the white moll-第25节

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could　have　bumped　you　off　when　you　went　for　those　papers；　but　if
you　went　that　far　you'd　come　farther；　and　that　wasn't　the　place　to
do　it；　and　we　couldn't　cover　ourselves　there　the　way　we　could　here。
This　is　the　place。　　We　brought　that　trick　table　here　a　while　ago；
as　soon　as　we　had　got　rid　of　Nicky　Viner。　　That　was　the　only　bit　of
stage　setting　we　had　to　do　to　make　the　story　ring　true　right　up　to
the　curtain；　in　case　it　was　necessary。　　It　wouldn't　have　been
necessary　if　you　and　the　White　Moll　had　both　come　together；　for
then　you　would　neither　of　you　have　got　any　further　than　that　other
room。　　It　would　have　ended　there。　　But　we　weren't　taking　any　chances。
I'll　pay　you　the　compliment　of　admitting　that　we　weren't　counting　on
getting　you　off　your　guard　any　too　easily　if；　as　it　happened；　you
came　alone；　for；　being　alone；　or　if　either　of　you　were　alone；　there
was　that　little　proposition　that　had　to　be　settled；　instead　of　just
knocking　you　on　the　head　out　there　in　the　dark　in　that　other　room；
and　so；　as　I　say；　we　weren't　overlooking　any　bets　on　account　of　the
little　trouble　it　took　to　plant　that　table　and　the　money。　　We　tried
to　think　of　everything！〃　　Danglar　paused　for　a　moment　to　mock　the
Adventurer　with　narrowed　eyes。　　〃That's　the　story；　here's　the　end。
I　hoped　I'd　get　you　both　together；　you　and　the　White　Moll。　　I　didn't。
But　I've　got　you。　　I　didn't　get　you　both　…　and　that's　what　gives　you
a　chance　for　your　life；　because　she's　worth　more　to　us　than　you　are。
If　you'd　been　together；　you　would　have　gone　out…together。　　As　it　is；
I'll　see　that　you　don't　do　any　more　harm　anyway；　but　you　get　one
chance。　　Where　is　she？　　If　you　answer　that；　you　will；　of　course；
answer　a　minor　question　and　locate　that　'leak'；　for　me；　that　I　was
speaking　about　a　moment　ago。　　But　we'll　take　the　main　thing　first。
And　you　can　take　your　choice　between　a　bullet　and　a　straight　answer。
Where　is　the　White　Moll？〃

Rhoda　Gray's　hand　felt　Out　along　the　wall　for　support。　　Was　this　a
dream；　some　ghastly；　soul…terrifying　nightmare！　　Danglar！　　Those
working　lips！　　That　callous　viciousness；　that　leer　in　the　degenerate
face。　　It　seemed　to　bring　a　weakness　to　her　limbs；　and　seek　to　rob
her　of　the　strength　to　stand。　　She　could　not　even　hope　against　hope；
she　knew　that　Danglar　was　in　deadly　earnest。　　Danglar　would　not　have
the　slightest　compunction；　let　alone　hesitation；　in　carrying　out　his
threat。　　Terrified　now；　her　eyes　sought　the　Adventurer。　　Didn't　the
Adventurer　know　Danglar　as　she　knew　him；　didn't　he　realize　that
there　was　deadly　earnestness　behind　Danglar's　words？　　Was　the　man
mad；　that　he　stood　there　utterly　unmoved；　as　though　he　had　no
consideration　on　earth　other　than　those　carefully　manicured　finger
nails　of　his！

And　then　Danglar　spoke　again。

〃Do　you　notice　anything　special　about　this　gun　I'm　holding　on　you？〃
he　demanded；　in　low　menace。

The　Adventurer　did　not　even　look　up。

〃Oh；　yes；〃　he　said　indifferently。　　〃I　fancy　you　got　it　out　of　a　dime
novel；　didn't　you？　　One　of　those　silencer　things。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Danglar　grimly；　〃one　of　those　silencer　things。　　Where　is
she？〃

