the white moll-第48章
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face； hiding it with the torn veil； raced for the car； and flung
herself into the tonneau。
The door slammed。 The car leaped from the curb。 Danglar was coming
down the steps。 She heard him shout。 The chauffeur； in a startled
way； leaned out； as he evidently recognized Danglar's voice … but Rhoda
Gray was mistress of herself now。 The tonneau of the car was not
separated from the driver's seat； and bending forward； she wrenched
her revolver from her pocket； and pressed the muzzle of her weapon to
the back of the man's neck。
〃Don't stop！〃 she gasped； struggling for her breath。 〃Go on！
Quick！〃
The man； with a frightened oath； obeyed。 The car gained speed。 A
glance through the window behind showed Danglar climbing into the
other car。
And then for a moment Rhoda Gray sat there fighting for her
self…control； with the certain knowledge in her soul that upon her
wits； and her wits alone； her life depended now。 She studied the
car's mechanism over the chauffeur's shoulder； even as she continued
to hold her revolver pressed steadily against the back of the man's
neck。 She could drive a car … she could drive this one。 The
presence of this chauffeur； one of the gang； was an added menace；
there were too many tricks he might play before she could forestall
them； any one of which would deliver her into the hands of Danglar
behind there … an apparently inadvertent stoppage due to traffic；
for instance； that would bring the pursuing car alongside … that；
or a dozen other things which would achieve the same end。
〃Open the door on your side！〃 she commanded abruptly。 〃And get out
… without slowing the car！ Do you understand？〃
He turned his head for a half incredulous； half frightened look at
her。 She met his eyes steadily … the torn veil； quite discarded now；
was in her pocket。 She did not know the man； but it was quite
evident from the almost ludicrous dismay which spread over his face
that he knew her。
〃The … the White Moll！〃 he stammered。 〃It's the White Moll！〃
〃Jump！〃 she ordered imperatively … and her revolver pressed still
more significantly against the man's flesh。
He seemed in even frantic haste to obey her。 He whipped the door
open； and； before she could reach to the wheel； he had leaped to
the street。 The car swerved sharply。 She flung herself over into
the vacated seat； and snatched at the wheel barely in time to
prevent the machine from mounting the curb。
She looked around again through the window of the hood。 The man
had swung aboard Danglar's car； which was only a few yards behind。
Rhoda Gray drove steadily。 Here in the city streets her one aim
must be never to let the other car come abreast of her； but she
could prevent that easily enough by watching Danglar's movements；
and cutting across in front of him if he attempted anything of the
sort。 But ultimately what was she to do？ How was she to escape？
Her hands gripped and clenched in a sudden； almost panic…like
desperation at the wheel。 Turn suddenly around a corner； and jump
from the car herself？ It was useless to attempt it； they would
keep too close behind to give her a chance to get out of sight。
Well； then； suppose she jumped from the car； and trusted herself to
the protection of the people on the street。 She shook her head grimly。
Danglar； she knew only too well； would risk anything； go to any
length； to put an end to the White Moll。 He would not hesitate an
instant to shoot her down as she jumped and he would be fairly
safe himself in doing it。 A few revolver shots from a car that
speeded away in the darkness offered an even chance of escape。 And
yet； unless she forced an issue such as that； she knew that Danglar
would not resort to firing at her here in the city。 He would want
to be sure that was the only chance he had of getting her； before
he accepted the risk that he would run of being caught for it by
the police。
She found herself becoming strangely； almost unnaturally； cool and
collected now。 The one danger； greater than all others； that
menaced her was a traffic block that would cause her to stop； and
allow those in the other car behind to rush in upon her as she sat
here at the wheel。 And sooner or later； if she stayed in the city；
a block such as that was inevitable。 She must get out of the city；
then。 It was only to invite another risk； the risk that Danglar
was in the faster car of the two but there was no other way。
She drove more quickly； made her way to the Bridge； and crossed it。
The car behind followed with immutable persistence。 It made no
effort to close the short gap between them； but； neither； on the
other hand； did it permit that gap to widen。
They passed through Brooklyn； and then； reaching the outskirts；
Rhoda Gray； with headlights streaming into the black； with an open
Long Island road before her； flung her throttle wide； and the car
leaped like a thing of life into the night。 It was a sudden start；
it gained her a hundred yards but that was all。
The wind tore at her and whipped her face； the car rocked and reeled
as in some mad frenzy。 There was not much traffic； but such as
there was it cleared away from before her as if by magic； as；
seeking shelter from the wild meteoric thing running amuck； the few
vehicles； motor or horse； that she encountered hugged； the edge of
the road； and the wind whisked to her ears fragments of shouts and
execrations。 Again and again she looked back two fiery balls of
light blazed behind her always those same two fiery balls。
She neither gained nor lost。 Rigid； like steel； her little figure
was crouched over the wheel。 She did not know the road。 She knew
nothing save that she was racing for her life。 She did not know
the end； she could not see the end。 Perhaps there would be some
merciful piece of luck for her that would win her through a
break…down to that roaring thing； with its eyes that were balls of
fire； behind。
She passed through a town with lighted streets and lighted windows
or was it only imagination？ It was gone again； anyhow； and there
was just black road ahead。 Over the roar of the car and the sweep
of the wind； then； she caught； or fancied she caught； a series
of faint reports。 She looked behind her。 Yes； they were firing
now。 Little flashes leaped out above and at the sides of those
blazing headlights。
How long was it since she had left the Silver Sphinx？ Minutes or
hours would not measure it； would they？ But it could not last much
longer！ She was growing very tired； the strain upon her arms； yes；
and upon her eyes； was becoming unbearable。 She swayed a little
in her seat； and the car swerved； and she jerked it back again into
the straight。 She began to laugh a little hysterically and then；
suddenly； she straightened up； tense and alert once more。
That swerve was the germ of an inspiration！ It took root swiftly
now。 It was desperate … but she was desperate。 She could not drive
much more； or much longer like this。 Mind and body were almost
undone。 And； besides； she was not outdistancing that car behind
there by a foot； and sooner or later they would hit her with one of
their shots； or； perhaps what they were really trying to do；
puncture one of her tires。
Again she glanced over her shoulder。 Yes； Danglar was just far
enough behind to make the plan possible。 She began to allow the
car to swerve noticeably at intervals； as though she were weakening
and the car was getting beyond her control … which was； indeed；
almost too literally the case。 And now it seemed to her that each
time she swerved there came an exultant shout from the car behind。
Well； she asked for nothing better； that was what she was trying to
do； wasn't it？ … inspire them with the belief that she was breaking
under the strain。
Her eyes searched anxiously down the luminous pathway made by her
high…powered headlights。 If only she could reach a piece of road
that combined two things … an embankment of some sort； and a curve
just sharp enough to throw those headlights behind off at a tangent
for an instant as they rounded it； too； in following her。
A minute； two； another passed。 And then Rhoda Gray； tight…lipped；
