the white moll-第8章

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had　but　played　a　part；　and；　therefore；　when　she　spoke　must　it　be
in　the　vernacular　of　the　East　Side　…　or　not？　　And　then　sudden
enlightenment；　with　its　incident　relief；　came　to　her。

〃My　dear　lady〃　…　the　young　man's　soft　felt　hat　was　under　his　arm；
and　he　was　plucking　daintily　at　the　fingers　of　his　yellow　gloves　as
he　removed　them　…　〃I　beg　you　to　pardon　the　intrusion　of　a　perfect
stranger。　　I　offer　you　my　very　genuine　apologies。　　My　excuse　is
that　I　come　from　a　…　I　hope　I　am　not　overstepping　the　bounds　in
using　the　term　…　mutual　friend。〃　　Rhoda　Gray　snorted　disdainfully。

〃Aw；　cut　out　de　boudoir　talk；　an'　get　down　to　cases！〃　she　croaked。
〃Who　are　youse；　anyway？〃

The　young　man　had　gray　eyes　…　and　they　lighted　up　now　humorously。

〃Boudoir？　　Ah　…　yes！　　Of　course！　　Awfully　neat！〃　　His　eyes；　from
the　chair　that　held　the　candle；　strayed　around　the　scantily
furnished；　murky　garret　as　though　in　search　of　a　seat；　and　finally
rested　inquiringly　on　Rhoda　Gray。

〃Youse　can　put　de　candle　on　de　floor；　if　youse　like；〃　she　said
grudgingly。　　〃Dat's　de　only　chair　dere　is。〃

〃Thank　you！〃　he　said。

Rhoda　Gray　watched　him　with　puckered　brow；　as　he　placed　the　gin
bottle　with　its　candle　on　the　floor；　and　appropriated　the　chair。
He　might；　from　his　tone；　have　been　thanking　her　for　some　priceless
boon。　　He　wore　a　boutonniere。　　His　clothes　fitted　him　like　gloves。
He　exuded　a　certain　studied；　almost　languid　fastidiousness　…　that
was　wholly　out　of　keeping　with　the　quick；　daring；　agile　wit　that
he　had　exhibited　the　night　before。　　She　found　her　hand　toying
unconsciously　with　the　weapon　in　her　pocket。　　She　was　aware　that
she　was　fencing　with　unbuttoned　foils。　　How　much　did　he　know
…　about　last　night？

〃Well；　why　don't　youse　spill　it？〃　she　invited　curtly。　　〃Who　are
youse？〃

〃Who　am　I？〃　　He　lifted　the　lapel　of　his　coat；　carrying　the
boutonniere　to　his　nose。　　〃My　dear　lady；　I　am　an　adventurer。〃

〃Youse　don't　say！〃　observed　Rhoda　Gray；　alias　Gypsy　Nan。　　〃An'　wot's
dat　w'　en　it's　at　home？〃

〃In　my　case；　first　of　all　a　gentleman；　I　trust；〃　he　said　pleasantly；
〃after　that；　I　do　not　quarrel　with　the　accepted　definition　of　the
term　…　though　it　is　not　altogether　complimentary。〃

Rhoda　Gray　scowled。　　As　Rhoda　Gray；　she　might　have　answered　him；　as
Gypsy　Nan；　it　was　too　subtle；　and　she　was　beyond　her　depth。

〃Youse　look　to　me　like　a　slick　crook！〃　she　said　bluntly。

〃I　will　admit；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　have　at　times；　perhaps；　taken
liberties　with　the　law。〃

〃Well；　den；〃　she　snapped；　〃cut　out　de　high…brow　stuff；　an'　come
across　wid　wot　brought　youse　here。　　I　ain't　holdin'　no　reception。
Who's　de　friend　youse　was　talkin'　about？〃

The　Adventurer　looked　around　him；　and　lowered　his　voice。

〃The　White　Moll；〃　he　said。

Rhoda　Gray　eyed　the　man　for　a　long　minute；　then　she　shook　her　head。

〃I　take　back　wot　I　said　about　youse　bein'　a　slick　crook；〃　she
announced　coolly。　　〃I　guess　youse're　a　dick　from　headquarters。
Well；　youse　have　got　de　wrong　number　…　see？　　Me　fingers　are　crossed。
Try　next　door！〃

The　Adventurer's　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　newspaper　headlines　on　the
floor。　　He　raised　them　now　significantly　to　hers。

