the white moll-第3节

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let　me　go　and　get　a　doctor；　won't　you；　Nan？〃

〃Wait！〃　said　Gypsy　Nan　hoarsely。　　〃Youse're　de　only　chance　I　got。
Will　youse　swear　youse　won't　t'row　me　down　if　I　tells　youse
somet'ing？　　I　ain't　got　no　other　way。　　Will　youse　swear　youse'll
see　me　through？〃

〃Of　course；　Nan；〃　said　Rhoda　Gray　soothingly。　　〃Of　course；　I　will；
Nan。　　I　promise。

Gypsy　Nan　came　up　on　her　elbow。

〃Dat　ain't　good　enough！〃　she　cried　out。　　〃A　promise　ain't　good
enough！　　For　Gawd's　sake；　come　across　all　de　way！　　Swear　youse'll
keep　mum　an'　see　me　through！〃

〃Yes；　Nan〃　…　Rhoda　Gray's　eyes　smiled　reassurance　…〃I　swear　it。
But　you　will　be　all　right　again　in　the　morning。〃

〃Will　I？　　You　think　so；　do　you？　　Well；　I　can　only　say　that　I　wish
I　did！〃

Rhoda　Gray　leaned　sharply　forward；　staring　in　amazement　at　the
figure　on　the　bed。　　The　woman's　voice　was　the　same；　it　was　still
hoarse；　still　heavy；　and　the　words　came　with　painful　effort；　but
the　English　was　suddenly　perfect　now。

〃Nan；　what　is　it？　　I　don't　understand！〃　she　said　tensely。　　〃What
do　you　mean？〃

〃You　think　you　know　what's　the　matter　with　me。〃　　There　was　a
curious　mockery　in　the　weak　voice。　　〃You　think　I've　drunk　myself
into　this　state。　　You　think　I'm　on　the　verge　of　the　D。T。's　now。
That　empty　bottle　under　the　bed　proves　it；　doesn't　it？　　And　anybody
around　here　will　tell　you　that　Gypsy　Nan　has　thrown　enough　empties
out　of　the　window　there　to　stock　a　bottle　factory　for　years；　some
of　them　on　the　flat　roof　just　outside　the　window；　some　of　them　on
the　roof　of　the　shed　below；　and　some　of　them　down　into　the　yard；
just　depending　on　how　drunk　she　was　and　how　far　she　could　throw。
And　that　proves　it；　too；　doesn't　it？　　Well；　maybe　it　does；　that's
what　I　did　it　for；　but　I　never　touched　the　stuff；　not　a　drop　of　it；
from　the　day　I　came　here。　　I　didn't　dare　touch　it。　　I　had　to　keep
my　wits。　　Last　night　you　thought　I　was　drunk　when　you　found　me　in
the　doorway　downstairs。　　I　wasn't。　　I　was　too　sick　and　weak　to　get
up　here。　　I　almost　told　you　then；　only　I　was　afraid；　and　…　　and　I
thought　that　perhaps　I'd　be　all　right　to…day。〃

〃Oh；　I　didn't　know！〃　Rhoda　Gray　was　on　her　knees　beside　the　bed。
There　was　no　room　to　question　the　truth　of　the　woman's　words；　it
was　in　Gypsy　Nan's　eyes；　in　the　struggling；　labored　voice。

〃Yes。〃　　Gypsy　Nan　clutched　at　the　shawl　around　her　neck；　and
shivered。　　〃I　thought　I　might　be　all　right　to…day；　and　that　I'd
get　better。　　But　I　didn't。　　And　now　I've　got　about　a　chance　in　a
hundred。　　I　know。　　It's　my　heart。〃

〃You　mean　you've　been　alone　here；　sick；　since　last　night？〃　　There
was　anxiety；　perplexity；　in　Rhoda　Gray's　face。　　〃Why　didn't　you
call　some　one？　　Why　did　you　even　hold　me　back　a　few　minutes　ago；
when　you　admit　yourself　that　you　need　immediate　medical　assistance
so　badly？〃

〃Because；〃　said　Gypsy　Nan；　〃if　I've　got　a　chance　at　all；　I'd　finish
it　for　keeps　if　a　doctor　came　here。　　I　…　I'd　rather　go　out　this　way
than　in　that　horrible　thing　they　call　the　'chair。'　　Oh；　my　God；
don't　you　understand　that！　　I've　seen　pictures　of　it！　　It's　a
horrible　thing　…　a　horrible　thing　…　horrible！〃

