the white moll-第42章

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…　save　with　her　hand　to　push　the　folds　of　sailcloth　a　cautious　inch
or　two　away　from　the　opening。　　It　did　not　ease　the　agony　she　was
suffering　from　her　cramped　position；　but　it　gave　her　fresher　air；
and　she　could　hear　better　…　the　ring　of　their　boot…heels　on　the
wharf　above；　for　instance。

The　footsteps　died　away。　　There　was　silence　then　for　a　moment；　and
then；　faintly；　from　the　direction　of　the　shed；　there　came　a　chorus
of　baffled　rage　and　execration。　　She　smiled　a　little　wearily　to
herself。　　It　was　all　right。　　That　was　what　she　wanted　to　know。　　The
Adventurer　had　got　away。

Still　she　lay　there。　　She　dared　not　leave　the　boat　yet；　but　she
could　change　her　position　now。　　She　crawled　half　out　from　under　the
docking；　and　lay　with　her　head　on　the　sailcloth。　　It　was　exquisite
relief！　　They　could　not　come　back　along　the　wharf　without　her　hearing
them；　and　she　could　retreat　under　the　decking　again　in　an　instant；
if　necessary。

Voices　reached　her　now　occasionally　from　the　direction　of　the　shed。
Finally　a　silence　fell。　　The　minutes　passed　…　ten　…　fifteen　…　twenty
of　them。　　And　then　Rhoda　Gray　climbed　warily　to　the　wharf；　made　her
way　warily　past　the　shed；　and　gained　the　road　…　and　three…quarters
of　an　hour　later；　in　another　shed；　in　the　lane　behind　the　garret；　she
was　changing　quickly　into　the　rags　of　Gypsy　Nan　again。

It　was　almost　the　end　now。　　To…night；　she　would　keep　the　appointment
Danglar　had　given　her　…　and　keep　it　ahead　of　time。　　It　was　almost
the　end。　　Her　lips　set　tightly。　　The　Adventurer　had　been　warned。
There　was　nothing　now　to　stand　in　the　way　of　her　going　to　the　police；
save　only　the　substantiation　of　that　one　point　in　her　own　story
which　Danglar　must　supply。

Her　transformation　completed；　she　reached　in　under　the　flooring　and
took　out　the　package　of　jewels　…　they　would　help　very　materially
when　she　faced　Danglar！　…　and；　though　it　was　somewhat　large；　tucked
it　inside　her　blouse。　　It　could　not　be　noticed。　　The　black；　greasy
shawl　hid　it　effectively。

She　stepped　out　into　the　lane；　and　from　there　to　the　street；　and
began　to　make　her　way　across　town。　　She　did　not　have　to　search　for
Danglar　to…night。　　She　was　to　meet　him　at　Matty's　at　midnight；　and
it　was　not　more　than　halfpast　eleven　now。　　Three　hours　and　a　half！
Was　that　all　since　at　eight　o'clock；　as　nearly　as　she　could　place
it；　he　had　left　her　in　the　lane？　　It　seemed　as　many　years；　but　it
was　only　twenty　minutes　after　eleven；　she　had　noticed；　when　she　had
left　the　subway　on　her　return　a　few　minutes　ago。　　Her　hand　clenched
suddenly。　　She　was　to　meet　him　at　Matty's　…　and；　thereafter；　if　it
took　all　night；　she　would　not　leave　him　until　she　had　got　him　alone
somewhere　and　disclosed　herself。　　The　man　was　a　coward　in　soul。　　She
could　trust　to　the　effect　upon　him　of　an　automatic　in　the　hands　of
the　White　Mall　to　make　him　talk。

Rhoda　Gray　walked　quickly。　　It　was　not　very　far。　　She　turned　the
corner　into　the　street　where　Danglar's　deformed　brother；　Matty；
cloaked　the　executive　activities　of　the　gang　with　his　cheap　little
notion　store　…　and　halted　abruptly。　　The　store　was　just　ahead　of
her；　and　Danglar　himself；　coming　out；　had　just　closed　the　door。

He　saw　her；　and　stepping　instantly　to　her　side；　grasped　her　arm
roughly　and　wheeled　her　about。

〃Come　on！〃　he　said　…　and　a　vicious　oath　broke　from　his　lips。

The　man　was　in　a　towering；　ungovernable　passion。　　She　cast　a
furtive　glance　at　his　face。　　She　had　seen　him　before　in　anger；　but
now；　with　his　lips　drawn　back　and　working；　his　whole　face　contorted；
he　seemed　utterly　beside　himself。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　she　inquired　innocently。　　〃Wouldn't　the　Pug
talk；　or　is　it　a　case　of　'another　hour　or　so；'　and　…〃

