the white moll-第35章

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but　the　most　distrait　attention　to　his　companion；　who　was　talking
to　him。

Rhoda　Gray　sank　quickly　into　a　vacant　chair。　　Three　men；　linked　arm
in　arm；　and　decidedly　more　than　a　little　drunk；　were　approaching
her。　　She　turned　her　head　away　to　avoid　attracting　their　attention。
It　was　too　free　and　easy　here　to…night；　and　she　began　to　regret　her
temerity　at　having　ventured　inside；　she　would　better；　perhaps；　have
waited　until　Danglar　came　out　…　only　there　were　two　exits；　and　she
might　have　missed　him　…　and。。。

A　cold　fear　upon　her；　she　shrank　back　in　her　chair。　　The　three　men
had　halted　at　the　table；　and　were　clustered　around　her。　　They　began
a　jocular　quarrel　amongst　themselves　as　to　who　should　dance　with　her。
Her　heart　was　pounding。　　She　stood　up；　and　pushed　them　away。

〃Oh；　no；　you　don't！〃　hiccoughed　one　of　the　three。　　〃Gotta　see　your
…　hic！　…　pretty　face；　anyhow！〃

She　put　up　her　hands　frantically　and　clutched　at　her　veil　…　but　just
an　instant　too　late　to　save　it　from　being　wrenched　aside。　　Wildly　her
eyes　flew　to　Danglar。　　His　attention　had　been　attracted　by　the　scene。
She　saw　him　rise　from　his　seat；　she　saw　his　eyes　widen　…　and　then；
stumbling　over　his　chair　in　his　haste；　he　made　toward　her。　　Danglar
had　recognized　the　White　Moll！

She　turned　and　ran。　　Fear；　horror；　desperation；　lent　her　strength。
It　was　not　like　this　that　she　had　counted　on　her　reckoning　with
Danglar！　　She　brushed　the　roisterers　aside；　and　darted　for　the　door。
Over　her　shoulder　she　glimpsed　Danglar　following　her。　　She　reached
the　door；　burst　through　a　knot　of　people　there；　and；　her　torn　veil
clutched　in　her　hand；　dashed　down　the　steps。　　She　could　only　run
…　run；　and　pray　that　in　some　way　she　might　escape。

And　then　a　mad　exultation　came　upon　her。　　She　saw　the　man　in　the
chauffeur's　seat　of　the　first　car　in　the　line　lean　out　and　swing
the　door　open。　　And　in　a　flash　she　grasped　the　situation。　　The　man
was　waiting　for　just　this　…　for　a　woman　to　come　running　for　her　life
down　the　steps　of　the　Silver　Sphinx。　　She　put　her　hand　up　to　her
face；　hiding　it　with　the　torn　veil；　raced　for　the　car；　and　flung
herself　into　the　tonneau。

The　door　slammed。　　The　car　leaped　from　the　curb。　　Danglar　was　coming
down　the　steps。　　She　heard　him　shout。　　The　chauffeur；　in　a　startled
way；　leaned　out；　as　he　evidently　recognized　Danglar's　voice　…　but　Rhoda
Gray　was　mistress　of　herself　now。　　The　tonneau　of　the　car　was　not
separated　from　the　driver's　seat；　and　bending　forward；　she　wrenched
her　revolver　from　her　pocket；　and　pressed　the　muzzle　of　her　weapon　to
the　back　of　the　man's　neck。

〃Don't　stop！〃　she　gasped；　struggling　for　her　breath。　　〃Go　on！
Quick！〃

The　man；　with　a　frightened　oath；　obeyed。　　The　car　gained　speed。　　A
glance　through　the　window　behind　showed　Danglar　climbing　into　the
other　car。

And　then　for　a　moment　Rhoda　Gray　sat　there　fighting　for　her
self…control；　with　the　certain　knowledge　in　her　soul　that　upon　her
wits；　and　her　wits　alone；　her　life　depended　now。　　She　studied　the
car's　mechanism　over　the　chauffeur's　shoulder；　even　as　she　continued
to　hold　her　revolver　pressed　steadily　against　the　back　of　the　man's
neck。　　She　could　drive　a　car　…　she　could　drive　this　one。　　The
presence　of　this　chauffeur；　one　of　the　gang；　was　an　added　menace；
there　were　too　many　tricks　he　might　play　before　she　could　forestall
them；　any　one　of　which　would　deliver　her　into　the　hands　of　Danglar
behind　there　…　　an　apparently　inadvertent　stoppage　due　to　traffic；
for　instance；　that　would　bring　the　pursuing　car　alongside　…　that；
or　a　dozen　other　things　which　would　achieve　the　same　end。

〃Open　the　door　on　your　side！〃　she　commanded　abruptly。　　〃And　get　out
…　without　slowing　the　car！　　Do　you　understand？〃

