the white moll-第42节

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of　these；　too；　the　moonlight　streamed　in。　　The　shed　was　all　but
crumbling　in　a　heap。　　Underfoot；　what　had　once　been　flooring；　was
now　but　rotting；　broken　boards。　　Under　one　of　these；　beside　the
clothing　of　Gypsy　Nan　which　she　had　discarded　but　a　little　while
before；　she　deposited　the　package；　then　stepped　out　into　the　lane；
and　from　there　to　the　street　again。

And　now　she　became　suddenly　conscious　of　a　great　and　almost
overpowering　physical　weariness。　　She　did　not　quite　understand　at
first；　unless　it　was　to　be　attributed　to　the　reaction　from　the　last
few　hours　…　and　then；　smiling　wanly　to　herself；　she　remembered。　　For
two　nights　she　had　not　slept。　　It　seemed　very　strange。　　That　was　it；
of　course；　though　she　was　not　in　the　least　sleepy　now　…　just　tired；
just　near　the　breaking　point。

But　she　must　go　on。　　To…night　was　the　end；　anyhow。　　To…night；　failing
to　keep　her　appointment　as　〃Bertha；〃　the　crash　must　come；　but　before
it　came；　as　the　White　Moll；　armed　with　the　knowledge　of　the　crime
that　had　driven　Danglar's　wife　into　hiding；　and　which　was　Danglar's
crime　too；　and　with　the　evidence　in　the　shape　of　those　jewels　in　her
possession；　she　and　Danglar　would　meet　somewhere　…　alone。　　Before　the
law　got　him；　when　he　would　be　close…mouthed　and　struggling　with　all
his　cunning　to　keep　the　evidence　of　other　crimes　from　piling　up
against　him　and　damning　whatever　meager　chances　he　might　have　to
escape　the　penalty　for　Deemer's　murder；　she　meant　…　yes；　even　if
she　pretended　to　compound　a　felony　with　him　…　to　force　or　to　inveigle
from　him；　it　mattered　little　which；　a　confession　of　the　authorship
and　details　of　the　scheme　to　rob　Skarbolov　that　night　when　she；
Rhoda　Gray；　in　answer　to　a　dying　woman's　pleading；　had　tried　to
forestall　the　plan；　and　had　been　caught；　apparently；　in　the　very　act
of　committing　the　robbery　herself！　　With　that　confession　in　her
possession；　with　the　identity　of　the　unknown　woman　who　had　died　in
the　hospital　that　night　established；　her　own　story　would　be　believed。

And　so；　if　she　were　weary；　what　did　it　matter？　　It　was　only　until
morning。　　Danglar　was　at　the　Silver　Sphinx　now　with　the　man　he　meant
that　she　should　help　him　murder；　only　…　only　that　plan　would　fail；
because　there　would　be　no　〃Bertha〃　to　lure　the　man　to　his　death；　and
she；　Rhoda　Gray；　had　only　to　keep　track　of　Danglar　until　somewhere；
where　he　lived　perhaps；　she　should　have　that　final　scene；　that　final
reckoning　with　him　alone。

It　was　a　long　way　to　the　Silver　Sphinx；　which　she　knew；　as　every　one
in　the　underworld；　and　every　one　in　New　York　who　was　addicted　to
slumming　knew；　was　a　combination　dance…hall　and　restaurant　in　the
Chatham　Square　district。　　She　tried　to　find　a　taxi；　but　with　out
avail。　　A　clock　in　a　jeweler's　window　which　she　passed　showed　her
that　it　was　ten　minutes　after　eleven。　　She　had　had　no　idea　that　it
was　so　late。　　At　eleven；　Danglar　had　said。　　Danglar　would　be　growing
restive！　　She　took　the　elevated。　　If　she　could　risk　the　protection
of　her　veil　in　the　Silver　Sphinx；　she　could　risk　it　equally　in　an
elevated　train！

