the white moll-第38章

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defensive　now。　　〃You　needn't　tell　me　I　She　got　away　again；　of　course！
Why　don't　you　hire　a　detective　to　help　you？　　You　make　me　weary！　　So；
it　was　the　White　Moll；　was　it？　　Well；　I'm　listening　…　only　I'd　like
to　know　first　how　you　got　here　to　this　shed。〃

〃There's　nothing　in　that！〃　he　answered　impatiently。　　〃There's
something　more　important　to　talk　about。　　I　was　coming　over　to　the
garret；　and　just　as　I　reached　the　corner　I　saw　you　go　into　the　lane。
I　followed　you；　that's　all　there　is　to　that。〃

〃Oh！〃　she　sniffed。　　She　stared　at　him　for　a　moment。　　There　was
something　in　which　there　was　the　uttermost　of　irony　now；　it　seemed；
in　this　meeting　between　them。　　Last　night　she　had　striven　to　meet　him
alone；　and　she　had　meant　to　devote　to…night　to　the　same　purpose；　and
she　was　here　with　him　now；　and　in　a　place　than　which；　in　her　wildest
hopes；　she　could　have　imagined　one　no　better　suited　to　the　reckoning
she　would　have　demanded　and　forced。　　And　she　was　helpless；　powerless
to　make　use　of　it。　　She　was　unarmed。　　Her　revolver　was　gone。　　Without
that　to　protect　her；　at　an　intimation　that　she　was　the　White　Moll　she
would　never　leave　the　shed　alive。　　The　spot　would　be　quite　as　ideal
under　those　circumstances　for　him；　as　it　would　have　been　under　other
circumstances　for　her。　　She　shrugged　her　shoulders。　　Danglar's
continued　silence　evidently　invited　further　comment　on　her　part。　　〃Oh！〃
she　sniffed　again。　　〃And　I　suppose；　then；　that　you　have　been　chasing
the　White　Moll　ever　since　last　night　at　eleven；　and　that's　why　you
didn't　get　around　sooner　to　allay　my　fears；　even　though　you　knew　I
must　be　half　mad　with　anxiety　at　the　way　things　broke　last　night。
She'll　have　us　down　and　out　for　keeps　if　you　haven't　got　brains　enough
to　beat　her。　　How　much　longer　is　this　thing　going　on？〃

Danglar's　little　black　eyes　narrowed。　　She　caught　a　sudden　glint　of
triumph　in　them。　　It　was　Danglar　now　who　laughed。

〃Not　much　longer！〃　　His　voice　was　arrogant　with　malicious
satisfaction。　　〃The　luck　had　to　turn；　hadn't　it？　　Well；　it's　turned！
I've　got　the　White　Moll　at　last！〃

She　felt　the　color　leave　her　face。　　It　seemed　as　though　something
had　closed　with　an　icy　clutch　upon　her　heart。　　She　had　heard　aright；
hadn't　she？　…　that　he　had　said　he　had　got　the　White　Moll　at　last。
And　there　was　no　mistaking　the　mans　s　sinister　delight　in　making
that　announcement。　　Had　she　been　premature；　terribly　premature；　in
assuring　herself　that　her　identity　was　still　safe　as　far　as　he　was
concerned？　　Did　it　mean　that；　after　all；　he　had　been　playing　at
cat…and…mouse　with　her；　as　she　had　at　first　feared？

〃You　…　you've　got　the　White　Moll？〃　She　forced　the　words　from　her
lips；　striving　to　keep　her　voice　steady　and　in　control；　and　to
infuse　into　it　an　ironical　incredulity。

〃Sure！〃　he　said　complacently。　　〃The　showdown　comes　to…night。　　In
another　hour　or　so　we'll　have　her　where　we　want　her；　and　…〃

〃Oh！〃　　She　laughed　almost　hysterically　in　relief。　　〃I　thought　so！
You　haven't　got　her　yet。　　You're　only　going　to　get　her　…　in　another
hour　or　so！　　You　make　me　tired！　　It's　always　in　'another　hour　or　so'
with　you　…　and　it　never　comes　off！〃

Danglar　scowled　at　her　under　the　taunt。

〃It'll　come　off　this　time！〃　he　snarled　in　savage　menace。　　〃You　hold
that　tongue　of　yours！　　Yes；　it'll　come　off！　　And　when　it　does〃　…　a
sweep　of　fury　sent　the　red　into　his　working　face　…　〃I'll　keep　the
promise　I　made　her　once　…　that　she'd　wish　she　had　never　been　born！
D'ye　hear；　Bertha？〃

〃I　hear；〃　she　said　indifferently。　　〃But　would　you　mind　telling　me
how　you　are　going　to　do　it？　　I　might　believe　you　then　…　perhaps！〃

〃Damn　you；　Bertha！〃　he　exploded。　　〃Sometimes　I'd　like　to　wring　that
pretty　neck　of　yours；　and　sometimes！〃　…　he　moved　suddenly　toward　her
…　〃I　would　sell　my　soul　for　you；　and　…〃

