the white moll-第38章
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White Moll。 And then； in another ten minutes； she should be back
again at the Pug's room。 The Pug had said he would not be much more
than half an hour； but； as nearly as she could calculate it； that
would still give her from five to ten minutes alone with Pinkie
Bonn。 It was enough … more than enough。 The prestige of the White
Moll would do the rest。 A revolver in the hands of the White Moll
would insure instant and obedient respect from Pinkie Bonn； or any
other member of the gang under similar conditions。 And so … and so
… it … would not be difficult。 Only there was a queer fluttering
at her heart now； and her breath came in hard； short little
inhalations。 And she spoke suddenly to herself：
〃I'm glad；〃 she whispered； 〃I'm glad I saw those two old faces on
that doorstep； because … because； if I hadn't； I … I would be afraid。〃
The minutes passed。 The dissolute figure of an old hag disappeared；
like a deeper shadow in the blackness of a lane； through the broken
door of a deserted shed； presently a slim； neat little figure；
heavily veiled； emerged。 Again the minutes passed。 And now the
veiled figure let herself in through the back door of the Pug's
lodging house； and stole softly down the dark hall； and halted
before the Pug's door。 It was the White Moll now。
From under the door； at the ill…fitting threshold； there showed a
thin line of light。 Rhoda Gray； with her ear against the door panel；
listened。 There was no sound of voices from within。 Pinkie Bonn；
then； was still alone； and still waiting for the Pug。 She glanced
sharply around her。 There was only darkness。 Her gloved right hand
was hidden in the folds of her skirt； she raised her left hand and
knocked softly upon the door…two raps； one rap； two raps。 She
repeated it。 And as it had been with Shluker； so it was now with
her。 A footstep crossed the floor within； the key turned in the
lock； and the door was flung open。
〃All right； Pug；〃 said Pinkie Bonn； 〃I …〃
The man's words ended in a gasp of surprised amazement。 With a
quick step forward； Rhoda Gray was in the room。 Her revolver；
suddenly outflung； covered the other； and her free hand； reaching
behind her； closed and locked the door again。
There was an almost stupid look of bewilderment on Pinkie Bonn's
face。
Rhoda Gray threw back her veil。
〃My Gawd！〃 mumbled Pinkie Bonn … and licked his lips。 〃The White
Moll！〃
〃Yes！〃 said Rhoda Gray tersely。 〃Put your hands up over your head
and go over there and stand against the wall … with your face to it！〃
Pinkie Bonn； like an automaton moved purely by mechanical means；
obeyed。
Rhoda Gray followed him； and with the muzzle of her revolver
pressed into the small of the man's back； felt rapidly over his
clothes with her left hand for the bulge of his revolver。 She
found and possessed herself of the weapon； and； stepping back；
ordered him to turn around again。
〃I haven't much time；〃 she said icily。 〃I'll trouble you now for
the cash you took from Marny Day and French Pete。〃
〃My Gawd！〃 he mumbled again。 〃You know about that！〃
〃Quick！〃 she said imperatively。 〃Put it on the table there； and
then go back again to the wall！〃
Pinkie Bonn fumbled in his pocket。 His face was white； almost
chalky white； and it held fear； but its dominant expression was one
of helpless stupefaction。 He placed the sheaf of banknotes on the
table； and shuffled back again to the wall。
Rhoda Gray picked up the money； and retreated to the door。 Still
facing the man； working with her left hand behind her back； she
unlocked the door again； and this time removed the key from the lock。
〃You are quite safe here；〃 she observed evenly； 〃since there appears
to be no window through which you could get out； but you might make
it a little unpleasant for me if you gave the alarm and aroused the
other occupants of the house before I had got well away。 I dare say
that was in your mind； but … she opened the door slightly； and
inserted the key on the outer side … 〃I am quite sure you will
reconsider any such intentions … Pinkie。 It would be a very
disastrous thing for you if I were caught。 Somebody is 'wanted' for
the murder of Marny Day at Charlie's a little while ago； and a jury
would undoubtedly decide that the guilty man was the one who broke
in the door there and stole the money。 And if I were caught and
were obliged to confess that I got it from you； and French Pete
swore that it was whoever broke into the room that shot his pal； it
might go hard with you； Pinkie … don't you think so？〃 She smiled
coldly at the man's staring eyes and dropped jaw。 〃Good…night；
Pinkie； I know you won't make any noise；〃 she said softly … and
suddenly opened the door； and in a flash stepped back into the hall；
and closed and locked the door； and whipped out the key from the
lock。
And inside Pinkie Bonn made no sound。
It was done now。 Rhoda Gray drew in her breath in a great choking
gasp of relief。 She found herself trembling violently。 She found
her limbs were bearing her none too steadily； as she began to grope
her way now along the black hall toward the back door。 But it was
done now； and … No； she was not safe away； even yet！ Some one was
coming in through that back door just ahead of her； or； at least；
she heard voices out there。
She was just at the end of the hall now。 There was no time to go
back and risk the front entrance。 She darted across the hall to
the opposite side from that of the Pug's room； because on that side
the opening of the door would not necessarily expose her； and
crouched down in the corner。 It was black here； perhaps black
enough to escape observation。 She listened； her heart beating
wildly。 The voices outside continued。 Why were they lingering
there？ Why didn't they do one thing or the other … either go away；
or come in？ There wasn't any too much time！ The Pug might be
back at any minute now。 Perhaps one of those people out there was
the Pug！ Perhaps it would be better after all to run back and go
out by the front door； risky as that would be。 No； her escape in
that direction now was cut off； too！
She shrank as far back into the corner as she could。 The door of
the end room on this side of the hall had opened； and now a man
stepped out and closed the door behind him。 Would he see her？ She
held her breath。 No！ It … it was all right。 He was walking away
from her toward the front of the hall。 And now for a moment it
seemed as though she had lost her senses； as though her brain were
playing some mad； wild trick upon her。 Wasn't that the Pug's door
before which the man had stopped？ Yes； yes！ And he seemed to have
a key to it； for he did not knock； and the door was opening； and
now for an instant； just an instant； the light fell upon the man
as he stepped with a quick； lightning…like movement inside； and she
saw his face。 It was the Adventurer。
She stifled a little cry。 Her brain was in turmoil。 And now the
back door was opening。 They … they might see her here！ And … yes
… it was safer … safer to act on the sudden inspiration that had
come to her。 The door of the room from which the Adventurer had
emerged was almost within reach； and he had not locked it as he had
gone out … she had subconsciously noted that fact。 And she
understood why he had not now … that he had safeguarded himself
against the loss of even the second or two it would have taken
him to unlock it when he ran back for cover again from the Pug's
room。 Yes…that room！ It was the safest thing she could do。 She
could even get out that way； for it must be the room with the low
window； which she remembered gave on the back yard； and … She
darted silently forward； and； as the back door opened； slipped into
the room the Adventurer had just vacated。
It was pitch black。 She must not make a sound； but； equally； she
must not lose a second。 What was taking place in the Pug's room
between Pinkie Bonn and the Adventurer she did not know。 But the
Adventurer was obviously on one of his marauding expeditions； and
he might stay there no more than a minute or two once he found out
that he had been forestalled。 She must hurry … hurry！
Sh
