the white moll-第4章
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Rhoda Gray's face had gone a little white。 There was no doubt about
the woman's serious condition； and yet … and yet … She stood there
hesitant。 There must be some other way！ It was not likely even
that the woman had strength enough to walk down the stairs to begin
with。 Strange things had come to her in this world of shadow； but
none before like this。 If the law got the woman it would cost the
woman her life； if the woman did not receive immediate and adequate
medical assistance it would cost the woman her life。 Over and over
in her brain； like a jangling refrain； that thought repeated itself。
It was not like her to stand hesitant before any emergency； no
matter what that emergency might be。 She had never done it before；
but now。。。
〃For God's sake；〃 Gypsy Nan implored； 〃don't stand there looking at
me！ Can't you understand？ If I'm caught； I go out。 Do you think
I'd have lived in this filthy hole if there had been any other way
to save my life？ Are you going to let me die here like a dog？ Get
me my clothes； oh； for God's sake； get them； and give me the one
chance that's left！〃
A queer little smile came to Rhoda Gray's lips； and her shoulders
straightened back。
〃Where are your clothes？〃 she asked。
〃God bless you！〃 The tears were suddenly streaming down the grimy
face。 〃God bless the White Moll！ It's true！ It's true … all they
said about her！〃 The woman had lost control of herself。
〃Nan； keep your nerve！〃 ordered Rhoda Gray almost brutally。 It was
the White Moll in another light now； cool； calm； collected；
efficient。 Her eyes swept Gypsy Nan。 The woman； who had obviously
flung herself down on the bed fully dressed the night before； was
garbed in coarse； heavy boots； the cheapest of stockings which were
also sadly in need of repair； a tattered and crumpled skirt of some
rough material； and； previously hidden by the shawl； a soiled；
greasy and spotted black blouse。 Rhoda Gray's forehead puckered
into a frown。 〃What about your hands and face…they go with the
clothes； don't they？〃
〃It'll wash off；〃 whispered Gypsy Nan。 〃It's just some stuff I keep
in a box…over there … the ceiling…〃 Her voice trailed off weakly；
then with a desperate effort strengthened again。 〃The door！ I
forgot the door！ It isn't locked！ Lock the door first！ Lock the
door！ Then you take the candle over there on the washstand； and
… and I'll show you。 You … you get the things while I'm undressing。
I … I can help myself that much。〃
Rhoda Gray crossed quickly to the door； turned the key in the lock；
and retraced her steps to the washstand that stood in the shadows
against the wall on the opposite side from the bed； and near the far
end of the garret。 Here she found the short stub of a candle that
was stuck in the mouth of a gin bottle； and matches lying beside it。
She lighted the candle； and turned inquiringly to Gypsy Nan。
The woman pointed to the end of the garret where the roof sloped
sharply down until； at the wall itself； it was scarcely four feet
above the floor。
〃Go down there。 Right to the wall … in the center；〃 instructed
Gypsy Nan weakly。 And then； as Rhoda Gray obeyed： 〃Now push up on
that wide board in the ceiling。〃
Rhoda Gray。 already in a stooped position； reached up； and pushed
at a rough； unplaned board。 It swung back without a sound； like a
narrow trap…door； until it rested in an upright position against the
outer frame of the house； disclosing an aperture through which； by
standing erect； Rhoda Gray easily thrust her head and shoulders。
She raised the candle then through the opening … and suddenly her
dark eyes widened in amazement。 It was a hiding place； not only
ingenious； but exceedingly generous in expanse。 As far as one
could reach the ceiling metamorphosed itself into a most convenient
shelf。 And it had been well utilized！ It held a most astounding
collection of things。 There was a cashbox； but the cashbox was
apparently wholly inadequate … there must have been thousands of
dollars in those piles of banknotes that were stacked beside it！
There was a large tin box； the cover off； containing some black；
pastelike substance … the 〃stuff；〃 presumably； that Gypsy Nan used
on her face and hands。 There was a bunch of curiously formed keys；
several boxes of revolver cartridges； an electric flashlight； and
a great quantity of the choicest brands of tinned and bottled
fruits and provisions … and a little to one side； evidently kept
ready for instant use； a suit of excellent material； underclothing；
silk stockings shoes and hat were neatly piled together。
Rhoda Gray took the clothing； and went back to the bedside。 Gypsy
Nan had made little progress in disrobing。 It seemed about all the
woman could do to cling to the edge of the cot and sit upright。
〃What does all this mean； Nan；〃 she asked tensely； 〃all those things
up there … that money？〃
Gypsy Nan forced a twisted smile。
〃It means I know how bad I am； or I wouldn't have let you see what
you have；〃 she answered heavily。 〃It means that there isn't any
other way。 Hurry！ Get these things off！ Get me dressed！〃
But it took a long time。 Gypsy Nan seemed with every moment to
grow weaker。 The lamp on the chair went out for want of oil。 There
was only the guttering candle in the gin bottle to give light。 It
threw weird； flickering shadows around the garret； it seemed to
enhance the already deathlike pallor of the woman； as； using the
pitcher of water and the basin from the washstand now； Rhoda Gray
removed the grime from Gypsy Nan's face and hands。
It was done at last … and where there had once been Gypsy Nan；
haglike and repulsive； there was now a stylishly； even elegantly；
dressed woman of well under middle age。 The transformation seemed
to have acted as a stimulant upon Gypsy Nan。 She laughed with
nervous hilarity she even tried valiantly to put on a pair of new
black kid gloves； but； failing in this； pushed them unsteadily into
the pocket of her coat。
〃I'm … I'm all right；〃 she asserted fiercely； as Rhoda Gray；
pausing in the act of gathering up the discarded garments； regarded
her anxiously。 〃Bring me a package of that money after you've put
those things away … yes； and you'll find a flashlight there。 We'll
need it going down the stairs。〃
Rhoda Gray made no answer。 There was no hesitation now in her
actions； as； to the pile of clothing in her arms； she added the
revolver that lay on the blanket； and； returning to the little
trap…door in the ceiling； hid them away； but her brain was whirling
again in a turmoil of doubt。 This was madness； utter； stark； blind
madness； this thing that she was doing！ It was suicide； literally
that； nothing less than suicide for one in Gypsy Nan's condition to
attempt this thing。 But the woman would certainly die here； too；
with out medical assistance … only there was the police！ Rhoda
Gray's face； as she stood upright in the little aperture again；
throwing the wavering candle…rays around her； seemed suddenly to
have grown pinched and wan。 The police！ The police！ It was her
conscience； then； that was gnawing at her … because of the police！
Was that it？ Well； there was also； then； another side。 Could she
turn informer； traitor； become a female Judas to a dying woman； who
had sobbed and thanked her Maker because she had found some one whom
she believed she could trust？ That was a hideous and an abominable
thing to do！ 〃You swore it！ You swore you'd see me through！〃 … the
words came and rang insistently in her ears。 The sweet； piquant
little face set in hard； determined lines。 Mechanically she picked
up the flashlight and a package of the banknotes； lowered the board
in the ceiling into place； and returned to Gypsy Nan。
〃I'm ready； if there is no other way；〃 she said soberly； as she
watched the other tuck the money away inside her waist。 〃I said I
would see you through； and I will。 But I doubt if you are strong
enough； even with what help I can give you； to get down the stairs；
and even if you can； I am afraid with all my soul of the consequences
to you； and …〃
Gypsy Nan blew out the candle； and staggered to her feet。
〃There isn't any other way。〃
