the white moll-第9节

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candle。　　And　after　a　while　the　candle　went　out。


IV。　　THE　ADVENTURER

Twenty…Four　hours　had　passed。　　Twenty　four　hours！　　Was　it　no　more
than　that　since　…　Rhoda　Gray；　in　the　guise　of　Gypsy　Nan；　as　she　sat
on　the　edge　of　the　disreputable；　poverty…stricken　cot；　grew　suddenly
tense；　holding　her　breath　as　she　listened。　　The　sound　reached　the
attic　so　faintly　that　it　might　be　but　the　product　solely　of　the
imagination。　　No　…　it　came　again！　　And　it　even　defined　itself　now
…　a　stealthy　footstep　on　the　lower　stairs。

A　small；　leather…bound　notebook；　in　which　she　had　been　engrossed；
was　tucked　instantly　away　under　the　soiled　blanket；　and　she　glanced
sharply　around　the　garret。　　A　new　candle；　which　she　had　bought　in
the　single　excursion　she　had　ventured　to　make　from　the　house　during
the　day；　was　stuck　in　the　neck　of　the　gin　bottle；　and　burned　now　on
the　chair　beside　her。　　She　had　not　bought　a　new　lamp　…　it　gave　too
much　light！　　The　old　one；　the　pieces　of　it；　lay　over　there；　brushed
into　a　heap　in　the　corner　on　the　floor。

The　footstep　became　more　audible。　　Her　lips　tightened　a　little。　　The
hour　was　late。　　It　must　be　already　after　eleven　o'clock。　　Her　eyes
grew　perturbed。　　Perhaps　it　was　only　one　of　the　unknown　tenants　of
the　floor　below　going　to　his　or　her　room；　but；　on　the　other　hand；　no
one　had　come　near　the　garret　since　last　night；　when　that　strange　and；
yes；　sinister　trick　of　fate　had　thrust　upon　her　the　personality　of
Gypsy　Nan；　and　it　was　hoping　for　too　much　to　expect　such　seclusion
to　obtain　much　longer。　　There　were　too　many　who　must　be　interested；
vitally　interested；　in　Gypsy　Nan！　　There　was　Rough　Rorke；　of
headquarters；　he　had　given　no　sign；　but　that　did　not　mean　he　had
lost　interest　in　Gypsy　Nan。　　There　was　the　death　of　the　real　Gypsy
Nan；　which　was　pregnant　with　possibilities；　and　though　the
newspapers；　that　she；　Rhoda　Gray；　had　bought　and　scanned　with　such
tragic　eagerness；　had　said　nothing　about　the　death　of　one　Charlotte
Green　in　the　hospital；　much　less　had　given　any　hint　that　the
identity　Gypsy　Nan　had　risked　so　much　to　hide　had　been　discovered；
it　did　not　mean　that　the　police；　with　their　own　ends　in　view；　might
not　be　fully　informed；　and　were　but　keeping　their　own　counsel　while
they　baited　a　trap。

Also；　and　even　more　to　be　feared；　there　were　those　of　this　criminal
organization　to　which　Gypsy　Nan　had　belonged；　and　to　which　she；
Rhoda　Gray；　through　a　sort　of　hideous　proxy；　now　belonged　herself！
Sooner　or　later；　they　must　show　their　hands；　and　the　test　of　her
identity　would　come。　　And　here　her　danger　was　the　greater　because
she　did　not　know　who　any　of　them　were；　unless　the　man　who　had
stepped　in　between　Rough　Rorke　and　herself　last　night　was　one　of
them　…　which　was　a　question　that　had　harassed　her　all　day。　　The　man
had　been　no　more　drunk　than　she　had　been；　and　he　had　obviously　only
played　the　part　to　get　her　out　of　the　clutches　of　Rough　Rorke；　but；
against　this；　he　had　seen　her　simply　as　herself　then；　the　White　Moll；
and　what　could　the　criminal　associates　of　Gypsy　Nan　have　cared　as
to　what　became　of　the　White　Moll？