The　Adventurer　made　no　answer。

The　color　in　Danglar's　face　deepened。

〃I'll　make　things　even　a　little　plainer　to　you；〃　he　said　with　brutal
coolness。　　〃There　are　two　men　in　our　organization　from　whom　it　is
absolutely　impossible　that　that　leak　could　have　come。　　Those　two
men　followed　you　from　Perlmer's　office　to　this　place。　　They　are　in
the　next　room　now　waiting　for　me　to　get　through　with　you；　and　ready
for　anything　if　they　are　needed。　　But　they　won't　be　needed。　　That's
not　the　way　it　works　out。　　This　gun　won't　make　much　noise；　and　it
isn't　likely　to　arouse　the　inmates　of　this　dive；　but　even　if　it
does；　it　doesn't　matter　very　much　…　we　aren't　going　out　by　the　front
door。　　The　two　of　them；　the　minute　they　hear　the　shot；　slip　in　here；
and　lock　the　door　…　you　see　it's　got　a　good；　husky　bolt　on　it　…　and
then　we　beat　it　by　the　fire　escape　that　runs　past　that　window　there。
Get　the　idea？　　And　don't　kid　yourself　into　thinking　that　I　am　taking
any　risk　with　the　consequences　on　account　of　the　coroner　having　got
busy　because　a　man　was　found　here　dead　on　the　floor。　　Nicky　Viner
stands　for　that。　　It　isn't　the　first　time　he's　been　suspected　of
murder。　　See？　　Nicky　was　easy。　　He'd　crawl　on　his　hands　and　knees
from　the　Battery　to　Harlem　any　time　if　you　held　a　little　money　in
front　of　his　nose。　　He's　been　fooled　up　to　the　eyes　with　a　faked…up
message　that　he's　to　deliver　secretly　to　some　faked…up　crooks　out
West。　　He's　just　about　starting　away　on　the　train　now。　　And　that's
where　the　police　nab　him　…　running　away　from　the　murder　he's　pulled
in　his　room　here　to…night。　　Looks　kind　of　bad　for　Nicky　Viner　…　eh？
We　should　worry！　　It　cost　a　hundred　dollars　and　his　ticket。　　Cheap；
wasn't　it？　　I　guess　you're　worth　that　much　to　us。〃

A　dull　horror　seized　upon　Rhoda　Gray。　　It　seemed　to　clog　and　confuse
her　mind。　　She　fought　it　frantically；　striving　to　think；　and　to
think　clearly。　　Every　detail　seemed　to　have　been　planned　with　Satanic
foresight　and　ingenuity；　and　yet　…　and　yet　…　　Yes；　in　one　little
thing；　Danglar　had　made　a　mistake。　　That　was　why　she　was　here　now；
that　was　why　those　men　in　that　next　room　had　not　been　out　in　the　hall
on　guard；　or　even　out　in　the　street　on　watch　for　her。　　Danglar　had
naturally　gone　upon　the　supposition　that　the　Adventurer　and　herself
worked　hand　in　glove；　whereas　they　were　as　much　in　the　dark
concerning　each　other's　movements　as　Danglar　himself　was。　　Therefore
Danglar；　and　logically　enough　from　his　viewpoint；　had　jumped　to　the
conclusion　that；　since　they　had　not　come　together；　only　one　of　them；
the　Adventurer；　was　acting　in　the　affair　to…night；　and　…　Danglar's
voice　was　rasping　in　her　ears。

〃I'm　not　going　to　stay　here　all　night！〃　he　snarled。　　〃You've　got
one　chance。　　I've　told　you　what　it　is。　　You're　lucky　to　have　it。
We'd　sooner　have　you　out　of　the　way　for　keeps。　　I'd　rather　drop　you
in　your　tracks　than　let　you　live。　　Where　is　the　White　Moll？〃

The　Adventurer　was　side　face　to　the　doorway　again；　and　Rhoda　Gray
saw　him　smile　contemptuously　at　Danglar　now。

