the white moll-第57章
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miserably small this hiding place into which she had crawled；
scarcely large enough to hold her … she was beginning to be
painfully cramped and uncomfortable already。
Another voice； that she recognized as Pinkie Bonn's now； reached
her：
〃It's damned hard to spot anything out there； the water's blacker'n
hell。〃
Came a savage and impatient oath from Danglar。
〃She's got to come up； ain't she … or drown！〃 he rasped。 〃Maybe
she's swum under the wharf； or maybe she's swum under water far
enough out so's we can't see her from here。 Anyway； jump into
that boat there； and we'll paddle around till we get her。〃
Rhoda Gray held her breath。 The boat rocked violently as； one after
another； the men jumped into it。 Her right hand was doubled under
her； it was hard to reach her pocket and her automatic。 She moved
a little； they were cursing； splashing with their oars； making too
much noise to hear any slight rustle that she might make。
A minute； two； went by。 She had her automatic now； and she lay
there； grim…lipped； waiting。 Even if they found her now； she had
her own way out； and by now； beyond any question； the Adventurer
and the Sparrow would have reached the street； and； even if they
had to hide out there somewhere until the Adventurer had recovered
the use of his limbs； they would be safe。
She could not see； of course。 Once the boat bumped； and again。
They were probably searching around under the wharf。 She could not
hear what they said； for they were keeping quiet now； talking in
whispers … so as not to give her warning of their whereabouts
undoubtedly！
The time dragged on。 Her cramped position was bringing her
excruciating agony now。 She could understand how the Adventurer；
in far worse case in the brutal position in which they had bound him；
had fainted。 She was afraid she would faint herself … it was not
only the pain； but it was terribly close in the confined space； and
her head was swimming。
Occasionally the oars splashed； and then； after an interminable
time； the men； as though hopeless of success； and as though caution
were no longer of any service； began to talk louder。
The third man was Shluker。 She recognized his voice； too。
〃It's no use！〃 he snarled。 〃If she's a good swimmer； she could get
across the river easy。 She's got away； that's sure。 What the hell's
the good of this？ We're playing the fool。 Beat it back！ She was
nosing around the shed。 How do we know she didn't let the Pug loose
before we saw her？〃
Pinkie Bonn whined：
〃If he's gone too； we're crimped！ The whole works is bust up！ The
Pug knows everything； where our money is； an' everything。 They'll
have us cold！〃
〃Close your face； Pinkie！〃 It was Danglar speaking； his voice hoarse
with uncontrollable rage。 〃Go on back； then； Shluker。 Quick！〃
Rhoda Gray heard the hurried splashing of the oars now； and presently
she felt the bumping of the boat against the wharf； and its violent
rocking as the men climbed out of it again。 But she did not move
… save with her hand to push the folds of sailcloth a cautious inch
or two away from the opening。 It did not ease the agony she was
suffering from her cramped position； but it gave her fresher air；
and she could hear better … the ring of their boot…heels on the
wharf above； for instance。
The footsteps died away。 There was silence then for a moment； and
then； faintly； from the direction of the shed； there came a chorus
of baffled rage and execration。 She smiled a little wearily to
herself。 It was all right。 That was what she wanted to know。 The
Adventurer had got away。
Still she lay there。 She dared not leave the boat yet； but she
could change her position now。 She crawled half out from under the
docking； and lay with her head on the sailcloth。 It was exquisite
relief！ They could not come back along the wharf without her hearing
them； and she could retreat under the decking again in an instant；
if necessary。
Voices reached her now occasionally from the direction of the shed。
Finally a silence fell。 The minutes passed … ten … fifteen … twenty
of them。 And then Rhoda Gray climbed warily to the wharf； made her
way warily past the shed； and gained the road … and three…quarters
of an hour later； in another shed； in the lane behind the garret； she
was changing quickly into the rags of Gypsy Nan again。
It was almost the end now。 To…night； she would keep the appointment
Danglar had given her … and keep it ahead of time。 It was almost
the end。 Her lips set tightly。 The Adventurer had been warned。
There was nothing now to stand in the way of her going to the police；
save only the substantiation of that one point in her own story
which Danglar must supply。
Her transformation completed； she reached in under the flooring and
took out the package of jewels … they would help very materially
when she faced Danglar！ … and； though it was somewhat large； tucked
it inside her blouse。 It could not be noticed。 The black； greasy
shawl hid it effectively。
She stepped out into the lane； and from there to the street； and
began to make her way across town。 She did not have to search for
Danglar to…night。 She was to meet him at Matty's at midnight； and
it was not more than halfpast eleven now。 Three hours and a half！
Was that all since at eight o'clock； as nearly as she could place
it； he had left her in the lane？ It seemed as many years； but it
was only twenty minutes after eleven； she had noticed； when she had
left the subway on her return a few minutes ago。 Her hand clenched
suddenly。 She was to meet him at Matty's … and； thereafter； if it
took all night； she would not leave him until she had got him alone
somewhere and disclosed herself。 The man was a coward in soul。 She
could trust to the effect upon him of an automatic in the hands of
the White Mall to make him talk。
Rhoda Gray walked quickly。 It was not very far。 She turned the
corner into the street where Danglar's deformed brother； Matty；
cloaked the executive activities of the gang with his cheap little
notion store … and halted abruptly。 The store was just ahead of
her； and Danglar himself； coming out； had just closed the door。
He saw her； and stepping instantly to her side； grasped her arm
roughly and wheeled her about。
〃Come on！〃 he said … and a vicious oath broke from his lips。
The man was in a towering； ungovernable passion。 She cast a
furtive glance at his face。 She had seen him before in anger； but
now； with his lips drawn back and working； his whole face contorted；
he seemed utterly beside himself。
〃What's the matter？〃 she inquired innocently。 〃Wouldn't the Pug
talk； or is it a case of 'another hour or so；' and …〃
He swung on her furiously。
〃Hold your cursed tongue！〃 he flared。 〃You'll snicker on the
wrong side of your face this time！〃 He gulped； stared at her
threateningly； and quickened his step； forcing her to keep pace
with him。 But he spoke again after a minute； savagely； bitterly；
but more in control of himself。 〃The Pug got away。 The White
Moll queered us again。 But it's worse than that。 The game's up！
I told you to be here at midnight。 It's only half past eleven yet。
I figured you would still be over in the garret； and I was going
there for you。 That's where we're going now。 There's no chance at
those rajah's jewels now； there's no chance of fixing Cloran so's
you can swell it around in the open again … the only chance we've
got is to save what we can and beat it！〃
She did not need to simulate either excitement or disquiet。
〃What is it？ What's happened？〃 she asked tensely。
〃The gang's thrown us down！〃 he said between his teeth。 〃They're
scared； they've got cold feet … they're going to quit。 Shluker and
Pinkie were with me at the iron plant。 We went back to Matty's
from there。 Matty's with them； too。 They say the Pug knows every
one of us； and every game we've pulled； and that in revenge for our
trying to murder him he'll wise up the police … that he could do it
easily enough without getting nipped himself； by sending them a
letter； or even telephoning the names and addresses of the whole
layout。 They're scared … he curs！ They