He　turned　his　head　for　a　half　incredulous；　half　frightened　look　at
her。　　She　met　his　eyes　steadily　…　the　torn　veil；　quite　discarded　now；
was　in　her　pocket。　　She　did　not　know　the　man；　but　it　was　quite
evident　from　the　almost　ludicrous　dismay　which　spread　over　his　face
that　he　knew　her。

〃The　…　the　White　Moll！〃　he　stammered。　　〃It's　the　White　Moll！〃

〃Jump！〃　she　ordered　imperatively　…　and　her　revolver　pressed　still
more　significantly　against　the　man's　flesh。

He　seemed　in　even　frantic　haste　to　obey　her。　　He　whipped　the　door
open；　and；　before　she　could　reach　to　the　wheel；　he　had　leaped　to
the　street。　　The　car　swerved　sharply。　　She　flung　herself　over　into
the　vacated　seat；　and　snatched　at　the　wheel　barely　in　time　to
prevent　the　machine　from　mounting　the　curb。

She　looked　around　again　through　the　window　of　the　hood。　　The　man
had　swung　aboard　Danglar's　car；　which　was　only　a　few　yards　behind。

Rhoda　Gray　drove　steadily。　　Here　in　the　city　streets　her　one　aim
must　be　never　to　let　the　other　car　come　abreast　of　her；　but　she
could　prevent　that　easily　enough　by　watching　Danglar's　movements；
and　cutting　across　in　front　of　him　if　he　attempted　anything　of　the
sort。　　But　ultimately　what　was　she　to　do？　　How　was　she　to　escape？
Her　hands　gripped　and　clenched　in　a　sudden；　almost　panic…like
desperation　at　the　wheel。　　Turn　suddenly　around　a　corner；　and　jump
from　the　car　herself？　　It　was　useless　to　attempt　it；　they　would
keep　too　close　behind　to　give　her　a　chance　to　get　out　of　sight。
Well；　then；　suppose　she　jumped　from　the　car；　and　trusted　herself　to
the　protection　of　the　people　on　the　street。　　She　shook　her　head　grimly。
Danglar；　she　knew　only　too　well；　would　risk　anything；　go　to　any
length；　to　put　an　end　to　the　White　Moll。　　He　would　not　hesitate　an
instant　to　shoot　her　down　as　she　jumped　　　and　he　would　be　fairly
safe　himself　in　doing　it。　　A　few　revolver　shots　from　a　car　that
speeded　away　in　the　darkness　offered　an　even　chance　of　escape。　　And
yet；　unless　she　forced　an　issue　such　as　that；　she　knew　that　Danglar
would　not　resort　to　firing　at　her　here　in　the　city。　　He　would　want
to　be　sure　that　was　the　only　chance　he　had　of　getting　her；　before
he　accepted　the　risk　that　he　would　run　of　being　caught　for　it　by
the　police。

She　found　herself　becoming　strangely；　almost　unnaturally；　cool　and
collected　now。　　The　one　danger；　greater　than　all　others；　that
menaced　her　was　a　traffic　block　that　would　cause　her　to　stop；　and
allow　those　in　the　other　car　behind　to　rush　in　upon　her　as　she　sat
here　at　the　wheel。　　And　sooner　or　later；　if　she　stayed　in　the　city；
a　block　such　as　that　was　inevitable。　　She　must　get　out　of　the　city；
then。　　It　was　only　to　invite　another　risk；　the　risk　that　Danglar
was　in　the　faster　car　of　the　two　　　but　there　was　no　other　way。

She　drove　more　quickly；　made　her　way　to　the　Bridge；　and　crossed　it。
The　car　behind　followed　with　immutable　persistence。　　It　made　no
effort　to　close　the　short　gap　between　them；　but；　neither；　on　the
other　hand；　did　it　permit　that　gap　to　widen。

They　passed　through　Brooklyn；　and　then；　reaching　the　outskirts；
Rhoda　Gray；　with　headlights　streaming　into　the　black；　with　an　open
Long　Island　road　before　her；　flung　her　throttle　wide；　and　the　car
leaped　like　a　thing　of　life　into　the　night。　　It　was　a　sudden　start；
it　gained　her　a　hundred　yards　but　that　was　all。

The　wind　tore　at　her　and　whipped　her　face；　the　car　rocked　and　reeled
as　in　some　mad　frenzy。　　There　was　not　much　traffic；　but　such　as
there　was　it　cleared　away　from　before　her　as　if　by　magic；　as；
seeking　shelter　from　the　wild　meteoric　thing　running　amuck；　the　few
vehicles；　motor　or　horse；　that　she　encountered　hugged；　the　edge　of
the　road；　and　the　wind　whisked　to　her　ears　fragments　of　shouts　and
execrations。　　Again　and　again　she　looked　back　　　two　fiery　balls　of
light　blazed　behind　her　always　those　same　two　fiery　balls。