He　swung　on　her　furiously。

〃Hold　your　cursed　tongue！〃　he　flared。　　〃You'll　snicker　on　the
wrong　side　of　your　face　this　time！〃　　He　gulped；　stared　at　her
threateningly；　and　quickened　his　step；　forcing　her　to　keep　pace
with　him。　　But　he　spoke　again　after　a　minute；　savagely；　bitterly；
but　more　in　control　of　himself。　　〃The　Pug　got　away。　　The　White
Moll　queered　us　again。　　But　it's　worse　than　that。　　The　game's　up！
I　told　you　to　be　here　at　midnight。　　It's　only　half　past　eleven　yet。
I　figured　you　would　still　be　over　in　the　garret；　and　I　was　going
there　for　you。　　That's　where　we're　going　now。　　There's　no　chance　at
those　rajah's　jewels　now；　there's　no　chance　of　fixing　Cloran　so's
you　can　swell　it　around　in　the　open　again　…　the　only　chance　we've
got　is　to　save　what　we　can　and　beat　it！〃

She　did　not　need　to　simulate　either　excitement　or　disquiet。

〃What　is　it？　　What's　happened？〃　she　asked　tensely。

〃The　gang's　thrown　us　down！〃　he　said　between　his　teeth。　　〃They're
scared；　they've　got　cold　feet　…　they're　going　to　quit。　　Shluker　and
Pinkie　were　with　me　at　the　iron　plant。　　We　went　back　to　Matty's
from　there。　　Matty's　with　them；　too。　　They　say　the　Pug　knows　every
one　of　us；　and　every　game　we've　pulled；　and　that　in　revenge　for　our
trying　to　murder　him　he'll　wise　up　the　police　…　that　he　could　do　it
easily　enough　without　getting　nipped　himself；　by　sending　them　a
letter；　or　even　telephoning　the　names　and　addresses　of　the　whole
layout。　　They're　scared　…　he　curs！　　They　say　he　knows　where　all　our
coin　is　too；　and　they're　for　splitting　it　up　to…night；　and　ducking
it　out　of　New　York　for　a　while　to　get　under　cover。〃　　He　laughed　out
suddenly；　raucously。　　〃They　will　…　eh？　　I'll　show　them　…　the
yellow…streaked　pups！　　They　wouldn't　listen　to　me　…　and　it　meant
that　you　and　I　were　thrown　down　for　fair。　　If　we're　caught；　it's
the　chair。　　I'll　show　them！　　When　I　saw　it　wasn't　any　use　trying　to
get　them　to　stick；　I　pretended　to　agree　with　them。　　See？　　I　said
they　could　go　around　and　dig　up　the　rest　of　the　gang；　and　if　the
others　felt　the　same　way　about　it；　they　were　all　to　come　over　to
the　garret；　and　I'd　be　waiting　for　them；　…　and　we'd　split　up　the
swag；　and　everybody'd　be　on　his　own　after　that。〃　　Again　he　laughed
out　raucously。　　〃It'll　take　them　half　an　hour　to　get　together　…　but
it　won't　take　that　long　for　us　to　grab　all　that's　worth　grabbing
out　of　that　trap…door；　and　making　our　getaway。　　See？　　I'll　teach
them　to　throw　Pierre　Danglar　down！　　Come　on；　hurry！〃

〃Sure！〃　she　mumbled　mechanically。

Her　mind　was　sifting；　sorting；　weighing　what　he　had　said。　　She　was
not　surprised。　　She　remembered　Pinkie　Bonn's　outburst　in　the　boat。
She　walked　on　beside　Danglar。　　The　man　was　muttering　and　cursing
under　his　breath。　　Well；　why　shouldn't　she　appear　to　fall　in　with
his　plans？　　Under　what　choicer　surroundings　could　she　get　him　alone
than　in　the　garret？　　And　half　an　hour　would　be　ample　time　for　her；
too！　　Yes；　yes；　she　began　to　see！　　With　Danglar；　when　she　had　got
what　she　wanted　out　of　him　herself；　held　up　at　the　point　of　her
automatic；　she　could　back　to　the　door　and　lock　him　in　there　…　and
notify　the　police　…　and　the　police　would　not　only　get　Danglar　and
the　ill…gotten　hoard　hidden　in　the　ceiling　behind　that　trap…door；
but　they　would　get　all　the　rest　of　the　gang　as　the　latter　in　due
course　appeared　on　the　scene。　　Yes；　why　not？　　She　experienced　an
exhilaration　creeping　upon　her；　she　even　increased；　unconsciously；
the　rapid　pace　which　Danglar　had　set。

〃That's　the　stuff！〃　he　grunted　in　savage　approval。　　〃We　need　every
minute　we've　got。〃

