the white moll-第4节

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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　wide　board　in　the　ceiling。〃

Rhoda　Gray。　　already　in　a　stooped　position；　reached　up；　and　pushed
at　a　rough；　unplaned　board。　　It　swung　back　without　a　sound；　like　a
narrow　trap…door；　until　it　rested　in　an　upright　position　against　the
outer　frame　of　the　house；　disclosing　an　aperture　through　which；　by
standing　erect；　Rhoda　Gray　easily　thrust　her　head　and　shoulders。

She　raised　the　candle　then　through　the　opening　…　and　suddenly　her
dark　eyes　widened　in　amazement。　　It　was　a　hiding　place；　not　only
ingenious；　but　exceedingly　generous　in　expanse。　　As　far　as　one
could　reach　the　ceiling　metamorphosed　itself　into　a　most　convenient
shelf。　　And　it　had　been　well　utilized！　　It　held　a　most　astounding
collection　of　things。　　There　was　a　cashbox；　but　the　cashbox　was
apparently　wholly　inadequate　…　there　must　have　been　thousands　of
dollars　in　those　piles　of　banknotes　that　were　stacked　beside　it！
There　was　a　large　tin　box；　the　cover　off；　containing　some　black；
pastelike　substance　…　the　〃stuff；〃　presumably；　that　Gypsy　Nan　used
on　her　face　and　hands。　　There　was　a　bunch　of　curiously　formed　keys；
several　boxes　of　revolver　cartridges；　an　electric　flashlight；　and
a　great　quantity　of　the　choicest　brands　of　tinned　and　bottled
fruits　and　provisions　…　and　a　little　to　one　side；　evidently　kept
ready　for　instant　use；　a　suit　of　excellent　material；　underclothing；
silk　stockings　shoes　and　hat　were　neatly　piled　together。

Rhoda　Gray　took　the　clothing；　and　went　back　to　the　bedside。　　Gypsy
Nan　had　made　little　progress　in　disrobing。　　It　seemed　about　all　the
woman　could　do　to　cling　to　the　edge　of　the　cot　and　sit　upright。

〃What　does　all　this　mean；　Nan；〃　she　asked　tensely；　〃all　those　things
up　there　…　that　money？〃

Gypsy　Nan　forced　a　twisted　smile。

〃It　means　I　know　how　bad　I　am；　or　I　wouldn't　have　let　you　see　what
you　have；〃　she　answered　heavily。　　〃It　means　that　there　isn't　any
other　way。　　Hurry！　　Get　these　things　off！　　Get　me　dressed！〃

But　it　took　a　long　time。　　Gypsy　Nan　seemed　with　every　moment　to
grow　weaker。　　The　lamp　on　the　chair　went　out　for　want　of　oil。　　There
was　only　the　guttering　candle　in　the　gin　bottle　to　give　light。　　It
threw　weird；　flickering　shadows　around　the　garret；　it　seemed　to
enhance　the　already　deathlike　pallor　of　the　woman；　as；　using　the
pitcher　of　water　and　the　basin　from　the　washstand　now；　Rhoda　Gray
removed　the　grime　from　Gypsy　Nan's　face　and　hands。

It　was　done　at　last　…　and　where　there　had　once　been　Gypsy　Nan；
haglike　and　repulsive；　there　was　now　a　stylishly；　even　elegantly；
dressed　woman　of　well　under　middle　age。　　The　transformation　seemed
to　have　acted　as　a　stimulant　upon　Gypsy　Nan。　　She　laughed　with
nervous　hilarity　she　even　tried　valiantly　to　put　on　a　pair　of　new
black　kid　gloves；　but；　failing　in　this；　pushed　them　unsteadily　into
the　pocket　of　her　coat。

〃I'm　…　I'm　all　right；〃　she　asserted　fiercely；　as　Rhoda　Gray；
pausing　in　the　act　of　gathering　up　the　discarded　garments；　regarded
her　anxiously。　　〃Bring　me　a　package　of　that　money　after　you've　put
those　things　away　…　yes；　and　you'll　find　a　flashlight　there。　　We'll
need　it　going　down　the　stairs。〃

