the white moll-第33章

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the　protecting　shadows　of　the　doorway。　　The　light　had　gone　out。

A　moment　more　passed。　　The　street　door　of　the　house　opposite　to　her
…　a　door　separate　from　that　of　the　secondhand　store…opened；　and　a
bent；　gray…bearded　man；　stepped　out；　peered　around；　locked　the　door
behind　him；　and　scuffled　down　the　street。

Rhoda　Gray　scanned　the　dingy　and　ill…lighted　little　street。　　It　was
virtually　deserted。　　She　crossed　the　road；　and　stepped　into　the
doorway　from　which　the　old　〃fence〃　had　just　emerged。　　It　was　dark
here；　well　out　of　the　direct　radius　of　the　nearest　street　lamp；
and；　with　luck；　there　was　no　reason　why　she　should　be　observed　…　if
she　did　not　take　too　long　in　opening　the　door！　　She　had　never
actually　used　a　skeleton　key　in　her　life　before；　and。。。

She　inserted　one　of　her　collection　of　keys　in　the　lock。　　It　would
not　work。　　She　tried　another；　and　still　another…with　mounting
anxiety　and　perplexity。　　Suppose　that　…　yes！　　The　door　was　open　now！
With　a　quick　glance　over　her　shoulder；　scanning　the　street　in　both
directions　to　make　sure　that　she　was　not　observed；　she　stepped
inside；　closed　the　door；　and　locked　it　again。

Her　flashlight　stabbed　through　the　darkness。　　Narrow　stairs
immediately　in　front　of　her　led　upward；　at　her　right　was　a
connecting　door　to　the　secondhand　shop。　　Without　an　instant's
hesitation　she　ran　up　the　stairs。　　There　was　no　need　to　observe
caution　since　the　place　was　temporarily　untenanted；　there　was　need
only　of　haste。　　She　opened　the　door　at　the　head　of　the　stairs；　and；
with　a　quick；　eager　nod　of　satisfaction；　as　the　flashlight　swept
the　interior；　stepped　over　the　threshold。　　It　was　the　room　she
sought　…　old　Luertz's　bedroom。

And　now　the　flashlight　played　inquisitively　about　her。　　The　bed
occupied　a　position　by　the　window；　across　one　corner　of　the　room
was　a　cretonne　hanging；　that　evidently　did　service　as　a　wardrobe；
across　another　corner　was　a　large　and　dilapidated　washstand；　there
were　a　few　chairs；　and　a　threadbare　carpet；　and；　opposite　the　bed；
another　door；　closed；　which　obviously　led　into　the　front　room。

Rhoda　Gray　stepped　to　this　door；　opened　it；　and　peered　in。　　She
was　not　concerned　that　it　was　evidently　used　for　kitchen；
dining…room　and　the　stowage　of　everything　that　overflowed　from　the
bedroom；　she　was　concerned　only　with　the　fact　that　it　offered　no
avenue　through　which　any　added　risk　or　danger　might　reach　her。　　She
closed　the　door　as　she　had　found　it；　and　gave　her　attention　now　to
the　walls　of　old　Luertz's　bedroom。

She　smiled　a　little　whimsically。　　The　Crab　had　used　a　somewhat
dignified　term　when　he　had　referred　to　〃panels。〃　True；　the；　walls
were　of　stained　wood；　but　the　wood　was　of　the　cheapest　variety　of
matched　boards；　and　the　stain　was　of　but　a　single　coat；　and　a　very
meager　one　at　that！　　The　smile　faded。　　There　were　a　good　many　knots；
and　there　were　four　corners　to　the　room；　and　therefore　eight　boards；
each　one　of　which　would　answer　to　the　description　of　being　the
〃sixth　panel。〃

She　went　to　the　corner　nearest　her；　and　dropped　down　on　her　knees。
As　well　start　with　this　one！　　She　had　not　dared　press　Danglar；　or
Danglar's　deformed　brother；　for　more　definite　directions；　had　she？
She　counted　the　boards　quickly　from　the　corner　to　her　right；　and
then；　the　flashlight　playing　steadily；　she　began　to　press　first　one
knot　after　another；　in　the　board　before　her；　working　from　the　bottom
up。　　There　were　many　knots；　she　went　over　each　one　with　infinite
care。　　There　was　no　result。

She　turned　then　to　the　sixth　board　from　the　corner　to　her　left。　　The
result　was　the　same。　　She　stood　up；　her　brows　puckered；　a　sense　of
anxious　impatience　creeping　upon　her。　　She　had　been　quite　a　while
over　even　these　two　boards；　and　it　might　be　any　one　of　the　remaining
six！