She　retreated　from　him　coolly。

〃Never　mind　about　that！　　This　isn't　a　love　scene！〃　she　purred
caustically。　　〃And　as　for　the　other；　save　it　for　the　White　Moll。
What　makes　you　think　you've　got　her　at　last？〃

〃I　don't　think　…　I　know。〃　　He　stood　gnawing　at　his　lips；　eying　her
uncertainly；　half　angrily；　half　hungrily。　　And　then　he　shrugged　his
shoulders。　　〃Listen！〃　he　said。　　〃I've　got　some　one　else；　too！　　And
I　know　now　where　the　leak　that's　queered　every　one　of　our　games　and
put　the　White　Moll　wise　to　every　one　of　our　plans　beforehand　has
come　from。　　I　guess　you'll　believe　me　now；　won't　you？　　We've　got　that
dude　pal　of　hers　fastened　up　tighter　than　the　night　he　fastened　me
with　his　cursed　handcuffs！　　Do　you　know　who　that　same　dude　pal　is？〃
He　laughed　in　an　ugly；　immoderate　way。　　〃You　don't；　of　course；　so
I'll　tell　you。　　It's　the　Pug！〃　　Rhoda　Gray　did　not　answer。　　It　was
growing　dark　here　in　the　shed　now　…　perhaps　that　was　why　the　man's
form　blended　suddenly　into　the　doorway　and　wall；　and　blurred　before
her。　　She　tried　to　think；　but　there　seemed　to　have　fallen　upon　her
a　numbed　and　agonized　stupefaction。　　There　was　no　confusing　this
issue。　　Danglar　had　found　out　that　the　Adventurer　was　the　Pug。　　And
it　meant　…　oh；　what　did　it　mean？　　They　would　kill　him。　　Of　course；
they　would　kill　him！　　The　Adventurer；　discovered；　would　be　safer　at
the　mercy　of　a　pack　of　starved　pumas；　and。。。

〃I　thought　that　would　hold　you！〃　said　Danglar　with　brutal　serenity。
〃That's　why　I　didn't　get　around　till　now。　　I　didn't　get　back　from
that　chase　until　daylight　…　the　she…fiend　stole　our　car　…　and　then
I　went　to　bed　to　get　a　little　sleep。　　About　three　o'clock　this
afternoon　Pinkie　Bonn　woke　me　up。　　He　was　half　batty　with　excitement。
He　said　he　was　over　in　the　tenement　in　the　Pug's　room。　　The　Pug
wasn't　in；　and　Pinkie　was　waiting　for　him；　and　then　all　of　a　sudden
he　heard　a　woman　screaming　like　mad　from　somewhere。　　He　went　to　the
door　and　looked　out；　and　saw　a　man　dash　out　of　a　room　across　the
hall；　and　burst　in　the　door　of　the　next　room。　　There　was　a　woman　in
there　with　her　clothes　on　fire。　　She'd　upset　a　coal…oil　stove；　or
something。　　The　man　Pinkie　had　seen　beats　the　fire　out；　and
everybody　in　the　tenement　begins　to　collect　around　the　door。　　And
then　Pinkie　goes　pop…eyed。　　The　man's　face　was　the　face　of　the　White
Moll's　dude　pal　…　but　he　had　on　the　Pug's　clothes。　　Pinkie's　a　wise
guy。　　He　slips　away　to　me　without　getting　himself　in　the　limelight
or　spilling　any　beans。　　And　I　didn't　ask　him　if　he'd　been　punching
the　needle　again　overtime；　either。　　It　fitted　like　a　glove　with　what
happened　at　old　Luertz's　last　night。　　You　don't　know　about　that。
Pinkie　and　this　double…crossing　snitch　went　there　…　and　only　found
a　note　from　the　White　Moll。　　He'd　tipped　her　off　before；　of　course；
and　the　note　made　a　nice　little　play　so's　he'd　be　safe　himself　with
us。　　Well；　that's　about　all。　　We　had　to　get　him　…　where　we　wanted
him　…　and　we　got　him。　　We　waited　until　he　showed　up　again　as　the
Pug；　and　then　we　put　over　a　frame…up　deal　on　him　that　got　him　to　go
over　to　that　old　iron　plant　in　Harlem；　you　know；　behind　Jake　Malley's
saloon；　where　we　had　it　fixed　to　hand　Cloran　his　last　night　…　and　the
Pug's　there　now。　　He's　nicely　gagged；　and　tied；　and　quite　safe。　　The
plant's　been　shut　down　for　the　last　two　months；　and　there's　only　the
watchman　there；　and　he's　'squared。'　　We　gave　the　Pug　two　hours　of
solitary　confinement　to　think　it　over　and　come　across。　　We　just　asked
him　for　the　White　Moll's　address；　so's　we　could　get　her　and　the
sparklers　she　swiped　at　Old　Luertz's　place　last　night。〃

