the white moll-第41节

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and　his　ingeniously　contorted　face；　and　she　could　see　Pinkie　Bonn's
pasty…white；　drug…stamped　countenance

It　was　not　a　large　room。　　The　two　men　in　the　opposite　corner　along
the　wall　from　her　were　scarcely　more　than　ten　feet　away。　　They　swung
the　washstand　out　from　the　wall；　and　the　Pug；　going　in　behind　it；
began　to　work　on　one　of　the　wall　boards。　　Pinkie　Bonn；　an　unlighted
cigarette　dangling　from　his　lip；　leaned　over　the　washstand　watching
his　companion。

A　minute　passed　…　another。　　It　was　still　in　the　room；　except　only
for　the　distant　sounds　of　the　world　outside　…　a　clatter　of　wheels
upon　the　pavement；　the　muffled　roar　of　the　elevated；　the　clang　of　a
trolley　bell。　　And　then　the　Pug　began　to　mutter　to　himself。　　Rhoda
Gray　smiled　a　little　grimly。　　She　was　not　the　only　one；　it　would
appear；　who　experienced　difficulty　with　old　Jake　Luertz's　crafty
hiding　place！

〃Say；　dis　is　de　limit！〃　the　Pug　growled　out　suddenly。　　〃Dere's　more
damned　knots　in　dis　board　dan　I　ever　save　in　any　piece　of　wood　in　me
life　before；　an'　…〃　　He　drew　back　abruptly　from　the　wall；　twisting
his　head　sharply　around。　　〃D'ye　hear　dat；　Pinkie！〃　he　whispered
tensely。　　〃Quick！　　Put　out　de　light！　　Quick！　　Dere's　some　one　down
at　de　front　door！〃

Rhoda　Gray　felt　the　blood　ebb　from　her　face。　　She　had　heard　nothing
save　the　rattle　and　bump　of　a　wagon　along　the　street　below；　but　she
had　had　reason　to　appreciate　on　a　certain　occasion　before　that　the
Pug；　alias　the　Adventurer；　was　possessed　of　a　sense　of　hearing　that
was　abnormally　acute。　　If　it　was　some　one　else　…　who　was　it？　　What
would　it　mean　to　her？　　What　complication　here　in　this　room　would
result？　　What。。。

The　light　was　out。　　Pinkie　Bonn　had　stepped　silently　across　the
room　to　the　gas　jet　near　the　door。　　Her　eyes；　strained；　she　could
just　make　out　the　Adventurer's　form　kneeling　by　the　wall；　and　then
…　was　she　mad！　　Was　the　faint　night…light　of　the　city　filtering　in
through　the　window　mocking　her？　　The　Adventurer；　hidden　from　his
companion　by　the　washstand；　was　working　swiftly　and　without　a
sound　…　or　else　it　was　a　phantasm　of　shadows　that　tricked　her！
A　door　in　the　wall　opened；　the　Adventurer　thrust　in　his　hand；　drew
out　a　package；　and；　leaning　around；　slipped　it　quickly　into　the
bottom　of　the　washstand；　where；　with　its　little　doors；　there　was
a　most　convenient　and　very　commodious　apartment。　　He　turned　again
then；　seemed　to　take　something　from　his　pocket　and　place　it　in　the
opening　in　the　wall；　and　then　the　panel　closed。

It　had　taken　scarcely　more　than　a　second。

Rhoda　Gray　brushed　her　hand　across　her　eyes。　　No；　it　wasn't　a
phantasm！　　She　had　misjudged　the　Adventurer　…　quite　misjudged　him！
The　Adventurer；　even　with　one　of　the　gang　present　…　to　furnish　an
unimpeachable　alibi　for　him！　…　was　plucking　the　gang's　fruit　again
for　his　own　and　undivided　enrichment！

Pinkie　Bonn's　voice　came　in　a　guarded　whisper　from　the　doorway。

〃I　don't　hear　nothin'！〃　said　Pinkie　Bonn　anxiously。

The　Pug　tiptoed　across　the　room；　and　joined　his　companion。　　She
could　not　see　them　now；　but　apparently　they　stood　together　by　the
door　listening。　　They　stood　there　for　a　long　time。　　Occasionally
she　heard　them　whisper　to　each　other；　and　then　finally　the　Pug
spoke　in　a　less　guarded　voice。

