the white moll-第40章

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district！

And　now　she　became　aware　that　she　was　close　to　the　river；　for　the
sound　of　a　passing　craft　caught　her　attention。　　Of　course！　　She
understood　now。　　The　iron　plant；　for　shipping　facilities；　was
undoubtedly　on　the　bank　of　the　river　itself；　and　…　yes；　this　was
it；　wasn't　it？　…　this　picket　fence　that　began　to　parallel　the
right…hand　side　of　the　street；　and　enclose；　seemingly；　a　very　large
area。　　She　halted　and　stared　at　it　…　and　suddenly　her　heart　sank
with　a　miserable　sense　of　impotence　and　dismay。　　Yes；　this　was　the
place　beyond　question。　　Through　the　picket　fence　she　could　make
out　the　looming　shadows　of　many　buildings；　and　spidery　iron
structures　that　seemed　to　cobweb　the　darkness；　and　…　and　…　　Her
face　mirrored　her　misery。　　She　had　thought　of　a　single　building。
Where；　inside　there；　amongst　all　those　rambling　structures；　with
little　time；　perhaps　none　at　all；　to　search；　was　she　to　find　the
Adventurer？

She　did　not　try　to　answer　her　own　question　…　she　was　afraid　that
her　dismay　would　get　the　better　of　her　if　she　hesitated　for　an
instant。　　She　crossed　the　street；　choosing　a　spot　between　two　of
the　arc　lamps　where　the　shadows　were　blackest。　　It　was　a　high　fence；
but　not　too　high　to　climb。　　She　reached　up；　preparatory　to　pulling
herself　to　the　top　…　and　drew　back　with　a　stifled　cry。　　She　was　too
late；　then　…　already　too　late！　　They　were　here　ahead　of　her　…　and
on　guard　after　all！　　A　man's　form；　appearing　suddenly　out　of　the
darkness　but　a　few　feet　away；　was　making　quickly　toward　her。　　She
wrenched　her　automatic　from　her　pocket。　　The　touch　of　the　weapon
in　her　hand　restored　her　self…control。

〃Don't　come　any　nearer！〃　she　cried　out　sharply。　　〃I　will　fire　if
you　do！〃

And　then　the　man　spoke。

〃It's　you；　ain't　it？〃　he　called　in　guarded　eagerness。　　〃It's　the
White　Moll；　ain't　it？　　Thank　God；　it's　you！〃

Her　extended　hand　with　the　automatic　fell　to　her　side。　　She　had
recognized　his　voice。　　It　wasn't　Danglar；　it　wasn't　one　of　the
gang；　or　the　watchman　who　was　no　better　than　an　accomplice；　it　was
Marty　Finch；　alias　the　Sparrow。

〃Marty！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃You！　　What　are　you　doing　here？〃

〃I'm　here　to　keep　you　from　goin'　in　there！〃　he　answered　excitedly。
〃And　…　and；　say；　I　was　afraid　I　was　too　late。　　Don't　you　go　in
there！　　For　God's　sake；　don't　you　go！　　They're　layin'　a　trap　for
you！　　They're　goin'　to　bump　you　off！　　I　know　all　about　it！〃

〃You　know？　　What　do　you　mean？〃　she　asked　quickly。　　〃How　do　you
know？〃

〃I　quit　my　job　a　few　days　after　that　fellow　you　called　Danglar
tried　to　murder　me　that　night　you　saved　me；〃　said　the　Sparrow；　with
a　savage　laugh。　　〃I　knew　he　had　it　in　for　you；　and　I　guess　I　had
something　comm'　to　him　on　my　own　account　too；　hadn't　I？　　That's　the
job　I've　been　on　ever　since　…　tryin'　to　find　the　dirty　pup。　　And　I
found　him！　　But　it　wasn't　until　to…night；　though　you　can　believe　me
there　weren't　many　joints　in　the　old　town　where　I　didn't　look　for
him。　　My　luck　turned　to…night。　　I　spotted　him　comin'　out　of　Italian
Joe's　bar。　　See？　　I　followed　him。　　After　a　while　he　slips　into　a
lane；　and　from　the　street　I　saw　him　go　into　a　shed　there。　　I　worked
my　way　up　quiet；　and　got　as　near　as　I　dared　without　bein'　heard　and
seen；　and　I　listened。　　He　was　talkin'　to　a　woman。　　I　couldn't　hear
everything　they　said；　and　they　quarreled　a　lot；　but　I　heard　him　say
something　about　framin'　up　a　job　to　get　somebody　down　to　the　old
iron　plant　behind　Jake　Malley's　saloon　and　bump　'em　off；　and　I
heard　him　say　there　wouldn't　be　any　White　Moll　by　morning；　and　I
put　two　and　two　together　and　beat　it　for　here。〃