Rhoda　Gray　made　no　answer。　　There　was　no　hesitation　now　in　her
actions；　as；　to　the　pile　of　clothing　in　her　arms；　she　added　the
revolver　that　lay　on　the　blanket；　and；　returning　to　the　little
trap…door　in　the　ceiling；　hid　them　away；　but　her　brain　was　whirling
again　in　a　turmoil　of　doubt。　　This　was　madness；　utter；　stark；　blind
madness；　this　thing　that　she　was　doing！　　It　was　suicide；　literally
that；　nothing　less　than　suicide　for　one　in　Gypsy　Nan's　condition　to
attempt　this　thing。　　But　the　woman　would　certainly　die　here；　too；
with　out　medical　assistance　…　only　there　was　the　police！　　Rhoda
Gray's　face；　as　she　stood　upright　in　the　little　aperture　again；
throwing　the　wavering　candle…rays　around　her；　seemed　suddenly　to
have　grown　pinched　and　wan。　　The　police！　　The　police！　　It　was　her
conscience；　then；　that　was　gnawing　at　her　…　because　of　the　police！
Was　that　it？　　Well；　there　was　also；　then；　another　side。　　Could　she
turn　informer；　traitor；　become　a　female　Judas　to　a　dying　woman；　who
had　sobbed　and　thanked　her　Maker　because　she　had　found　some　one　whom
she　believed　she　could　trust？　　That　was　a　hideous　and　an　abominable
thing　to　do！　　〃You　swore　it！　　You　swore　you'd　see　me　through！〃　…　the
words　came　and　rang　insistently　in　her　ears。　　The　sweet；　piquant
little　face　set　in　hard；　determined　lines。　　Mechanically　she　picked
up　the　flashlight　and　a　package　of　the　banknotes；　lowered　the　board
in　the　ceiling　into　place；　and　returned　to　Gypsy　Nan。

〃I'm　ready；　if　there　is　no　other　way；〃　she　said　soberly；　as　she
watched　the　other　tuck　the　money　away　inside　her　waist。　　〃I　said　I
would　see　you　through；　and　I　will。　　But　I　doubt　if　you　are　strong
enough；　even　with　what　help　I　can　give　you；　to　get　down　the　stairs；
and　even　if　you　can；　I　am　afraid　with　all　my　soul　of　the　consequences
to　you；　and　…〃

Gypsy　Nan　blew　out　the　candle；　and　staggered　to　her　feet。

〃There　isn't　any　other　way。〃　　She　leaned　heavily　on　Rhoda　Gray's
arm。　　〃Can't　you　see　that？　　Don't　you　think　I　know？　　Haven't　you
seen　enough　here　to　convince　you　of　that？　　I　…　I'm　just　spilling
the　dice　for　…　for　perhaps　the　last　time　…　but　it's　the　only　chance
…　the　only　chance。　　Go　on！〃　she　urged　tremulously。　　〃Shoot　the　glim；
and　get　me　to　the　door。　　And　…　and　for　the　love　of　God；　don't　make
a　sound！　　It's　all　up　if　we're　seen　going　out！〃

The　flashlight's　ray　danced　in　crazy　gyrations　as　the　two　figures
swayed　and　crept　across　the　garret。　　Rhoda　Gray　unlocked　the　door；
and；　as　they　passed　out；　locked　it　again　on　the　outside。

〃Hide　the　key！〃　whispered　Gypsy　Nan。　　〃See　…　that　crack　in　the　floor
under　the　partition！　　Slip　it　in　there！〃

The　flashlight　guiding　her；　Rhoda　Gray　stooped　down　to　where；
between　the　rough　attic　flooring　and　the　equally　rough　boarding　of
the　garret　partition；　there　was　a　narrow　space。　　She　pushed　the　key
in　out　of　sight；　and　then；　with　her　arm　around　Gypsy　Nan's　waist；
and　with　the　flashlight　at　cautious　intervals　winking　ahead　of　her
through　the　darkness；　she　began　to　descend　the　stairs。

