the white moll-第55章
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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 there。 I worked
my way up quiet； and got as near as I dared without bein' heard and
seen； and I listened。 He was talkin' to a woman。 I couldn't hear
everything they said； and they quarreled a lot； but I heard him say
something about framin' up a job to get somebody down to the old
iron plant behind Jake Malley's saloon and bump 'em off； and I
heard him say there wouldn't be any White Moll by morning； and I
put two and two together and beat it for here。〃
Rhoda Gray reached out and caught the Sparrow's hand。
〃Thank you； Marty！ You haven't got it quite right … though； thank
Heaven； you got it the way you did； since you are here now！〃 she
said fervently。 〃It wasn't me； it wasn't the White Moll； they
expected to get here； it's the man who helped me that night to
clear you of the Hayden…Bond robbery that Danglar meant to make
you shoulder。 He risked his life to do it； Marty。 They've got
him a prisoner somewhere in there； and they're coming back to … to
torture him into telling them where I am； and … and afterwards to
do away with him。 That's why I'm here； Marty … to get him away；
if I can； before they come back。〃
The Sparrow whistled low under his breath。
〃Well； then； I guess it's my hunt too；〃 he said coolly。 〃And I
guess this is where a prison bird horns in with the goods。 Ever
since I've been looking for that Danglar guy； I've been carryin'
a full kit … because I didn't know what might break； or what kind
of a mess I might want to get out of。 Come on！ We ain't got no
time。 There's a couple of broken pickets down there。 We might be
seen climbin' the fence。 Come on！〃
Bread upon the waters！ With a sense of warm gratitude upon her；
Rhoda Gray followed the ex…convict。 They made their way through
the fence。 A long； low building； a storage shed evidently； showed
a few yards in front of them。 It seemed to be quite close to the
river； for now she could see the reflection of lights from here
and there playing on the black； mirror…like surface of the water。
Farther on； over beyond the shed； the yard of the plant； dotted
with other buildings and those spidery iron structures which she
had previously noticed； stretched away until it was lost in the
darkness。 Here； however； within the radius of one of the street
arc lamps it was quite light。
Rhoda Gray had paused in almost hopeless indecision as to how or
where to begin her search； when the Sparrow spoke again。
〃It looks like we got a long hunt；〃 whispered the Sparrow； 〃but a
few minutes before you came； a guy with a lantern comes from over
across the yard there and nosed around that shed； and acted kind
of queer； and I could see him stick his head up against them side
doors there as though he was listenin' for something inside。 Does
that wise you up to anything？〃
〃Yes！〃 she breathed tensely。 〃That was the watchman。 He's one of
them。 The man we want is in that shed beyond a doubt。 Hurry；
Marty … hurry！〃
They ran together now； and reached the double side…door。 It was
evidently for freight purposes only； and probably barred on the
inside； for they found there was no way of opening it from without。
〃There must be an entrance；〃 she said feverishly … and led the way
toward the front of the building in the direction away from the
river。 〃Yes； here it is！〃 she exclaimed； as they rounded the end
of the shed。
She tried the door。 It was locked。 She felt in her pocket for her
skeleton keys； for she had not been unprepared for just such an
emergency； but the Sparrow brushed her aside。
〃Leave it to me！〃 he said quickly。 〃I'll pick that lock like one
o'clock！ It won't take me more'n a minute。〃
Rhoda Gray did not stand and watch him。 Minutes were priceless
things； and she could put the minute he asked for to better
advantage than by idling it away。 With an added injunction to
hurry and that she would be back in an instant； she was already
racing around the opposite side of the shed。 If they were pressed；
cornered； by the arrival of Danglar； it might well mean the
difference between life and death to all of them if she had an
intimate knowledge of the surroundings。
She was running at top speed。 Halfway down the length of the
shed she tripped and fell over some object。 She pushed it aside
as she rose。 It was an old iron casting； more bulky in shape than
in weight； though she found it none too light to lift comfortably。
She ran on。 A wharf projected out； she found； from this end of
the shed。 At the edge； she peered over。 It was quite light here
again； away from the protecting shadows of the shed； the rays of
the arc lamp played without hindrance on the wharf just as they
did on the shed's side door。 Below； some ten or twelve feet below；
and at the corner of the wharf； a boat； or； rather； a sort of scow；
for it was larger than a boat though oars lay along its thwarts；
was moored。 It was partly decked over； and she could see a small
black opening into the forward end of it； though the opening itself
was almost hidden by a heap of tarpaulin； or sailcloth； or something
of the kind； that lay in the bottom of the craft。 She nodded her
head。 They might all of them use that boat to advantage！
Rhoda Gray turned and ran back。 The Sparrow； with a grunt of
satisfaction； was just opening the door。 She stepped through the
doorway。 The Sparrow followed。
〃Close it！〃 said Rhoda Gray； under her breath。 She felt her heart
beat quicken； the blood flood her face and then recede。 Her
imagination had suddenly become too horribly vivid。 Suppose they
… they had already gone farther than。。。
With an effort she controlled herself … and the round； white ray of
her flashlight swept the place。 A moment more； and； with a low cry；
she was running forward to where； on the floor near the wall of the
shed opposite the side door； she made out the motionless form of a
man。 She reached him； and dropped on her knees beside him。 It was
the Adventurer。 She spoke to him。 He did not answer。 And then she
remembered what Danglar had said； and she saw that he was gagged。
But … but she was not sure that was the reason why he did not answer。
The flashlight in her hand wavered unsteadily as it played over him。
Perhaps the whiteness of the ray itself exaggerated it； but his face
held a deathly pallor； his eyes were closed； and his hands and feet
were twisted cruelly and tightly bound。
〃Give me your knife … quick … Sparrow！〃 she called。 〃Then go and
keep watch just outside。〃
The Sparrow handed her his knife； and hurried back to the door。
She worked in the darkness now。 She could not use both hands and
still hold the flashlight； and； besides； with the door partially
open now where the Sparrow was on guard there was always the chance；
if Danglar and those of the gang with him were already in the
vicinity； of the light bringing them all the more quickly to the
scene。
Again she spoke to the Adventurer； as she removed the gag … and a
fear that made her sick at heart seized up on her。 There was still
no answer。 And now； as she worked； cutting at the cords on his
hands and feet； the love that she knew for the man； its restraint
broken by the sense of dread and fear at his condition； rose
dominant within her； and impulse that she could not hold in least
took possession of her； and in the darkness； since he would not
know； and there was none to see； she bent her head； and； half
crying； her lips pressed upon his forehead。
She drew back startled； a crimson in her face that the darkness
hid。 What had she done？ Did he know？ Had he returned to
consciousness； if he really had been unconscious； in time to
know？ She could not see； but she knew his eyes had opened。
She worked frantically with the bonds。 He was free now。 She cast
them off。
He spoke then … thickly； with great difficulty。
〃It's you； the White Moll； isn't it？〃
〃Yes；〃 she answered。
He raised himself up on his elbow； only to fall back with a
suppressed groan。
〃I don't know how you found me； but get away at once … for God's
sake； get away！〃 he cried。 〃Danglar'l
