the white moll-第26章

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〃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　minute　ago　how　you　were　goin'　to　keep　your　lamps　on
Pete　and　Marny　from　here；　or　know　when　they　were　goin'　to　pull　their
stunt；　or　where　to　find　'em。〃

Pinkie　Bonn；　ignoring　Shluker；　leaned　toward　Rhoda　Gray。

〃Say；　Nan；　is　that　straight？〃　he　inquired　anxiously。　〃You　sure？〃

〃Sure；　I'm　sure！〃　Rhoda　Gray　asserted　tersely。　　The　one　thought　in
her　head　now　was　that　her　information　would　naturally　deprive　these
men　here　of　any　further　interest　in　the　matter；　and　that　she　would
get　away　as　quickly　as　possible；　and；　in　some　way　or　other；　see　that
the　police　were　tipped　off　to　the　fact　that　it　was　French　Pete　and
Marny　Day　who　had　taken　the　old　couple's　money。　　Those　two　old　faces
rose　before　her　again　now　…　blotting　out　most　curiously　the　face　of
Pinkie　Bonn　just　in　front　of　her。　　She　felt　strangely　glad　…　glad
that　she　had　heard　all　of　old　Dainey's　story；　because　she　could　see
now　an　ending　to　it　other　than　the　miserable；　hopeless　one　of
despair　that　she　had　read　in　the　Daineys'　faces　just　a　little　while
ago。　　〃Sure；　I'm　sure！〃　she　repeated　with　finality。

〃How　long　ago　was　it？〃　prodded　Pinkie。

〃I　dunno；〃　she　answered。　　〃I　just　went　to　Shluker's；　an'　den　we
comes　over　here。　　Youse　can　figure　it　fer　yerself。〃

And　then　Rhoda　Gray　stared　at　the　other　…　with　sudden　misgiving。
Pinkie　Bonn's　face　was　suddenly　wreathed　in　smiles。

〃I'll　answer　you　now；　Shluk；〃　he　grinned。　　〃What　do　you　think？　　That
we're　nuts；　me　an'　Pug？　　Well；　forget　it！　　We　didn't　have　to　stick
around　watchin'　Pete　an'　Marny；　we　just　had　to　wait　until　they　had
collected　the　dough。　　That　was　the　most　trouble　we　had　…　wonderin'
when　that　would　be。　　Well；　we　don't　have　to　wonder　any　more。　　We
know　now　that　the　cherries　are　ripe。　　See？　　An'　now　we'll　go　an'
pick　'em！　　Where？　　Where　d'ye　suppose？　　Down　to　Charlie's；　of　course！
I　hears　'em　talkin'　about　that；　too。　　They　ain't　so　foolish！　　They're
out　for　an　alibi　themselves。　　Get　the　idea？　　They　was　to　sneak　out
of　Charlie's　without　anybody　seem'　'em；　an'　if　everything　broke
right　for　'em；　they　was　to　sneak　back　again　an'　spend　the　night
there。　　No；　they　ain't　so　foolish　…　I　guess　they　ain't！　　There　ain't
no　place　in　New　York　you　can　get　in　an'　out　of　without　nobody　knowin'
it　like　Charlie's；　if　you　know　the　way；　an　…〃

〃Aw；　write　de　rest　of　it　down　in　yer　memoirs！〃　interposed　the　Pug
impatiently　…　and　moved　toward　the　door。　　〃It's　all　right；　Shluker
…　all　de　way。　　Now；　everybody　beat　it；　an'　get　on　de　job。　　Nan；
youse　sticks　wid　Pinkie　an'　me。〃

Rhoda　Gray；　her　mind　in　confusion；　found　herself　being　crowded
hurriedly　through　the　doorway　by　the　three　men。　　Still　in　a　mentally
confused　condition；　she　found　herself；　a　few　minutes　later　…　Shluker
having　parted　company　with　them　…　walking　along　the　street　between
Pinkie　Bonn　and　the　Pug。　　She　was　fighting　desperately　to　obtain　a　
rip　upon　herself。　　The　information　she　had　volunteered　had　had　an
effect　diametrically　opposite　to　that　which　she　had　intended。　　She
seemed　terribly　impotent；　as　though　she　were　being　swept　from　her
feet　and　borne　onward　by　some　swift　and　remorseless　current；　whether
she　would　or　no。

