the white moll-第56章
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suppressed groan。
〃I don't know how you found me； but get away at once … for God's
sake； get away！〃 he cried。 〃Danglar'll be here at any minute。
It's you he wants。 He thinks you know where some … some jewels are；
and that I … I …〃
〃I know all about Danglar；〃 she said hurriedly。 〃And I know all
about the jewels； for I've got them myself。〃
He was up on his knees now； swaying there。 She caught at his
shoulder to support him。
〃You！〃 he cried out incredulously。 〃You … you've got them？ Say
that again！ You … you've …〃
〃Yes；〃 she said； and with an effort steadied her voice。 He … he
was a thief。 Cost her what it might； with all its bitter hurt；
she must remember that； even … even if she had forgotten once。
〃Yes；〃 she said。 〃And I mean to turn them over to the police； and
expose every one of Danglar's gang。 I … you are entitled to a
chance； you once stood between me and the police。 I can do no less
by you。 I couldn't turn the police loose on the gang without
giving you warning； for； you see； I know you are the Pug。〃
〃Good God！〃 he stammered。 〃You know that； too？〃
〃Try and walk；〃 she said breathlessly。 〃There isn't any time。
And once you are away from here； remember that when Danglar is in
the hands of the police he will take the only chance for revenge he
has left； and give the police all the information he can； so that
they will get you too。
He stumbled pitifully。
〃I can't walk much yet。〃 He was striving to speak coolly。 〃They
trussed me up a bit； you know … but I'll be all right in a little
while when I get the cramps out of my joints and the circulation
back。 And so； Miss Gray； won't you please go at once？ I'm free
now； and I'll manage all right； and…〃
The Sparrow came running back from the door。
〃They're comm'！〃 he said excitedly。 〃They're comm' from a different
way than we came in。 I saw 'em sway up there across the yard for a
second when they showed up under a patch of light from an arc lamp
on the other street。 There's three of 'em。 We。 got about a couple
of minutes； and …〃
〃Get those side doors open！ Quick！ And no noise！〃' ordered Rhoda
Gray tersely。 And then to the Adventurer： 〃Try … try and walk！
I'll help you。〃
The Adventurer made a desperate attempt at a few steps。 It was
miserably slow。 At that rate Danglar would be upon them before
they could even cross the shed itself。
〃I can crawl faster；〃 laughed the Adventurer with bitter
whimsicality。 〃Give me your revolver； Miss Gray； and you two go
… and God bless you！〃
The Sparrow was opening the side door； but she realized now that
even if they could carry the Adventurer they could not get away in
time。 Her mind itself seemed stunned for an instant … and then； in
a lightning flash； inspiration came。 She remembered that iron
casting； and the wharf； and the other side of the shed in shadow。
It was desperate； perhaps almost hopeless； but it was the only way
that gave the Adventurer a chance for his life。
She spoke rapidly。 The little margin of time they had must be
narrowing perilously。
〃Marty； help this gentleman！ Crawl to the street； if you have to。
The only thing is that you are not to make the slightest noise；
and …〃
〃What are you going to do？〃 demanded the Adventurer hoarsely。
〃I'm going to take the only chance there is for all of us；〃 she
answered。
She started toward the front door of the shed； but he reached out
and held her back。
〃You are going to take the only chance there is for me！〃 he cried
brokenly。 〃You're going out there … where they are。 Oh； my God！
I know！ You love me！ I … I was only half conscious； but I am sure
you kissed me a little while ago。 And but for this you would never
have known that I knew it； because； please God； whatever else I am；
I am not coward enough to take that advantage of you。 But I love
you； too！ Rhoda！ I have the right to speak； the right our love
gives me。 You are not to go … that way。 Run … run through the side
door there … they will not see you。
She was trembling。 Repudiate her love？ Tell him there could be
nothing between them because he was a thief？ She might never live
to see him again。 Her soul was in riot； the blood flaming hot in
her cheeks。 He was clinging to her arm。 She tore herself forcibly
away。 The seconds were counting now。 She tried to bid him good…by；
but the words choked in her throat。 She found herself running for
the front door。
〃Sparrow … quick！ Do as I told you！〃 she half sobbed over her
shoulder … and opening the door； stepped out and dosed it behind her。
XX。 A LONE HAND
And now Rhoda Gray was in the radius of the arc lamp； and distinctly
visible to any one coming down the yard。 How near were they？ Yes；
she saw them now … three forms…perhaps a little more than a hundred
yards away。 She moved a few steps deliberately toward them； as
though quite unconscious of their presence； and then； as a shout
from one of them announced that she was seen； she halted； hesitated
as though surprised； terrified and uncertain； and； as they sprang
forward； she turned and ran … making for the side of the shed away
from the side door。
A voice rang out … Danglar's：
〃By God； it's the White Moll！〃
It was the only way！ She had the pack in cry now。 They would pay
no attention to the Adventurer while the White Moll was seemingly
almost within their grasp。 If she could only hold them now for a
little while … just a little while … the Adventurer wasn't hurt
… only cramped and numbed … he would be all right again and able
to take care of himself in a little while … and meanwhile the
Sparrow would help him to get away。
She was running with all her speed。 She heard them behind her … the
pound； pound； pound of feet。 She had gained the side of the shed。
The light from the arc lamp was shut off from her now； and they would
only be able to see her； she knew； as a dim； fleeting shadow。 Where
was that iron casting？ Pray God； it was heavy enough； and pray God；
it was not too heavy！ Yes； here it was！ She pretended to stumble
… and caught the thing up in her arms。 An exultant cry went up
from behind her as she appeared to fall … oaths； a chorus of them；
as she went on again。
They had not gained on her before； but with the weight in her arms；
especially as she was obliged to carry it awkwardly in order to
shield it from their view with her body； she could not run so fast
now； and they were beginning to close up on her。 But she was on the
wharf now； and there was not much farther to go； and … and surely
she could hold all the lead she needed until she reached the edge。
The light from the arc lamp held her in view again out here on the
wharf where she was clear of the shed； but she knew they would not
fire at her except as a last resort。 They could not afford to sound
an alarm that would attract notice to the spot … when they had； or
believed they had； both the Adventurer and the White Moll within
their grasp now。
She was running now with short； hard； panting gasps。 There were
still five yards to go…three…one！ She looked around her like a
hunted animal at bay； as she reached the end of the wharf and stood
there poised at the edge。 Yes； thank God； they were still far
enough behind to give her the few seconds she needed！ She cried
out loudly as though in despair and terror … and sprang from the
edge of the wharf。 And as she sprang she dropped the casting； but
even as it struck the water with a loud splash； Rhoda Gray； in
frantic haste； was crawling in through the little locker…like
opening under the decked…over bow of the half scow； half boat into
which she had leaped。 And quick as a flash； huddled inside； she
reached out and drew the heap of what proved to be sailcloth nearer
to her to cover the opening…and lay still。
A few seconds passed； then she heard them at the edge of the wharf；
and heard Danglar s voice。
〃Watch where she comes up！ She can't get away！〃
A queer； wan smile twisted Rhoda Gray's lips。 The casting had
served her well； the splash had been loud enough！ She listened；
straining her ears to catch every sound from above。 It was
miserably small this hiding place into which she h