Rhoda　Gray　reached　out　and　caught　the　Sparrow's　hand。

〃Thank　you；　Marty！　　You　haven't　got　it　quite　right　…　though；　thank
Heaven；　you　got　it　the　way　you　did；　since　you　are　here　now！〃　she
said　fervently。　　〃It　wasn't　me；　it　wasn't　the　White　Moll；　they
expected　to　get　here；　it's　the　man　who　helped　me　that　night　to
clear　you　of　the　Hayden…Bond　robbery　that　Danglar　meant　to　make
you　shoulder。　　He　risked　his　life　to　do　it；　Marty。　　They've　got
him　a　prisoner　somewhere　in　there；　and　they're　coming　back　to　…　to
torture　him　into　telling　them　where　I　am；　and　…　and　afterwards　to
do　away　with　him。　　That's　why　I'm　here；　Marty　…　to　get　him　away；
if　I　can；　before　they　come　back。〃

The　Sparrow　whistled　low　under　his　breath。

〃Well；　then；　I　guess　it's　my　hunt　too；〃　he　said　coolly。　　〃And　I
guess　this　is　where　a　prison　bird　horns　in　with　the　goods。　　Ever
since　I've　been　looking　for　that　Danglar　guy；　I've　been　carryin'
a　full　kit　…　because　I　didn't　know　what　might　break；　or　what　kind
of　a　mess　I　might　want　to　get　out　of。　　Come　on！　　We　ain't　got　no
time。　　There's　a　couple　of　broken　pickets　down　there。　　We　might　be
seen　climbin'　the　fence。　　Come　on！〃

Bread　upon　the　waters！　　With　a　sense　of　warm　gratitude　upon　her；
Rhoda　Gray　followed　the　ex…convict。　　They　made　their　way　through
the　fence。　　A　long；　low　building；　a　storage　shed　evidently；　showed
a　few　yards　in　front　of　them。　　It　seemed　to　be　quite　close　to　the
river；　for　now　she　could　see　the　reflection　of　lights　from　here
and　there　playing　on　the　black；　mirror…like　surface　of　the　water。
Farther　on；　over　beyond　the　shed；　the　yard　of　the　plant；　dotted
with　other　buildings　and　those　spidery　iron　structures　which　she
had　previously　noticed；　stretched　away　until　it　was　lost　in　the
darkness。　　Here；　however；　within　the　radius　of　one　of　the　street
arc　lamps　it　was　quite　light。

Rhoda　Gray　had　paused　in　almost　hopeless　indecision　as　to　how　or
where　to　begin　her　search；　when　the　Sparrow　spoke　again。

〃It　looks　like　we　got　a　long　hunt；〃　whispered　the　Sparrow；　〃but　a
few　minutes　before　you　came；　a　guy　with　a　lantern　comes　from　over
across　the　yard　there　and　nosed　around　that　shed；　and　acted　kind
of　queer；　and　I　could　see　him　stick　his　head　up　against　them　side
doors　there　as　though　he　was　listenin'　for　something　inside。　　Does
that　wise　you　up　to　anything？〃

〃Yes！〃　she　breathed　tensely。　　〃That　was　the　watchman。　　He's　one　of
them。　　The　man　we　want　is　in　that　shed　beyond　a　doubt。　　Hurry；
Marty　…　hurry！〃

They　ran　together　now；　and　reached　the　double　side…door。　　It　was
evidently　for　freight　purposes　only；　and　probably　barred　on　the
inside；　for　they　found　there　was　no　way　of　opening　it　from　without。

〃There　must　be　an　entrance；〃　she　said　feverishly　…　and　led　the　way
toward　the　front　of　the　building　in　the　direction　away　from　the
river。　　〃Yes；　here　it　is！〃　she　exclaimed；　as　they　rounded　the　end
of　the　shed。

She　tried　the　door。　　It　was　locked。　　She　felt　in　her　pocket　for　her
skeleton　keys；　for　she　had　not　been　unprepared　for　just　such　an
emergency；　but　the　Sparrow　brushed　her　aside。

〃Leave　it　to　me！〃　he　said　quickly。　　〃I'll　pick　that　lock　like　one
o'clock！　　It　won't　take　me　more'n　a　minute。〃

Rhoda　Gray　did　not　stand　and　watch　him。　　Minutes　were　priceless
things；　and　she　could　put　the　minute　he　asked　for　to　better
advantage　than　by　idling　it　away。　　With　an　added　injunction　to
hurry　and　that　she　would　be　back　in　an　instant；　she　was　already
racing　around　the　opposite　side　of　the　shed。　　If　they　were　pressed；
cornered；　by　the　arrival　of　Danglar；　it　might　well　mean　the
difference　between　life　and　death　to　all　of　them　if　she　had　an
intimate　knowledge　of　the　surroundings。

