the white moll-第30部分

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were　successful；　carry　the　money　back　to　the　Pug's　room；　just　as
was　being　done　now　precisely　in　accordance　with　the　Pug's　original
intentions；　she　had　thought　of　the　Adventurer。　　It　had　seemed　the
only　way　then；　it　seemed　the　only　way　now　…　despite　the　fact　that
she　would　be　hard　put　to　it　to　answer　the　Adventurer　if　he　thought
to　ask　her　how；　or　by　what　means；　she　was　in　possession　of　the
information　that　enabled　her　to　communicate　with　him。　　But　she　must
risk　that　…　put　him　off；　if　necessary；　through　the　plea　of　haste；
and　on　the　ground　that　there　was　not　time　to…night　for　an　unnecessary
word。　　He　had　given　her；　believing　her　to　be　Gypsy　Nan；　his　telephone
number；　which　she；　in　turn；　was　to　transmit　to　the　White　Moll　…　in
other　words；　herself！　　But　the　White　Moll；　so　he　believed；　had　never
received　that　message　…　and　it　must　of　necessity　be　as　the　White
Moll　that　she　must　communicate　with　him　to…night！　　It　would　be　hard
to　explain　…　she　meant　to　evade　it。　　The　one　vital　point　was　that
she　remembered　the　telephone　number　he　had　given　her　that　night　when
he　and　Danglar　had　met　in　the　garret。　　She　was　not　likely　to　have
forgotten　it！

Rhoda　Gray；　alias　Gypsy　Nan；　scuffled　along。　　Was　she　inconsistent？
The　Adventurer　would　be　in　his　element　in　going　to　the　Pug's　room；
and　in　relieving　Pinkie　Bonn　of　that　money；　but　the　Adventurer；　too；
was　a　thief…wasn't　he？　　Why；　then；　did　she　propose；　for　her　mind
was　now　certainly　made　up　as　to　her　course　of　action；　to　trust　a
thief　to　recover　that　money　for　her？

She　smiled　a　little　wearily　as　she　reached　the　drug　store；　stepped
into　the　telephone　booth；　and　gave　central　her　call。　　Trust　a　thief！
No；　it　wasn't　because　her　heart　prompted　her　to　believe　in　him；　it
was　because　her　head　assured　her　she　was　safe　in　doing　so。　　She
could　trust　him　in　an　instance　such　as　this　because　…　well；　because
once　before；　for　her　sake　he　had　foregone　the　opportunity　of
appropriating　a　certain　diamond　necklace　worth　a　hundred　times　the
sum　that　she　would　ask　him　…　yes；　if　necessary；　for　her　sake　…　to
recover　to…night。　　There　was　no。。。

She　was　listening　in　a　startled　way　now　at　the　instrument。　　Central
had　given　her　〃information〃；　and　〃information〃　was　informing　her
that　the　number　she　had　asked　for　had　been　disconnected。

She　hung　up　the　receiver；　and　went　out　again　to　the　street　in　a
dazed　and　bewildered　way。　　And　then　suddenly　a　smile　of　bitter
self…derision　crossed　her　lips。　　She　had　been　a　fool！　　There　was　no
softer　word　…　a　fool！　　Why　had　she　not　stopped　to　think？　　She
understood　now！　　On　the　night　the　Adventurer　had　confided　that
telephone　number　to　her　as　Gypsy　Nan；　he　had　had　every　reason　to
believe　that　Gypsy　Nan　would；　as　she　had　already　apparently　done；
befriend　the　White　Moll　even　to　the　extent　of　accepting　no　little
personal　risk　in　so　doing。　　But　since　then　things　had　taken　a　very
different　turn。　　The　White　Moll　was　now　held　by　the　gang；　of　which
Gypsy　Nan　was　supposed　to　be　a　member；　to　be　the　one　who　had　of　late
profited　by　the　gang's　plans　to　the　gang's　discomfiture；　and　the
Adventurer　was　ranked　but　little　lower　in　the　scale　of　hatred；　since
they　counted　him　to　be　the　White　Moll's　accomplice。　　Knowing　this；
therefore；　the　first　thing　the　Adventurer　would　naturally　do　would
be　to　destroy　the　clew；　in　the　shape　of　that　telephone　number；　that
would　lead　to　his　whereabouts；　and　which　he　of　course　believed　he
had　put　into　the　gang's　hands　when　he　had　confided　in　Gypsy　Nan。
Had　he　not　told　her；　no　later　than　last　night；　that　Gypsy　Nan　was
her　worst　enemy？　　He　did　not　know；　did　he；　that　Gypsy　Nan　and　the
White　Moll　were　one！　　And　so　that　telephone　had　been　disconnected
…　and　to…night；　now；　just　when　she　needed　help　at　a　crucial　moment；
when　she　had　counted　upon　the　Adventurer　to　supply　it；　there　was　no
Adventurer；　no　means　of　reaching　him；　and　no　means　any　more　of
knowing　where　he　was！

