the white moll-第14章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


going　now　to　the　littered　mass　of　papers　on　the　floor　near　the　safe。
She　began　to　search　carefully　amongst　them。　　She　smiled　a　little
curiously　as　she　came　across　the　plush…lined　jeweler's　case　that
had　contained　the　necklace；　and　which　had　evidently　been
contemptuously　discarded　by　the　Cricket　and　his　confederates；　but
it　took　her　longer　to　find　the　paper　for　which　she　was　searching。
And　then　she　came　upon　it　…　a　grease…smeared　advertisement　for　some
automobile　appliances；　a　well…defined　greasy　finger…print　at　one
edge　…　and　thrust　the　paper　into　her　pocket。

And　now　suddenly　her　heartbeat　began　to　quicken　again　until　its
thumping　became　tumultuous。　　She　was　ready　now。　　She　looked　around
her；　using　the　flashlight；　and　her　eyes　rested　appraisingly　on　one
of　the　great　clusters　of　shields　and　arms　that　hung　low　down　on　the
wall　between　the　window　and　the　door　by　which　she　had　entered。　　Yes；
that　would　do。　　Her　lips　tightened。　　It　would　have　been　so　easy　if
there　had　not　been　that　cash　to　account　for！　　She　could　replace
the　necklace；　but　she　could　not　replace　the　cash　…　and　one；　as　far
as　the　Sparrow　was　concerned；　was　as　bad　as　the　other。　　But　there
was　a　way；　and　it　was　simple　enough。　　She　whispered　to　herself　that
it　was　not；　after　all；　very　dangerous；　that　the　cards　were　all　in
her　own　hands。　　She　had　only　to　pull　down　those　shields　with　a
clatter　to　the　floor；　which　would　arouse　some　one　of　the　household；
and　as　that　some　one　reached　the　library　door　and　opened　it；　she
would　be　disappearing　through　the　window；　and　the　necklace；　as
though　it　had　slipped　from　her　pocket　or　grasp　in　her　wild　effort
to　escape；　would　be　lying　behind　her　on　the　floor。　　They　would　see
that　it　was　not　the　Sparrow；　and　there　would　be　no　question　as　to
where　the　money　was　gone；　since　the　money　had　not　been　dropped。
There　was　the　interval；　of　course；　that　must　elapse　between　the
accident　that　knocked　the　shields　from　the　wall　and　the　time　it
would　take　any　of　the　inmates　to　reach　the　library；　an　interval
in　which　a　thief　might　reasonably　be　expected　to　have　had　time
enough　to　get　away　without　being　seen；　but　the　possibility　that
she　had　not　fully　accomplished　her　ends　when　the　accident　occurred；
and　that　she　had　stayed　to　make　frantic　and　desperate　efforts　to
do　so　right　up　to　the　last　moment；　would　account　for　that。

She　moved　now　to　an　electric…light　switch；　and　turned　on　the　light。
They　must　be　able　to　see　beyond　any　question　of　doubt　that　the
person　escaping　through　the　window　was　not　the　Sparrow。　　What　was
she　afraid　of　now；　just　at　the　last！　　There　was　an　actual　physical
discomfort　in　the　furious　thumping　of　that　cowardly　little　heart　of
hers。　　It　was　the　only　way。　　And　it　was　worth　it。　　And　it　was　not
so　very　dangerous。　　People；　aroused　out　of　bed；　could　not　follow
her　in　their　night　clothes；　and　in　a　matter　of　but　a　few　minutes；
before　the　police　notified　by　telephone　could　become　a　factor　in
the　affair；　she　would　have　run　the　block　down　the　Avenue；　and　then
the　other　block　down　the　cross　street；　then　back　to　the　taxi；　and
be　whirling　safely　downtown。

Yes；　she　was　ready！　　She　nodded　her　head　sharply；　as　though　in
imperative　self…command；　and　running　back；　her　footfalls　soundless
on　the　rich；　heavy　rug；　she　picked　up　the　plush…lined　necklace　case。
She　dropped　this　again；　open；　on　the　floor；　halfway　between　the
safe　and　the　window。　　With　the　case　apparently　burst　open　as　it
fell；　and　the　necklace　also　on　the　floor；　the　stage　would　be　set！
She　felt　inside　her　bodice；　drew　out　the　necklace　…　and　as　she　stood
there　holding　it；　and　as　it　caught　the　light　and　flashed　back　its
fire　and　life　from　a　thousand　facets；　a　numbness　seemed　to　come
stealing　over　her；　and　a　horror；　and　a　great　fear；　and　a　dismay
that　robbed　her　of　power　of　movement　until　it　seemed　that　she　was
rooted　to　the　spot；　and　a　low；　gasping　cry　came　from　her　lips。　　Her
eyes；　wide　with　their　alarm；　were　fixed　on　the　window。　　There　was
a　man's　face　there；　just　above　the　sill　…　and　now　a　man's　form
swung　through　the　window；　and　dropped　lightly　to　the　floor　inside
the　room。　　And　she　stared　in　horrified　fascination；　and　could　not
move。　　It　was　the　Adventurer。