A　newspaper；　to　procure　which　had　been　the　prime　motive　that　had
lured　her　out　of　her　retreat　that　afternoon；　caught　her　eye　now；
and　she　shivered　a　little　as；　from　where　it　lay　on　the　floor；　the
headlines　seemed　to　leer　up　at　her；　and　mock；　and　menace　her。
〃The　White　Moll。。。。The　Saint　of　the　East　Side　Exposed。。。。Vicious
Hypocrisy。。。。Lowly　Charity　for　Years　Cloaks　a　Consummate　Thief。。。〃
They　had　not　spared　her！

Her　lips　firmed　suddenly；　as　she　listened。　　The　stealthy　footfall
had　not　paused　in　the　hall　below。　　It　was　on　the　short；　ladder…like
steps　now；　leading　up　here　to　the　garret　…　and　now　it　had　halted
outside　her　door；　and　there　came　a　low；　insistent　knocking　on　the
panels。

〃Who's　dere？〃　demanded　Rhoda　Gray；　alias　Gypsy　Nan；　in　a　grumbling
tone；　as；　getting　up　from　the　bed；　she　moved　the　chair　noiselessly
a　few　feet　farther　away；　so　that　the　bed　would　be　beyond　the
immediate　radius　of　the　candle　light。　　Then　she　shuffled　across　the
floor　to　the　door。　　〃Who's　dere？〃　she　demanded　again；　and　her　hand；
deep　in　the　voluminous　pocket　of　Gypsy　Nan's　greasy　skirt；　closed
tightly　around　the　stock　of　Gypsy　Nan's　revolver。

The　voice　that　answered　her　expostulated　in　a　plaintive　whisper：

〃My　dear　lady！　　And　after　all　the　trouble　I　have　taken　to　reach
here　without　being　either　seen　or　heard！〃

For　an　instant　Rhoda　Gray　hesitated　…　there　seemed　something
familiar　about　the　voice　…　then　she　unlocked　the　door；　and
retreated　toward　the　bed。

The　door　opened　and　closed　softly。　　Rhoda　Gray；　reaching　the　edge
of　the　bed；　sat　down。　　It　was　the　fashionably…attired；　immaculate
young　man；　who　had　saved　her　from　Rough　Rorke　last　night。　　She
stared　at　him　in　the　faint　light　without　a　word。　　Her　mind　was
racing　in　a　mad　turmoil　of　doubt；　uncertainty；　fear。　　Was　he　one
of　the　gang；　or　not？　　Was　she；　in　the　role　of　Gypsy　Nan；　supposed
to　know　him；　or　not？　　Did　he　know　that　the　real　Gypsy　Nan；　too；
had　but　played　a　part；　and；　therefore；　when　she　spoke　must　it　be
in　the　vernacular　of　the　East　Side　…　or　not？　　And　then　sudden
enlightenment；　with　its　incident　relief；　came　to　her。

〃My　dear　lady〃　…　the　young　man's　soft　felt　hat　was　under　his　arm；
and　he　was　plucking　daintily　at　the　fingers　of　his　yellow　gloves　as
he　removed　them　…　〃I　beg　you　to　pardon　the　intrusion　of　a　perfect
stranger。　　I　offer　you　my　very　genuine　apologies。　　My　excuse　is
that　I　come　from　a　…　I　hope　I　am　not　overstepping　the　bounds　in
using　the　term　…　mutual　friend。〃　　Rhoda　Gray　snorted　disdainfully。

〃Aw；　cut　out　de　boudoir　talk；　an'　get　down　to　cases！〃　she　croaked。
〃Who　are　youse；　anyway？〃

The　young　man　had　gray　eyes　…　and　they　lighted　up　now　humorously。

〃Boudoir？　　Ah　…　yes！　　Of　course！　　Awfully　neat！〃　　His　eyes；　from
the　chair　that　held　the　candle；　strayed　around　the　scantily
furnished；　murky　garret　as　though　in　search　of　a　seat；　and　finally
rested　inquiringly　on　Rhoda　Gray。

〃Youse　can　put　de　candle　on　de　floor；　if　youse　like；〃　she　said
grudgingly。　　〃Dat's　de　only　chair　dere　is。〃