They　reached　the　house　where　once　…　so　long　ago　now；　it　seemed！
…　Rhoda　Gray　had　first　found　the　original　Gypsy　Nan；　and；　Danglar
leading；　mounted　the　dark；　narrow　stairway　to　the　hall　above；　and
from　there　up　the　short；　ladder…like　steps　to　the　garret。　　He
groped　in　the　aperture　under　the　partition　for　the　key；　opened　the
door；　and　stepped　inside。　　Rhoda　Gray；　following；　removed　the　key；
inserted　it　on　the　inside　of　the　door；　and；　as　she　too　entered；
locked　the　door　behind　her。　　It　was　pitch…black　here　in　the　attic。
Her　face　was　set　now；　her　lips　firm。　　She　had　been　waiting　for　this；
hadn't　she？　　It　was　near　the　end　at　last。　　She　had　Danglar　…　alone。
But　not　in　the　darkness！　　He　was　too　tricky！　　She　crossed　the　garret
to　where　the　candle…stub；　stuck　in　the　neck　of　the　gin　bottle；　stood
on　the　rickety　washstand。

〃Come　over　here　and　light　the　candle；〃　she　said。　　〃I　can't　find　my
matches。〃

Her　hand　was　in　the　pocket　of　her　skirt　now；　her　fingers
tight…closed　on　the　stock　of　her　automatic；　as　he　shuffled　his　way
across　the　attic　to　her　side。　　A　match　spurted　into　flame；　the
candle　wick　flickered；　then　steadied；　dispersing　little　by　little；
as　it　grew　brighter；　the　nearer　shadows　…　and　there　came　a　startled
cry　from　Danglar　…　and　Rhoda　Gray；　the　weapon　in　her　pocket
forgotten；　was　staring　as　though　stricken　of　her　senses　across　the
garret。　　The　Adventurer　was　sitting　on　the　edge　of　the　cot；　and　a
revolver　in　his　hand　held　a　steady　bead　upon　Danglar　and　herself。。


XXI　。　　THE　RECKONING

It　was　the　Adventurer　who　spoke　first。

〃Both　of　you！　　What　charming　luck！〃　he　murmured　whimsically。　　〃You'll
forgive　the　intrusion　won't　you？　　A　friend　of　mine；　the　Sparrow　by
name　…　I　think　you　are　acquainted　with　him；　Danglar　…　was　good　enough
to　open　the　door　for　me；　and　lock　it　again　on　the　outside。　　You　see；
I　didn't　wish　to　cause　you　any　alarm　through　a　premature　suspicion
that　you　might　have　a　guest！〃　　His　voice　hardened　suddenly　as　he　rose
from　the　cot；　and；　though　he　limped　badly；　stepped　quickly　toward
them。　　〃Don't　move；　Danglar　…　or　you；　Mrs。　Danglar！〃　he　ordered
sharply　…　and　with　a　lightning　movement　of　his　hand　felt　for；　and
whipped　Danglar's　revolver　from　the　latter's　pocket。　　〃Pardon　me！〃
he　said　…　and　his　hand　was　in　and　out　of　Rhoda　Gray's　pocket。　　He
tossed　the　two　weapons　coolly　over　onto　the　cot。　　〃Well；　Danglar；〃
he　smiled　grimly；　〃there's　quite　a　change　in　the　last　few　hours；
isn't　there？〃

Danglar　made　no　answer。　　His　face　was　ashen；　his　little　black　eyes；
like　those　of　a　cornered　rat；　and　as　though　searching　for　some
avenue　of　escape；　were　darting　hunted　glances　all　around　the　garret。

Rhoda　Gray；　the　first　shock　of　surprise　gone；　leaned　back　against
the　washstand　with　an　air　of　composure　that　she　did　not　altogether
feel。　　What　was　the　Adventurer　going　to　do？　　True；　she　need　have　no
fear　of　personal　violence　…　she　had　only　to　disclose　herself。　　But
…　but　there　were　other　considerations。　　She　saw　that　reckoning　of
her　own　with　Danglar　at　an　end；　though　…　yes！　…　perhaps　the
Adventurer　would　become　her　ally　in　that　matter。　　But；　then；　there
was　something　else。　　The　Adventurer　was　a　thief；　and　she　could　not
let　him　get　away　with　those　packages　of　banknotes　up　there　behind
the　trap…door　in　the　ceiling；　if　she　could　help　it。　　That　was
perhaps　what　he　had　come　for；　and　…　and　…　　Her　mind　seemed　to　tumble
into　chaos。　　She　did　not　know　what　to　do。　　She　stared　at　the
Adventurer。　　He　was　still　dressed　as　the　Pug；　though　the　eye…patch
was　gone；　and　there　was　no　longer　any　sign　of　the　artificial　facial
disfigurements。

The　Adventurer　spoke　again。

〃Won't　you　sit　down　…　Mrs。　Danglar？〃　　He　pushed　the　single　chair
the　garret　possessed　toward　her　…　and　shrugged　his　shoulders　as
she　remained　motionless。　　〃You'll　pardon　me；　then；　if　I　sit　down
myself。〃　　He　appropriated　the　chair；　and　faced　them；　his　revolver
dangling　with　ominous　carelessness　in　his　hand。　　〃I've　had　a
rather