the white moll-第24章

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hurt；　this　gulf　between　them　that　could　not　now　be　spanned；　and　in
a　personal　way　she　would　never　have　cared　because　he　was　…　a　thief。

Her　mental　soliloquy　ended　abruptly。　　She　had　reached　the　narrow
driveway　that　led　in；　between　the　two　blocks　of　down…at…the…heels
tenements；　to　the　courtyard　at　the　rear　that　harbored　Shluker's　junk
shop。　　And　now；　unlike　that　other　night　when　she　had　first　paid　a
visit　to　the　place；　she　made　no　effort　at　concealment　as　she　entered
the　driveway。　　She　walked　quickly；　and　as　she　emerged　into　the
courtyard　itself　she　saw　a　light　in　the　window　of　the　junk　shop。

Rhoda　Gray　nodded　her　head。　　It　was　still　quite　early；　still　almost
twilight　…　not　more　than　eight　o'clock。　　Back　there；　on　that　squalid
doorstep　where　the　old　woman　and　the　old　man　had　stood；　it　had　still
been　quite　light。　　The　long　summer　evening　had　served　at　least　to
sear；　somehow；　those　two　faces　upon　her　mind。　　It　was　singular　that
they　should　intrude　themselves　at　this　moment！　　She　had　been　thinking；
hadn't　she；　that　at　this　hour　she　might　naturally　expect　to　find
Shluker　still　in　his　shop？　　That　was　why　she　had　come　so　early　…　since
she　had　not　cared　to　come　in　full　daylight。　　Well；　if　that　light　meant
anything；　he　was　there。

She　felt　her　pulse　quicken　perceptibly　as　she　crossed　the　courtyard；
and　reached　the　shop。　　The　door　was　open；　and　she　stepped　inside。
It　was　a　dingy　place；　filthy；　and　littered；　without　the　slightest
attempt　at　order；　with　a　heterogeneous　collection　of；　it　seemed；
every　article　one　could　think　of；　from　scraps　of　old　iron　and　bundles
of　rags　to　cast…off　furniture　that　was　in　an　appalling　state　of
dissolution。　　The　light；　that　of　a　single　and　dim　incandescent；　came
from　the　interior　of　what　was　apparently　the　〃office〃　of　the
establishment；　a　small；　glassed…in　partition　affair；　at　the　far　end
of　the　shop。

Her　first　impression　had　been　that　there　was　no　one　in　the　shop；　but
now；　from　the　other　side　of　the　glass　partition；　she　caught　sight　of
a　bald　head；　and　became　aware　that　a　pair　of　black　eyes　were　fixed
steadily　upon　her；　and　that　the　occupant　was　beckoning　to　her　with
his　hand　to　come　forward。

She　scuffled　slowly；　but　without　hesitation；　up　the　shop。　　She
intended　to　employ　the　vernacular　that　was　part　of　the　disguise　of
Gypsy　Nan。　　If　Shluker；　for　that　was　certainly　Shluker　there；　gave
the　slightest　indication　that　he　took　it　amiss；　her　explanation　would
come　glibly　and　logically　enough　…　she　had　to　be　careful；　how　was　she
supposed　to　know　whether　there　was　any　one　else　about；　or　not！

〃'Ello！〃　she　said　curtly；　as　she　reached　the　doorway　of　the　little
office；　and　paused　on　the　threshold。　　Shifty　little　black　eyes　met
hers；　as　the　bald　head　fringed　with　untrimmed　gray　hair；　was　lifted
from　a　battered　desk；　and　the　wizened　face　of　an　old　man　was
disclosed　under　the　rays　of　the　tin…shaded　lamp。　　He　grinned　suddenly；
showing　discolored　teeth　…　and　instinctively　she　drew　back　a　little。
He　was　an　uninviting　and　exceedingly　disreputable　old　creature。

〃You；　eh；　Nan！〃　he　grunted。　　〃So　you've　come　to　see　old　Jake　Shluker；
have　you？　　'Tain't　often　you　come！　　And　what's　brought　you；　eh？〃

〃I　can　read；　can't　I？〃　　Rhoda　Gray　glanced　furtively　around　her；
then　leaned　toward　the　other。　　〃Say；　wot's　de　lay？　　I　been　scared
stiff　all　day。　　Is　dat　straight　wot　de　papers　said　about
youse…know…who　gettin'　pinched？〃

A　scowl　settled　over　Shluker's　features　as　he　nodded。

〃Yes；　it's　straight　enough；〃　he　answered。　　〃Damn　'em；　one　and　all！
But　they　let　him　out　again。〃

〃Dat's　de　stuff！〃　applauded　Rhoda　Gray　earnestly。　　〃Where　is　he；　den？〃

Shluker　shook　his　head。

〃He　didn't　say；〃　said　Shluker。

〃He　didn't　say？〃　echoed　Rhoda　Gray；　a　little　tartly。　　〃Wot　d'youse
mean；　he　didn't　say？　　Have　youse　seen　him？〃