Still　Rhoda　Gray　did　not　speak　for　a　moment。　　She　seemed　to　be　held
in　thrall　by　both　terror　and　a　sickening　dismay。　　It　did　not　seem
real；　her　surroundings　here；　this　man；　and　the　voice　that　was
gloatingly　pronouncing　the　death　sentence　upon　the　man　who　had
come　unbidden　into　her　life；　and　into　her　heart；　the　man　she　loved。
Yes；　she　understood！　　Danglar's　words　had　been　plain　enough。　　The
Adventurer　had　been　trapped　…　not　through　Danglar's　cunning；　or
lack　of　cunning　on　the　Adventurer's　own　part；　but　through　force　of
circumstances　that　had　caused　him　to　fling　all　thought　of
self…consideration　to　the　winds　in　an　effort　to　save　another's　life。
Her　hands；　hidden　in　the　folds　of　her　skirt；　clenched　until　they
hurt。　　And　it　was　another　self；　it　seemed；　subconsciously　enacting
the　role　of　Gypsy　Nan；　alias　Danglar's　wife；　who　spoke　at　last。

〃You　are　a　fool！　　You　are　all　fools！〃　she　cried　tempestuously。
〃What　do　you　expect　to　gain　by　that？　　Do　you　imagine　you　can　make
the　Pug　come　across　with　any　information　by　a　threat　to　kill　him
if　he　doesn't？　　You　tried　that　once。　　You　had　him　cold；　or　at　least
you　thought　you　had；　and　so　did　he；　that　night　in　old　Nicky　Viner's
room；　and　he　laughed　at　you　even　when　he　expected　you　to　fire　the
next　second。　　He's　not　likely　to　have　changed　any　since　then；　is　he？〃

〃No；〃　said　Danglar；　with　a　vicious　chuckle；　〃and　that's　why　I'm　not
trying　the　same　game　twice。　　That's　why　we've　got　him　over　in　the
old　iron　plant　now。〃

There　was　something　she　did　not　like　in　Danglar's　voice；　something
of　ominous　assurance；　something　that　startled　her。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　she　demanded　sharply。

〃It's　a　lonely　place；〃　said　Danglar　complacently。　　〃There's　no　one
around　but　the　watchman；　and　he's　an　old　friend　of　Shluker's；　and
it's　so　roomy　over　there　that　no　one　could　expect　him　to　be
everywhere　at　once。　　See？　　That　let's　him　out。　　He's　been　well
greased；　and　he　won't　know　anything。　　Don't　you　worry；　old　girl！
That's　what　I　came　here　for　…　to　tell　you　that　everything　is　all
right；　after　all。　　The　Pug　will　talk。　　Maybe　he　wouldn't　if　he　just
had　his　choice　between　that　and　the　quick；　painless　end　that　a
bullet　would　bring；　but　there　are　some　things　that　a　man　can't
stand。　　Get　me？　　We'll　try　a　few　of　those　on　the　Pug；　and；　believe
me；　before　we're　through；　there　won't　be　any　secrets　wrapped　up　in
his　bosom。〃

Rhoda　Gray　stood　motionless。　　Thank　God　it　had　grown　dark　…　dark
enough　to　hide　the　whiteness　that　she　knew　had　crept　over　her　face；
and　the　horror　that　had　crept　into　her　eyes。　　〃You　mean〃　…　her　voice
was　very　low　…　〃you　mean　you're　going　to　torture　him　into　talking？〃

〃Sure！〃　said　Danglar。　　〃What　do　you　think！〃

〃And　after　that？〃

〃We　bump　him　off；　of　course；〃　said　Danglar　callously。　　〃He　knows
all　about　us；　don't　he？　　And　I　guess　we'll　square　up　on　what's
coming　to　him！　　He's　put　the　crimp　into　us　for　the　last　time！〃
Danglar's　voice　pitched　suddenly　hoarse　in　fury。　　〃That's　a　hell
of　a　question　to　ask！　　What　do　you　think　we'd　do　with　a　yellow
cur　that's　double…crossed　us　like　that？〃

Plead　for　the　Adventurer's　life？　　It　was　useless；　it　was　worse　than
useless　…　it　would　only　arouse　suspicion　toward　herself。　　From　the
standpoint　of　any　one　of　the　gang；　the　Adventurer's　life　was　forfeit。
Her　mind　was　swift；　cruelly　swift；　in　its　workings　now。　　There　came
the　prompting　to　disclose　her　own　identity　to　tell　Danglar　that　he
need　not　go　to　the　Adventurer　to　discover　the　whereabouts　of　the
White　Moll；　that　she　was　here　now　before　him；　there　came　the
prompting　to　offer　herself　in　lieu　of　the　man　she　loved。　　But　that；
too；　was　useless；　and　worse　than　useless；　they　would　still　do　away
with　the　Adventurer　because　he　had　been　the　Pug；　and　the　only　chance
he　now　had；　as　represented　by　whatever　she　might　be　able　to　do；
would　be　gone；　sin