the white moll-第46章
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and his ingeniously contorted face； and she could see Pinkie Bonn's
pasty…white； drug…stamped countenance
It was not a large room。 The two men in the opposite corner along
the wall from her were scarcely more than ten feet away。 They swung
the washstand out from the wall； and the Pug； going in behind it；
began to work on one of the wall boards。 Pinkie Bonn； an unlighted
cigarette dangling from his lip； leaned over the washstand watching
his companion。
A minute passed … another。 It was still in the room； except only
for the distant sounds of the world outside … a clatter of wheels
upon the pavement； the muffled roar of the elevated； the clang of a
trolley bell。 And then the Pug began to mutter to himself。 Rhoda
Gray smiled a little grimly。 She was not the only one； it would
appear； who experienced difficulty with old Jake Luertz's crafty
hiding place！
〃Say； dis is de limit！〃 the Pug growled out suddenly。 〃Dere's more
damned knots in dis board dan I ever save in any piece of wood in me
life before； an' …〃 He drew back abruptly from the wall； twisting
his head sharply around。 〃D'ye hear dat； Pinkie！〃 he whispered
tensely。 〃Quick！ Put out de light！ Quick！ Dere's some one down
at de front door！〃
Rhoda Gray felt the blood ebb from her face。 She had heard nothing
save the rattle and bump of a wagon along the street below； but she
had had reason to appreciate on a certain occasion before that the
Pug； alias the Adventurer； was possessed of a sense of hearing that
was abnormally acute。 If it was some one else … who was it？ What
would it mean to her？ What complication here in this room would
result？ What。。。
The light was out。 Pinkie Bonn had stepped silently across the
room to the gas jet near the door。 Her eyes； strained； she could
just make out the Adventurer's form kneeling by the wall； and then
… was she mad！ Was the faint night…light of the city filtering in
through the window mocking her？ The Adventurer； hidden from his
companion by the washstand； was working swiftly and without a
sound … or else it was a phantasm of shadows that tricked her！
A door in the wall opened； the Adventurer thrust in his hand； drew
out a package； and； leaning around； slipped it quickly into the
bottom of the washstand； where； with its little doors； there was
a most convenient and very commodious apartment。 He turned again
then； seemed to take something from his pocket and place it in the
opening in the wall； and then the panel closed。
It had taken scarcely more than a second。
Rhoda Gray brushed her hand across her eyes。 No； it wasn't a
phantasm！ She had misjudged the Adventurer … quite misjudged him！
The Adventurer； even with one of the gang present … to furnish an
unimpeachable alibi for him！ … was plucking the gang's fruit again
for his own and undivided enrichment！
Pinkie Bonn's voice came in a guarded whisper from the doorway。
〃I don't hear nothin'！〃 said Pinkie Bonn anxiously。
The Pug tiptoed across the room； and joined his companion。 She
could not see them now； but apparently they stood together by the
door listening。 They stood there for a long time。 Occasionally
she heard them whisper to each other； and then finally the Pug
spoke in a less guarded voice。
〃All right；〃 he said。 〃I guess me nerves are gettin' de creeps。
Shoot de light on again； an' let's get back on de job。 An' youse
can take a turn dis time pushin' de knots； Pinkie； mabbe youse'll
have better luck。〃
The light went on again。 Both men came back across the room； and
now Pinkie Bonn knelt at the wall while the Pug leaned over the
washstand watching him。 Pinkie Bonn was not immediately successful；
the Pug's nerves； of which he had complained； appeared shortly to
get the better of him。
〃Fer Gawd's sake； hurry up！〃 he urged irritably。 〃Or else lemme
take another crack at it； Pinkie； an'。。。
A low； triumphant exclamation came from Pinkie Bonn； as the small
door in the wall swung suddenly open。
〃There she is； my bucko！〃 he grinned。 〃Some nifty vault； eh？ The