Her　eyes　traversed　the　room；　following　the　ray　of　the　flashlight。
If　she　only　knew　which　one；　it　would　…　　Was　it　an　inspiration？　　Her
eyes　had　fixed　on　the　cretonne　hanging　across　one　of　the　far　corners
from　the　door；　and　she　moved　toward　it　now　quickly。　　The　hanging
might　very　well　serve　for　an　other　purpose　than　that　of　merely　a
wardrobe！　　It　seemed　suddenly　to　be　the　most　likely　of　the　four
corners　because　it　was　ingeniously　concealed。

She　parted　the　hanging。　　A　heterogeneous　collection　of　clothing
hung　from　pegs　and　nails。　　Eagerly；　hastily　now；　she　brushed　these
aside；　and；　close　to　the　wall；　dropped　down　on　her　knees　again。　　The
minutes　passed。　　Twice　she　went　over　the　sixth　board　from　the
corner　to　her　right。　　She　felt　so　sure　now　that　it　was　this　corner。
And　then；　still　eagerly；　she　turned　to　the　corresponding　board　at
her　left。

It　was　warm　and　close　here。　　The　clothing　hanging　from　the　pegs
and　nails　enveloped　her；　and；　with　the　cretonne　hanging　itself；
shut　out　the　air；　what　little　of　it　there　was；　that　circulated
through　the　room。

Over　the　board；　from　the　tiniest　knot　to　the　largest；　her　fingers
pressed　carefully。　　Had　she　missed　one　anywhere？　　She　must　have
missed　one！　　She　was　sure　the　panel　in　question　was　here　behind　this
hanging。　　Well；　she　would　try　again；　and。。。

What　was　that？

In　an　instant　the　flashlight　in　her　hand　was　out；　and　she　was
listening　tensely。　　Yes；　there　was　a　footstep　…　two　of　them　…　not
only　on　the　stairs；　but　already　just　outside　the　door。　　It　seemed
as　though　a　deadly　fear；　cold　and　numbing；　settled　upon　her　and
robbed　her　of　even　the　power　of　movement。　　She　was　caught！　　If　it
was　Pinkie　Bonn　and　the　Pug；　and　if　this　corner　hid　the　secret
panel　as　she　still　believed　it　did；　this　was　the　first　place　to
which　they　would　come；　and　they　would　find　her　here　amongst　the
clothing　…　which　had　evidently　been　the　cause　of　deadening　any
sound　on　those　stairs　out　there　until　it　was　too　late。

She　held　her　breath；　her　hands　tight　upon　her　bosom。　　There　was
no　time　to　reach　the　sanctuary　of　the　other　room　…　the　footsteps
were　already　crossing　the　threshold　from　the　head　of　the　stairs。
And　then　a　voice　reached　her　…　the　Pug's。　　It　was　the　Pug　and
Pinkie　Bonn。

〃Strike　a　light；　Pinkie！　　Dere's　no　use　messin'　around　wid　a
flash。　　De　old　geezer'11　be　back　on　de　hop　de　minute　he　finds　out
he's　been　bunked；　an'　de　quicker　we　work　de　better。〃

A　match　crackled　into　flame。　　An　air…choked　gas　jet；　with　a
protesting　hiss；　was　lighted。　　And　then　Rhoda　Gray's　drawn　face
relaxed　a　little；　and　a　strange；　mirthless　smile　came　hovering　over
her　lips。　　What　was　she　afraid　of？　　The　Pug　was　the　Adventurer；
wasn't　he？　　This　was　one　of　the　occasions　when　he　could　not　escape
the　entanglements　of　the　gang；　and　must　work　for　the　gang　instead
of　appropriating　all　the　loot　for　his　own　personal　and　nefarious
ends；　but　he　was　the　Adventurer。　　The　White　Moll　need　not　fear　him；
even　though　he　appeared；　linked　with　Pinkie　Bonn；　in　the　role　of
the　Pug！　　So　there　was　only　Pinkie　Bonn　to　fear。

Rhoda　Gray　took　her　revolver　from　her　pocket。　　She　was　well　armed
…　and　in　more　than　a　material　sense。　　The　Adventurer　did　not　know
that　she　was　aware　of　the　Pug's　identity。　　Her　smile；　still
mirthless；　deepened。　　She　might　even　turn　the　tables　upon　them；　and
still　secure　the　stolen　stones。　　She　had　turned　the　tables　upon
Pinkie　Bonn　last　night；　to…night；　if　she　used　her　wits；　she　could
do　it　again！

And　then；　suddenly；　she　stifled　an　exclamation；　as　the　Pug's　voice
reached　her　again：

〃Wot　are　youse　gapin'　about？　　Dere　ain't　anything　else　worth　pinchin'
around　here　except　wot's　in　de　old　gent's　safety　vault。　　Get　a　move
on！　　We　ain't　got　all　night！　　It's　de　corner　behind　de　washstand。
Give　us　a　hand　to　move　de　furniture！〃

