out　the　Hayden…Bond　mansion　on　the　corner　ahead　of
her　now；　and　now　she　was　abreast　of　the　rather　ornate　and　attached
little　building；　that　was　obviously　the　garage。　　She　drew　the　key
from　her　pocket；　and　glanced　around　her。　　There　was　no　one　in　sight。
She　stepped　swiftly　to　the　small　door　that　flanked　the　big　double
ones　where　the　cars　went　in　and　out；　opened　it；　closed　it　behind
her；　and　locked　it。

For　a　moment；　her　eyes　unaccustomed　to　the　darkness；　she　could　see
nothing；　and　then　a　car；　taking　the　form　of　a　grotesque；　looming
shadow；　showed　in　front　of　her。　　She　moved　toward　it；　felt　her　way
into　the　tonneau；　lifted　up　the　back　seat；　and；　groping　around；
found　a　flashlight。　　She　meant　to　hurry　now。　　She　did　not　mean　to
let　that　nervous　dread；　that　fear；　that　was　quickening　her　pulse
now；　have　time　to　get　the　better　of　her。　　She　located　the　door　that
led　to　the　house；　and　in　another　moment；　the　short　passage　behind
her；　she　was　in　the　kitchen；　the　flashlight　winking　cautiously
around　her。　　She　paused　to　listen　here。　　There　was　not　a　sound。

She　went　on　again　…　through　a　swinging　pantry　door　with　extreme
care；　and　into　a　small　hall。　　〃On　the　right；〃　the　Sparrow　had　said。
Yes；　here　it　was；　a　door　that　opened　on　the　rear　of　the　library；
evidently。　　She　listened　again。　　There　was　no　sound　…　save　the
silence；　that　seemed　to　grow　loud　now；　and　palpitate；　and　make　great
noises。　　And　now；　in　spite　of　herself；　her　breath　was　coming　in
quick；　hard　little　catches；　and　the　flashlight's　ray；　that　she　sent
around　her；　wavered　and　was　not　steady。　　She　bit　her　lips；　as　she
switched　off　the　light。　　Why　should　she　be　afraid　of　this；　when　in
another　five　minutes　she　meant　to　invite　attention！

She　pushed　the　door　in　front　of　her　open；　found　it　hung　with　a　heavy
portiere　inside；　brushed　the　portiere　aside；　stepped　through　into
the　room；　stood　still　and　motionless　to　listen　once　more；　and　then
the　flashlight　circled　inquisitively　about　her。

It　was　the　library。　　Her　eyes　widened　a　little。　　At　her　left；　over
against　the　wall；　the　mangled　door　of　a　safe　stood　wide　open；　and
the　floor　for　a　radius　of　yards　around　was　littered　with　papers　and
documents。　　The　flashlight's　ray　lifted；　and　she　followed　it　with
her　eyes　as　it　made　the　circuit　of　the　walls。　　Opposite　the　safe；
and　quite　near　the　doorway　in　which　she　stood；　was　a　window　recess；
portiered；　diagonally　across　from　her　was　another　door　that　led；
presumably；　into　the　main　hall　of　the　house；　the　walls　were
tapestried；　and　hung　here　and　there　with　clusters　of　ancient
trophies；　great　metal　shields；　and　swords；　and　curious　arms；　that
gave　a　sort　of　barbaric　splendor　to　the　luxurious　furnishings　of
the　apartment。

She　worked　quickly　now。　　In　a　moment　she　was　at　the　window　portieres；
and；　drawing　these　aside；　she　quietly　raised　the　window；　and　looked
out。　　The　window　was　on　the　side　of　the　house　away　from　the　cross
street；　and　she　nodded　her　head　reassuringly　to　herself　as　she　noted
that　it　gave　on　a　narrow　strip　of　grass；　it　could　not　be　called　lawn；
that　separated　the　Hayden…Bond　mansion　from　the　house　next　door；　that
the　window　was　little　more　than　shoulder…high　from　the　ground；　and
that　the　Avenue　was　within　easy　and　inviting　reach　along　that　little
strip　of　grass　between　the　two　houses。

She　left　the　window　open；　and　retraced　her　steps　across　the　room；
going　now　to　the　littered　mass　of　papers　on　the　floor　near　the　safe。
She　began　to　searc