the white moll-第31章

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〃We've　uncovered　the　Nabob's　stuff！　　Do　you　get　me？　　Every　last　one
of　the　sparklers！〃

Rhoda　Gray's　eyes　went　back　to　the　deformed　creature　at　Danglar's
side；　as　the　man　laughed　out　abruptly。

〃Yes；〃　grinned　Matty　Danglar；　〃and　they　weren't　in　the　empty
money…belt　that　you　beat　it　with　like　a　scared　cat　after　croaking
Deemer！〃

How　queer　and　dim　the　light　seemed　to　go　suddenly　…　or　was　it　a　blur
before　her　own　eyes？　　She　said　nothing。　　Her　mind　seemed　to　be
groping　its　way　out　of　darkness　toward　some　faint　gleam　of　light
showing　in　the　far　distance。　　She　heard　Danglar　order　his　brother
savagely　to　hold　his　tongue。　　That　was　curious；　too；　because　she
was　grateful　for　the　man's　gibe。　　Gypsy　Nan；　in　her　proper　person；
had　murdered　a　man　named　Deemer　in　an　effort　to　secure　…　　Danglar's
voice　came　again：

〃Well；　to…night　we'll　get　that　stuff；　all　of　it　…　it's　worth　a　cool
half　million；　and　to…night　we'll　get　Mr。　House…Detective　Cloran　for
keeps　…　bump　him　off。　　That　cleans　everything　up。　　How　does　that
strike　you；　Bertha？〃

Rhoda　Gray's　hands　under　her　shawl　locked　tightly　together。　　Her
premonition　had　not　betrayed　her。　　She　was　face　to　face　to…night　with
the　beginning　of　the　end。

〃It　sounds　fine！〃　she　said　derisively。

Danglar's　eyes　narrowed　for　an　instant；　and　then　he　laughed。

〃You're　a　rare　one；　Bertha！〃　he　ejaculated　again。　　〃You　don't　seem
to　put　much　stock　in　your　husband　lately。〃

〃Why　should　I？〃　she　inquired　imperturbably。　　〃Things　have　been
breaking　fine；　haven't　they？　…　only　not　for　us！〃　　She　cleared　her
throat　as　though　it　were　an　effort　to　talk。　　〃I'm　not　going　crazy
with　joy　till　I've　been　shown。〃

Danglar　leaned　suddenly　over　the　table。

〃Well；　come　and　look　at　the　cards；　then；〃　he　said　impressively。
〃Pull　your　chair　up　to　the　table；　and　I'll　tell　you。〃

Rhoda　Gray　tilted　her　chair；　instead；　nonchalantly　back　against　the
wall　…　it　was　quite　light　enough　where　she　was！

〃I　can　hear　you　from　here；〃　she　said　coolly。　　〃I'm　not　deaf；　and　I
guess　Matty's　suite　is　safe　enough　so　that　you　won't　have　to　whisper
all　the　time！〃

The　deformed　creature　at　the　table　chortled　again。

Danglar　scowled。

〃Damn　you；　Bertha！〃　he　flung　out　savagely。　　〃I　could　wring　that　neck
of　yours　sometimes；　and　…〃

〃I　know　you　could；　Pierre；〃　she　interposed　sweetly。　　〃That's　what　I
like　about　you　…　you're　so　considerate　of　me！　　But　suppose　you　get
down　to　cases。　　What's　the　story　about　those　sparklers？　　And　what's
the　game　that's　going　to　let　me　shed　this　Gypsy　Nan　stuff　for　keeps？〃

〃I'll　tell　her；　Pierre；〃　grinned　the　deformed　one。　　〃It'll　keep　you
two　from　spitting　at　one　another；　and　neither　of　you　have　got　all
night　to　stick　around　here。〃　　He　swung　his　withered　hand　suddenly
across　the　table；　and　as　suddenly　all　facetiousness　was　gone　both
from　his　voice　and　manner。　　〃Say；　you　listen　hard；　Bertha！　　What
Pierre's　telling　you　is　straight。　　You　and　him　can　kiss　and　make
up　to…morrow　or　the　next　day；　or　whenever　you　damned　please；　but
to…night　there　ain't　any　more　time　for　scrapping。　　Now；　listen！
I　handed　you　a　rap　about　beating　it　with　the　empty　money…belt
the　night　you　croaked　Deemer　with　an　overdose　of　knockout　drops
in　the　private　dining…room　up　at　the　Hotel　Marwitz；　but　you　forget
that！　　I　ain't　for　starting　any　argument　about　that。　　None　of　us
blames　you。　　We　thought　the　stuff　was　in　the　belt；　too。　　And　none
of　us　blames　you　for　making　a　mistake　and　going　too　strong　with　the
drops；　either；　anybody　might　do　that。　　And　I'll　say　now　that　I　take
my　hat　off　to　you　for　the　way　you　locked　Cloran　into　the　room　with
the　dead　man；　and　made　your　escape　when　Cloran　had　you　dead　to
rights　for　the　murder；　and　I'll　say；　too；　that　the　way　you've　played
Gypsy　Nan　and　saved　your　skin；　and　ours　too；　is　as　slick　a　piece　of
work　as　has　ever　been　pulled　in　the　underworld。　　That　puts　us
straight；　you　and　me；　don't　it；　Bertha？〃