〃Thank　you！〃　he　said。

Rhoda　Gray　watched　him　with　puckered　brow；　as　he　placed　the　gin
bottle　with　its　candle　on　the　floor；　and　appropriated　the　chair。
He　might；　from　his　tone；　have　been　thanking　her　for　some　priceless
boon。　　He　wore　a　boutonniere。　　His　clothes　fitted　him　like　gloves。
He　exuded　a　certain　studied；　almost　languid　fastidiousness　…　that
was　wholly　out　of　keeping　with　the　quick；　daring；　agile　wit　that
he　had　exhibited　the　night　before。　　She　found　her　hand　toying
unconsciously　with　the　weapon　in　her　pocket。　　She　was　aware　that
she　was　fencing　with　unbuttoned　foils。　　How　much　did　he　know
…　about　last　night？

〃Well；　why　don't　youse　spill　it？〃　she　invited　curtly。　　〃Who　are
youse？〃

〃Who　am　I？〃　　He　lifted　the　lapel　of　his　coat；　carrying　the
boutonniere　to　his　nose。　　〃My　dear　lady；　I　am　an　adventurer。〃

〃Youse　don't　say！〃　observed　Rhoda　Gray；　alias　Gypsy　Nan。　　〃An'　wot's
dat　w'　en　it's　at　home？〃

〃In　my　case；　first　of　all　a　gentleman；　I　trust；〃　he　said　pleasantly；
〃after　that；　I　do　not　quarrel　with　the　accepted　definition　of　the
term　…　though　it　is　not　altogether　complimentary。〃

Rhoda　Gray　scowled。　　As　Rhoda　Gray；　she　might　have　answered　him；　as
Gypsy　Nan；　it　was　too　subtle；　and　she　was　beyond　her　depth。

〃Youse　look　to　me　like　a　slick　crook！〃　she　said　bluntly。

〃I　will　admit；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　have　at　times；　perhaps；　taken
liberties　with　the　law。〃

〃Well；　den；〃　she　snapped；　〃cut　out　de　high…brow　stuff；　an'　come
across　wid　wot　brought　youse　here。　　I　ain't　holdin'　no　reception。
Who's　de　friend　youse　was　talkin'　about？〃

The　Adventurer　looked　around　him；　and　lowered　his　voice。

〃The　White　Moll；〃　he　said。

Rhoda　Gray　eyed　the　man　for　a　long　minute；　then　she　shook　her　head。

〃I　take　back　wot　I　said　about　youse　bein'　a　slick　crook；〃　she
announced　coolly。　　〃I　guess　youse're　a　dick　from　headquarters。
Well；　youse　have　got　de　wrong　number　…　see？　　Me　fingers　are　crossed。
Try　next　door！〃

The　Adventurer's　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　newspaper　headlines　on　the
floor。　　He　raised　them　now　significantly　to　hers。

〃You　helped　her　to　get　away　from　Rough　Rorke　last　night；〃　he　said
gently。　　〃Well；　so　did　I。　　I　am　very　anxious　to　find　the　White　Moll；
and；　as　I　know　of　no　other　way　except　through　you；　I　have　got　to
make　you　believe　in　me；　if　I　can。　　Listen；　my　dear　lady　…　and　don't
look　at　me　so　suspiciously。　　I　have　already　admitted　that　I　have
taken　liberties　with　the　law。　　Let　me　add　now　that　last　night　there
was　a　little　fortune　of　quite　a　few　thousand　dollars　that　I　had
already　made　up　my　mind　was　as　good　as　in　my　pocket。　　I　was　on　my
way　to　get　it　…　the　newspaper　will　already　have　given　you　the
details　…　when　I　found　that　I　had　been　forestalled　by　the　young
lady；　who；　the　papers　say；　is　known　as　the　White　Moll。〃　　He　smiled
whimsically。　　〃Even　though　one　might　be　a　slick　crook　as　you
suggest；　it　is　no　reason　why　he　should　fail　in　his　duty　to　himself
…　as　a　gentleman。　　What　other　course　was　open　to　me？　　I　discovered
a　very　charming　young　lady　in　the　grip　of　a　hulking　police　brute。
She　also；　apparently；　took　liberties　with　the　law。