Shluker　jerked　his　hand　toward　the　telephone　instrument　on　the　desk。

〃He　was　talkin'　to　me　a　little　while　ago。〃

〃Well；　den〃　…　Rhoda　Gray　risked　a　more　peremptory　tone　…　〃where　is　he？〃

Shluker　shook　his　head　again。

〃I　dunno；〃　he　said。　　〃I'm　tellin'　you；　he　didn't　say。〃

Rhoda　Gray　studied　the　wizened　and　repulsive　old　creature；　that；
huddled　in　his　chair　in　the　dirty；　boxed…in　little　office；　made　her
think　of　some　crafty　old　spider　lurking　in　its　web　for　unwary　prey。
Was　the　man　lying　to　her？　　Was　he　in　any　degree　suspicious？　　Why
should　he　be？　　He　had　given　not　the　slightest　sign　that　her　uncouth
language　was　either　unexpected　or　unnecessary。　　Perhaps　to　Shluker；
and　perhaps　to　all　the　rest　of　the　gang　…　except　Danglar！　…　Gypsy
Nan　was　accepted　at　face　value　as　just　Gypsy　Nan；　and；　if　that　were
so；　the　idea　of　playing　up　a　natural　wifely　anxiety　on　Danglar's
behalf　could　not　be　used　unless　Shluker　gave　her　a　lead　in　that
direction。　　But；　all　that　apart；　she　was　getting　nowhere。　　She　bit
her　lips　in　disappointment。　　She　had　counted　a　great　deal　on　this
Shluker　here；　and　Shluker　was　not　proving　the　fount　of　information；
far　from　it；　that　she　had　hoped　he　would。

She　tried　again…even　more　peremptorily　than　before。

〃Aw；　open　up！〃　she　snapped。　　〃Wot's　de　use　bein'　a　clam！　　Youse
heard　me；　didn't　youse？　　Where　is　he？〃

Shluker　leaned　abruptly　forward；　and　looked　at　her　in　a　suddenly
perturbed　way。

〃is　there　anything　wrong？〃　he　asked　in　a　tense；　lowered　voice。
〃What　makes　you　so　anxious　to　know？〃

Rhoda　Gray　laughed　shortly。

〃Nothin'！〃　she　answered　coolly。　　〃I　told　youse　once；　didn't　I？　　I
got　a　scare　readin'　dem　papers　…　an'　I　ain't　over　it　yet。　　Dat's
wot　I　want　to　know　for；　an'　youse　seem　afraid　to　open　up！〃

Shluker　sank　back　again　in　his　chair　with　an　air　of　relief。

〃Oh！〃　he　ejaculated。　　〃Well；　that's　all　right；　then。　　You　were
beginning　to　give　me　a　scare；　too。　　I　ain't　playin'　the　clam；　and
I　dunno　where　he　is；　but　I　can　tell　you　there's　nothing　to　worry
you　any　more　about　the　rest　of　it。　　He　was　after　the　White　Moll　last
night；　and　it　didn't　come　off。　　They　pulled　one　on　him　instead；　and
fastened　him　to　the　fire　escape　the　way　the　papers　said。　　Skeeny
and　the　Cricket；　who　were　in　on　the　play　with　him；　didn't　have　time
to　get　him　loose　before　the　bulls　got　there。　　So　Danglar　told　them
to　beat　it；　and　he　handed　the　cops　the　story　that　was　in　the　papers。
He　got　away　with　it；　all　right；　and　they　let　go　him　to…day；　but　he
phoned　a　little　while　ago　that　they　were　still　stickin'　around　kind
of　close　to　him；　and　that　I　was　to　pass　the　word　that　the　lid　was　to
go　down　tight　for　the　next　few　days；　and　…〃

Shluker　stopped　abruptly　as　the　telephone　rang；　and　reached　for　the
instrument。

Rhoda　Gray　fumbled　unnecessarily　with　her　shawl；　as　the　other
answered　the　call。　　Failure！　　A　curious　bitterness　came　to　her。　　Her
plan　then；　for　to…night　it　least；　was　a　failure。　　Shluker　did　not
know　where　Danglar　was。　　She　was　quite　convinced　of　that。　　Shluker
was　…　　She　glanced　suddenly　at　the　wizened　little　old　man。　　From　an
ordinary　tone；　Shluker'　s　voice　had　risen　sharply　in　protest　about
something。　　She　listened　now：

No；　no；　it　does　not　matter　what　it　is！

What？。。。No！　　I　tell　you；　no！　　Nothing！　　Not　to…night！　　Those　are
the　orders。。。。No；　I　don't　know！　　Nan　is　here　now。。。。Eh？。。。。You'll
pay　for　it　if　you　do！〃　　Shluker　was　snarling　threateningly　now。
〃What？。。。。Well；　then；　wait！　　I'll　come　over。。。。No；　you　can　bet　I
won't　be　long！　　You　wait！　　Understand？〃