Rhoda　Gray　blinked　at　the　man　through　her　spectacles；　her　brain　was
whirling　in　a　mad　turmoil。　　〃I　always　liked　you；　Matty；〃　she
whispered　softly。

Danglar　was　lolling　back　in　his　chair；　blowing　smoke　rings　into　the
air。　　She　caught　his　eyes　fixed　quizzically　upon　her。

〃Go　on；　Matty！〃　he　prompted。　　〃You'll　have　her　in　a　good　humor；　if
you're　not　careful！〃

〃We　were　playing　more　or　less　blind　after　that。〃　　The　withered　hand
traced　an　aimless　pattern　on　the　table　with　its　crooked　and
half…closed　fingers；　and　the　man's　face　was　puckered　into　a　shrewd；
reminiscent　scowl。　　〃The　papers　couldn't　get　a　lead　on　the　motive
for　the　murder；　and　the　police　weren't　talking　for　publication。　　Not
a　word　about　the　Rajah's　jewels。　　Washington　saw　to　that！　　A　young
potentate's　son；　practically　the　guest　of　the　country；　touring　about
in　a　special　for　the　sake　of　his　education；　and　dashed　near　'ending
it　in　the　river　out　West　if　it　hadn't　been　for　the　rescue　you　know
about；　wouldn't　look　well　in　print；　so　there　wasn't　anything　said
about　the　slather　of　gems　that　was　the　reward　of　heroism　from　a
grateful　nabob；　and　we　didn't　get　any　help　that　way。　　All　we　knew
was　that　Deemer　came　East　with　the　jewels；　presumably　to　cash　in　on
them；　and　it　looked　as　though　Deemer　〃were　pretty　clever；　that　he
wore　the　money…belt　for　a　stall；　and　that　he　had　the　sparklers
safe　somewhere　else　all　the　time。　　And　I　guess　we　all　got　to
figuring　it　that　way；　because　the　fact　that　nothing　was　said　about
any　theft　was　strictly　along　the　lines　the　police　were　working
anyway；　and　a　was　a　toss…up　that　they　hadn't　found　the　stuff　among
his　effects。　　Get　me？〃

Get　him！　　This　wasn't　real；　was　it；　this　room　here；　those　two
figures　sitting　there　under　that　shaded　lamp？　　Something　cold；　an
icy　grip；　seemed　to　seize　at　her　heart；　as　in　a　surge　there　swept
upon　her　the　full　appreciation　of　her　peril　through　these　confidences
to　which　she　was　listening。　　A　word；　in　act；　some　slightest　thing；
might　so　easily　betray　her；　and　then　…　　Her　fingers　under　the　shawl
and　inside　the　wide　pocket　of　her　greasy　skirt；　clutched　at　her
revolver。　　Thank　God　for　that！　　It　would　at　least　be　merciful！　　She
nodded　her　head　mechanically。

〃But　the　police　didn't　find　the　jewels　…　because　they　weren't　there
to　be　found。　　Somebody　got　in　ahead　of　us。　　Pinched　'em；　understand；
may　be　only　a　few　hours　before　you　got　in　your　last　play；　and；　from
the　way　you　say　Deemer　acted；　before　he　was　wise　to　the　fact　that
he'd　been　robbed。〃

Rhoda　Gray　let　her　chair　come　sharply　down　to　the　floor。　　She　must
play　her　role　of　〃Bertha〃　now　as　she　never　had　before。　　Here　was　a
question　that　she　could　not　only　ask　with　safety；　but　one　that　was
obviously　expected。

〃Who　was　it？〃　she　demanded　breathlessly。

〃She's　coming　to　life！〃　murmured　Danglar；　through　a　haze　of　cigarette
smoke。　　〃I　thought　you'd　wake　up　after　a　while；　Bertha。　　This　is　the
big　night；　old　girl；　as　you'll　find　out　before　we're　through。〃

〃Who　was　it？〃　she　repeated　with　well…simulated　impatience。

〃I　guess　she'll　listen　to　me　now；〃　said　Danglar；　with　a　little
chuckle。　　〃Don't　over…tax　yourself　any　more；　Matty。　　I'll　tell　you；
Bertha；　and　it　will　perhaps　make　you　feel　better　to　know　it　took
the　slickest　dip　New　York　ever　knew　to　beat　you　to　the　tape。　　It　was
Angel　Jack；　alias　the　Gimp。〃

〃How　do　you　know？〃　Rhoda　Gray　demanded。

〃Because；〃　said　Danglar；　and　lighted　another　cigarette；　〃he　died
yesterday　afternoon　up　in　Sing　Sing。〃

She　could　afford　to　show　her　frank　bewilderment。　　Her　brows　knitted
into　furrows；　as　she　stared　at　Danglar。