But；　in　spite　of　the　elevated；　it　was；　she　knew；　well　on　towards
half　past　eleven　when　she　finally　came　down　the　street　in　front　of
the　Silver　Sphinx。　　From　under　her　veil；　she　glanced；　half　curiously；
half　in　a　sort　of　grim　irony；　at　the　taxis　lined　up　before　the
dancehall。　　The　two　leading　cars　were　not　taxis　at　all；　though　they
bore　the　ear…marks；　with　their　registers；　of　being　public　vehicles
for　hire；　they　were　large；　roomy；　powerful；　and　looked；　with　their
hoods　up；　like　privately　owned　motors。　　Well；　it　was　of　little
account！　　She　shrugged　her　shoulders；　as　…she　mounted　the　steps　of
the　dance…hall。　　Neither　〃Bertha〃　nor　Cloran　would　use　those　cars
to…night！


XVII。　　THE　SILVER　SPHINX

A　Bedlam　of　noise　smote　Rhoda　Gray's　ears　as　she　entered　the　Silver
Sphinx。　　A　jazz　band　was　in　full　swing；　on　the　polished　section　of
the　floor　in　the　center；　a　packed　mass　of　humanity　swirled　and
gyrated　and　wriggled　in　the　contortions　of　the　〃latest〃　dance；　and
laughed　and　howled　immoderately；　and　around　the　sides　of　the　room；
the　waiters　rushed　this　way　and　that　amongst　the　crowded　tables；
mopping　at　their　faces　with　their　aprons。　　It　seemed　as　though
confusion　itself　held　sway！

Rhoda　Gray　scanned　the　occupants　of　the　tables。　　The　Silver　Sphinx
was　particularly　riotous　to…night；　wasn't　it？　　Yes；　she　understood！
A　great　many　of　the　men　were　wearing　little　badges。　　Some　society
or　other　was　celebrating　…　and　was　doing　it　with　abandon。　　Most　of
the　men　were　half　drunk。　　It　was　certainly　a　free…and…easy　night！
Everything　went！

Danglar！　　Yes；　'there　he　was　…　quite　close　to　her；　only　a　few　tables
away　…　and　beside　him　sat　a　heavy　built；　clean…shaven　man　of　middle
age。　　That　would　be　Cloran；　of　course　…　the　man　who　was　to　have　been
lured　to　his　death。　　And　Danglar　was　nervous　and　uneasy；　she　could
see。　　His　fingers　were　drumming　a　tattoo　on　the　table；　his　eyes　were
roving　furtively　about　the　room；　and　he　did　not　seem　to　be　paying　any
but　the　most　distrait　attention　to　his　companion；　who　was　talking
to　him。

Rhoda　Gray　sank　quickly　into　a　vacant　chair。　　Three　men；　linked　arm
in　arm；　and　decidedly　more　than　a　little　drunk；　were　approaching
her。　　She　turned　her　head　away　to　avoid　attracting　their　attention。
It　was　too　free　and　easy　here　to…night；　and　she　began　to　regret　her
temerity　at　having　ventured　inside；　she　would　better；　perhaps；　have
waited　until　Danglar　came　out　…　only　there　were　two　exits；　and　she
might　have　missed　him　…　and。。。

A　cold　fear　upon　her；　she　shrank　back　in　her　chair。　　The　three　men
had　halted　at　the　table；　and　were　clustered　around　her。　　They　began
a　jocular　quarrel　amongst　themselves　as　to　who　should　dance　with　her。
Her　heart　was　pounding。　　She　stood　up；　and　pushed　them　away。

〃Oh；　no；　you　don't！〃　hiccoughed　one　of　the　three。　　〃Gotta　see　your
…　hic！　…　pretty　face；　anyhow！〃

She　put　up　her　hands　frantically　and　clutched　at　her　veil　…　but　just
an　instant　too　late　to　save　it　from　being　wrenched　aside。　　Wildly　her
eyes　flew　to　Danglar。　　His　attention　had　been　attracted　by　the　scene。
She　saw　him　rise　from　his　seat；　she　saw　his　eyes　widen　…　and　then；
stumbling　over　his　chair　in　his　haste；　he　made　toward　her。　　Danglar
had　recognized　the　White　Moll！

