the white moll-第29章
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in South America； when she had hunted and ridden with her father。
It was easy enough to hit Danglar； but that might mean Danglar's
life； it was not so easy to hit Danglar's arm； or Danglar's hand；
or the revolver Danglar held； and if she risked that and missed；
she。。。
〃Thr …〃
There was the roar of a report that went racketing through the
silence like a cannon shot； and the short； vicious tongue…flame
from Rhoda Gray's revolver muzzle stabbed through the black。 There
was a scream of mingled surprise and fury； and the revolver in
Danglar's hand clattered to the floor。 She saw the Adventurer
spring； quick as a panther； at the other； and saw him whip blow
after blow with terrific force full into Danglar's face； she heard
a rush of feet coming from the corridor behind her； and she flung
herself forward into the inner room； and； panting； snatched at the
door and slammed it shut； and groping for the bolt； found it； and
shot it home in its grooves。
And she stood there； weak for the moment； and drew her hand across
her eyes … and behind her they pounded on the door； and there came
a burst of oaths； and in front of her the Adventurer was smiling
gravely as he covered Danglar with Danglar's own revolver； and
Danglar； as though dazed and half stunned from the blows he had
received； rocked unsteadily upon his feet。 And then her eyes
widened a little。 The pounding on the door； the shouts； the noise；
was beginning to arouse what inmates there were in the tenement； and
there wasn't an instant to lose … but the Adventurer now was calmly
gathering up； to the last one； and pocketing them； the banknotes
with which Danglar had baited his trap。 And as he crammed the money
into his pockets； he spoke to her； with a curious softness； a great；
strange gentleness in his voice：
〃I owe you my life； Miss Gray。 That was a wonderful shot。 You
knocked the revolver from his hand without even grazing his fingers。
A very wonderful shot； and … will you let me say it？ … you are a
very wonderful woman。〃
〃Oh； quick！〃 she whispered wildly。 〃I am afraid this door will not
hold。〃
〃There is the window； and the fire escape； so our friend here was
good enough to inform me；〃 said the Adventurer； as he composedly
pocketed the last dollar。 〃Will you open the window； Miss Gray； if
you please？ I am afraid I hit Mr。 Danglar a little ungently； and
as he is still somewhat groggy； I fancy he will need a little
assistance。 I imagine〃 … he caught Danglar suddenly by the collar
of his coat as Rhoda Gray ran to the window and flung it up； and
rushed the man unceremoniously across the room …〃 I imagine it would
be a mistake to leave him behind。 He might open the door； or even
be unpleasant enough to throw something down on us from above； also
he should serve us very well as a hostage。 Will you go first；
please； Miss Gray？〃
She climbed quickly over the sill to the iron platform。 Danglar
was dragged through by the Adventurer； mumbling； and evidently still
in a half…dazed condition。 Windows were opening here and there。
》From back inside the room； the blows rained more heavily upon the
door … and now there came the rip and rend of wood； as though a
panel had crashed in。
〃Hurry； please； Miss Gray！〃 prompted the Adventurer。
It was dark； almost too dark to see her footing。 She felt her way
down。 It was only one story above the ground； and it did not take
long； but it seemed hours since she had fired that shot； though she
knew the time had been measured by scarcely more than a minute。 And
now； on the lower platform； waiting for that queer； double； twisting
shadow of the two men to join her； she heard the Adventurers s voice
ring out sharply：
〃This is your chance； Danglar！ I didn't waste the time to bring
you along because it afforded me any amusement。 They've found their
heads at last； and gone to the next window； instead of wasting time
on that door。 They can't reach the fire escape there； but if they
fire a single shot … you go out！ You'd better tell them so … and
tell them quick！〃
And then Danglar's voice shrieked out in sudden； for God's sake；
don't fire！〃
They were all on the lower platform together now。 The Adventurer
was pressing the muzzle of his revolver into the small of Danglar's
back； and was still supporting the man by the collar of his coat。
〃I think；〃 said the Adventurer abruptly； 〃that we can now dispense
with Mr。 Danglar's services； and I am sure a little cool night air
out here on the fire escape will do him good。 Miss Gray … would you
mind？ … there's a pair of handcuffs in my left…hand coat pocket。〃
Handcuffs！ She could have laughed out idiotically。 Handcuffs！
They seemed the most incongruous things in the world for the
Adventurer to have； and … She felt mechanically in his pocket； and
handed them to him。
There was a click as a cuff was snapped over Danglar's wrist；
another as the other cuff was snapped shut around the iron
hand…railing of the fire escape。 The act seemed to arouse Danglar；
both mentally and physically。 He tore and wrenched at the steel
links now； and burst suddenly； raving； into oaths。
〃Hold your tongue； Danglar！〃 ordered the Adventurer in cold menace；
and as the other； cowed； obeyed； the Adventurer swung himself over
the platform and dropped to the ground。 〃Come； Miss Gray。 Drop！
I'll catch you！〃 he called in a low voice。 〃One step takes us
around the corner of the tenement into the lane； and Mr。 Danglar
won't let them fire at us before we can make that … when we could
still fire at him！〃
She obeyed him； swinging at arm's…length。 She felt his hands fold
about her in a firm grasp as she let go her hold； and she caught her
breath suddenly； she did not know why； and felt the hot blood sweep
her face … and then she was standing on the ground。
〃Now！〃 he whispered。 〃Together！〃
They sped around the corner of the tenement。 A yell from Danglar
followed them。 An echoing yell from above answered … and then a
fusillade of abortive shots； and the sound as of boot heels
clattering on the iron rungs of the fire escape； and then； more
faintly； for they were putting distance behind them as fast as they
could run； an excited outburst of profanity and exclamations。
〃They won't follow！〃 panted the Adventurer。 〃Those shots of theirs
outdoors will have alarmed the police； and they'll try and get
Danglar free first。 It's lucky your shot inside wasn't heard by
the patrolman on the beat。 I was afraid of that。 But we're safe
now … from Danglar's crowd； at least。〃
But still they ran。 They crossed an intersecting street； and
continued on along the lane； then swerving into the next intersecting
street； moderated their pace to a rapid walk … and stopped finally
only as Rhoda Gray drew suddenly into the shadows of another
alley…way； and held out her hand。 They were both safe now； as he
had said。 And there were so many reasons why； though her resolution
faltered a little； she should go the rest of the way alone。 She
was not sure that she trusted this strange 〃gentleman；〃 who was a
thief with his pockets crammed even now with the money that had
lured him almost to his death； but； too； she was not altogether sure
that she distrusted him。 But all that was secondary。 She must； as
soon as she could； get back to Gypsy Nan's garret。 Like that other
night； she dared not take the risk that Danglar； by any chance； might
return there … and find her gone after what had just happened。 The
man would be beside himself with fury； suspicious of everything
…and suspicion would be fatal in its consequences for her。 And so
she must go。 And she could not become Gypsy Nan again with the
Adventurer looking on！
〃We part here；〃 she said a little unsteadily。 〃Good…night！〃
〃Oh； I say； Miss Gray！〃 he protested quickly。 〃You don't mean that！
Why； look here； I haven't had a chance to tell you what I think； or
what I feel； about what you've done to…night … for me。〃
She shook her head。
〃There is nothing you need say；〃 she answered quietly。 〃We are only
quits。 You have done quite as much for me。〃
〃But； see here； Miss Gray！〃 he pleaded。 〃Can't we come to some
understanding？ We seem to ha