Rhoda　Gray　walked　on　along　the　street；　her　lips　tight；　her　face
drawn　and　hard。　　Failing　the　Adventurer；　there　remained　…　the　police。
If　she　telephoned　the　police　and　sent　them　to　the　Pug's　room；　they
would　of　a　certainty　recover　the　money；　and　with　equal　certainty
restore　it　to　its　rightful　owners。　　She　had　already　thought　of　that
when　she　had　been　with　Pinkie　and　the　Pug；　and　had　been　loath　even
then　to　take　such　a　step　because　it　seemed　to　spell　ruin　to　her　own
personal　plans；　but　now　there　was　another　reason；　and　one　far　more
cogent；　why　she　should　not　do　so。　　There　had　been　murder　committed
back　there　in　that　underground　drug…dive；　and　of　that　murder　Pinkie
Bonn　was　innocent；　but　if　Pinkie　were　found　in　possession　of　that
money；　and　French　Pete；　to　save　his　own　skin　from　the　consequences
of　a　greater　crime；　admitted　to　its　original　theft；　Pinkie　would　be
convicted　out　of　hand；　for　there　were　the　others　in　that　dive；　who
had　come　running　along　the　passage；　to　testify　that　an　attack　had
been　made　on　the　door　of　French　Pete　and　Marny　Day's　room；　and　that
the　thieves　and　murderers　had　fled　through　the　cellar　and　escaped。

Her　lips　pressed　harder　together。　　And　so　there　was　no　Adventurer
upon　whom　she　could　call；　and　no　police；　and　no　one　in　all　the
millions　in　this　great　pulsing　city　to　whom　she　could　appeal；　and
so　there　remained　only　…　herself。

Well；　she　could　do　it；　couldn't　she？　　Not　as　Gypsy　Nan；　of　course
…　but　as　the　White　Moll。　　It　would　be　worth　it；　wouldn't　it？　　If
she　were　sincere；　and　not　a　moral　hypocrite　in　her　sympathy　for
those　two　outraged　old　people　in　the　twilight　of　their　lives；　and
if　she　were　not　a　moral　coward；　there　remained　no　question　as　to
what　her　decision　should　be。

Her　mind　began　to　mull　over　the　details。　　Subconsciously；　since
the　moment　she　had　made　her　escape　from　that　cellar；　she　found　now
that　she　had　been　walking　in　the　direction　of　the　garret　that
sheltered　her　as　Gypsy　Nan。　　In　another　five　minutes　she　could
reach　that　deserted　shed　in　the　lane　behind　Gypsy　Nan's　house　where
her　own　clothes　were　hidden；　and　it　would　take　her　but　a　very　few
minutes　more　to　effect　the　transformation　from　Gypsy　Nan　to　the
White　Moll。　　And　then；　in　another　ten　minutes；　she　should　be　back
again　at　the　Pug's　room。　　The　Pug　had　said　he　would　not　be　much　more
than　half　an　hour；　but；　as　nearly　as　she　could　calculate　it；　that
would　still　give　her　from　five　to　ten　minutes　alone　with　Pinkie
Bonn。　　It　was　enough　…　more　than　enough。　　The　prestige　of　the　White
Moll　would　do　the　rest。　　A　revolver　in　the　hands　of　the　White　Moll
would　insure　instant　and　obedient　respect　from　Pinkie　Bonn；　or　any
other　member　of　the　gang　under　similar　conditions。　　And　so　…　and　so
…　it　…　would　not　be　difficult。　　Only　there　was　a　queer　fluttering
at　her　heart　now；　and　her　breath　came　in　hard；　short　little
inhalations。　　And　she　spoke　suddenly　to　herself：

〃I'm　glad；〃　she　whispered；　〃I'm　glad　I　saw　those　two　old　faces　on
that　doorstep；　because　…　because；　if　I　hadn't；　I　…　I　would　be　afraid。〃