She　was　running　at　top　speed。　　Halfway　down　the　length　of　the
shed　she　tripped　and　fell　over　some　object。　　She　pushed　it　aside
as　she　rose。　　It　was　an　old　iron　casting；　more　bulky　in　shape　than
in　weight；　though　she　found　it　none　too　light　to　lift　comfortably。
She　ran　on。　　A　wharf　projected　out；　she　found；　from　this　end　of
the　shed。　　At　the　edge；　she　peered　over。　　It　was　quite　light　here
again；　away　from　the　protecting　shadows　of　the　shed；　the　rays　of
the　arc　lamp　played　without　hindrance　on　the　wharf　just　as　they
did　on　the　shed's　side　door。　　Below；　some　ten　or　twelve　feet　below；
and　at　the　corner　of　the　wharf；　a　boat；　or；　rather；　a　sort　of　scow；
for　it　was　larger　than　a　boat　though　oars　lay　along　its　thwarts；
was　moored。　　It　was　partly　decked　over；　and　she　could　see　a　small
black　opening　into　the　forward　end　of　it；　though　the　opening　itself
was　almost　hidden　by　a　heap　of　tarpaulin；　or　sailcloth；　or　something
of　the　kind；　that　lay　in　the　bottom　of　the　craft。　　She　nodded　her
head。　　They　might　all　of　them　use　that　boat　to　advantage！

Rhoda　Gray　turned　and　ran　back。　　The　Sparrow；　with　a　grunt　of
satisfaction；　was　just　opening　the　door。　　She　stepped　through　the
doorway。　　The　Sparrow　followed。

〃Close　it！〃　said　Rhoda　Gray；　under　her　breath。　　She　felt　her　heart
beat　quicken；　the　blood　flood　her　face　and　then　recede。　　Her
imagination　had　suddenly　become　too　horribly　vivid。　　Suppose　they
…　they　had　already　gone　farther　than。。。

With　an　effort　she　controlled　herself　…　and　the　round；　white　ray　of
her　flashlight　swept　the　place。　　A　moment　more；　and；　with　a　low　cry；
she　was　running　forward　to　where；　on　the　floor　near　the　wall　of　the
shed　opposite　the　side　door；　she　made　out　the　motionless　form　of　a
man。　　She　reached　him；　and　dropped　on　her　knees　beside　him。　　It　was
the　Adventurer。　　She　spoke　to　him。　　He　did　not　answer。　　And　then　she
remembered　what　Danglar　had　said；　and　she　saw　that　he　was　gagged。
But　…　but　she　was　not　sure　that　was　the　reason　why　he　did　not　answer。
The　flashlight　in　her　hand　wavered　unsteadily　as　it　played　over　him。
Perhaps　the　whiteness　of　the　ray　itself　exaggerated　it；　but　his　face
held　a　deathly　pallor；　his　eyes　were　closed；　and　his　hands　and　feet
were　twisted　cruelly　and　tightly　bound。

〃Give　me　your　knife　…　quick　…　Sparrow！〃　she　called。　　〃Then　go　and
keep　watch　just　outside。〃

The　Sparrow　handed　her　his　knife；　and　hurried　back　to　the　door。

She　worked　in　the　darkness　now。　　She　could　not　use　both　hands　and
still　hold　the　flashlight；　and；　besides；　with　the　door　partially
open　now　where　the　Sparrow　was　on　guard　there　was　always　the　chance；
if　Danglar　and　those　of　the　gang　with　him　were　already　in　the
vicinity；　of　the　light　bringing　them　all　the　more　quickly　to　the
scene。

Again　she　spoke　to　the　Adventurer；　as　she　removed　the　gag　…　and　a
fear　that　made　her　sick　at　heart　seized　up　on　her。　　There　was　still
no　answer。　　And　now；　as　she　worked；　cutting　at　the　cords　on　his
hands　and　feet；　the　love　that　she　knew　for　the　man；　its　restraint
broken　by　the　sense　of　dread　and　fear　at　his　condition；　rose
dominant　within　her；　and　impulse　that　she　could　not　hold　in　least
took　possession　of　her；　and　in　the　darkness；　since　he　would　not
know；　and　there　was　none　to　see；　she　bent　her　head；　and；　half
crying；　her　lips　pressed　upon　his　forehead。

She　drew　back　startled；　a　crimson　in　her　face　that　the　darkness
hid。　　What　had　she　done？　　Did　he　know？　　Had　he　returned　to
consciousness；　if　he　really　had　been　unconscious；　in　time　to
know？　　She　could　not　see；　but　she　knew　his　eyes　had　opened。

She　worked　frantically　with　the　bonds。　　He　was　free　now。　　She　cast
them　off。

He　spoke　then　…　thickly；　with　great　difficulty。

〃It's　you；　the　White　Moll；　isn't　it？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　answered。

He　raised　himself　up　on　his　elbow；　only　to　fall　back　with　a
suppressed　groan。

〃I　don't　know　how　you　found　me；　but　get　away　at　once　…　for　God's
sake；　get　away！〃　he　cried。　　〃Danglar'll　be　here　at　any　minute。
It'