〃Nan〃　…　Rhoda　Gray　steadied　her　voice　…　you　re　delirious。　　You　do
not　know　what　you　are　saying。　　There　isn't　any　horrible　thing　to
frighten　you。　　Now　you　just　lie　quietly　here。　　I'll　only　be　a　few
minutes；　and　…〃　She　stopped　abruptly　as　her　wrists　were　suddenly
imprisoned　in　a　frantic　grip。

〃You　swore　it！〃　Gypsy　Nan　was　whispering　feverishly。　　〃You　swore
it！　　They　say　the　White　Moll　never　snitched。　　That's　the　one　chance
I've　got；　and　I'm　going　to　take　it。　　I'm　not　delirious　…　not　yet。
I　wish　to　God　it　was　nothing　more　than　that！　　Look！〃

With　a　low；　startled　cry；　Rhoda　Gray　was　on　her　feet。　　Gypsy　Nan
was　gone。　　A　sweep　of　the　woman's　hand；　and　the　spectacles　were　off；
the　gray…streaked　hair　a　tangled　wig　upon　the　pillow　…　and　Rhoda　Gray
found　herself　staring　in　a　numbed　sort　of　way　at　a　dark…haired　woman
who　could　not　have　been　more　than　thirty；　but　whose　face；　with　its
streaks　of　grime　and　dirt；　looked　grotesquely　and　incongruously　old。


II。　　SEVENTHREENINE

For　a　moment　neither　spoke；　then　Gypsy　Nan　broke　the　silence　with
a　bitter　laugh。　　She　threw　back　the　bedclothes；　and；　gripping　at
the　edge　of　the　bed；　sat　up。

〃The　White　Moll！　　The　words　rattled　in　her　throat。　　A　fleck　of　blood
showed　on　her　lips。　　〃Well；　you　know　now！　　You're　going　to　help　me；
aren't　you？　　I　…　I've　got　to　get　out　of　here　…　get　to　a　hospital。〃

Rhoda　Gray　laid　her　hands　firmly　on　the　other's　shoulders。

〃Get　back　into　bed；〃　she　said　steadily。　　〃Do　you　want　to　make
yourself　worse？　　You'll　kill　yourself！〃

Gypsy　Nan　pushed　her　away。

〃Don't　make　me　use　up　what　little　strength　I've　got　left　in　talking；〃
she　cried　out　piteously；　and　suddenly　wrung　her　hands　together。
〃I'm　wanted　by　the　police。　　If　I'm　caught；　it's　　…　it's　that　'chair。'
I　couldn't　have　a　doctor　brought　here；　could　I？　　How　long　would
it　be　before　he　saw　that　Gypsy　Nan　was　a　fake？　　I　can't　let　you　go
and　have　an　ambulance；　say；　come　and　get　me；　can　I；　even　with　the
disguise　hidden　away？　　They'd　say　this　is　where　Gypsy　Nan　lives。
There's　something　queer　here。　　Where　is　Gypsy　Nan？　　I've　got　to　get
away　from　here　…　away　from　Gypsy　Nan　…　don't　you　understand？　　It's
death　one　way；　maybe　it　is　the　other；　maybe　it'll　finish　me　to　get
out　of　here；　but　it's　the　only　thing　left　to　do。　　I　thought　some
one；　some　one　that　I　could　trust；　never　mind　who；　would　have　come
to…day；　but…but　no　one　came；　and　…　and　maybe　now　it　s　too　late；　but
there's　just　the　one　chance；　and　I've　got　to　take　it。〃　　Gypsy　Nan
tore　at　the　shawl　around　her　throat　as　though　it　choked　her；　and
flung　it　from　her　shoulders。　　Her　eyes　were　gleaming　with　an
unhealthy；　feverish　light。　　〃Don't　you　see？　　We　get　out　on　the
street。　　I　collapse　there。　　You　find　me。　　I　tell　you　my　name　is
Charlotte　Green。　　That's　all　you　know。　　There　isn't　much　chance
that　anybody　at　the　hospital　would　recognize　me。　　I've　got　money。
I　take　a　private　room。　　Don't　you　understand？〃

