the white moll-第60章
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that night； but she would not inform on her accomplices。 She begged
me to forestall them； and return the money anonymously the next day。
That was the choice I had … either to allow the crime to be carried
out； or else swear to act alone in return for the information that
would enable me to keep the money away from the thieves without
bringing the police into it。 I … I was caught。 You … you saved me
from Rough Rorke； but he followed me。 I put on Gypsy Nan's clothes；
and managed to outwit him。 I had had no opportunity to return the
money； which would have been proof of my innocence； the only way I
could prove it； then； was to try and find the authors of the crime
myself。 I … I have lived since then as Gypsy Nan； fighting this
hideous gang of Danglar's here to try and save myself； and … and
to…night I thought I could see my way clear。 I … I knew enough at
last about this man to make him give me a written statement that it
was a pre…arranged plan to rob Skarbolov。 That would substantiate
my story。 And〃 … she looked again at Danglar； the man was still
crouched there； eying her with that same mad light in his eyes
… 〃and he must be made to … to do it now for …〃
〃But why didn't you ask me？〃 cried the Adventurer。 〃You knew me as
the Pug； and therefore must have believed that I； too； know all
about it。〃
〃Yes；〃 she said； and turned her head away to hide the color she felt
was mounting to her cheeks。 〃I … I thought of that。 But I thought
you were a thief； and … and your testimony wouldn't have been much
good unless； with it； I could have handed you； too； over to the
police； as I intended to do with Danglar； and … and … I … I couldn't
do that； and … Oh； don't you see？〃 she ended desperately。
〃Rhoda！ Rhoda！〃 There was a glad； buoyant note in the Adventurer's
voice。 〃Yes； I see！ Well； I can prove it for you now without any
of those fears on my behalf to worry you！ I went to Skarbolov's
myself； knowing their plans； to do exactly what you did。 I did not
know you then； and； as Rough Rorke； who was there because； as I
heard later； his suspicions had been aroused through seeing some of
the gang lurking around the back door in the lane the night before；
had taken the actual money from you； I contrived to let you get
away； because I was afraid that you were some new factor in the
game； some member of the gang that I did not know about； and that I
must watch； too！ Don't you understand？ The jewels were still
missing。 I had not got the general warning that was sent out to
the gang that night to lay low； for at the last moment it seems that
Danglar here found out that Rough Rorke had suspicions about
Skarbolov's place。〃 He came close to her … and with the muzzle
of his revolver he pushed Danglar's huddled figure back a little
further against the washstand。 〃Rhoda … you are clear。 The
assistant district attorney who had your case is the one I spoke
of a few minutes ago。 That night at Hayden…Bond's； though I did
not understand fully； I knew that you were the bravest； truest
little woman into whom God had ever breathed the breath of life。
I told him the next day there was some mistake； something strange
behind it all。 I told him what happened at Hayden…Bond's。 He
agreed with me。 You have never been indicted。 Your case has
never come before the grand jury。 And it never will now！ Rhoda！
Rhoda！ Thank God for you！ Thank God it has all come out right；
and …〃
A peal of laughter； mad； insane； horrible in its perverted mirth；
rang through the garret。 Danglar's hands were creeping queerly
up to his temples。 And then； oblivious evidently in his frenzy
of the revolver in the Adventurer's hand； and his eye catching the
weapons that lay upon the cot； he made a sudden dash in that
direction … and Rhoda Gray； divining his intention； sprang for the
cot； too； at the same time。 But Danglar never reached his objective。
As Rhoda Gray caught up the weapons and thrust them into her pocket；
she heard Danglar's furious snarl； and whirling around； she saw the
two men locked and struggling in each other's embrace。
The Adventurer's voice reached her； quick； imperative：
〃Show the candle at the window； Rhoda！ The Sparrow is waiting for
it in the yard below。 Then open the door for them。〃
A sudden terror and fear seized her。 The Adventurer was not fit；
after what he had been through to…night to cope with Danglar。 He
had been limping badly even a few minutes ago。 It seemed to her；
as she rushed across the garret and snatched up the candle； that
Danglar was getting the best of it even now。 And the Adventurer
could have shot him down； and been warranted in doing it！ She
reached the window； waved the candle frantically several times
across the pane； then setting the candle down on the window ledge；
she ran for the door。
She looked back again； as she turned the key in the lock。 With a
crash； pitching over the chair； both men went to the floor … and the
Adventurer was underneath。 She cried out in alarm； and wrenched the
door open … and stood for an instant there on the threshold in a
startled way。
They couldn't be coming already！ The Sparrow hadn't had time even
to get out of the yard。 But there were footsteps in the hall below；
many of them。 She stepped out on the landing； it was too dark to
see； but。。。
A sudden yell as she showed even in the faint light of the open
garret door； the quicker rush of feet； reached her from below。
〃The White Moll！ That's her！ The White Moll！〃 She flung herself
flat down； wrenching both the automatic and the revolver from her
pocket。 She understood now！ That was Pinkie Bonn's voice。 It was
the gang arriving to divide up the spoils； not the Sparrow and the
police。 Her mind was racing now with lightning speed。 If they got
her； they would get the Adventurer in there； too； before the police
could intervene。 She must hold this little landing where she lay
now； hold those short； ladder…like steps that the oncoming footsteps
from below there had almost reached。
She fired once … twice … again； but high； over their heads； to check
the rush。
Yells answered her。 A vicious tongue…flame from a revolver； another
and another； leaped out at her from the black below； the spat； spat
of bullets sounded from behind her as they struck the walls。
Again she fired。 They were at least more cautious now in their rush
… no one seemed anxious to be first upon the stairs。 She cast a
wild glance through the open door into the garret at her side。 The
two forms in there； on their feet again； were spinning around and
around with the strange； lurching gyrations of automatons … and then
she saw the Adventurer whip a terrific blow to Danglar's face … and
Danglar fall and lie still … and the Adventurer come leaping toward
her。
But faces were showing now above the level of the floor； and there
was suddenly an increased uproar from further back in the rear until
it seemed that pandemonium itself were loosed。
〃It's the police！ The police behind us！〃 she heard Shluker's voice
shriek out。
She jumped to her feet。 Two of the gang had reached the landing
and were smashing at the Adventurer。 There seemed to be a swirling
mob in riot there below。 The Adventurer was fighting like a madman。
It was hand to hand now。
〃Quick！ Quick！〃 she cried to the Adventurer。 〃Jump back through
the door。〃
〃Oh； no； you don't！〃 It was Skeeny … she could see the man's brutal
face now。 〃Oh； no； you don't； you she…devil！〃 he shouted； and；
over…reaching the Adventurer's guard； struck at her furiously with
his clubbed revolver。
It struck her a glancing blow on the head； and she reeled and
staggered； but recovered herself。 And now it seemed as though it
were another battle that she fought … and one more desperate； a
battle to fight back a horrible giddiness from overpowering her；
and with which her brain was swimming； to fight it back for just
a second； the fraction of a second that was needed until … until
… 〃Jump！〃 she cried again； and staggered over the threshold； and；
as the Adventurer leaped backward beside her； she slammed the door；
and locked it … and slid limply to the floor。
When she regained
