the white moll-第25章

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couple　of　puppy　dogs　that　haven't　got　sense　enough　to　take　care　of
themselves？　　Wasn't　what　I　told　you　over　the　phone　enough　without
me　havin'　to　come　here？〃

〃Nix　on　that　stuff！〃　returned　the　one　designated　as　Pinkie
imperturbably。　　〃Say；　you'll　be　glad　you　come　when　we　lets　you　in
on　a　little　piece　of　easy　money。　　We　ain't　askin'　your　advice；　all
we're　askin'　you　to　do　is　frame　up　the　alibi；　same　as　usual；　for　me
an'　the　Pug　here　in　case　we　wants　it。〃

Shluker　shook　his　fist。

〃Frame　nothing！〃　he　spluttered　angrily。　　〃Ain't　I　tellin'　you　that
the　orders　are　not　to　make　a　move；　that　everything　is　off　for　a　few
days？　　That's　the　word　I　got　a　little　while　ago；　and　the
Seven…Three…Nine　is　goin'　out　now。　　Nan'll　tell　you　the　same　thing。〃

〃Sure！〃　corroborated　Rhoda　Gray；　picking　up　the　obvious　cue。　　〃Dat's
de　straight　goods。〃

The　two　men　were　lounging　beside　a　table　that　stood　at　the　extreme
end　of　the　room；　and　now　for　a　moment　they　whispered　together。　　And；
as　they　whispered；　Rhoda　Gray　found　her　first　opportunity　to　take
critical　stock　both　of　her　surroundings　and　of　the　two　men
themselves。　　Pinkie；　a　short；　slight　little　man；　she　dismissed　with
hardly　a　glance；　he　was　the　common　type；　with　low；　vicious　cunning
stamped　all　over　his　face　…　an　ordinary　rat　of　the　underworld。　　But
her　glance　rested　longer　on　his　companion。　　The　Pug　was　indeed
entitled　to　his　moniker！　　His　face　made　her　think　of　one。　　It　seemed
to　be　all　screwed　up　out　of　shape。　　Perhaps　the　eye…patch　over　the
right　eye　helped　a　little　to　put　the　finishing　touch　of　repulsiveness
upon　a　countenance　already　most　unpleasant。　　The　celluloid　eye…patch；
once　flesh…colored；　was　now　so　dirty　and　smeared　that　its　original
color　was　discernible　only　in　spots；　and　the　once　white　elastic　cord
that　circled　his　head　and　kept　the　patch　in　place　was　in　equal
disrepute。　　A　battered　slouch　hat　came　to　the　level　of　the　eye…patch
in　a　forbidding　sort　of　tilt。　　His　left　eyelid　drooped　until　it　was
scarcely　open　at　all；　and　fluttered　continually。　　One　nostril　of
his　nose　was　entirely　closed；　and　his　mouth　seemed　to　be　twisted
out　of　shape；　so　that；　even　when　in　repose；　the　lips　never　entirely
met　at　one　corner。　　And　his　ears；　what　she　could　see　of　them　in　the
poor　light；　and　on　account　of　the　slouch　hat；　seemed　to　bear　out　the
low…type　criminal　impression　the　man　gave　her；　in　that　they　lay　flat
back　against　his　head。

She　turned　her　eyes　away　with　a　little　shudder　of　repulsion；　and
gave　her　attention　to　an　inspection　of　the　room。　　There　was　no
window；　except　a　small　one　high　up　in　the　right…hand　partition　wall。
She　quite　understood　what　that　meant。　　It　was　common　enough；　and　all
too　unsanitary　enough；　in　these　old　and　cheap　tenements；　the　window
gave；　not　on　the　out…of…doors；　but　on　a　light…well。　　For　the；　rest；
it　was　a　room　she　had　seen　a　thousand　times　before　…　carpetless；
unfurnished　save　for　the　barest　necessities；　dirt　everywhere；
unkempt。

