the white moll-第18章
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She shook her head again。
〃You're going home； Marty … after you've sent me a taxicab。 If you
were seen in that neighborhood now； let alone by any chance seen in
the house； nothing could save you。 You understand that； don't you？
Now； listen！ Find a taxi； and send it here。 Tell the chauffeur to
pick me up； and drive me to the corner of the cross street； one block
in the rear of Mr。 Hayden…Bond's residence。 Don't mention Hayden…Bond's
name。 Give the chauffeur simply street directions。 Be careful that
he is some one who doesn't know you。 Tell him he will be well paid
… and give him this to begin with。〃 She thrust a banknote into the
Sparrow's hand。 〃You're sure to find one at some all…night cabaret
around here。 And remember； when you go home afterward； not a word
to your mother！ And not a word to…morrow； or ever…to any one！
You've simply done as you told your employer you were going to do
… spent the night at home。〃
〃But you；〃 he burst out； and his words choked a little。 〃I … I
can't let you go； and …〃
〃You said you would trust me； Marty；〃 she said。 〃And if you want
to help me； as well； don't waste another moment。 I shall need every
second I have got。 Quick！ Hurry！〃
〃But …〃
She pushed him toward the street。
〃Run！〃 she said tensely。 〃Hurry； Marty； hurry！〃
She drew back into the shadows。 She was alone now。 The Sparrow's
racing footsteps died away on the pavement。 Her mind reverted to
the plan that she had dimly conceived。 It became detailed； concrete
now； as the minutes passed。 And then she heard a car coming along
the previously deserted street； and she stepped out on the sidewalk。
It was the taxi。
〃You know where to go； don't you？〃 she said to the chauffeur； as
the cab drew up at the curb； and the man leaned out and opened the
door。
〃Yes'm；〃 he said。
〃Please drive fast； then；〃 she said； as she stepped in。
The taxi shot out from the curb； and rattled forward at a rapid
pace。 Rhoda Gray settled back on the cushions。 A half whimsical；
half weary little smile touched her lips。 It was much easier； and
infinitely safer； this mode of travel； than that of her earlier
experience that evening； but； earlier that evening； she had had no
one to go to a cab rank for her； and she had not dared to appear
in the open and hail one for herself。 The smile vanished； and the
lips became； pursed and grim。 Her mind was back on that daring；
and perhaps a little dangerous； plan； that she meant to put into
execution。 Block after block was traversed。 It was a long way
uptown； but the chauffeur's initial and generous tip was bearing
fruit。 The man was losing no time。
Rhoda Gray calculated that they had been a little under half an
hour in making the trip； when the taxi finally drew up and stopped
at a corner； and the chauffeur； again leaning out； opened the door。
〃Wait for me；〃 she instructed； and handed the man another tip … and；
with a glance about her to get her location； she hurried around the
corner； and headed up the cross street。
She had only a block now to go to reach the Hayden…Bond mansion on
the corner of Fifth Avenue ahead … less than that to reach the
garage； which opened on the cross street here。 She had little fear
of personal identification now。 Here in this residential section
and at this hour of night； it was like a silent and deserted city；
even Fifth Avenue； just ahead； for all its lights； was one of the
loneliest places at this hour in all New York。 True； now and then；
a car might race up or down the great thoroughfare； or a belated
pedestrian's footsteps ring and echo hollow on the pavement； where
but a few hours before the traffic…squad struggled valiantly； and
sometimes vainly； with the congestion … but that was all。
She could make out the Hayden…Bond mansion on the corner ahead of
her now； and now she was abreast of the rather ornate and attached
little building； that was obviously the garage。 She drew the key
from her pocket； and glanced around her。 There was no one in sight。
She stepped swiftly to the small door that flanked the big double
ones where the cars went in and out； opened it； closed it behind
her； and locked it。
For a moment； her eyes unaccustomed to the darkness； she could see
nothing； and then a car； taking the form of a grotesque； looming
shadow； showed in front of her。 She moved toward it； felt her way
into the tonneau； lifted up the back seat； and； groping around；
found a flashlight。 She meant to hurry now。 She did not mean to
let that nervous dread； that fear； that was quickening her pulse
now； have time to get the better of her。 She located the door that
led to the house； and in another moment； the short passage behind
her； she was in the kitchen； the flashlight winking cautiously
around her。 She paused to listen here。 There was not a sound。
She went on again … through a swinging pantry door with extreme
care； and into a small hall。 〃On the right；〃 the Sparrow had said。
Yes； here it was； a door that opened on the rear of the library；
evidently。 She listened again。 There was no sound … save the
silence； that seemed to grow loud now； and palpitate； and make great
noises。 And now； in spite of herself； her breath was coming in
quick； hard little catches； and the flashlight's ray； that she sent
around her； wavered and was not steady。 She bit her lips； as she
switched off the light。 Why should she be afraid of this； when in
another five minutes she meant to invite attention！
She pushed the door in front of her open； found it hung with a heavy
portiere inside； brushed the portiere aside； stepped through into
the room； stood still and motionless to listen once more； and then
the flashlight circled inquisitively about her。
It was the library。 Her eyes widened a little。 At her left； over
against the wall； the mangled door of a safe stood wide open； and
the floor for a radius of yards around was littered with papers and
documents。 The flashlight's ray lifted； and she followed it with
her eyes as it made the circuit of the walls。 Opposite the safe；
and quite near the doorway in which she stood； was a window recess；
portiered； diagonally across from her was another door that led；
presumably； into the main hall of the house； the walls were
tapestried； and hung here and there with clusters of ancient
trophies； great metal shields； and swords； and curious arms； that
gave a sort of barbaric splendor to the luxurious furnishings of
the apartment。
She worked quickly now。 In a moment she was at the window portieres；
and； drawing these aside； she quietly raised the window； and looked
out。 The window was on the side of the house away from the cross
street； and she nodded her head reassuringly to herself as she noted
that it gave on a narrow strip of grass； it could not be called lawn；
that separated the Hayden…Bond mansion from the house next door； that
the window was little more than shoulder…high from the ground； and
that the Avenue was within easy and inviting reach along that little
strip of grass between the two houses。
She left the window open； and retraced her steps across the room；
going now to the littered mass of papers on the floor near the safe。
She began to search carefully amongst them。 She smiled a little
curiously as she came across the plush…lined jeweler's case that
had contained the necklace； and which had evidently been
contemptuously discarded by the Cricket and his confederates； but
it took her longer to find the paper for which she was searching。
And then she came upon it … a grease…smeared advertisement for some
automobile appliances； a well…defined greasy finger…print at one
edge … and thrust the paper into her pocket。
And now suddenly her heartbeat began to quicken again until its
thumping became tumultuous。 She was ready now。 She looked around
her； using the flashlight； and her eyes rested appraisingly on one
of the great clusters of shields and arms that hung low down on the
wall between the window and the door by which she had entered。 Yes；
that would do。 Her lips tightened。 It would have been so easy if
there had not been that cash to account for！ She could replace
the necklace； but
