the white moll-第54章
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was perched an equally greasy skull cap； gazed at her inquiringly
from behind the counter。
〃I want a gun； and a good one； please；〃 she said； after a glance
around her to assure herself that they were alone。
The other squinted at her through his spectacles； as he shook his
head。
〃I haven't got any； lady；〃 he answered。 〃We're not allowed to sell
them without …〃
〃Oh； yes； you have； Daddy；〃 she contradicted quietly； as she raised
her veil。 〃And quick； please； I'm in a hurry。〃
The little old man leaned forward； staring at her for a moment as
though fascinated； and then his hand； in a fumbling way； removed
the skull cap from his bead。 There was a curious； almost wistful
reverence in his voice as he spoke。
〃The White Moll！〃 he said。
〃Yes；〃 she smiled。 〃But the gun； Daddy。 Quick！ I haven't an
instant to lose。〃
〃Yes； yes！〃 he said eagerly … and shuffled away。
He was back in a moment； an automatic in his hand。
〃It's loaded； of course？〃 she said； as she took the weapon。 She
slipped it into her pocket as he nodded affirmatively。 〃How much；
Daddy？〃
〃The White Moll！〃 He seemed still under the spell of amazement。
〃It is nothing。 There is no charge。 It is nothing； of course。〃
〃Thank you； Daddy！〃 she said softly … and laid a bill upon the
counter； and stepped back to the door。 〃Good…night！〃 she smiled。
She heard him call to her； but she was already on the street again；
and hurrying along。 She felt better； somehow； in a mental way； for
that little encounter with the shady old pawnbroker。 She was not
so much alone； perhaps； as she had thought； there were many； perhaps；
even if they were of the underworld； who had not swerved from the
loyalty they had once professed to the White Moll。
It brought a new train of thought； and she paused suddenly in her
walk。 She might rally around her some of those underworld intimates
upon whose allegiance she felt she could depend； and use them now；
to…night； in behalf of the Adventurer； she would be sure then to be
a match for Danglar； no matter what turn affairs took。 And then；
with an impatient shake of her head； she hurried on again。 There
was no time for that。 It would take a great deal of time to find
and pick her men； she had even wasted time herself； where there was
no time to spare； in the momentary pause during which she had given
the thought consideration。
She reached the nearest subway station； which was her objective；
and boarded a Harlem train； satisfied that her heavy veil would
protect her against recognition。 Unobtrusively she took a window
seat。 No one paid her any attention。 Hours passed； it seemed to
her impatience； while the black walls rushed by； punctuated by
occasional scintillating signal lights； and； at longer intervals；
by the fuller glare from the station platforms。
In the neighborhood of 125th street she left the train； and；
entering the first drug store she found； consulted a directory。
She did not know this section of New York at all； she did not know
either the location or the firm name of the iron plant to which
Danglar； assuming naturally； of course； that she was conversant
with it； had referred； and she did not care to ask to be directed
to Jake Malley's saloon； which was the only clew she had to guide
her。 The problem； however； did not appear to be a very difficult
one。 She found the saloon's address； and； asking the clerk to
direct her to the street indicated； left the drug store again。
But； after all； it was not so easy； no easier than for one
unacquainted with any locality to find one's way about。 Several
times she found herself at fault； and several times she was obliged
to ask directions again。 She had begun to grow panicky with fear
and dread at the time she had lost； before； finally； she found the
saloon。 She was quite sure that it was already more than half an
hour since she had left the drug store； and that half an hour might
easily mean the difference between safety and disaster； not only
for the Adventurer； but for herself as well。 Danglar might have
been in no particular hurry； and he would probably have gone first
to whatever rendezvous he had appointed for those of the gang
selected to accompany him； but even to have done so in a leisurely
way would surely not have taken more than that half hour！
Yes； that was Jake Malley's saloon now； across the road from her；
but she could not recall the time that was already lost！ They
might be there now … ahead of her。
She quickened her steps almost to a run。 There should be no
difficulty in finding the iron plant now。 〃Behind Jake Malley's
saloon；〃 Danglar had said。 She turned down the cross street；
passed the side entrance to the saloon； and hastened along。 The
locality was lonely； deserted； and none too well lighted。 The arc
lamps； powerful enough in themselves； were so far apart that they
left great areas of shadow； almost blackness； between them。 And
the street too was very narrow； and the buildings； such as they
were； were dark and unlighted … certainly it was not a residential
district！
And now she became aware that she was close to the river； for the
sound of a passing craft caught her attention。 Of course！ She
understood now。 The iron plant； for shipping facilities； was
undoubtedly on the bank of the river itself； and … yes； this was
it； wasn't it？ … this picket fence that began to parallel the
right…hand side of the street； and enclose； seemingly； a very large
area。 She halted and stared at it … and suddenly her heart sank
with a miserable sense of impotence and dismay。 Yes； this was the
place beyond question。 Through the picket fence she could make
out the looming shadows of many buildings； and spidery iron
structures that seemed to cobweb the darkness； and … and … Her
face mirrored her misery。 She had thought of a single building。
Where； inside there； amongst all those rambling structures； with
little time； perhaps none at all； to search； was she to find the
Adventurer？
She did not try to answer her own question … she was afraid that
her dismay would get the better of her if she hesitated for an
instant。 She crossed the street； choosing a spot between two of
the arc lamps where the shadows were blackest。 It was a high fence；
but not too high to climb。 She reached up； preparatory to pulling
herself to the top … and drew back with a stifled cry。 She was too
late； then … already too late！ They were here ahead of her … and
on guard after all！ A man's form； appearing suddenly out of the
darkness but a few feet away； was making quickly toward her。 She
wrenched her automatic from her pocket。 The touch of the weapon
in her hand restored her self…control。
〃Don't come any nearer！〃 she cried out sharply。 〃I will fire if
you do！〃
And then the man spoke。
〃It's you； ain't it？〃 he called in guarded eagerness。 〃It's the
White Moll； ain't it？ Thank God； it's you！〃
Her extended hand with the automatic fell to her side。 She had
recognized his voice。 It wasn't Danglar； it wasn't one of the
gang； or the watchman who was no better than an accomplice； it was
Marty Finch； alias the Sparrow。
〃Marty！〃 she exclaimed。 〃You！ What are you doing here？〃
〃I'm here to keep you from goin' in there！〃 he answered excitedly。
〃And … and； say； I was afraid I was too late。 Don't you go in
there！ For God's sake； don't you go！ They're layin' a trap for
you！ They're goin' to bump you off！ I know all about it！〃
〃You know？ What do you mean？〃 she asked quickly。 〃How do you
know？〃
〃I quit my job a few days after that fellow you called Danglar
tried to murder me that night you saved me；〃 said the Sparrow； with
a savage laugh。 〃I knew he had it in for you； and I guess I had
something comm' to him on my own account too； hadn't I？ That's the
job I've been on ever since … tryin' to find the dirty pup。 And I
found him！ But it wasn't until to…night； though you can believe me
there weren't many joints in the old town where I didn't look for
him。 My luck turned to…night。 I spotted him comin' out of Italian
Joe's bar。 See？ I followed him。 After a while he slips into a
lane； and from the street I saw him go into a shed