She　neither　gained　nor　lost。　　Rigid；　like　steel；　her　little　figure
was　crouched　over　the　wheel。　　She　did　not　know　the　road。　　She　knew
nothing　save　that　she　was　racing　for　her　life。　　She　did　not　know
the　end；　she　could　not　see　the　end。　　Perhaps　there　would　be　some
merciful　piece　of　luck　for　her　that　would　win　her　through　　　a
break…down　to　that　roaring　thing；　with　its　eyes　that　were　balls　of
fire；　behind。

She　passed　through　a　town　with　lighted　streets　and　lighted　windows
　　or　was　it　only　imagination？　　It　was　gone　again；　anyhow；　and　there
was　just　black　road　ahead。　　Over　the　roar　of　the　car　and　the　sweep
of　the　wind；　then；　she　caught；　or　fancied　she　caught；　a　series
of　faint　reports。　　She　looked　behind　her。　　Yes；　they　were　firing
now。　　Little　flashes　leaped　out　above　and　at　the　sides　of　those
blazing　headlights。

How　long　was　it　since　she　had　left　the　Silver　Sphinx？　　Minutes　or
hours　would　not　measure　it；　would　they？　　But　it　could　not　last　much
longer！　She　was　growing　very　tired；　the　strain　upon　her　arms；　yes；
and　upon　her　eyes；　was　becoming　unbearable。　　She　swayed　a　little
in　her　seat；　and　the　car　swerved；　and　she　jerked　it　back　again　into
the　straight。　　She　began　to　laugh　a　little　hysterically　　　and　then；
suddenly；　she　straightened　up；　tense　and　alert　once　more。

That　swerve　was　the　germ　of　an　inspiration！　　It　took　root　swiftly
now。　　It　was　desperate　…　but　she　was　desperate。　　She　could　not　drive
much　more；　or　much　longer　like　this。　　Mind　and　body　were　almost
undone。　　And；　besides；　she　was　not　outdistancing　that　car　behind
there　by　a　foot；　and　sooner　or　later　they　would　hit　her　with　one　of
their　shots；　or；　perhaps　what　they　were　really　trying　to　do；
puncture　one　of　her　tires。

Again　she　glanced　over　her　shoulder。　　Yes；　Danglar　was　just　far
enough　behind　to　make　the　plan　possible。　　She　began　to　allow　the
car　to　swerve　noticeably　at　intervals；　as　though　she　were　weakening
and　the　car　was　getting　beyond　her　control　…　which　was；　indeed；
almost　too　literally　the　case。　　And　now　it　seemed　to　her　that　each
time　she　swerved　there　came　an　exultant　shout　from　the　car　behind。
Well；　she　asked　for　nothing　better；　that　was　what　she　was　trying　to
do；　wasn't　it？　…　inspire　them　with　the　belief　that　she　was　breaking
under　the　strain。

Her　eyes　searched　anxiously　down　the　luminous　pathway　made　by　her
high…powered　headlights。　　If　only　she　could　reach　a　piece　of　road
that　combined　two　things　…　an　embankment　of　some　sort；　and　a　curve
just　sharp　enough　to　throw　those　headlights　behind　off　at　a　tangent
for　an　instant　as　they　rounded　it；　too；　in　following　her。

A　minute；　two；　another　passed。　　And　then　Rhoda　Gray；　tight…lipped；
her　face　drawn　hard；　as　her　own　headlights　suddenly　edged　away　from
the　road　and　opened　what　looked　like　a　deep　ravine　on　her　left；
while　the　road　curved　to　the　right；　flung　a　frenzied　glance　back
of　her。　　It　was　her　chance　…　her　one　chance。　　Danglar　was　perhaps
a　little　more　than　a　hundred　yards　in　the　rear。　　Yes　…　now！　　His
headlights　were　streaming　out　on　her　left　as　he；　too；　touched　the
curve。　　The　right…hand　side　of　her　car；　the　right…hand　side　of　the
road　were　in　blackness。　　She　checked　violently；　almost　to　a　stop；
then　instantly　opened　the　throttle　wide　once　more；　wrenching　the
wheel　over　to　head　the　machine　for　the　ravine；　and　before　the　car
picked　up　its　momentum　again；　she　dropped　from　the　right…hand　side；
darted　to　the　far　edge　of　the　road；　and　flung　herself　flat　down
upon　the　ground。

The　great；　black　body　of　her　car　seemed　to　sail　out　into　nothingness
like　some　weird　aerial　monster；　the　headlights　streaming　uncannily
through　space　…　then　blackness　…　and