The　Pug；　in　his　curious　whisper；　was　talking　to　her：　〃Pinkie　knows
de　way　in。　　We　don't　want　any　row　in　dere；　on　account　of　Charlie。
We　ain't　fer　puttin'　his　place　on　de　rough；　an'　gettin'　him　raided
by　de　bulls。　　Charlie's　all　to　de　good。　　See？　　Well；　dat's　wot　'd
likely　happen　if　me　an'　Pinkie　busts　in　on　Pete　an'　Marny　widout
sendin'　in　our　visitin'…cards　first；　polite…like。　　Dey　would　pull
deir　guns；　an'　though　we'd　get　de　coin　just　de　same；　dere'd　be　hell
to　pay　fer　Charlie；　an'　de　whole　place　'd　go　up　in　fireworks　right
off　de　bat。　　Well；　dis　is　where　youse　come　in。　　Youse　are　de
visitin'…card。　　Youse　gets　into　deir　bunk　room；　pretendin'　youse
have　made　a　mistake；　an'　youse　leaves　de　door　open　behind　youse。
Dey　don't　know　youse；　an'；　bein'　a　woman；　dey　won't　pull　no　gun　on
youse。　　An'　den　youse　breaks　it　gently　to　dem　dat　dere's　a　coupla
gents　outside；　an'　just　about　den　dey　looks　up　an'　sees　me　an'
Pinkie　an'　our　guns…an'　I　guess　dat's　all。　　Get　it？〃

〃Sure！〃　mumbled　Rhoda　Gray。

The　Pug　talked　on。　　She　did　not　hear　him。　　It　seemed　as　though　her
brain　ached　literally　with　an　acute　physical　pain。　　What　was　she
to　do？　　What　could　she　do？　　She　must　do　something！　　There　must
be　some　way　to　save　herself　from　being　drawn　into　the　very　center
of　this　vortex　toward　which　she　was　being　swept　closer　with　every
second　that　passed。　　Those　two　old　faces；　haggard　in　their　despair
and　misery；　rose　before　her　again。　　She　felt　her　heart　sink。　　She
had　counted；　only　a　few　moments　before；　on　getting　their　money
back　for　them　…　through　the　police。　　The　police！　　How　could　she
get　any　word　to　the　police　now；　without　first　getting　away　from
these　two　men　here？　　And　suppose　she　did　get　away；　and　found　some
means　of　communicating　with　the　authorities；　it　would　be　Pinkie
Bonn　here；　and　the　Pug；　who　would　fall　into　the　meshes　of　the　law
quite　as　much　as　would　French　Pete　and　Marny　Day；　and　to　have　Pinkie
and　the　Pug　apprehended　now；　just　as　they　seemed　to　be　opening　the
gateway　for　her　into　the　inner　secrets　of　the　gang；　meant　ruin　to
her　own　hopes　and　plans。　　And　to　refuse　to　go　on　with　them　now；　as
one　of　them；　would　certainly　excite　their　suspicions　…　and　suspicion
of　Gypsy　Nan　was　the　end　of　everything　for　her。

Her　hands；　under　her　shawl；　clenched　until　the　nails　bit　into　her
palms。　　　Couldn't　she　do　anything？　　And　there　was　the　money；　too；
for　those　two　old　people。　　Wasn't　there　any　…　　She　caught　her　breath。
Yes；　yes！　　Perhaps　there　was　a　way　to　save　the　money；　yes；　and　at
the　same　time　to　place　herself　on　a　firmer　footing　of　intimacy　with
these　two　men　here　…　if　she　went　on　with　this。　　But　…　　She　shook　her
head。　　She　could　not　afford　〃buts〃　now；　they　must　take　care　of
themselves　afterwards。　　She　would　play　Gypsy　Nan　now　without
reservation。　　These　two　men　here；　like　Shluker；　were　obviously
ignorant　that　Gypsy　Nan　was　Danglar's　wife；　so　she　was　…　Pinkie
Bonn's　hand　was　on　her　arm。　　She　had　stumbled。

〃Look　out　for　yourself！〃　he　cautioned　under　his　breath。　　〃Don't
make　a　sound！〃

They　had　drawn　into　a　very　dark　and　narrow　area　way　between　two
buildings；　and　now　Pinkie　kept　his　touch　upon　her　as　he　led　the　way
along。　　What　was　this　〃Charlie's〃？　　She　did　not　know；　except　that；
from　what　had　been　said；　it　was　a　drug　dive　of　some　kind；　patronized
extensively　by　the　denizens　of　the　underworld。　　She　did　not　know
where　she　was　now；　save　that　she　had　suddenly　left　one　of　the
out…of…theway　East　Side　streets。

Pinkie　halted　suddenly；　and；　bending　down；　lifted　up　what　was
evidently　a　half　section　of　the　folding　trapdoor　to　a　cellar
entrance。

〃There's　only　a　few　of　us　regulars　wise　to　this；〃　whispered　Pinkie。
〃Watch　yourself！　　There's　five　steps。　　Count　'em；　so's　you　won't
trip。　　Keep　hold　of　me　all　the　way。　　An'　nix　on　the　noise；　or　we
won't　get　away　with　it　inside。　　Leave　the　trap　open；　Pug；　for　our
getaway。　　We　ain't　goin'　to　be　long。　　Come　on！〃