〃You　helped　her　to　get　away　from　Rough　Rorke　last　night；〃　he　said
gently。　　〃Well；　so　did　I。　　I　am　very　anxious　to　find　the　White　Moll；
and；　as　I　know　of　no　other　way　except　through　you；　I　have　got　to
make　you　believe　in　me；　if　I　can。　　Listen；　my　dear　lady　…　and　don't
look　at　me　so　suspiciously。　　I　have　already　admitted　that　I　have
taken　liberties　with　the　law。　　Let　me　add　now　that　last　night　there
was　a　little　fortune　of　quite　a　few　thousand　dollars　that　I　had
already　made　up　my　mind　was　as　good　as　in　my　pocket。　　I　was　on　my
way　to　get　it　…　the　newspaper　will　already　have　given　you　the
details　…　when　I　found　that　I　had　been　forestalled　by　the　young
lady；　who；　the　papers　say；　is　known　as　the　White　Moll。〃　　He　smiled
whimsically。　　〃Even　though　one　might　be　a　slick　crook　as　you
suggest；　it　is　no　reason　why　he　should　fail　in　his　duty　to　himself
…　as　a　gentleman。　　What　other　course　was　open　to　me？　　I　discovered
a　very　charming　young　lady　in　the　grip　of　a　hulking　police　brute。
She　also；　apparently；　took　liberties　with　the　law。　　There　was　a
bond　between　us。　　I　…　er　…　took　it　upon　myself　to　do　what　I　could。
And；　besides；　I　was　not　insensible　to　the　fact　that　I　was　under　a
certain　obligation　to　her；　quixotic　as　it　may　sound；　in　view　of
the　fact　that　we　were　evidently　competitors　after　the　same　game。
You　see；　if　she　had　not　forestalled　me　and　been　caught　herself；
I　should　most　certainly　have　walked　into　the　trap　that　our　friend
of　headquarters　had　prepared。　　I　…　er　…　as　I　say；　did　what　I　could。
She　got　away；　but　somehow　Rough　Rorke　later　discovered　her　here　in
this　room；　I　understand　that　he　was　not　happy　over　the　result；　that；
thanks　to　you；　she　escaped　again；　and　has　not　been　heard　of　since。

Rhoda　Gray　dropped　her　chin　in　her　grime…smeared　hand；　staring
speculatively　at　the　other。　　The　man　sat　there；　apparently　a
self…confessed　crook　and　criminal；　but；　also；　he　sat　there　as　the
man　to　whom　she　owed　the　fact　that　at　the　present　moment　she　was
not　behind　prison　bars。　　He　proclaimed　himself　in　the　same　breath
both　a　thief　and　a　gentleman；　as　far　as　she　could　make　out。　　They
were　characteristics　which；　until　now；　she　had　never　associated
together；　but　now；　curiously　enough；　they　did　not　seem　so　utterly
at　variance。　　Of　course　they　were　at　variance；　must　of　necessity
be　so；　but　in　the　personality　of　this　man　the　incongruity　seemed
somehow　lost。　　Perhaps　it　was　a　sense　of　gratitude　toward　him　that
modified　her　views。　　He　looked　a　gentleman。　　There　was　something
about　him　that　appealed。　　The　gray　eyes　seemed　full　of　cool；
confident；　self…possession；　and；　quiet　as　his　manner　was；　she
sensed　a　latent　dynamic　something　lurking　near　the　surface　all　the
time　…　that　she　was　conscious　she　would　much　prefer　to　have　enlisted
on　her　behalf　than　against　her。　　The　strong；　firm　chin　bore　this　out。
He　was　not　handsome；　but　…　with　a　sort　of　mental　jerk；　she　forced
her　mind　back　to　the　stark　realities　of　her　surroundings。　　She　could
not　thank　him　for　what　he　had　done　last　night。　　She　could　not　tell
him　that　she　was　the　White　Moll。　　She　could　only　play　out　the　role
of　Gypsy　Nan　until　…　until　…　Her　hand　tightened　with　a　fierce；
involuntary　pressure　upon　her　chin　until　it　brought　a　physical　hurt。
Until　what？　　God　alone　knew　what　the　end　of　this　miserable；
impossible　horror；　in　which　she　found　herself　engulfed；　would　be！

Her　eyes　sought　his　face　again。　　The　Adventurer　was　tactfully
engaged　in　carefully　smoothing　out　the　fingers　of　his　yellow　gloves。
Thief　and　gentleman；　whatever　he　might　be；　whatever　he　might　choose
to　call　himself；　what；　exactly；　was　it　that　had　brought　him　here
to…night？　　The　White　Moll；　he　had　said；　but　what　did　he　want　with
the　White　Moll？

He　answered　her　unspoken　question　now；　almost　as　though　he　had　read
her　thoughts。

〃She　is　very　clever；〃　he　said　quietly。　　〃She　must　be　exceedingly
clever　to　have　beaten　the　police　the　way　she　has　for　the　last　few
years；　and　…　er　…　I　worship　at　the　shrine　of　cleverness　…　especially
if　it　be　a　woman's。　　The　idea　struck　me　last　night　that　if　she　and
I　should　…　er　…　pool　our　resources；　we　should　not　have　to　complain
of　the　reward。〃

〃Oh；　so　youse　wants　to　work　wid　her；　eh？〃　sniffed　Rhoda　Gray。　　〃So
dat's　it；　is　it？〃

