the white moll-第19章
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there had not been that cash to account for！ She could replace
the necklace； but she could not replace the cash … and one； as far
as the Sparrow was concerned； was as bad as the other。 But there
was a way； and it was simple enough。 She whispered to herself that
it was not； after all； very dangerous； that the cards were all in
her own hands。 She had only to pull down those shields with a
clatter to the floor； which would arouse some one of the household；
and as that some one reached the library door and opened it； she
would be disappearing through the window； and the necklace； as
though it had slipped from her pocket or grasp in her wild effort
to escape； would be lying behind her on the floor。 They would see
that it was not the Sparrow； and there would be no question as to
where the money was gone； since the money had not been dropped。
There was the interval； of course； that must elapse between the
accident that knocked the shields from the wall and the time it
would take any of the inmates to reach the library； an interval
in which a thief might reasonably be expected to have had time
enough to get away without being seen； but the possibility that
she had not fully accomplished her ends when the accident occurred；
and that she had stayed to make frantic and desperate efforts to
do so right up to the last moment； would account for that。
She moved now to an electric…light switch； and turned on the light。
They must be able to see beyond any question of doubt that the
person escaping through the window was not the Sparrow。 What was
she afraid of now； just at the last！ There was an actual physical
discomfort in the furious thumping of that cowardly little heart of
hers。 It was the only way。 And it was worth it。 And it was not
so very dangerous。 People； aroused out of bed； could not follow
her in their night clothes； and in a matter of but a few minutes；
before the police notified by telephone could become a factor in
the affair； she would have run the block down the Avenue； and then
the other block down the cross street； then back to the taxi； and
be whirling safely downtown。
Yes； she was ready！ She nodded her head sharply； as though in
imperative self…command； and running back； her footfalls soundless
on the rich； heavy rug； she picked up the plush…lined necklace case。
She dropped this again； open； on the floor； halfway between the
safe and the window。 With the case apparently burst open as it
fell； and the necklace also on the floor； the stage would be set！
She felt inside her bodice； drew out the necklace … and as she stood
there holding it； and as it caught the light and flashed back its
fire and life from a thousand facets； a numbness seemed to come
stealing over her； and a horror； and a great fear； and a dismay
that robbed her of power of movement until it seemed that she was
rooted to the spot； and a low； gasping cry came from her lips。 Her
eyes； wide with their alarm； were fixed on the window。 There was
a man's face there； just above the sill … and now a man's form
swung through the window； and dropped lightly to the floor inside
the room。 And she stared in horrified fascination； and could not
move。 It was the Adventurer。
〃It's Miss Gray； isn't it？ The White Moll？〃 he murmured amiably。
〃I've been trying to find you all night。 What corking luck！ You
remember me； don't you？ Last night； you know。〃
She did not answer。 His eyes had shifted from her face to the
glittering river of gems in her hand。
〃I see；〃 he smiled； 〃that you are ahead of me again。 Well； it is
the fortune of war； Miss Gray。 I do not complain。〃
She found her voice at last； and； quick as a flash； as he advanced
a step； she dropped the necklace into her pocket； and her revolver
was in her hand。
〃W … what are you doing here？〃 she whispered。
He shrugged his shoulders expressively。
〃I take it that we are both in the same boat；〃 he said pleasantly。
〃In the same boat？〃 she echoed dully。 She remembered his
conversation with her a few hours ago； when he had believed he was
talking to Gypsy Nan。 And now he stood before her for the second
time a self…confessed thief。 In the same boat…fellow…thieves！
A certain cold composure came to her。 〃You mean you came to steal
this necklace？ Well； you shall not have it！ And； furthermore； you
have no right to class me with yourself as a thief。〃
He had a whimsical and very engaging smile。 His eyebrows lifted。
〃Miss Gray perhaps forgets last night；〃 he suggested。
〃No； I do not forget last night；〃 she said slowly； 〃And I do not
forget that I owe you very much for what you did。 And that is
one reason why I warn you at once that； as far as the necklace is
concerned； it will do you no good to build any hopes on the
supposition that we are fellow…thieves； and that I am likely either
to part with it； or； through gratitude； share it。 In spite of
appearances last night； I was not a thief。〃
〃And to…night； Miss Gray … in spite of appearances？〃 he challenged。
He was regarding her with eyes that； while they appraised shrewdly；
held a lurking hint of irony in their depths。 And somehow； suddenly；
self…proclaimed crook though she held him to be； she found herself
seized with an absurd； unreasonable； but nevertheless passionate；
desire to make good her words。
〃Yes； and to…night； too！〃 she asserted。 〃I did not steal this
necklace。 I … never mind how … I … I got it。 It was planned to
put the theft on an innocent man's shoulders。 I was trying to
thwart that plan。 Whether you believe me or not； I did not come
here to steal the necklace； I came here to return it。〃
〃Quite so！ Of course！〃 acknowledged the Adventurer softly。 〃I
am afraid I interrupted you； then； in the act of returning it。
Might I suggest； therefore； Miss Gray； that as it's a bit dangerous
to linger around here unnecessarily； you carry out your intentions
with all possible haste； and get away。〃
〃And you？〃 she queried evenly。
〃Myself； of course； as well。〃 He shrugged his shoulders
philosophically。 〃Under the circumstances； as a gentleman … will
you let me say I prefer that word to the one I know you are
substituting for it … what else can I do？〃
She bit her lips。 Was he mocking her？ The gray eyes were
inscrutable now。
〃Then please do not let me detain you！〃 she said sharply。 〃And in
my turn； let me advise you to go at once。 I intend to knock one of
those shields down from the wall before I go； in order to arouse the
household。 I will； however； in part payment for last night； allow
you three full minutes from the time you climb out of that window；
so that you may have ample time to get away。
He stared at her in frank bewilderment。
〃Good Lord！〃 he gasped。 〃You … you're joking； Miss Gray。〃
〃No； I am not；〃 she replied coolly。 〃Far from it！ There was money
stolen that I cannot replace； and the theft of the money would be
put upon the same innocent shoulders。 I see no other way than the
one I have mentioned。 If whoever runs into this room is permitted
to get a glimpse of me； and is given the impression that the
necklace； which I shall leave on the floor； was dropped in my haste；
the supposition remains that； at least； I got away with the money。
I am certainly not the innocent man who has been used as the pawn；
and if I am recognized as the White Moll； what does it matter … after
last night？〃
He took a step toward her impetuously … and stopped quite as
impetuously。 Her revolver had swung to a level with his head。
〃Pardon me！〃 he said。
〃Not at all！〃 she said caustically。
For the first time； as she watched him warily； the Adventurer
appeared to lose some of his self…assurance。 He shifted a little
uneasily on his feet； and the corners of his eyes puckered into a
nest of perturbed wrinkles。
〃I say； Miss Gray； you can't mean this！〃 be protested。 〃You're
not serious！〃
〃I have told you that I am；〃 she answered steadily。 〃Those three
minutes that I gave you are going fast。〃
〃Then look here！〃 he exclaimed earnestly。 〃I'll tell you something。
I said I had been trying to find you to…night。 It was the truth。
I went to Gypsy Nan's … and might have been spared my pains。 I