〃All　right；〃　he　said。　　〃I　guess　me　nerves　are　gettin'　de　creeps。
Shoot　de　light　on　again；　an'　let's　get　back　on　de　job。　　An'　youse
can　take　a　turn　dis　time　pushin'　de　knots；　Pinkie；　mabbe　youse'll
have　better　luck。〃

The　light　went　on　again。　　Both　men　came　back　across　the　room；　and
now　Pinkie　Bonn　knelt　at　the　wall　while　the　Pug　leaned　over　the
washstand　watching　him。　　Pinkie　Bonn　was　not　immediately　successful；
the　Pug's　nerves；　of　which　he　had　complained；　appeared　shortly　to
get　the　better　of　him。

〃Fer　Gawd's　sake；　hurry　up！〃　he　urged　irritably。　　〃Or　else　lemme
take　another　crack　at　it；　Pinkie；　an'。。。

A　low；　triumphant　exclamation　came　from　Pinkie　Bonn；　as　the　small
door　in　the　wall　swung　suddenly　open。

〃There　she　is；　my　bucko！〃　he　grinned。　　〃Some　nifty　vault；　eh？　　The
old　guy…〃　　He　stopped。　　He　had　thrust　in　his　hand；　and　drawn　it　out
again。　　His　fingers　gripped　a　sheet　of　notepaper　…　but　he　was
seemingly　unconscious　of　that　fact。　　He　was　leaning　forward；
staring　into　the　aperture。　　〃It's　empty！〃　he　choked。

〃Wot's　dat？〃　cried　the　Pug；　and　sprang　to　his　companion's　side。
〃Youse're　crazy；　Pinkie！　　He　thrust　his　head　toward　the　opening
…　and　then　turned　and　stared　for　a　moment　helplessly　at　Pinkie　Bonn。
〃So　help　me！〃　he　said　heavily。　　〃It's　…　it's　empty。〃　　He　shook　his
fist　suddenly。　　〃De　Crab's　handed　us　one；　dat's　wot！　　But　de　Crab'll
get　his　fer　…〃

〃It　wasn't　the　Crab！〃　Pinkie　Bonn　was　stuttering　his　words。　　He
stood；　jaws　dropped；　his　eyes　glued　now　on　the　paper　in　his　hand。

The　Pug；　his　face　working；　the　personification　of　baffled　rage　and
intolerance；　leered　at　Pinkie　Bonn。　　〃Well；　who　was　it；　den？〃　he
snarled。

Pinkie　Bonn　licked　his　lips。

〃The　White　Moll！〃　He　licked　his　lips　again。

〃De　White　Moll！〃　echoed　the　Pug　incredulously。

〃Yes；〃　said　Pinkie　Bonn。　　〃Listen　to　what's　on　this　paper　that　I
fished　out　of　there　I　Listen！　　She's　got　all　the　nerve　of　the　devil！
'With　thanks；　and　my　most　grateful　appreciation　…　the　White　Moll。'〃

The　Pug　snatched　the　paper　from　Pinkie　Bonn's　hand；　as　though　to
assure　himself　that　it　was　true。　　Rhoda　Gray　smiled　faintly。　　It
was　good　acting；　very　excellently　done　…　seeing　that　the　Pug　had
written　the　note　and　placed　it　in　the　hiding　place　himself！

〃My　God！〃　mumbled　Pinkie　Bonn　thickly。　　〃I　ain't　afraid　of　most
things；　but　I'm　gettin'　scared　of　her。　　She　ain't　human。　　Last
night　you　know　what　happened；　and　the　night　before；　and　…〃　　He
gulped　suddenly。　　〃Let's　get　out　of　here　！〃　he　said　hurriedly。
The　Pug　made　no　reply；　except　for　a　muttered　growl　of　assent　and
a　nod　of　his　head。

The　two　men　crossed　the　room。　　The　light　went　out。　　Their　footsteps
echoed　back　as　they　descended　the　stairs；　then　died　away。

