the white moll-第15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！


to　beard　two　men　who；　perhaps；　holding　her　sex　in　contempt　in　an
adventure　of　this　kind；　might　throw　discretion　to　the　winds　and　give
scant　respect　to　her　revolver；　for　behind　the　muzzle　of　that　revolver
was　the　reputation　of　the　White　Moll。　　They　would　take　her　at　face
value　…　as　one　who　not　only　knew　how　to　use　that　revolver；　but　as
one　who　would　not　hesitate　an　instant　to　do　so。

From　the　room　she　heard　Skeeny　whistle　low　under　his　breath；　as
though　in　sudden　and　amazed　delight　…　and　then　she　was　standing　full
in　the　open　doorway；　and　her　revolver　in　her　outflung；　gloved　hand
covered　the　two　men　at　the　table。

There　was　a　startled　cry　from　Skeeny；　a　scintillating　flash　of　light
as　a　magnificent　string　of　diamonds　fell　from　his　hand　to　the　table。
But　Danglar　did　not　move　or　speak；　only　his　lips　twitched；　and　a
queer　whiteness　came　and　spread　itself　over　his　face。

〃Put　up　your　hands…both　of　you！〃　she　ordered；　in　a　low；　tense　voice。

It　was　Skeeny　who　spoke；　as　both　men　obeyed　her。　　〃The　White　Moll；
so　help　me！〃　he　mumbled；　and　swallowed　hard。

Danglar's　eyes　never　seemed　to　leave　her　face；　and　they　narrowed
now；　full　of　hatred　and　a　fury　that　lie　made　no　attempt　to　conceal。
She　smiled　at　him　coldly。　　She　quite　understood！　　He　had　already
complained　that　evening　that　the　White　Moll　for　the　last　few　weeks
had　been　robbing　them　of　the　fruits　of　their　laboriously　planned
schemes。　　And　now…again！　　Well；　she　would　not　dispel　his　illusion！
He　had　given　the　White　Moll　that　role　…　and　it　was　the　safest　role
to　play。

She　stepped　forward　now；　and　with　her　free　hand　suddenly　pulled　the
table　toward　her　out　of　their　reach；　and　then；　as　she　picked　up　the
necklace；　she　appeared　for　the　first　time　to　become　aware　of　the
presence　of　the　huddled　form　on　the　floor　near　the　wall。　　She　could
see　that　the　Sparrow　was　bound　and　gagged；　and　as　he　squirmed　now
he　turned　his　face　toward　her。

〃Why；　it's　the　Sparrow；　isn't　it？〃　she　exclaimed　sharply；　then；
evenly；　to　the　two　men：　〃I　had　no　idea　you　were　so　hospitable！
Push　your　chairs　closer　together　…　with　your　feet；　not　your　hands！
You　are　easier　to　watch　if　you　are　not　too　far　apart。〃

Dangler　complied　sullenly。　　Skeeny；　over　the　scraping　of　his　chair
legs；　cursed　in　a　sort　of　unnerved　abandon；　as　he　obeyed　her。

〃Thank　you！〃　said　Rhoda　Gray　pleasantly　…　and　calmly　tucked　the
necklace　into　her　bodice。

The　act　seemed　to　rouse　Danglar　to　the　last　pitch　of　fury。　　The
blood　rushed　in　an　angry　tide　to　his　face；　and；　suffusing；　purpled
his　cheeks。

〃This　isn't　the　first　crack　you've　made！〃　he　flung　out　hoarsely。
〃You've　been　getting　wise　to　a　whole　lot　lately　somehow；　you　and
that　dude　pal　of　yours；　but　you'll　pay　for　it；　you　female　devil！
Understand？　　By　God；　you'll　pay　for　it！　　I　promise　you　that　you'll
pray　yet　on　your　bended　knees　for　the　chance　to　take　your　own　life！
Do　you　hear？〃

〃I　hear；〃　said　Rhoda　Gray　coldly。

She　picked　up　the　jack…knife　from　the　table；　and　keeping　both　men
covered；　stepped　backward　to　the　wall。　　Here；　kneeling；　she　reached
behind　her　with　her　left　hand；　and　felt　for；　and　cut　the　heavy　cord
that　bound　the　Sparrow's　arms；　then；　pushing　the　knife　into　the
Sparrow's　hands　that　he　might　free　himself　from　the　rest　of　his
bonds；　she　stood　up　again。

