the white moll-第12章
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mounted them。 Rhoda Gray did not move。 It seemed as though she
could hear the sudden thumping of her own heart。 Who was it this
time？ How was she to act？ What was she to say？ It was so easy to
make the single little slip of word or manner that would spell ruin
and disaster。
〃Rubber heels and rubber soles；〃 murmured the Adventurer。 〃But； at
that； it is extremely well done。〃 He held out the torn piece of
paper to Rhoda Gray。
〃If〃 … he smiled significantly … 〃if； by any good fortune； you see
the White Moll again； please give her this and let her decide for
herself。 It is a telephone number。 She can always reach me there
by asking for … the Adventurer。〃 He was still extending the piece
of paper。 〃Quick！〃 he whispered； as the door knob rattled。
V。 A SECOND VISITOR
Mechanically Rhoda Gray thrust the paper into the pocket of her
skirt。 The door swung open。 A tall man； well dressed； as far as
could be seen in the uncertain light； a slouch hat pulled far down
over his eyes； stood on the threshold； surveying the interior of
the garret。
The Adventurer rose composedly to his feet … and moved slightly
back out of the direct radius of the candlelight。
There was silence for a moment； and then the man in the doorway
laughed unpleasantly。
〃Hello！〃 he flung out harshly。 〃Who's the dude； Nan？〃
Rhoda Gray； on the edge of the bed； shrugged her shoulders。 The
Adventurer was standing quite at his ease； his soft hat tucked
under his right arm； his hand thrust into the side pocket of his
coat。 She could no longer see his face distinctly。
〃Well？〃 There was a snarl in the man's voice as he advanced from
the doorway。 〃You heard me； didn't you？ Who is he？〃
〃Why don't youse ask him yerself？〃 inquired Rhoda Gray truculently。
〃I dunno。〃
〃You don't； eh？〃 The man had halted close to where the candle
stood on the floor between himself and the Adventurer。 〃Well； then；
I guess we'll find out！〃 He was peering in the Adventurer's
direction； and now there came a sudden savage scowl to his face。
〃It seems to me I've seen those clothes somewhere before； and I
guess now we'll take a look at your face so that there won't be any
question about recognition the next time we meet。〃
The Adventurer laughed softly。
〃There will be none on my part；〃 he said calmly。 〃It's Danglar；
isn't it？ I am surely not mistaken。 Parson Danglar； alias … ah！
Please don't do that！〃
It seemed to Rhoda Gray that it happened in the space of time it
might take a watch to tick： The newcomer stooping to the floor；
and lifting the candle with the obvious intention of thrusting it
into the Adventurer's face … a glint of metal； as the Adventurer
whipped a revolver from the side pocket of his coat …and then；
how they got there she could not tell； it was done so adroitly and
swiftly； the thumb and forefinger of the Adventurer's left hand
had closed on the candle wick and snuffed it out； and the garret
was in darkness。
There was a savage oath； a snarl of rage from the man whom the
Adventurer had addressed as Danglar； then an instant s silence； and
then the Adventurer's voice … from the doorway：
〃I beg of you not to vent your disappointment on the lady … Danglar。
I assure you that she is in no way responsible for my visit here；
and； as far as that goes； never saw me before in her life。 Also；
it is only fair to tell you； in case you should consider leaving
here too hurriedly； that I am really not at all a bad shot … even
in the dark。 I bid you good…night； Danglar … and you my dear lady！〃
Danglar's voice rose again in a flood of profane rage。 He stumbled
and moved around in the dark。
〃Damn it！〃 he shouted。 〃Where are the matches？ Where's the lamp？
This cursed candle's put enough to the bad already！ Do you hear？
Where's the lamp？〃
〃It's over dere on de floor； bust to pieces；〃 mumbled Rhoda Gray。
〃Youse'll find the matches on de washstand； an …〃
〃What's the idea？〃 There was a sudden； steel…like note dominating
the angry tones。 〃What are you handing me that hog…wash language