Pinkie　Bonn　broke　in　abruptly　upon　her　inspection。

〃That's　all　right！〃　he　announced　airily。　　〃We'll　let　Nan　in　on　it；
too。　　The　Pug　an'　me　figures　she　can　give　us　a　hand。〃

Shluker's　wizened　little　face　seemed　suddenly　to　go　purple。

〃Are　you　tryin'　to　make　a　fool　of　me？〃　he　half　screamed。　　〃Or　can't
you　understand　English？　　D'ye　want　me　to　keep　on　tellin'　you　till
I'm　hoarse　that　there　ain't　nobody　goin'　in　with　you；　because　you
am't　goin'　in　yourself！　　See？　　Understand　that？　　There's　nothing
doin'　to…night　for　anybody　…　and　that　means　you！〃

〃Aw；　shut　up；　Shluker！〃　It　was　the　Pug　now；　a　curious　whispering
sibilancy　in　his　voice；　due　no　doubt　to　the　disfigurement　of　his
lips。　　〃Give　Pinkie　a　chance　to　shoot　his　spiel　before　youse　injure
yerself　throwin'　a　fit！　　Go　on；　Pinkie；　spill　it。〃

〃Sure！〃　said　Pinkie　eagerly。　　〃Listen；　Shluk！　　It　ain't　any　crib
we're　wantin'　to　crack；　or　nothin'　like　that。　　It's　just　a　couple
of　crooks　that　won't　dare　open　their　yaps　to　the　bulls；　'cause　what
we're　after　'll　be　what　they'll　have　pinched　themselves。　　See？〃

Shluker's　face　lost　some　of　its　belligerency；　and　in　its　place　a
dawning　interest　came。

〃What's　that？〃　he　demanded　cautiously。　　〃What　crooks？〃

〃French　Pete　an'　Marny　Day；〃　said　Pinkie　…　and　grinned。

〃Oh！〃　Shluker's　eyebrows　went　up。　　He　looked　at　the　Pug；　and　the
Pug　winked　knowingly　with　his　half…closed　left　eyelid。　　Shluker
reached　out　for　a　chair；　and；　finding　it　suspiciously　wobbly；
straddled　it　warily。　　〃Mabbe　I've　been　in　wrong；〃　he　admitted。
〃What's　the　lay？〃

〃Me；〃　said　Pinkie；　〃I　was　down　to　Charlie's　this　afternoon　havin'
a　little　lay…off；　an'〃

〃One　of　these　days；〃　interrupted　Shluker　sharply；　〃you'll　go　out
like〃　…　he　snapped　his　fingers　…　〃that！〃　　〃Can't　you　leave　the　stuff
alone？〃

〃I　got　to　have　me　bit　of　coke；〃　Pinkie　answered；　with　a　shrug　of
his　shoulders。　　〃An'；　anyway；　I'm　no　pipe…hitter。

〃It's　all　the　same　whatever　way　you　take　it！〃　retorted　Shluker。
〃Well；　go　on　with　your　story。　　You　went　down　to　Charlie's　dope
parlors；　and　jabbed　a　needle　into　yourself；　or　took　it　some　other
old　way。　　I　get　you！　　What　happened　then？〃

〃It　was　about　an　hour　ago；〃　resumed　Pinkie　Bonn　with　undisturbed
complacency。　　〃Just　as　I　was　beatin'　it　out　of　there　by　the　cellar；
I　hears　some　whisperin'　as　I　was　passin'　one　of　the　end　doors。
Savvy？　　I　hadn't　made　no　noise；　an'　they　hadn't　heard　me。　　I　gets
a　peek　in；　'cause　the　door's　cracked。　　It　was　French　Pete　an'　Marny
Day。　　I　listens。　　An'　after　about　two　seconds　I　was　goin'　shaky　for
fear　some　one　would　come　along　an'　I　wouldn't　get　the　whole　of　it。
Take　it　from　me；　Shluk；　it　was　some　goods！〃