〃It's　Miss　Gray；　isn't　it？　　The　White　Moll？〃　he　murmured　amiably。
〃I've　been　trying　to　find　you　all　night。　　What　corking　luck！　　You
remember　me；　don't　you？　　Last　night；　you　know。〃

She　did　not　answer。　　His　eyes　had　shifted　from　her　face　to　the
glittering　river　of　gems　in　her　hand。

〃I　see；〃　he　smiled；　〃that　you　are　ahead　of　me　again。　　Well；　it　is
the　fortune　of　war；　Miss　Gray。　　I　do　not　complain。〃

She　found　her　voice　at　last；　and；　quick　as　a　flash；　as　he　advanced
a　step；　she　dropped　the　necklace　into　her　pocket；　and　her　revolver
was　in　her　hand。

〃W　…　what　are　you　doing　here？〃　she　whispered。

He　shrugged　his　shoulders　expressively。

〃I　take　it　that　we　are　both　in　the　same　boat；〃　he　said　pleasantly。

〃In　the　same　boat？〃　she　echoed　dully。　　She　remembered　his
conversation　with　her　a　few　hours　ago；　when　he　had　believed　he　was
talking　to　Gypsy　Nan。　　And　now　he　stood　before　her　for　the　second
time　a　self…confessed　thief。　　In　the　same　boat…fellow…thieves！
A　certain　cold　composure　came　to　her。　　〃You　mean　you　came　to　steal
this　necklace？　　Well；　you　shall　not　have　it！　　And；　furthermore；　you
have　no　right　to　class　me　with　yourself　as　a　thief。〃

He　had　a　whimsical　and　very　engaging　smile。　　His　eyebrows　lifted。

〃Miss　Gray　perhaps　forgets　last　night；〃　he　suggested。

〃No；　I　do　not　forget　last　night；〃　she　said　slowly；　〃And　I　do　not
forget　that　I　owe　you　very　much　for　what　you　did。　　And　that　is
one　reason　why　I　warn　you　at　once　that；　as　far　as　the　necklace　is
concerned；　it　will　do　you　no　good　to　build　any　hopes　on　the
supposition　that　we　are　fellow…thieves；　and　that　I　am　likely　either
to　part　with　it；　or；　through　gratitude；　share　it。　　In　spite　of
appearances　last　night；　I　was　not　a　thief。〃

〃And　to…night；　Miss　Gray　…　in　spite　of　appearances？〃　he　challenged。

He　was　regarding　her　with　eyes　that；　while　they　appraised　shrewdly；
held　a　lurking　hint　of　irony　in　their　depths。　　And　somehow；　suddenly；
self…proclaimed　crook　though　she　held　him　to　be；　she　found　herself
seized　with　an　absurd；　unreasonable；　but　nevertheless　passionate；
desire　to　make　good　her　words。

〃Yes；　and　to…night；　too！〃　she　asserted。　　〃I　did　not　steal　this
necklace。　　I　…　never　mind　how　…　I　…　I　got　it。　　It　was　planned　to
put　the　theft　on　an　innocent　man's　shoulders。　　I　was　trying　to
thwart　that　plan。　　Whether　you　believe　me　or　not；　I　did　not　come
here　to　steal　the　necklace；　I　came　here　to　return　it。〃

〃Quite　so！　　Of　course！〃　acknowledged　the　Adventurer　softly。　　〃I
am　afraid　I　interrupted　you；　then；　in　the　act　of　returning　it。
Might　I　suggest；　therefore；　Miss　Gray；　that　as　it's　a　bit　dangerous
to　linger　around　here　unnecessarily；　you　carry　out　your　intentions
with　all　possible　haste；　and　get　away。〃

〃And　you？〃　she　queried　evenly。

〃Myself；　of　course；　as　well。〃　　He　shrugged　his　shoulders
philosophically。　　〃Under　the　circumstances；　as　a　gentleman　…　will
you　let　me　say　I　prefer　that　word　to　the　one　I　know　you　are
substituting　for　it　…　what　else　can　I　do？〃

She　bit　her　lips。　　Was　he　mocking　her？　　The　gray　eyes　were
inscrutable　now。

〃Then　please　do　not　let　me　detain　you！〃　she　said　sharply。　　〃And　in
my　turn；　let　me　advise　you　to　go　at　once。　　I　intend　to　knock　one　of
those　shields　down　from　the　wall　before　I　go；　in　order　to　arouse　the
household。　　I　will；　however；　in　part　payment　for　last　night；　allow
you　three　full　minutes　from　the　time　you　climb　out　of　that　window；
so　that　you　may　have　ample　time　to　get　away。