〃Really；〃　he　said　blandly；　〃I　haven't　the　slightest　idea　in　the
world。〃

Danglar　laughed　ironically。

〃You　lie！〃　he　flung　out　hoarsely。　　〃Do　you　think　you　can　get　away
with　that？　　Well；　think　again！　　Sooner　or　later；　it　will　be　all　the
same　whether　you　talk　or　not。　　We　caught　you　to…night　in　a　trap；
we'll　catch　her　in　another。　　Our　hand　doesn't　show　here。　　She'll
think　that　Nicky　Viner　was　a　little　too　much　for　you；　that's　all。
Come　on；　now　…　quick！　　Are　you　fool　enough　to　misunderstand？　　The
'don't　know'　stuff　won't　get　you　by！〃

〃The　misunderstanding　seems　to　be　on　your　side。〃　　There　was　a　cold；
irritating　deliberation　in　the　Adventurer's　voice。　　〃I　repeat　that
I　do　not　know　where　the　young　lady　you　refer　to　could　be　found；　but
I　did　not　make　that　statement　with　any　idea　that　you　would　believe
it。　　To　a　cur；　I　suppose　it　is　necessary　to　add　that；　even　if　I　did
know；　I　should　take　pleasure　in　seeing　you　damned　before　I　told　you。〃

Danglar's　face　was　like　a　devil's。　　His　revolver　held　a　steady　bead
on　the　Adventurer's　head。

〃I'll　give　you　a　last　chance。〃　　He　spoke　through　closed　teeth。
〃I'll　fire　when　I　count　three。　　One！〃

A　horrible　fascination　held　Rhoda　Gray。　　If　she　cried　out；　it　was
more　likely　than　not　to　cause　Danglar　to　fire　on　the　instant。　　It
would　not　save　the　Adventurer　in　any　case。　　It　would　be　but　the
signal；　too；　for　those　two　men　in　the　next　room　to　rush　in　here。

〃Two！〃

It　seemed　as　though；　not　in　the　hope　that　it　would　do　any　good；　but
because　she　was　going　mad　with　horror；　that　she　would　scream　out
until　the　place　rang　and　rang　again　with　her　outcries。　　Even　her
soul　was　in　frantic　panic。　　Quick！　　Quick！　　She　must　act！　　She
must！　　But　how？　　Was　there　only　one　way？　　She　was　conscious　that　she
had　drawn　her　revolver　as　though　by　instinct。　　Danglar's　life；　or
the　Adventurer's！　　But　she　shrank　from　taking　life。　　Her　lips　were
breathing　a　prayer。　　They　had　called　her　a　crack　shot　back　there
in　South　America；　when　she　had　hunted　and　ridden　with　her　father。
It　was　easy　enough　to　hit　Danglar；　but　that　might　mean　Danglar's
life；　it　was　not　so　easy　to　hit　Danglar's　arm；　or　Danglar's　hand；
or　the　revolver　Danglar　held；　and　if　she　risked　that　and　missed；
she。。。


〃Thr　…〃

There　was　the　roar　of　a　report　that　went　racketing　through　the
silence　like　a　cannon　shot；　and　the　short；　vicious　tongue…flame
from　Rhoda　Gray's　revolver　muzzle　stabbed　through　the　black。　　There
was　a　scream　of　mingled　surprise　and　fury；　and　the　revolver　in
Danglar's　hand　clattered　to　the　floor。　　She　saw　the　Adventurer
spring；　quick　as　a　panther；　at　the　other；　and　saw　him　whip　blow
after　blow　with　terrific　force　full　into　Danglar's　face；　she　heard
a　rush　of　feet　coming　from　the　corridor　behind　her；　and　she　flung
herself　forward　into　the　inner　room；　and；　panting；　snatched　at　the
door　and　slammed　it　shut；　and　groping　for　the　bolt；　found　it；　and
shot　it　home　in　its　grooves。

And　she　stood　there；　weak　for　the　moment；　and　drew　her　hand　across
her　eyes　…　and　behind　her　they　pounded　on　the　door；　and　there　came
a　bur