old guy…〃 He stopped。 He had thrust in his hand； and drawn it out
again。 His fingers gripped a sheet of notepaper … but he was
seemingly unconscious of that fact。 He was leaning forward；
staring into the aperture。 〃It's empty！〃 he choked。
〃Wot's dat？〃 cried the Pug； and sprang to his companion's side。
〃Youse're crazy； Pinkie！ He thrust his head toward the opening
… and then turned and stared for a moment helplessly at Pinkie Bonn。
〃So help me！〃 he said heavily。 〃It's … it's empty。〃 He shook his
fist suddenly。 〃De Crab's handed us one； dat's wot！ But de Crab'll
get his fer …〃
〃It wasn't the Crab！〃 Pinkie Bonn was stuttering his words。 He
stood； jaws dropped； his eyes glued now on the paper in his hand。
The Pug； his face working； the personification of baffled rage and
intolerance； leered at Pinkie Bonn。 〃Well； who was it； den？〃 he
snarled。
Pinkie Bonn licked his lips。
〃The White Moll！〃 He licked his lips again。
〃De White Moll！〃 echoed the Pug incredulously。
〃Yes；〃 said Pinkie Bonn。 〃Listen to what's on this paper that I
fished out of there I Listen！ She's got all the nerve of the devil！
'With thanks； and my most grateful appreciation … the White Moll。'〃
The Pug snatched the paper from Pinkie Bonn's hand； as though to
assure himself that it was true。 Rhoda Gray smiled faintly。 It
was good acting； very excellently done … seeing that the Pug had
written the note and placed it in the hiding place himself！
〃My God！〃 mumbled Pinkie Bonn thickly。 〃I ain't afraid of most
things； but I'm gettin' scared of her。 She ain't human。 Last
night you know what happened； and the night before； and …〃 He
gulped suddenly。 〃Let's get out of here ！〃 he said hurriedly。
The Pug made no reply； except for a muttered growl of assent and
a nod of his head。
The two men crossed the room。 The light went out。 Their footsteps
echoed back as they descended the stairs； then died away。
And then Rhoda Gray moved for the first time。 She brushed aside
the cretonne hanging； ran to the washstand； possessed herself of
the package she had seen the Pug place there； and then made her way；
cautious now of the s1ightest sound； downstairs。
She tried the door that led into the secondhand shop from the hall；
found it unlocked； and with a little gasp of relief slipped through；
and closed it gently behind her。 She did not dare risk the front
entrance。 Pinkie Bonn and the Pug were not far enough away yet； and
she did not dare wait until they were。 Too bulky to take the risk
of attempting to conceal it about his person while with Pinkie Bonn；
the Pug； it was obvious； would come back alone for that package； and
it was equally obvious that he would not be long in doing so。 There
was old Luertz's return that he would have to anticipate。 It would
not take wits nearly so sharp as those possessed by the Pug to find
an excuse for separating promptly from Pinkie Bonn！
Rhoda Gray groped her way down the shop； groped her way to a back
door； unbolted it； working by the sense of touch； and let herself
out into a back yard。 Five minutes later she was blocks away； and
hurrying rapidly back toward the deserted shed in the lane behind
Gypsy Nan's garret。
Her lips formed into a tight little curve as she went along。 There
was still work to do to…night … if this package really contained
the stolen legacy of gems left by Angel Jack。 She had first of all
to reach a place where she could examine the package with safety；
then a place to hide it where it would be secure； and then … Danglar！
She gained the lane； stole along it； and disappeared into the shed
through the broken door that hung； partially open； on sagging hinges。
Here she sought a corner； and crouched down so that her body would
smother any reflection from her flashlight。 And now； eagerly；
feverishly； she began to undo the package； and then； a moment later；
she gazed； stupefied and amazed； at what lay before her。 Precious
stones； scores of them； nestled on a bed of cotton； they were of all
colors and of all sizes … but each one of them seemed to pulsate and
throb； and from some wondrous； glorious depth o
