the white moll-第10章
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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