She　turned　and　ran。　　Fear；　horror；　desperation；　lent　her　strength。
It　was　not　like　this　that　she　had　counted　on　her　reckoning　with
Danglar！　　She　brushed　the　roisterers　aside；　and　darted　for　the　door。
Over　her　shoulder　she　glimpsed　Danglar　following　her。　　She　reached
the　door；　burst　through　a　knot　of　people　there；　and；　her　torn　veil
clutched　in　her　hand；　dashed　down　the　steps。　　She　could　only　run
…　run；　and　pray　that　in　some　way　she　might　escape。

And　then　a　mad　exultation　came　upon　her。　　She　saw　the　man　in　the
chauffeur's　seat　of　the　first　car　in　the　line　lean　out　and　swing
the　door　open。　　And　in　a　flash　she　grasped　the　situation。　　The　man
was　waiting　for　just　this　…　for　a　woman　to　come　running　for　her　life
down　the　steps　of　the　Silver　Sphinx。　　She　put　her　hand　up　to　her
face；　hiding　it　with　the　torn　veil；　raced　for　the　car；　and　flung
herself　into　the　tonneau。

The　door　slammed。　　The　car　leaped　from　the　curb。　　Danglar　was　coming
down　the　steps。　　She　heard　him　shout。　　The　chauffeur；　in　a　startled
way；　leaned　out；　as　he　evidently　recognized　Danglar's　voice　…　but　Rhoda
Gray　was　mistress　of　herself　now。　　The　tonneau　of　the　car　was　not
separated　from　the　driver's　seat；　and　bending　forward；　she　wrenched
her　revolver　from　her　pocket；　and　pressed　the　muzzle　of　her　weapon　to
the　back　of　the　man's　neck。

〃Don't　stop！〃　she　gasped；　struggling　for　her　breath。　　〃Go　on！
Quick！〃

The　man；　with　a　frightened　oath；　obeyed。　　The　car　gained　speed。　　A
glance　through　the　window　behind　showed　Danglar　climbing　into　the
other　car。

And　then　for　a　moment　Rhoda　Gray　sat　there　fighting　for　her
self…control；　with　the　certain　knowledge　in　her　soul　that　upon　her
wits；　and　her　wits　alone；　her　life　depended　now。　　She　studied　the
car's　mechanism　over　the　chauffeur's　shoulder；　even　as　she　continued
to　hold　her　revolver　pressed　steadily　against　the　back　of　the　man's
neck。　　She　could　drive　a　car　…　she　could　drive　this　one。　　The
presence　of　this　chauffeur；　one　of　the　gang；　was　an　added　menace；
there　were　too　many　tricks　he　might　play　before　she　could　forestall
them；　any　one　of　which　would　deliver　her　into　the　hands　of　Danglar
behind　there　…　　an　apparently　inadvertent　stoppage　due　to　traffic；
for　instance；　that　would　bring　the　pursuing　car　alongside　…　that；
or　a　dozen　other　things　which　would　achieve　the　same　end。

〃Open　the　door　on　your　side！〃　she　commanded　abruptly。　　〃And　get　out
…　without　slowing　the　car！　　Do　you　understand？〃

He　turned　his　head　for　a　half　incredulous；　half　frightened　look　at
her。　　She　met　his　eyes　steadily　…　the　torn　veil；　quite　discarded　now；
was　in　her　pocket。　　She　did　not　know　the　man；　but　it　was　quite
evident　from　the　almost　ludicrous　dismay　which　spread　over　his　face
that　he　knew　her。

〃The　…　the　White　Moll！〃　he　stammered。　　〃It's　the　White　Moll！〃

〃Jump！〃　she　ordered　imperatively　…　and　her　revolver　pressed　still
more　significantly　against　the