Shluker　grunted　noncommittingly。

〃Well；　go　on！〃　he　prompted。

〃I　didn't　get　all　the　fine　points；〃　grinned　Pinkie；　〃but　I　got
enough。　　There　was　a　guy　by　the　name　of　Dainey　who　used　to　live
somewhere　on　the　East　Side　here；　an'　he　used　to　work　in　some
sweat…shop；　an'　he　worked　till　he　got　pretty　old；　an'　then　his
lungs；　or　something；　went　bad　on　him；　an'　he　went　broke。　　An'　the
doctor　said　he　had　to　beat　it　out　of　here　to　a　more　salubrious
climate。　　Some　nut　filled　his　ear　full　'bout　gold　huntin'　up　in
Alaska；　an'　he　fell　for　it。　　He　chewed　it　over　with　his　wife；　an'
she　was　for　it　too；　'cause　the　doctor　'd　told　her　her　old　man　would
bump　off　if　he　stuck　around　here；　an'　they　hadn't　any　money　to　get
away　together。　　She　figured　she　could　get　along　workin'　out　by　the
day　till　he　came　back　a　millionaire；　an'　old　Dainey　started　off。

〃I　dunno　how　he　got　there。　　I'm　just　fillin'　in　what　I　hears　French
Pete　an'　Marny　talkin'　about。　　I　guess　mostly　he　beat　his　way　there
ridin'　the　rods；　but；　anyway；　he　got　there。　　See？　　An'　then　he　goes
down　sick　there　again；　an'　a　hospital；　or　some　outfit；　has　to　take
care　of　him　for　a　couple　of　years；　an'　back　here　the　old　woman　got
kind　of　feeble　an'　on　her　uppers；　an　there　was　hell　to　pay；　an'　…〃

〃Wot's　bitin'　youse；　Nan？〃　　The　Pug's　lisping　whisper　broke　sharply
in　upon　Pinkie　Bonn's　story。

Rhoda　Gray　started。　　She　was　conscious　now　that　she　had　been　leaning
forward；　staring　in　a　startled　way　at　Pinkie　as　he　talked；　conscious
now　that　for　a　moment　she　had　forgotten　…　that　she　was　Gypsy　Nan。
But　she　was　mistress　of　herself　on　the　instant；　and　she　scowled
blackly　at　the　Pug。

〃Mabbe　it's　me　soft　heart　dat's　touched！〃　she　flung　out　acidly。
〃Youse　close　yer　trap；　an'　let　Pinkie　talk！〃

〃Yes；　shut　up！〃　said　Pinkie。　　〃What　was　I　sayin'？　　Oh；　yes！　　An'
then　the　old　guy　makes　a　strike。　　Can　you　beat　it！　　I　dunno　nothing
about　the　way　they　pull　them　things；　but　he's　off　by　his　lonesome
out　somewhere；　an'　he　finds　gold；　an'　stakes　out　his　claim；　but
he　takes　sick　again　an'　can't　work　it；　an'　it's　all　he　can　do　to
get　back　alive　to　civilization。　　He　keeps　his　mouth　shut　for　a
while；　figurin'　he'll　get　strong　again；　but　it　ain't　no　good；　an'
he　gets　a　letter　from　the　old　woman　tellin'　how　bad　she　is；　an'
then　he　shows　some　of　the　stuff　he'd　found。　　After　that　there's
nothing　to　it！　　Everybody's　beatin'　it　for　the　place；　but；　at　that；
old　Dainey　comes　out　of　it　all　right；　an'　goes　crazy　with　joy
'cause　some　guy　offers　him　twenty…five　thousand　bucks　for　his　claim；
an'　throws　in　the　expenses　home　for　good　luck。　　He　gets　the　money
in　cash；　twenty…five　one…thousand…dollar　bills；　an'　the　chicken
feed　for　the　expenses；　an'　starts　for　back　here　an'　the　old　woman。
But　this　time　he　don't　keep　his　mouth　shut　about　it　when　he'd　have
been　better　off　if　he　had。　　See？　　He　was　tellin'　about　it　on　the
train。　　I　guess　he　was　tellin'　about　it　all　the　way　across。　　But；
anyway；　he　tells　about　it　comm'　from　Philly　this　afternoon；　an'
French　Pete　an'　Marny　Day　happens　to　be　on　the　train；　an'　they
hears　it；　an'　frames　it　up　to　annex　the　coin　before　morning；　'cause
he's　got　in　too　late　to　get　the　money　into　any　bank　to…day。〃