It　was　horribly　dark。　　Rhoda　Gray；　with　her　hand　on　Pinkie　Bonn's
shoulder；　descended　the　five　steps。　　She　felt　the　Pug　keeping　touch
behind　by　holding　the　corner　of　her　shawl。　　They　went　forward　softly；
slowly；　stealthily。　　She　felt　her　knees　shake　a　little；　and　suddenly
panic　seized　her；　and　she　wanted　to　scream　out。　　What　was　she　doing？
Where　was　she　going？　　Was　she　mad；　that　she　had　ventured　into　this
trap　of　blackness？　　Blackness！　　It　was　hideously　black。　　She　looked
behind　her。　　She　could　not　see　the　Pug；　close　as　he　was　to　her；　and
dark　as　she　had　thought　it　outside　there　at　the　cellar　entrance；　it
appeared　by　contrast　to　have　been　light；　for　she　could　even
distinguish　now　the　opening　through　which　they　had　come。

They　were　in　a　cellar　that　was　damp　underfoot；　and　the　soft　earth
deadened　all　sound　as　they　walked　upon　it　…　and　they　seemed　to　be
walking　on　interminably。　　It　was　too　far　…　much　too　far！　　She　felt
her　nerve　failing　her。　　She　looked　behind　her　again。　　That　opening；
still　discernible　to　her　straining　eyes；　beckoned　her；　lured　her。
Better　to。。。

Pinkie　had　halted　again。　　She　bumped　into　him。　　And　then　she　felt
his　lips　press　against　her　ear。

〃Here　we　are！〃　he　breathed。　　〃They　got　the　end　room　on　the　right；
so's　they　could　get　in　an'　out　with　out　bein'　seen；　an　so's　even
Charlie'd　swear　they　was　here　all　the　time。　　You're　too　old　a　bird
to　fall　down；　Nan。　　If　the　door's　locked；　knock　…　an'　give　'em　any
old　kind　of　a　song　an'　dance　till　you　gets　'em　off　their　guard。
The　Pug　an'　me　'11　see　you　through。　　Go　it！〃

Before　Rhoda　Gray　could　reply；　Pinkie　had　stepped　suddenly　to　one
side。　　A　door　in　front　of　her；　a　sliding　door　it　seemed　to　be；
opened　noiselessly；　and　she　could　see　a　faintly　lighted；　narrow；
and　very　short　passage　ahead　of　her。　　It　appeared　to　make　a
right…angled　turn　just　a　few　yards　in；　and　what　light　there　was
seemed　to　filter　in　from　around　the　corner。　　And　on　each　side　of
the　passage；　before　it　made　the　turn；　there　was　a　door；　and　from
the　one　on　the　right；　through　a　cracked　panel；　a　tiny　thread　of
light　seeped　out。

Her　lips　moved　silently。　　After　all；　it　was　not　so　perilous。　　Nobody
would　be　hurt。　　Pinkie　and　the　Pug　would　cover　those　two　men　in
there　…　and　take　the　money　…　and　run　for　it　…　and。。。

The　Pug　gave　her　an　encouraging　push　from　behind。

She　moved　forward　mechanically。　　There　were　many　sounds　now；　but
they　came　muffled　and　indeterminate　from　around　that　corner　ahead
…　all　save　a　low　murmuring　of　voices　from　the　door　with　the　cracked
panel　on　the　right。

It　was　only　a　few　feet。　　She　found　herself　crouched　before　the　door
…　but　she　did　not　knock　upon　it。　　Instead；　her　blood　seemed　suddenly
to　run　cold　in　her　veins；　and　she　beckoned　frantically　to　her　two
companions。　　She　could　see　through　the　crack　in　the　panel。　　There
were　two　men　in　there；　French　Pete　and　Marny　Day　undoubtedly；　and
they　sat　on　opposite　sides　of　a　table；　and　a　lamp　burned　on　the
table；　and　one　of　the　men　was　counting　out　a　sheaf　of　crisp
yellow…back　banknotes　…　but　the　other；　while　apparently　engrossed
in　the　first　man's　occupation；　and　while　he　leaned　forward　in
apparent　eagerness；　was　edging　one　hand　stealthily　toward　the　lamp；
and　his　other　hand；　hidden　from　his　companion's　view　by　the　table；
was　just　drawing　a　revolver　from　his　pocket。　　There　was　no　mistaking
the　man's　murderous　intentions。　　A　dull　horror；　that　numbed　her
brain；　seized　upon　Rhoda　Gray；　the　low…type　brutal　faces　under　the
rays　of　the　lamp　seemed　to　assume　the　aspect　of　two　monstrous
gargoyles；　and　to　spin　around　and　around　before　her　vision；　and　then
…　it　could　only　have　been　but　the　fraction　of　a　second　since　she　had
begun　to　beckon　to　Pinkie　and　the　Pug　…　she　felt　herself　pulled
unceremoniously　away　from　the　door；　and　the　Pug　leaned　forward　in
her　place；　his　eyes　to　the　crack　in　the　panel。

She　heard　a　low；　quick…muttered　exclamation　from　the　Pug；　and　then
suddenly；　as　the　lamp　was　obviously　extinguished；　that　crack　of
light　in　the　panel　ha