〃Partially；〃　he　said。　　〃But；　quite　apart　from　that；　the　reason　I
want　to　find　her　is　because　she　is　in　very　great　danger。　　Clever
as　she　is；　it　is　a　very　different　matter　to…day　now　that　the　police
have　found　her　out。　　She　has　been　forced　into　hiding；　and；　if　alone
and　without　any　friend　to　help　her；　her　situation；　to　put　it　mildly；
must　be　desperate　in　the　extreme。　　You　befriended　her　last　night；
and　I　honor　you　for　the　unselfishness　with　which　you　laid　yourself
open　to　the　future　attentions　of　that　animal　Rorke；　but　that　very
fact　has　deprived　her　of　what　might　otherwise　have　been　a　refuge　and
a　quite　secure　retreat　here　with　you。　I　do　not　wish　to　intrude；　or
force　myself　upon　her；　but　I　believe　I　could　be　of　very　material
help；　and　so　I　have　come　to　you；　as　I　have　said；　because　you　are　the
only　source　through　which　I　can　hope　to　find　her；　and　because；
through　your　act　of　last　night；　I　know　you　to　be　a　trustworthy；　and；
perhaps；　even　an　intimate；　friend　of　hers。〃

〃Aw；　go　on！〃　said　Rhoda　Gray；　alias　Gypsy　Nan；　deprecatingly。　　〃Dat
don't　prove　nothin'！　　I'd　have　done　as　much　for　a　stray　cat　if　de
bulls　was　chasm'　her。　　See？　　I　told　youse　once　youse　had　de　wrong
number。　　She　didn't　leave　no　address。　　Dat's　flat；　an'　dat's　de　end
of　it。〃

〃I'm　sorry；〃　said　the　Adventurer　gravely。　　〃Perhaps　I　haven't　made
out　a　good　enough　case。　　Or　perhaps；　even　believing　me；　you　consider
that　the　White　Moll；　and　not　yourself；　should　be　the　judge　as　to
whether　my　services　are　acceptable　or　not？〃

〃Youse　can　dope　it　out　any　way　youse　likes；〃　said　Rhoda　Gray
indifferently。　　〃Me　t'roat's　gettin'　hoarse　tellin'　youse　dere's
nothin'　doin'！〃

〃I'm　sorry；〃　said　the　Adventurer　again。　　He　smiled　suddenly；　and
tucking　his　gloves　into　his　pocket；　leaned　forward　and　tore　off　a
small　piece　from　the　margin　of　the　newspaper　on　the　floor　…　but　his
head　the　while　was　now　cocked　in　a　curious　listening　attitude　in　the
direction　of　the　door。　　〃You　will　pardon　me；　my　dear　lady；　if　I
confess　that；　in　spite　of　what　you　say；　I　still　harbor　the　belief
that　you　know　where　to　reach　the　White　Moll；　and　so　…〃　　He　stopped
abruptly；　and　she　found　his　glance；　sharp　and　critical；　upon　her。
〃You　are　expecting　a　visitor；　perhaps？〃　he　inquired　softly。

Rhoda　Gray　stared　in　genuine　perplexity。

〃Wot's　de　answer？〃　she　demanded。

〃There　is　some　one　on　the　stairs；〃　replied　the　Adventurer。

Rhoda　Gray　listened　…　and　her　perplexity　deepened。　She　could　hear
nothing。

〃Youse　must　have　good　ears！〃　she　scoffed。

〃I　have；〃　returned　the　Adventurer　coolly。　　〃My　hearing　is　one　of
the　resources　that　I　wanted　to　pool　with　the　White　Moll。〃

〃Well；　den；　mabbe　it's　Rough　Rorke。〃　　Her　tone　still　held　its
scoffing　note；　but　her　words　voiced　the　genuine　enough；　that　had
come　flashing　upon　her。　　〃An'　if　it　is；　after　last　night；　an'　he
finds　youse　an'　me　together；　dere'll　be　…〃

〃My　dear　lady；〃　interposed　the　Adventurer　calmly；　〃if　there　were
the　remotest　possibility　that　it　could　be　Rough　Rorke；　I　would　not
be　here。〃

〃Wot　do　youse　mean？〃　She　had　unconsciously　towered　her　voice。

The　Adventurer　shrugged　his　shoulders　whimsically。　　He　had　laid　the
piece　of　paper　on　his　knee；　and；　with　a　small　gold　pencil　which　he
had　taken　from　his　pocket；　was　writing　something　upon　it。

〃The　fact　that　I　can　assure　you　that；　whoever　else　it　may　be；　the
person　outside　there　cannot　be　Rough　Rorke；　is　simply　a　proof　that；
if　I　had　the　opportunity；　I　could　be　of　real　assistance　to　the　White
Moll；〃　he　said　imperturbably。　　〃Well〃　…　a　grim　little　smile　flickered
suddenly　across　his　lips　…　〃do　you　hear　any　one　now？〃

Quite　low；　but　quite　unmistakably；　the　short；　ladder…like　steps　just
outside　the　door　were　voicing　a　creaky　protest　now　as　some　one
mounted　them。　　Rhoda　Gray　did　not　move。　　It　seemed　as　though　she
could　hear　the　sudden　thumping　o