the white moll-第2章
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any relatives； except distant ones on her mother's side； somewhere
out in California； whom she had never seen。 She and her father
had been all in all to each other； chums； pals； comrades； since her
mother's death many years ago。 She had gone everywhere with him
save when the demands of her education had necessarily kept them
apart； she had hunted with him in South America； ridden with him
in sections where civilization was still in the making； shared the
crude； rough life of mining camps with him … and it had seemed as
though her life； too； had gone out with his。
She brushed her hand hastily across her eyes。 There hadn't been
any friends either； apart from a few of her father's casual
business acquaintances； no one else … except the Bussard。 It was
very strange！ Her reward for that one friendly act had come in a
manner little expected； and it had come very quickly。 She had
sought and found a genuine relief from her own sorrow in doing
what she could to alleviate the misery in that squalid； one…room
home。 And then the sphere of her activities had broadened； slowly
at first； not through any preconceived intention on her part； but
naturally； and as almost an inevitable corollary consequent upon
her relations with the Bussard and his ill…fortuned family。
The Bussard's circle of intimates was amongst those who lay outside
the law； those who gambled for their livelihood by staking their
wits； to win against the toils of the police； and so； more and more；
she had come into close and intimate contact with the criminal
element of New York； until to…day； throughout its length and breadth；
she was known； and； she had reason to believe； was loved and trusted
by every crook in the underworld。 It was a strange eulogy；
self…pronounced！ But it was none the less true。 Then； she had
been Rhoda Gray； now； even the Bussard； doubtless； had forgotten
her name in the one with which he himself； at that queer baptismal
font of crimeland； had christened her … the White Moll。 It even
went further than that。 It embraced what might be called the
entourage of the underworld； the police and the social workers with
whom she inevitably came in contact。 These； too； had long known
her as the White Moll； and had come； since she had volunteered no
further information； tacitly to accept her as such； and nothing more。
Again she shook her head。 It wasn't altogether a normal life。 She
was only a woman； with all the aspirations of a woman； with all the
yearning of youth for its measure of gayety and pleasure。 True； she
had not made a recluse of herself outside her work； but； equally；
on the other hand； she had not made any intimate friends in her own
station in life。 She had never purposed continuing indefinitely the
work she was doing； nor did she now； but； little by little； it had
forced its claims upon her until those claims were not easy to
ignore。 Even though the circumstances in which her father had left
her were barely more than sufficient for a modest little flat uptown；
there was still always a little surplus； and that surplus counted
in certain quarters for very much indeed。 But it wasn't only that。
The small amount of money that she was able to spend in that way
had little to do with it。 The bonds which linked her to the sordid
surroundings that she had come to know so well were stronger far
than that。 There wasn't any money involved in this visit； for
instance； that she was going now to make to Gypsy Nan。 Gypsy Nan
was。。。
Rhoda Gray had halted before the doorway of a small； hovel…like；
two…story building that was jammed in between two tenements； which；
relatively； in their own class； were even more disreputable than
was the little frame house itself。 A secondhand…clothes store
occupied a portion of the ground floor； and housed the proprietor
and his family as well； permitting the rooms on the second floor
to be 〃rented out〃； the garret above was the abode of Gypsy Nan。
There was a separate entrance； apart from that into the
secondhand…clothes store； and she pushed this door open and stepped
forward into an absolutely black and musty…smelling hallway。 By
feeling with her hands along the wall she reached the stairs and
began to make her way upward。 She had found Gypsy Nan last night
huddled in the lower doorway； and apparently in a condition that
was very much the worse for wear。 She had stopped and helped the
woman upstairs to her garret； whereupon Gypsy Nan； in language far
more fervent than elegant； had ordered her to begone； and had
slammed the door in her face。
Rhoda Gray smiled a little wearily； as； on the second floor now；
she groped her way to the rear； and began to mount a short；
ladder…like flight of steps to the attic。 Gypsy Nan's lack of
cordiality did not absolve her； Rhoda Gray； from coming back
to…night to see how the woman was … to crowd one more visit on her
already over…expanded list。 She had never had any personal
knowledge of Gypsy Nan before； but； in a sense； the woman was no
stranger to her。 Gypsy Nan was a character known far and wide
in the under…world as one possessing an insatiable and unquenchable
thirst。 As to who she was； or what she was； or where she got her
money for the gin she bought； it was not in the ethics of the Bad
Lands to inquire。 She was just Gypsy Nan。 So that she did not
obtrude herself too obviously upon their notice； the police
suffered her； so that she gave the underworld no reason for
complaint； the underworld accepted her at face value as one of its
own！
There was no hallway here at the head of the ladder…like stairs；
just a sort of narrow platform in front of the attic door。 Rhoda
Gray； groping out with her hands again； felt for the door； and
knocked softly upon it。 There was no answer。 She knocked again。
Still receiving no reply； she tried the door； found it unlocked；
and； opening it； stood for an instant on the threshold。 A lamp；
almost empty； ill…trimmed and smoking badly； stood on a chair
beside a cheap iron bed； it threw a dull； yellow glow about its
immediate vicinity； and threw the remainder of the garret into
deep； impenetrable shadows； but also it disclosed the motionless
form of a woman on the bed。
Rhoda Gray's eyes darkened； as she closed the door behind her；
and stepped quickly forward to the bedside。 For a moment she
stood looking down at the recumbent figure； at the matted tangle
of gray…streaked brown hair that straggled across a pillow which
was none too clean； at the heavy…lensed； old…fashioned； steel…bowed
spectacles； awry now； that were still grotesquely perched on the
woman's nose； at the sallow face； streaked with grime and dirt； as
though it had not been washed for months； at a hand； as ill…cared
for； which lay exposed on the torn blanket that did duty for a
counterpane； at the dirty shawl that enveloped the woman's shoulders；
and which was tightly fastened around Gypsy Nan's neck…and from the
woman her eyes shifted to an empty bottle on the floor that
protruded from under the bed。
〃Nan！〃 she called sharply； and； stooping over； shook the woman's
shoulder。 〃Nan！〃 she repeated。 There was something about the
woman's breathing that she did not like； something in the queer；
pinched condition of the other's face that suddenly frightened
her。 〃Nan！〃 she called again。
Gypsy Nan opened her eyes； stared for a moment dully； then； in a
curiously quick； desperate way； jerked herself up on her elbow。
〃Youse get t'hell outer here！〃 she croaked。 〃Get out！〃
〃I am going to；〃 said Rhoda Gray evenly。 〃And I'm going at once。〃
She turned abruptly and walked toward the door。 〃I'm going to
get a doctor。 You've gone too far this time； Nan； and …〃
〃No； youse don't！〃 Gypsy Nan s voice rose in a sudden scream。 She
sat bolt upright in bed； and pulled a revolver out from under the
coverings。 〃Youse don't bring no doctor here！ See！ Youse put
a finger on dat door； an' it won't be de door youse'1l go out by！〃
Rhoda Gray did not move。
〃Nan； put that revolver down！〃 she ordered quietly。 〃You don't
know what you are doing。〃
〃Don't！？〃 leered Gypsy Nan。 The revolver held； swaying a little
unsteadily； on Rhoda Gray。 There was