Pinkie　Bonn　paused；　and　stuck　his　tongue　significantly　in　his　cheek。

Shluker　was　rubbing　his　hands　together　now　in　a　sort　of　unctuous
way。

〃It　sounds　pretty　good；〃　he　murmured；　〃only　there's　Danglar　…〃

〃Youse　leave　Danglar　to　me！〃　broke　in　the　Pug。　　〃As　soon　as　we
hands　one　to　dem　two　boobs　an'　gets　de　cash；　Pinkie　can　beat　it
back　here　wid　de　coin　an　wait　fer　me　while　I　finds　Danglar　an'
squares　it　wid　him。　　He　ain't　goin'　to　put　up　no　holler　at　dat。　　We
ain't　runnin'　de　gang　into　nothin'。　　Dis　is　private　business　…　see？
So　youse　just　take　a　sneak　wid　yerself；　an'　fix　a　nice　little　alibi
fer　us　so's　we　won't　be　takin'　any　chances。〃

Shluker　frowned。

〃But　what's　the　good　of　that？〃　he　demurred。　　〃French　Pete　and
Marny　Day　'11　see　you　anyway。〃

〃Will　dey！〃　scoffed　the　Pug。　　〃Guess　once　more！　　A　coupla
handkerchiefs　over　our　mugs　is　good　enough　fer　dem；　if　youse　holds
yer　end　up。　　An'　dey　wouldn't　talk　fer　publication；　anyway；　would
dey？〃

Shluker　smiled　now…almost　ingratiatingly。

〃And　how　much　is　my　end　worth？〃　he　inquired　softly。

〃One　of　dem　thousand…dollar　engravin's；〃　stated　the　Pug　promptly。
〃An'　Pinkie'll　run　around　an'　slip　it　to　youse　before　mornin'〃

〃All　right；〃　said　Shluker；　after　a　moment。　　〃It's　half　past　eight
now。　　From　nine　o'clock　on；　you　can　beat　any　jury　in　New　York　to　it
that　you　were　both　at　the　same　old　place　…　as　long　as　you　keep
decently　under　cover。　　That'll　do；　won't　it？　　I'll　fix　it。　　But　I
don't　see　…〃

Rhoda　Gray；　as　Gypsy　Nan；　for　the　first　time　projected　herself　into
the　discussion。　　She　cackled　suddenly　in　jeering　mirth。

〃I　t'ought　something　was　wrong　wid　her！〃　whispered　the　Pug　with
mock　anxiety。　　〃Mabbe　she　ain't　well！　　Tell　us　about　it；　Nan！〃

〃When　I　do；〃　she　said　complacently；　〃mabbe　youse'll　smile　out　of　de
other　corner　of　dat　mouth　of　yers！〃　　She　turned　to　Shluker。　　〃Youse
needn't　lay　awake　waitin'　fer　dat　thousand；　Shluker；　'cause　youse'll
never　see　it。　　De　little　game's　all　off　…　'cause　it's　already　been
pulled。　　See？　　Dere　was　near　a　riot　as　I　passes　along　a　street　goin'
to　yer　place；　an'　I　gets　piped　off　to　wot's　up；　an'　it's　de　same
story　dat　Pinkie's　told；　an'　de　crib's　cracked；　an'　de　money's　gone
…　dat's　all。〃

Shluker's　face　fell。

〃I　said　you　were　fools　when　I　first　came　in　here！〃　he　burst　out
suddenly；　wheeling　on　Pinkie　Bonn　and　the　Pug。　　〃I'm　sure　of　it　now。
I　was　wonderin　a　min