the white moll-第10节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


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　of　her　own　heart。　　Who　was　it　this
time？　　How　was　she　to　act？　　What　was　she　to　say？　　It　was　so　easy　to
make　the　single　little　slip　of　word　or　manner　that　would　spell　ruin
and　disaster。

〃Rubber　heels　and　rubber　soles；〃　murmured　the　Adventurer。　　〃But；　at
that；　it　is　extremely　well　done。〃　　He　held　out　the　torn　piece　of
paper　to　Rhoda　Gray。

〃If〃　…　he　smiled　significantly　…　〃if；　by　any　good　fortune；　you　see
the　White　Moll　again；　please　give　her　this　and　let　her　decide　for
herself。　　It　is　a　telephone　number。　　She　can　always　reach　me　there
by　asking　for　…　the　Adventurer。〃　　He　was　still　extending　the　piece
of　paper。　　〃Quick！〃　he　whispered；　as　the　door　knob　rattled。


V。　　A　SECOND　VISITOR

Mechanically　Rhoda　Gray　thrust　the　paper　into　the　pocket　of　her
skirt。　　The　door　swung　open。　　A　tall　man；　well　dressed；　as　far　as
could　be　seen　in　the　uncertain　light；　a　slouch　hat　pulled　far　down
over　his　eyes；　stood　on　the　threshold；　surveying　the　interior　of
the　garret。

The　Adventurer　rose　composedly　to　his　feet　…　and　moved　slightly
back　out　of　the　direct　radius　of　the　candlelight。

There　was　silence　for　a　moment；　and　then　the　man　in　the　doorway
laughed　unpleasantly。

〃Hello！〃　he　flung　out　harshly。　　〃Who's　the　dude；　Nan？〃

Rhoda　Gray；　on　the　edge　of　the　bed；　shrugged　her　shoulders。　　The
Adventurer　was　standing　quite　at　his　ease；　his　soft　hat　tucked
under　his　right　arm；　his　hand　thrust　into　the　side　pocket　of　his
coat。　　She　could　no　longer　see　his　face　distinctly。

〃Well？〃　There　was　a　snarl　in　the　man's　voice　as　he　advanced　from
the　doorway。　　〃You　heard　me；　didn't　you？　　Who　is　he？〃

〃Why　don't　youse　ask　him　yerself？〃　inquired　Rhoda　Gray　truculently。
〃I　dunno。〃

〃You　don't；　eh？〃　　The　man　had　halted　close　to　where　the　candle
stood　on　the　floor　between　himself　and　the　Adventurer。　　〃Well；　then；
I　guess　we'll　find　out！〃　　He　was　peering　in　the　Adventurer's
direction；　and　now　there　came　a　sudden　savage　scowl　to　his　face。
〃It　seems　to　me　I've　seen　those　clothes　somewhere　before；　and　I
guess　now　we'll　take　a　look　at