the white moll-第44章
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to…night's haul； and five years to do it； I'll get her； and get …〃
〃Sure！〃 mumbled Rhoda Gray hurriedly。 〃But you needn't get excited！
I was only thinking of her because she's queered us till I've got
my fingers crossed； that's all。 Go on about Cloran。〃
Danglar's composure did not return on the instant。 He gnawed at
his lips for a moment before he spoke。
〃All right！〃 he jerked out finally。 〃Let it go at that！ I told
you the other night in the garret that things were beginning to
break our way； and that you wouldn't have to stay there much
longer； but I didn't tell you how or why … you wouldn't give me
a chance。 I'll tell you now； and it's the main reason why I've
kept away from you lately。 I couldn't take a chance of Cloran
getting wise to that garret and Gypsy Nan。〃 He grinned suddenly。
〃I've been cultivating Cloran myself for the last two weeks。 We're
quite pals！ I'm for playing the luck every time！ When the jewels
showed up to…day； I figured that to…night's the night … see？
Cloran and I are going to supper together at the Silver Sphinx at
about eleven o'clock …and this is where you shed the Gypsy Nan
stuff； and show up as your own sweet self。 Cloran'll be glad to
meet you！〃
She stared at him in genuine perplexity and amazement。
〃Show myself to Cloran！〃 she ejaculated heavily。 〃I don't get you！〃
〃You will in a minute；〃 said Danglar softly。 〃You're the bait
…see？ Cloran and I will be at supper and watching the fox…trotters。
You blow in and show yourself … I don't need to tell you how； you're
clever enough at that sort of thing yourself … and the minute he
recognizes you as the woman he's been looking for that murdered
Deemer； you pretend to recognize him for the first time too； and
then you beat it like you had the scare of your life for the door。
He'll follow you on the jump。 I don't know what it's all about；
and I sit tight； and that lets me out。 And now get this！ There'll
be two taxicabs outside。 If there's more than two； it's the first
two I'm talking about。 You jump into the one at the head of the
line。 Cloran won't need any invitation to grab the second one and
follow you。 That's all！ It's the last ride he'll take。 It'll be
our boys； and not chauffeurs； who'll be driving those cars to…night；
and they've got their orders where to go。 Cloran won't come back。
Understand； Bertha'？〃
There was only one answer to make； only one answer that she dared
make。 She made it mechanically； though her brain reeled。 A man
named Cloran was to be murdered； and she was to show herself as
this … this Bertha … and。。。
〃Yes；〃 she said。
〃Good！〃 said Danglar。 He pulled out his watch again。 〃All right；
then！ We've been here long enough。〃 He rose briskly。 〃It's time
to make a move。 You hop it back to the garret； and get rid of that
fancy dress。 I've got to meet Cloran uptown first。 Come on； Matty；
let us out。〃
The place stifled her。 She got up and moved quickly through the
intervening room。 She heard Danglar and his crippled brother
talking earnestly together as they followed her。 And then the
cripple brushed by her in the darkness； and opened the front door
… and Danglar had drawn her to him in a quick embrace。 She did not
struggle； she dared not。 Her heart seemed to stand still。 Danglar
was whispering in her ear：
〃I promised I'd make it up to you； Bertha； old girl。 You'll see
… after to…night。 We'll have another honey…moon。 You go on ahead
now … I can't be seen with Gypsy Nan。 And don't be late … the
Silver Sphinx at eleven。〃
She ran out on the street。 Her fingers mechanically clutched at
her shawl to loosen it around her throat。 It seemed as though she
were choking； that she could not breathe。 The man's touch upon her
had seemed like contact with some foul and loathsome thing； the
scene in that room back there like some nightmare of horror from
which she could not awake。
XVI。 THE SECRET PANEL
Rhoda Gray hurried onward； back toward the garret； her mind in riot
and dismay。 It was not only the beginning of the end； it was very
near the end！ What was she to do？ The Silver Sphinx … at eleven！
That was the end … after eleven … wasn't it？ She could impersonate
Gypsy Nan； she could not； if she would； impersonate the woman who
was dead！ And then； too； there were the stolen jewels at old Jake
Luertz's！ She could not turn to the police for help there； because
then the Pug might fall into their hands； and … and the Pug was
… was the Adventurer。
And then a sort of fatalistic calm fell upon her。 If the masquerade
was over； if the end had come； there remained only one thing for her
to do。 There were no risks too desperate to take now。 It was she
who must strike； and strike first。 Those jewels in old Luertz's
bedroom became suddenly vital to her。 They were tangible evidence。
With those jewels in her possession she should be able to force
Danglar to his knees。 She could get them … before Pinkie Bonn and
the Pug … if she hurried。 Afterward she would know where to find
Danglar … at the Silver Sphinx。 Nothing would happen to Cloran；
because； through her failure to cooperate； the plan would be
abortive； but； veiled； as the White Moll； she could pick up Danglar's
trail again there。 Yes； it would be the end … one way or the other
… between eleven o'clock and daylight！
She quickened her steps。 Old Luertz was to be inveigled away from
his home about ten o'clock。 At a guess； she made it only a little
after nine now。 She would need the skeleton keys in order to get
into old Luertz's place； and； yes； she would need a flashlight； too。
Well； she would have time enough to get them； and time enough； then；
to run to the deserted shed in the lane behind the garret and change
her clothes。
Rhoda Gray； as Gypsy Nan； went on as speedily as she dared without
inviting undue attention to herself； reached the garret； secured
the articles she sought； hurried out again； and went down the lane
in the rear to the deserted shed。 She remained longer here than in
the attic； perhaps ten minutes； working mostly in the darkness；
risking the flashlight only when it was imperative； and then； the
metamorphosis complete； a veiled figure； in her own person； as
Rhoda Gray； the White Moll； she was out on the street again； and
hastening back in the same general direction from which she had
just come。
She knew old Jake Luertz's place； and she knew the man himself very
intimately by reputation。 There were few such men and such places
that she could have escaped knowing in the years of self…appointed
service that she had given to the worst； and perhaps therefore the
most needy； element in New York。 The man ostensibly conducted a
little secondhand store； in reality he probably 〃shoved〃 more stolen
goods for his clientele； which at one time or another undoubtedly
embraced nearly every crook in the underworld； than any other 〃fence〃
in New York。 She knew him for an oily； cunning old fox who lived
alone in the two rooms over his miserable store … unless； of late；
his young henchman； the Crab； had taken to living with him； though；
as far as that was concerned； it mattered little to…night； since
the Crab； for the moment； thanks to the gang； was eliminated from
consideration。
She reached the secondhand store … and walked on past it。 There
was a light upstairs in the front window。 Old Luertz therefore had
not yet gone out in response to the gang's fake message。 She knew
old Luertz's reputation far too well for that； the man would never
go out and leave a gas jet burning … which he would have to pay for！
There was nothing to do but wait。 Rhoda Gray sought the shelter of
a doorway across the street。 She was nervously impatient now。 The
minutes dragged along。 Why didn't 'the man hurry and go out？
〃About ten o'clock；〃 Danglar had said … but that was very indefinite。
Pinkie Bonn and the Pug might be as late as that； but； equally； they
might be earlier！
It seemed an interminable time。 And then； her eyes strained across
the street upon that upper window； she drew still farther back into
the protecting shadows of the doorway。 The light had gone out。
A moment more passed。 The