And　then　Rhoda　Gray　moved　for　the　first　time。　　She　brushed　aside
the　cretonne　hanging；　ran　to　the　washstand；　possessed　herself　of
the　package　she　had　seen　the　Pug　place　there；　and　then　made　her　way；
cautious　now　of　the　s1ightest　sound；　downstairs。

She　tried　the　door　that　led　into　the　secondhand　shop　from　the　hall；
found　it　unlocked；　and　with　a　little　gasp　of　relief　slipped　through；
and　closed　it　gently　behind　her。　　She　did　not　dare　risk　the　front
entrance。　　Pinkie　Bonn　and　the　Pug　were　not　far　enough　away　yet；　and
she　did　not　dare　wait　until　they　were。　　Too　bulky　to　take　the　risk
of　attempting　to　conceal　it　about　his　person　while　with　Pinkie　Bonn；
the　Pug；　it　was　obvious；　would　come　back　alone　for　that　package；　and
it　was　equally　obvious　that　he　would　not　be　long　in　doing　so。　　There
was　old　Luertz's　return　that　he　would　have　to　anticipate。　　It　would
not　take　wits　nearly　so　sharp　as　those　possessed　by　the　Pug　to　find
an　excuse　for　separating　promptly　from　Pinkie　Bonn！

Rhoda　Gray　groped　her　way　down　the　shop；　groped　her　way　to　a　back
door；　unbolted　it；　working　by　the　sense　of　touch；　and　let　herself
out　into　a　back　yard。　　Five　minutes　later　she　was　blocks　away；　and
hurrying　rapidly　back　toward　the　deserted　shed　in　the　lane　behind
Gypsy　Nan's　garret。

Her　lips　formed　into　a　tight　little　curve　as　she　went　along。　　There
was　still　work　to　do　to…night　…　if　this　package　really　contained
the　stolen　legacy　of　gems　left　by　Angel　Jack。　　She　had　first　of　all
to　reach　a　place　where　she　could　examine　the　package　with　safety；
then　a　place　to　hide　it　where　it　would　be　secure；　and　then　…　Danglar！

She　gained　the　lane；　stole　along　it；　and　disappeared　into　the　shed
through　the　broken　door　that　hung；　partially　open；　on　sagging　hinges。
Here　she　sought　a　corner；　and　crouched　down　so　that　her　body　would
smother　any　reflection　from　her　flashlight。　　And　now；　eagerly；
feverishly；　she　began　to　undo　the　package；　and　then；　a　moment　later；
she　gazed；　stupefied　and　amazed；　at　what　lay　before　her。　　Precious
stones；　scores　of　them；　nestled　on　a　bed　of　cotton；　they　were　of　all
colors　and　of　all　sizes　…　but　each　one　of　them　seemed　to　pulsate　and
throb；　and　from　some　wondrous；　glorious　depth　of　its　own　to　fling
back　from　the　white　ray　upon　it　a　thousand　rays　in　return；　as　though
into　it　had　been　breathed　a　living　and　immortal　fire。

And　Rhoda　Gray；　crouched　there；　stared　…　until　suddenly　she　grew
afraid；　and　suddenly　with　a　shudder　she　wrapped　the　package　up　again。
These　were　the　stones　for　whose　fabulous　worth　the　woman　whose
personality　she；　Rhoda　Gray；　had　usurped；　had　murdered　a　man；　these
were　the　stones　which　were　indirectly　the　instrumentality　…　since
but　for　them　Gypsy　Nan　would　never　have　existed　…　that　made　her；
Rhoda　Gray；　to…night；　now；　at　this　very　moment；　a　hunted　thing；
homeless；　friendless；　fighting　for　her　very　life　against　police　and
underworld　alike！

She　rose　abruptly　to　her　feet。　　She　had　no　longer　any　need　of　a
flashlight。　　There　was　even　light　of　a　sort　in　the　place　…　she　could
see　the　stars　through　the　jagged　holes　in　the　roof；　and　through　one
of　these；　too；　the　moonlight　streamed　in。　　The　shed　was　all　but
crumbling　in　a　heap。　　Underfoot；　what　had　once　bee