A　moment　more；　and　the　Sparrow；　rubbing　the　circulation　back　into
his　wrists；　stood　beside　her。　　There　was　a　look　on　the　young；　white
face　that　was　not　good　to　see。　　He　circled　dry　lips　with　the　tip　of
his　tongue　and　then　his　thumb　began　to　feel　over　the　blade　of　the
big　jack…knife　in　a　sort　of　horribly　supercritical　appraisal　of　its
edge。　　He　spoke　thickly　for　the　gag　that　had　been　in　his　mouth。

〃You　dirty　skates！〃　he　whispered。　　〃You　were　going　to　bump　me　off；
were　you？　　You　planted　me　cold；　did　you？　　Oh；　hell！〃　　His　laugh；
like　the　laugh　of　one　insane；　jangling；　discordant；　rang　through
the　room。　　〃Well；　it's　my　turn　now；　and〃　…　his　body　was　coiling
itself　in　a　slow；　curious；　almost　snake…like　fashion　…　〃and　you'll　…〃

Rhoda　Gray　laid　her　hand　on　the　Sparrow's　arm。

〃Not　that　way；　Marty；〃　she　said　quietly。　　She　smiled　thinly　at
Danglar；　who；　with　genuinely　frightened　eyes　now；　seemed　fascinated
by　the　Sparrow's　movements。　　〃I　wouldn't　care　to　have　anything
happen　to　Mr。　　Danglar　…　yet。　　He　has　been　invaluable　to　me；　and　I
am　sure　he　will　be　again。〃

The　Sparrow　brushed　his　hands　across　his　eyes；　and　stared　at　her。
He　licked　his　lips　again。　　He　appeared　to　be　obsessed　with　the
knife…blade　in　his　hand　…　dazed　in　a　strange　way　to　all　else。

〃There's　enough　cord　there　for　both　of　them；〃　said　Rhoda　Gray
crisply。　　〃Tie　them　in　their　chairs；　Marty。〃

For　a　moment　the　Sparrow　hesitated；　and　then；　with　a　sort　of　queer
reluctancy；　he　dropped　the　knife　on　the　table；　and　went　and　picked
up　the　strands　of　cord　from　the　floor。

No　one　spoke。　　The　Sparrow；　with　twitching　lips　as　he　worked；　and
worked　not　gently；　bound　first　Danglar　and　then　Skeeny　to　their
respective　chairs。　　Skeeny　for　the　most　part　kept　his　eyes　on　the
floor；　casting　only　furtive　glances　at　Rhoda　Gray's　revolver　muzzle。
But　Danglar　was　smiling　now。　　He　had　very　white　teeth。　　There　was
something　of　primal；　insensate　fury　in　the　hard…drawn；　parted　lips。
Somehow　he　seemed　to　remind　Rhoda　Gray　of　a　beast；　stung　to　madness；
but　impotent　behind　the　bars　of　its　cage；　as　it　showed　its　fangs。

〃We'll　go　now；　Marty；〃　she　said　softly；　as　the　Sparrow　finished。

She　motioned　the　Sparrow　with　an　imperious　little　nod　of　her　head
to　the　door。　　And　then；　following　the　other；　she　backed　to　the　door
herself；　and　halted　an　instant　on　the　threshold。

〃It　has　been　a　very　profitable　evening；　Mr。　Danglar；〃　she　said
coolly。　　〃I　have　you　to　thank　for　it。　　When　your　friends　come；　which
I　think　I　heard　you　say　would　be　in　another　hour　or　so；　I　hope　you
will　not　fail　to　convey　to　them　my　…〃

〃You　she…fiend！〃　　Danglar　had　found　his　voice　again。　　You'll　crawl
for　this！　　Do　you　understand？　and　I'll　show　you　inside　of
twenty…four　hours　what　you're　up　against；　you　…　you　…〃　　His　voice
broke　in　its　fury。　　The　veins　were　standing　out　on　the　side　of　his
neck　like　whipcords。　　He　could　just　move　his　forearms　a　little；　and
his　hands　reached　out　toward　her；　curved　like　claws。　　〃I'll　…〃