He　banged　the　receiver　on　the　hook；　and　got　up　from　his　chair
hurriedly。

〃Fools！〃　he　muttered　savagely。　　〃No；　I　won't　be　long　gettin'　there！〃
He　grabbed　Rhoda　Gray's　arm。　　〃Yes；　and　you　come；　too！　　You　will
help　me　put　a　little　sense　into　their　heads；　if　it　is　possible　…　eh？
The　fools！〃

The　man　was　violently　excited。　　He　half　pulled　Rhoda　Gray　down　the
length　of　the　shop　to　the　front　door。　　Puzzled；　bewildered；　a　little
uneasy；　she　watched　him　lock　the　door；　and　then　followed　him　across
the　courtyard；　while　he　continued　to　mutter　constantly　to　himself。

〃Wot's　de　matter？〃　she　asked　him　twice。

But　it　was　not　until　they　had　reached　the　street；　and　Shluker　was
hurrying　along　as　fast　as　he　could　walk；　that　he　answered　her。

〃It's　the　Pug　and　Pinkie　Bonn！〃　he　jerked　out　angrily。　　〃They're
in　the　Pug's　room。　　Pinkie　went　back　there　after　telephonin'。
They've　nosed　out　something　they　want　to　put　through。　　The　fools！
And　after　last　night　nearly　havin'　finished　everything！　　I　told　'em
…　you　heard　me　…　that　everybody's　to　keep　under　cover　now。　　But
they　think　they've　got　a　soft　thing；　and　they　say　they're　goin'　to
it。　　I've　got　to　put　a　crimp　in　it；　and　you've　got　to　help　me。
Y'understand；　Nan？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　said　mechanically。

Her　mind　was　working　swiftly。　　The　night；　after　all；　perhaps；　was
not　to　be　so　much　of　a　failure！　　To　get　into　intimate　touch　with
all　the　members　of　the　clique　was　equally　one　of　her　objects；　and；
failing　Danglar　himself　to…night；　here　was　an　〃open　sesame〃　to　the
re…treat　of　two　of　the　others。　　She　would　never　have　a　better　chance；
or　one　in　which　risk　and　danger；　under　the　chaperonage；　as　it　were；
of　Shluker　here；　were；　if　not　entirely　eliminated；　at　least　reduced
to　an　apparently　negligible　minimum。　　Yes；　she　would　go。　　To　refuse
was　to　turn　her　back　on　her　own　proposed　line　of　action；　and　on　the
decision　which　she　had　made　herself。


XII。　　CROOKS　Vs。　CROOKS

It　was　not　far。　　Shluker；　hastening　along；　still　muttering　to
himself；　turned　into　a　cross　street　some　two　blocks　away；　and　from
there　again　into　a　lane；　and；　a　moment　later；　led　the　way　through
a　small　door　in　the　fence　that　hung；　battered　and　half　open；　on
sagging　and　broken　hinges。　　Rhoda　Gray's　eyes　traveled　sharply
around　her　in　all　directions。　　It　was　still　light　enough　to　see
fairly　well；　and　she　might　at　some　future　time　find　the　bearings
she　took　now　to　be　of　inestimable　worth。　　Not　that　there　was　much
to　remark！　　They　crossed　a　diminutive　and　disgustingly　dirty
backyard；　whose　sole　reason　for　existence　seemed　to　be　that　of　a
receptacle　for　old　tin　cans；　and　were　confronted　by　the　rear　of
what　appeared　to　be　a　four…story　tenement。　　There　was　a　back　door
here；　and；　on　the　right　of　the　door；　fronting　the　yard；　a　single
window　that　was　some　four　or　five　feet　from　the　level　of　the　ground。

Shluker；　without　hesitation；　opened　the　back　door；　shut　it　behind
them；　led　the　way　along　a　black；　unlighted　hall；　and　halting　before
a　door　well　toward　the　front　of　the　building；　knocked　softly　upon
it　…　giving　two　raps；　a　single　rap；　and　then　two　more　in　quick
succession。　　There　was　no　answer。　　He　knocked　again　in　precisely
the　same　manner；　and　then　a　footstep　sounded　from　within；　and　the
door　was　flung　open。　　〃Fools！〃　growled　Shluker　in　greeting；　as　they
stepped　inside　and　the　door　was　closed　again。　　〃A　pair　of　brainless
fools！〃

There　were　two　men　there。　　They　paid　Shluker　scant　attention。　　They
both　grinned　at　Rhoda　Gray　through　the　murky　light　supplied　by　a
wheezy　and　wholly　inadequate　gas…jet。

〃Hello；　Nan！〃　gibed　the　smaller　of　the　two。　　〃Who　let　you　out？〃

〃Aw；　forget　it！〃　croaked　Rhoda　Gray。

Shluker　took　up　the　cudgels。

〃You　close　your　face；　Pinkie！〃　he　snapped。　　〃Get　down　to　cases！　　Do
you　think　I　got　nothing　else　to　do　but　chase　you　two　around　like　a
couple　of　puppy　dogs　that　haven't　got　sense　enough　to　t