Rhoda　Gray's　face　had　gone　a　little　white。　　There　was　no　doubt　about
the　woman's　serious　condition；　and　yet　…　and　yet　…　　She　stood　there
hesitant。　　There　must　be　some　other　way！　　It　was　not　likely　even
that　the　woman　had　strength　enough　to　walk　down　the　stairs　to　begin
with。　　Strange　things　had　come　to　her　in　this　world　of　shadow；　but
none　before　like　this。　　If　the　law　got　the　woman　it　would　cost　the
woman　her　life；　if　the　woman　did　not　receive　immediate　and　adequate
medical　assistance　it　would　cost　the　woman　her　life。　　Over　and　over
in　her　brain；　like　a　jangling　refrain；　that　thought　repeated　itself。
It　was　not　like　her　to　stand　hesitant　before　any　emergency；　no
matter　what　that　emergency　might　be。　　She　had　never　done　it　before；
but　now。。。

〃For　God's　sake；〃　Gypsy　Nan　implored；　〃don't　stand　there　looking　at
me！　　Can't　you　understand？　　If　I'm　caught；　I　go　out。　　Do　you　think
I'd　have　lived　in　this　filthy　hole　if　there　had　been　any　other　way
to　save　my　life？　　Are　you　going　to　let　me　die　here　like　a　dog？　　Get
me　my　clothes；　oh；　for　God's　sake；　get　them；　and　give　me　the　one
chance　that's　left！〃

A　queer　little　smile　came　to　Rhoda　Gray's　lips；　and　her　shoulders
straightened　back。

〃Where　are　your　clothes？〃　she　asked。

〃God　bless　you！〃　The　tears　were　suddenly　streaming　down　the　grimy
face。　　〃God　bless　the　White　Moll！　　It's　true！　　It's　true　…　all　they
said　about　her！〃　　The　woman　had　lost　control　of　herself。

〃Nan；　keep　your　nerve！〃　ordered　Rhoda　Gray　almost　brutally。　　It　was
the　White　Moll　in　another　light　now；　cool；　calm；　collected；
efficient。　　Her　eyes　swept　Gypsy　Nan。　　The　woman；　who　had　obviously
flung　herself　down　on　the　bed　fully　dressed　the　night　before；　was
garbed　in　coarse；　heavy　boots；　the　cheapest　of　stockings　which　were
also　sadly　in　need　of　repair；　a　tattered　and　crumpled　skirt　of　some
rough　material；　and；　previously　hidden　by　the　shawl；　a　soiled；
greasy　and　spotted　black　blouse。　　Rhoda　Gray's　forehead　puckered
into　a　frown。　　〃What　about　your　hands　and　face…they　go　with　the
clothes；　don't　they？〃

〃It'll　wash　off；〃　whispered　Gypsy　Nan。　　〃It's　just　some　stuff　I　keep
in　a　box…over　there　…　the　ceiling…〃　Her　voice　trailed　off　weakly；
then　with　a　desperate　effort　strengthened　again。　　〃The　door！　　I
forgot　the　door！　　It　isn't　locked！　　Lock　the　door　first！　　Lock　the
door！　　Then　you　take　the　candle　over　there　on　the　washstand；　and
…　and　I'll　show　you。　　You　…　you　get　the　things　while　I'm　undressing。
I　…　I　can　help　myself　that　much。〃

Rhoda　Gray　crossed　quickly　to　the　door；　turned　the　key　in　the　lock；
and　retraced　her　steps　to　the　washstand　that　stood　in　the　shadows
against　the　wall　on　the　opposite　side　from　the　bed；　and　near　the　far
end　of　the　garret。　　Here　she　found　the　short　stub　of　a　candle　that
was　stuck　in　the　mouth　of　a　gin　bottle；　and　matches　lying　beside　it。
She　lighted　the　candle；　and　turned　inquiringly　to　Gypsy　Nan。

The　woman　pointed　to　the　end　of　the　garret　where　the　roof　sloped
sharply　down　until；　at　the　wall　itself；　it　was　scarcely　four　feet
above　the　floor。

〃Go　down　there。　　Right　to　the　wall　…　in　the　center；〃　instructed
Gypsy　Nan　weakly。　　And　then；　as　Rhoda　Gray　obeyed：　〃Now　push　up　on
that　wid