But　Rhoda　Gray　had　closed　the　door　behind　her；　and；　with　the　Sparrow；
was　retreating　down　the　stairs。


VII。　　FELLOW　THIEVES

Reaching　the　courtyard；　Rhoda　Gray　led　the　way　without　a　word
through　the　driveway；　and　finding　the　street　clear；　hurried　on
rapidly。　　Her　mind；　strangely　stimulated；　was　working　in　quick；
incisive　flashes。　　Her　work　was　not　yet　done。　　The　Sparrow　was　safe；
as　far　as　his　life　was　concerned；　but　her　possession　of　even　the
necklace　would　not　save　the　Sparrow　from　the　law。　　There　was　the
money　that　was　gone　from　the　safe。　　She　could　not　recover　that；　but
…　yes；　dimly；　she　began　to　see　a　way。　　She　swerved　suddenly　from
the　sidewalk　as　she　came　to　an　alleyway　…　which　had　been　her
objective　…　and　drew　the　Sparrow　in　with　her　out　of　sight　of　the
street。

The　Sparrow　gripped　at　her　hand。

〃The　White　Moll！〃　he　whispered　brokenly。　　〃God　bless　the　White
Moll！　　I　ain't　had　a　chance　to　say　it　before。　　You　saved　my　life；
and　I　…　I　…〃

In　the　semi…darkness　she　leaned　forward　and　laid　her　fingers　gently
over　the　Sparrow's　lips。

〃And　there's　no　time　to　say　it　now；　Marty；〃　she　said　quickly。　　〃You
are　not　out　of　this　yet。〃

He　swept　his　hand　across　his　eyes。

〃I　know　it；〃　he　said。　　〃I　got　to　get　those　shiners　back　up　there
somehow；　and　I　got　to　get　that　paper　they　planted　on　me。〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃Even　that　wouldn't　clear　you；〃　she　said。　　〃The　safe　has　been　looted
of　money；　as　well；　and　you　can't　replace　that。　　Even　with　only　the
money　gone；　who　would　they　first　naturally　suspect？　　You　are　known　as
a　safe…breaker；　you　have　served　a　term　for　it。　　You　asked　for　a　night
off　to　stay　with　your　mother　who　is　sick。　　You　left　Mr。　Hayden…Bond's；
we'll　say；　at　seven　or　eight　o'clock。　　It's　after　midnight　now。　　How
long　would　it　take　them　to　find　out　that　between　eight　and　midnight
you　had　not　only　never　been　near　your　mother；　but　could　not　prove　an
alibi　of　any　sort？　　If　you　told　the　truth　it　would　sound　absurd。　　No
one　in　their　sober　senses　would　believe　you。〃

The　Sparrow　looked　at　her　miserably。

〃My　God！〃　he　faltered。　　He　wet　his　lips。　　〃That's　true。〃

〃Marty；〃　she　said　quietly；　〃did　you　read　in　the　papers　that　I　had
been　arrested　last　night　for　theft；　caught　with　the　goods　on　me；
but　had　escaped？〃

The　Sparrow　hesitated。

〃Yes；　I　did；〃　he　said。　　And　then；　earnestly：　〃But　I　don't　believe
it！〃

〃It　was　true；　though；　Marty　…　all　except　that　I　wasn't　a　thief；〃
she　said　as　quietly　as　before。　　〃What　I　want　to　know　is；　in　spite
of　that；　would　you　trust　me　with　what　is　left　to　be　done　to…night；
if　I　tell　you　that　I　believe　I　can　get　you　out　of　this？〃

〃Sure；　I　would！〃　he　said　simply。　　〃I　don't　know　how　you　got　wise
about　all　this；　or　how　you　got　to　know　about　that　necklace；　but
any　of　our　crowd　would　trust　you　to　the　limit。　　Sure；　I'd　trust
you！　　You　bet　your　life！〃

〃Thank　you；　Marty；〃　she　said。　　〃Well；　then；　how　do　you　get　into　Mr。
Hayden…Bond's　house