It　was　slow　work；　desperately　slow；　both　because　they　dared　not
make　the　slightest　noise；　and　because；　too；　as　far　as　strength　was
concerned；　Gypsy　Nan　was　close　to　the　end　of　her　endurance。　　Down
one　flight；　and　then　the　other；　they　went；　resting　at　every　few
steps；　leaning　back　against　the　wall；　black　shadows　that　merged
with　the　blackness　around　them；　the　flashlight　used　only　when
necessity　compelled　it；　lest　its　gleam　might　attract　the　attention
of　some　other　occupant　of　the　house。　　And　at　times　Gypsy　Nan's　head
lay　cheek　to　Rhoda　Gray's；　and　the　other's　body　grew　limp　and
became　a　great　weight；　so　heavy　that　it　seemed　she　could　no　longer
support　it。

They　gained　the　street　door；　hung　there　tensely　for　a　moment　to
make　sure　they　were　not　observed　by　any　chance　passer…by；　then
stepped　out　on　the　sidewalk。　　Gypsy　Nan　spoke　then：

〃I　…　I　can't　go　much　farther；〃　she　faltered。　　〃But　…　but　it　doesn't
matter　now　we're　out　of　the　house　…　it　doesn't　matter　where　you
find　me　…　only　let's　try　a　few　steps　more。〃

Rhoda　Gray　had　slipped　the　flashlight　inside　her　blouse。

〃Yes；〃　she　said。　　Her　breath　was　coming　heavily。　　〃It's　all　right；
Nan。　　I　understand。〃

They　walked　on　a　little　way　up　the　block；　and　then　Gypsy　Nan's　grasp
suddenly　tightened　on　Rhoda　Gray's　arm。

〃Play　the　game！〃　　Gypsy　Nan's　voice　was　scarcely　audible。　　〃You'll
play　the　game；　won't　you？　　You'll　…　you'll　see　me　through。　　That's
a　good　name　…　as　good　as　any　…　Charlotte　Green　…　that's　all　you　know
…　but　…　but　don't　leave　me　alone　with　them　…　you　…　you'll　come　to
the　hospital　with　me；　won't　you　…　I　…〃

Gypsy　Nan　had　collapsed　in　a　heap　on　the　sidewalk。

Rhoda　Gray　glanced　swiftly　around　her。　　In　the　squalid　tenement
before　which　she　stood　there　would　be　no　help　of　the　kind　that　was
needed。　　There　would　be　no　telephone　in　there　by　means　of　which　she
could　summon　an　ambulance。　　And　then　her　glance　rested　on　a　figure
far　up　the　block　under　a　street　lamp　…　a　policeman。　　She　bent
hurriedly　over　the　prostrate　woman；　whispered　a　word　of
encouragement；　and　ran　in　the　officer's　direction。

As　she　drew　closer　to　the　policeman；　she　called　out　to　him。　　He
turned　and　came　running　toward；　and；　as　he　reached　her；　after　a
sharp　glance　into　her　face；　touched　his　helmet　respectfully。

〃What's　wrong　with　the　White　Moll　to…night？〃　he　asked　pleasantly。

〃There's　…　there's　a　woman　down　there〃　…　Rhoda　Gray　was　breathless
from　her　run　…　〃on　the　sidewalk。　　She　needs　help　at　once。〃

〃Drunk？〃　inquired　the　officer　laconically。

〃No；　I'm　sure　it's　anything　but　that；〃　Rhoda　Gray　answered　quickly。
〃She　appears　to　be　very　sick。　　I　think　you　had　better　summon　an
ambulance　without　delay。〃

〃All　right！〃　agreed　the　officer。　　〃There's　a　patrol　box　down　there
in　the　direction　you　came　from。　　We'll　have　a　look　at　her　on　the
way。〃　　He　started　briskly　forward　with　Rhoda　Gray　beside　him。　　〃Who
is　she　d'ye　know？〃　he　asked。

〃S