The　minutes　passed。　　The　dissolute　figure　of　an　old　hag　disappeared；
like　a　deeper　shadow　in　the　blackness　of　a　lane；　through　the　broken
door　of　a　deserted　shed；　presently　a　slim；　neat　little　figure；
heavily　veiled；　emerged。　　Again　the　minutes　passed。　　And　now　the
veiled　figure　let　herself　in　through　the　back　door　of　the　Pug's
lodging　house；　and　stole　softly　down　the　dark　hall；　and　halted
before　the　Pug's　door。　　It　was　the　White　Moll　now。

From　under　the　door；　at　the　ill…fitting　threshold；　there　showed　a
thin　line　of　light。　　Rhoda　Gray；　with　her　ear　against　the　door　panel；
listened。　　There　was　no　sound　of　voices　from　within。　　Pinkie　Bonn；
then；　was　still　alone；　and　still　waiting　for　the　Pug。　　She　glanced
sharply　around　her。　　There　was　only　darkness。　　Her　gloved　right　hand
was　hidden　in　the　folds　of　her　skirt；　she　raised　her　left　hand　and
knocked　softly　upon　the　door…two　raps；　one　rap；　two　raps。　　She
repeated　it。　　And　as　it　had　been　with　Shluker；　so　it　was　now　with
her。　　A　footstep　crossed　the　floor　within；　the　key　turned　in　the
lock；　and　the　door　was　flung　open。

〃All　right；　Pug；〃　said　Pinkie　Bonn；　〃I　…〃

The　man's　words　ended　in　a　gasp　of　surprised　amazement。　　With　a
quick　step　forward；　Rhoda　Gray　was　in　the　room。　　Her　revolver；
suddenly　outflung；　covered　the　other；　and　her　free　hand；　reaching
behind　her；　closed　and　locked　the　door　again。

There　was　an　almost　stupid　look　of　bewilderment　on　Pinkie　Bonn's
face。

Rhoda　Gray　threw　back　her　veil。

〃My　Gawd！〃　mumbled　Pinkie　Bonn　…　and　licked　his　lips。　　〃The　White
Moll！〃

〃Yes！〃　said　Rhoda　Gray　tersely。　　〃Put　your　hands　up　over　your　head
and　go　over　there　and　stand　against　the　wall　…　with　your　face　to　it！〃

Pinkie　Bonn；　like　an　automaton　moved　purely　by　mechanical　means；
obeyed。

Rhoda　Gray　followed　him；　and　with　the　muzzle　of　her　revolver
pressed　into　the　small　of　the　man's　back；　felt　rapidly　over　his
clothes　with　her　left　hand　for　the　bulge　of　his　revolver。　　She
found　and　possessed　herself　of　the　weapon；　and；　stepping　back；
ordered　him　to　turn　around　again。

〃I　haven't　much　time；〃　she　said　icily。　　〃I'll　trouble　you　now　for
the　cash　you　took　from　Marny　Day　and　French　Pete。〃

〃My　Gawd！〃　he　mumbled　again。　　〃You　know　about　that！〃

〃Quick！〃　she　said　imperatively。　　〃Put　it　on　the　table　there；　and
then　go　back　again　to　the　wall！〃

Pinkie　Bonn　fumbled　in　his　pocket。　　His　face　was　white；　almost
chalky　white；　and　it　held　fear；　but　its　dominant　expression　was　one
of　helpless　stupefaction。　　He　placed　the　sheaf　of　banknotes　on　the
table；　and　shuffled　back　again　to　the　wall。

Rhoda　Gray　picked　up　the　money；　and　retreated　to　the　door。　　Still
facing　the　man；　working　with　her　left　hand　behind　her　back；　she
unlocked　the　door　again；　and　this　time　removed　the　key　from　the　lock。

〃You　are　quite　safe　here；〃　she　observed　evenly；　〃since　there　appears
to　be　no　window　through　which　you　could　get　out；　but　you　might　make
it　a　little　unpleasant　for　me　if　you　gave　the　alarm　and　aroused　the
other　occupants　of　the　house　before　I　had　got　well　away。　　I　dare　say
that　was　in　your　mind；　but　…　she　opened　the　door　slightly；　and
inserted　the　key　on　the　outer　side　…　〃I　am　quite　sure　you　will
reconsider　any　such　intentions　…　Pinkie。　　It　would　be　a　very
disastrous　thing　f