It　wasn't　here　behind　the　cretonne　hanging！　　Rhoda　Gray　bit　her　lips
in　a　crestfallen　little　way。　　Well；　her　supposition　had　been　natural
enough；　hadn't　it？　　And　she　would　have　tried　every　corner　before　she
was　through　if　she　had　had　the　opportunity。

She　moved　now　slightly；　without　a　sound；　parting　the　clothing　away
from　in　front　of　her；　and　moving　the　cretonne　hanging　by　the　fraction
of　an　inch　where　it　touched　the　side　wall　of　the　room。　　And　now　she
could　see　the　Pug；　with　his　dirty　and　discolored　celluloid　eye…patch；
and　his　ingeniously　contorted　face；　and　she　could　see　Pinkie　Bonn's
pasty…white；　drug…stamped　countenance

It　was　not　a　large　room。　　The　two　men　in　the　opposite　corner　along
the　wall　from　her　were　scarcely　more　than　ten　feet　away。　　They　swung
the　washstand　out　from　the　wall；　and　the　Pug；　going　in　behind　it；
began　to　work　on　one　of　the　wall　boards。　　Pinkie　Bonn；　an　unlighted
cigarette　dangling　from　his　lip；　leaned　over　the　washstand　watching
his　companion。

A　minute　passed　…　another。　　It　was　still　in　the　room；　except　only
for　the　distant　sounds　of　the　world　outside　…　a　clatter　of　wheels
upon　the　pavement；　the　muffled　roar　of　the　elevated；　the　clang　of　a
trolley　bell。　　And　then　the　Pug　began　to　mutter　to　himself。　　Rhoda
Gray　smiled　a　little　grimly。　　She　was　not　the　only　one；　it　would
appear；　who　experienced　difficulty　with　old　Jake　Luertz's　crafty
hiding　place！

〃Say；　dis　is　de　limit！〃　the　Pug　growled　out　suddenly。　　〃Dere's　more
damned　knots　in　dis　board　dan　I　ever　save　in　any　piece　of　wood　in　me
life　before；　an'　…〃　　He　drew　back　abruptly　from　the　wall；　twisting
his　head　sharply　around。　　〃D'ye　hear　dat；　Pinkie！〃　he　whispered
tensely。　　〃Quick！　　Put　out　de　light！　　Quick！　　Dere's　some　one　down
at　de　front　door！〃

Rhoda　Gray　felt　the　blood　ebb　from　her　face。　　She　had　heard　nothing
save　the　rattle　and　bump　of　a　wagon　along　the　street　below；　but　she
had　had　reason　to　appreciate　on　a　certain　occasion　before　that　the
Pug；　alias　the　Adventurer；　was　possessed　of　a　sense　of　hearing　that
was　abnormally　acute。　　If　it　was　some　one　else　…　who　was　it？　　What
would　it　mean　to　her？　　What　complication　here　in　this　room　would
result？　　What。。。

The　light　was　out。　　Pinkie　Bonn　had　stepped　silently　across　the
room　to　the　gas　jet　near　the　door。　　Her　eyes；　strained；　she　could
just　make　out　the　Adventurer's　form　kneeling　by　the　wall；　and　then
…　was　she　mad！　　Was　the　faint　night…light　of　the　city　filtering　in
through　the　window　mocking　her？　　The　Adventurer；　hidden　from　his
companion　by　the　washstand；　was　working　swiftly　and　without　a
sound　…　or　else　it　was　a　phantasm　of　shadows　that　tricked　her！
A　door　in　the　wall　opened；　the　Adventurer　thrust　in　his　hand；　drew
out　a　package；　and；　leaning　around；　slipped　it　quickly　into　the
bottom　of　the　washstand；　where；　with　its　little　doors；　there　was
a　most　convenient　and　very　commodious　apartment。　　He　turned　again
then；　seemed　to　take　something　from　his　pocket　and　place　it　in　the
opening　in　the　wall；　and　then　the　panel　closed。

It　had　taken　scarcely　more　than　a　second。

Rhoda　Gray　brushed　her　hand　across　her　eyes。　　No；　it　wasn't　a
phantasm！　　She　had　misjudged　the　Adventurer　…　quite　misjudged　him！
The　Adventurer；　even　with　one　of　the　gang　present　…　to　furnish　an
unimpeachable　alibi　for　him！　…　was　plucking　the　gang's　fruit　again
for　his　own　and　undivided　enrichment！

Pinkie　Bonn's　voice　came　in　a　guarded　whisper　from　the　doorway。

〃I　don't　hear　nothin'！〃　said　Pinkie　Bonn　anxiously。

The　Pug　tiptoed　across　the　room；　and　joined　his　companion。　　She
could　not　see　them　now；　but　apparently　they　stood　together　by　the
door　listening。　　They　stood