He　stared　at　her　in　frank　bewilderment。

〃Good　Lord！〃　he　gasped。　　〃You　…　you're　joking；　Miss　Gray。〃

〃No；　I　am　not；〃　she　replied　coolly。　　〃Far　from　it！　　There　was　money
stolen　that　I　cannot　replace；　and　the　theft　of　the　money　would　be
put　upon　the　same　innocent　shoulders。　　I　see　no　other　way　than　the
one　I　have　mentioned。　　If　whoever　runs　into　this　room　is　permitted
to　get　a　glimpse　of　me；　and　is　given　the　impression　that　the
necklace；　which　I　shall　leave　on　the　floor；　was　dropped　in　my　haste；
the　supposition　remains　that；　at　least；　I　got　away　with　the　money。
I　am　certainly　not　the　innocent　man　who　has　been　used　as　the　pawn；
and　if　I　am　recognized　as　the　White　Moll；　what　does　it　matter　…　after
last　night？〃

He　took　a　step　toward　her　impetuously　…　and　stopped　quite　as
impetuously。　　Her　revolver　had　swung　to　a　level　with　his　head。

〃Pardon　me！〃　he　said。

〃Not　at　all！〃　she　said　caustically。

For　the　first　time；　as　she　watched　him　warily；　the　Adventurer
appeared　to　lose　some　of　his　self…assurance。　　He　shifted　a　little
uneasily　on　his　feet；　and　the　corners　of　his　eyes　puckered　into　a
nest　of　perturbed　wrinkles。

〃I　say；　Miss　Gray；　you　can't　mean　this！〃　be　protested。　　〃You're
not　serious！〃

〃I　have　told　you　that　I　am；〃　she　answered　steadily。　　〃Those　three
minutes　that　I　gave　you　are　going　fast。〃

〃Then　look　here！〃　he　exclaimed　earnestly。　　〃I'll　tell　you　something。
I　said　I　had　been　trying　to　find　you　to…night。　　It　was　the　truth。
I　went　to　Gypsy　Nan's　…　and　might　have　been　spared　my　pains。　　I
told　her　about　last　night；　and　that　I　knew　you　were　in　danger；　and
that　I　wanted　to　help　you。　　I　mention　this　so　that　you　will
understand　that　I　am　not　just　speaking　on　the　spur　of　the　moment；
now　that　I　have　an　opportunity　of　repeating　that　offer　in　person。〃

She　looked　at　him　impassively　for　a　moment。　　He　had　neglected　to
state　that　he　had　also　told　Gypsy　Nan　he　desired　to　enter　into　a
partnership　with　her　…　in
crime。

〃It　is　very　kind　of　you；〃　she　said　sweetly。　　〃I　presume；　then；　that
you　have　some　suggestion　to　make？〃

〃Only　what　any　…　may　I　say　it？　…　gentleman　would　suggest　under　the
circumstances。　　It　is　far　too　dangerous　a　thing　for　a　woman　to
attempt；　it　would　be　much　less　dangerous　for　me。　　I　realize　that
you　are　in　earnest　now；　and　I　will　agree　to　carry　out　your　plan　in
every　detail　once　I　am　satisfied　that　you　are　safely　away。〃

〃The　idea　being；〃　she　observed　monotonously；　〃that；　being　safely
away；　and　the　necklace　being　left　safely　on　the　floor；　you　are　left
safely　in　possession　of　…　the　necklace。　　Well；　my　answer　is　…　no！〃

His　face　hardened　a　little。

〃I'm　sorry；　then；〃　he　said。　　〃For　in　that　case；　in　so　far　as　your
project　is　concerned；　I；　too；　must　say　…　no！〃

It　was　an　impasse。　　She　studied　his　face；　the　strong　jaw　set　a
little　now；　the　lips　molded　in　sterner　lines；　and　for　all　her
outward　show　of　composure；　she　knew　a　sick　dismay。　　And　for　a　moment
she　neither　moved　nor　spoke。　　What　he　would　do　next；　she　did　not
know；　but　she　knew　quite　well　that　he　had　not　the　slightest
intention　of　leaving　her　here　undisturbed　to　carry　out　her　plan；
unless　…　unless；　somehow；　she　could　outwit　him。　　She　bit　her　lips
again。　　And　then　inspiration　came。　　She　turned；　and　with　a　sudden
leap　gained　the　wall；　and　the　next　instant；　holding　him　back　with
her　revolver　as　she　reached　up　with　her　left　hand；　she　caught　at
the　great　metal　shield　with　its　encircling　cluster　of　small　arms；
and　wrenched　it　from　its　fastenings。　　It　crashed　to　the　floor　with
a　din　infernal　that；　in　the　night　silence；　went　racketing　through
the