〃You　…　you　mean　he　confessed？〃　she　said。

〃The　Angel？　　Never！〃　　Danglar　laughed　grimly；　and　shook　his　head。
〃Nothing　like　that！　　It　was　a　question　of　playing　one　'fence'　against
another。　　You　know　that　Witzer；　who's　handled　all　our　jewelry　for
us；　has　been　on　the　look…out　for　any　stones　that　might　have　come
from　that　collection。　　Well；　this　afternoon　he　passed　the　word　to　me
that　he'd　been　offered　the　finest　unset　emerald　he'd　ever　seen；　and
that　it　had　come　to　him　through　old　Jake　Luertz's　runner；　a　very
innocent…faced　young　man　who　is　known　to　the　trade　as　the　Crab。〃

Danglar　paused　…　and　laughed　again。　　Unconsciously　Rhoda　Gray　drew
her　shawl　a　little　closer　about　her　shoulders。　　It　seemed　to　bring
a　chill　into　the　room；　that　laugh。　　Once　before；　on　another　night；
Danglar　had　laughed；　and；　with　his　parted　lips；　she　had　likened　him
to　a　beast　showing　its　fangs。　　He　looked　it　now　more　than　ever。　　For
all　his　ease　of　voice　and　manner；　he　was　in　deadly　earnest；　and　if
there　was　merriment　in　his　laugh；　it　but　seemed　to　enhance　the
menace　and　the　promise　of　unholy　purpose　that　lurked　in　the　cold
glitter　of　his　small；　black　eyes。

〃It　didn't　take　long　to　get　hold　of　the　Crab〃　…　Danglar　was　rubbing
his　hands　together　softly　…　〃and　the　emerald　with　him。　　We　got　him
where　we　could　put　the　screws　on　without　arousing　the　neighborhood。〃

〃Another　murder；　I　suppose！〃　　Rhoda　Gray　flung　out　the　words　crossly。

〃Oh；　no；〃　said　Danglar　pleasantly。　　〃He　squealed　before　it　came　to
that。　　He's　none　the　worse　for　wear；　and　he'll　be　turned　loose　in
another　hour　or　so；　as　soon　as　we're　through　at　old　Jake　Luertz's。
He's　no　more　good　to　us。　　He　came　across　all　right　…　after　he　was
properly　frightened。　　He's　been　with　old　Jake　as　a　sort　of　familiar
for　the　last　six　years；　and　…〃

〃He'd　have　sold　his　soul　out；　he　was　so　scared！〃　　The　withered　hand
on　the　table　twitched；　the　deformed　creature's　face　was　twisted
into　a　grimace；　and　the　man　was　chuckling　with　unhallowed　mirth；　as
though　unable。　　to　contain　himself　at；　presumably；　the　recollection
of　a　scene　which　he　had　witnessed　himself。　　〃He　was　down　on　his
knees　and　clawing　out　with　his　hands　for　mercy；　and　he　squealed　like
a　rat。　　'It's　the　sixth　panel　in　the　bedroom　upstairs；'　he　says；
'it's　all　there。　　But　for　God's　sake　don't　tell　Jake　I　told。　　It's
the　sixth　panel。　　Press　the　knot　in　the　sixth　panel　that　…'〃　　He
stopped　abruptly。

Danglar　had　pulled　out　his　watch　and　with　exaggerated　patience　was
circling　the　crystal　with　his　thumb。

〃Are　you　all　through；　Matty？〃　he　inquired　monotonously。　　〃I　think
you　said　something　a　little　while　ago　about　wasting　time。　　Bertha's
looking　bored；　and；　besides；　she's　got　a　little　job　of　her　own　on
for　to…night。〃　　He　jerked　his　watch　back　into　his　pocket；　and　turned
to　Rhoda　Gray　again。　　〃The　only　one　who　knew　all　the　details　Angel
Jack；　and　he'll　never　tell　now　because　he's　dead。　　Whether　he　came
down　from　the　West　with　Deemer　or　not；　or　how　he　got　wise　to　the
stones；　I　don't　know。　　But　he　got　the　stones；　all　right。　　And　then
he　tumbled　to　the　fact　that　the　police　were　pushing　him　hard　for
another　job　he　was　'wanted'　for；　and　he　had　to　get　those　stones　out
of　sight　in　a　hurry。　　He　made　a　package　of　them　and　slipped　them　to
old　Luertz；　who　had　always　done　his　business　for　him；　to　keep　for
him；　and　before　he　could　duck；　the　bulls　had　him　for　that　other　job。
Angel　Jack　went　up　the　river。　　See？　　Old　Jake　didn't　know　what　was
in　that　package；　but　he　knew　better　than　to　monkey　with　it；　because
he　always　thought　something　of　his　own　skin。　　He　knew　Angel　Jack；
and　he　knew　what　would　happen　if　he　didn't　have　that　package　ready
to　hand　back　the　day　Angel　Jack　got　out　of　Sing　Sing。　　Under