for？ Eh？ It's damned queer！ There's been damned queer doings
around here ever since last night！ See？ What's the idea？〃
Rhoda Gray felt her face whiten in the darkness。 It was the slip
she had feared； the slip that she had had to take the chance of
making； and which； if it were not retrieved； and instantly retrieved；
now that it was made； meant discovery； and after that … She shivered
a little。
〃You needn't lose your head； just because you've lost your temper！〃
she said tartly； in a guarded whisper。 〃The door into the hall is
still wide open； isn't it？〃
〃Oh； all right！〃 he said； his tones a sort of sullen admission that
her retort was justified。 〃But even now your voice sounds off color。〃
Rhoda Gray bridled。
〃Does it？〃 she snapped at him。 〃I've got a cold。 Maybe you'd get
one too； and maybe your voice would be off color； if you had to live
in a dump like this； and …〃
〃Oh； all right； all right！〃 he broke in hurriedly。 〃For Heaven's
sake don't start a row！ Forget it！ See？ Forget it！〃 He walked
over to the door； peered out； swore savagely to himself； shut the
door； held the candle up to circle the garret； and scowled as its
rays fell upon the shattered pieces of the lamp in the corner then；
returning； he set the candle down upon the chair and began to pace
restlessly； three or four steps each way； up and down in front of
the bed。
Rhoda Gray； from the edge of the bed； shifted back until her
shoulders rested against the wall。 Danglar； too； was dressed like
a gentleman … but Danglar's face was not appealing。 The little
round black eyes were shifty； they seemed to possess no pupils
whatever； and they roved constantly； there was a hard； unyielding
thinness about the lips； and the face itself was thin； almost gaunt；
as though the skin had had to accommodate itself to more than was
expected of it； and was elastically stretched over the cheek…bones。
〃Well； I'm listening！〃 jerked out the man abruptly。 〃You knew our
game at Skarbolov's was queered。 You got the 'seven…three…nine；'
didn't you？〃
〃Yes； of course； I got it；〃 answered Rhoda Gray。 〃What about it？〃
〃For two weeks now； yes； more than two weeks〃 … the man's voice
rasped angrily … 〃things have been going wrong； and some one has
been butting in and getting away with the goods under our noses。
We know now； from last night； that it must have been the White Moll；
for one； though it's not likely she worked all alone。 Skeeny dropped
to the fact that the police were wise about Skarbolov's； and that's
why we called it off； and the 'seven…three…nine' went out。 They
must have got wise through shadowing the White Moll。 See？ Then
they pinch her； but she makes her get…away； and comes here； and； if
the dope I've got is right； you hand Rough Rorke one； and help her
to beat it again。 It looks blamed funny … doesn't it？ … when you
come to consider that there's a leak somewhere！〃
〃Is that so！〃 Rhoda Gray flashed back。 〃And did you know before
last night that it was the White Moll who was queering our game？〃
〃If I had；〃 the man gritted between his teeth； 〃I'd …〃
〃Well； then； how did you expect me to know it？〃 demanded Rhoda Gray
heatedly。 〃And if the White Moll happens to know Gypsy Nan； as she
knows everybody else through her jellies and custards and fake
charity； and happens to be near here when she gets into trouble；
and beats it for here with the police on her heels； and asks for
help； what do you expect Gypsy Nan's going to do if she wants to
stand any chance of sticking around these parts … as Gypsy Nan？〃
The man paused in his walk； and； jerking back his hat； drew his
hand nervously across his forehead。
〃You make me tired！〃 said Rhoda Gray wearily。 〃Do you think you
could find the door without too much trouble？〃
Danglar resumed his pacing back and forth； but more slowly now。
〃Oh； I know！ I know； Bertha！〃 he burst out heavily。 〃I'm talking
through my hat。 You've got the roughest job of any of us； old girl。
Don't mind what I'm saying。 Something's badly wrong； and I'm half
crazy。 It's certain now that the White Moll's the one that's been
doing us； a
