the white moll-第61章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


as　the　Adventurer　leaped　backward　beside　her；　she　slammed　the　door；
and　locked　it　…　and　slid　limply　to　the　floor。

When　she　regained　consciousness　she　was　lying　on　the　cot。　　It
seemed　very　still；　very　quiet　in　the　garret。　　She　opened　her　eyes。
It　…　it　must　be　all　right；　for　that　was　the　Sparrow　standing　there
watching　her；　and　shifting　nervously　from　foot　to　foot；　wasn't　it？
He　couldn't　be　there；　otherwise。　　She　held　out　her　hand。

〃Marty；〃　she　said；　and　smiled　with　trembling　lips；　〃we　…　we　owe
you　a　great　deal。〃

The　Sparrow　gulped。

〃Gee；　you're　all　right　again！　　They　said　it　wasn't　nothin'；　but　you
had　me　scared　worse'n　down　at　the　iron　plant　when　I　had　to　do　the
rough　act　with　that　gent　friend　of　yours　to　stop　him　from　crawlin'
after　you　and　fightin'　it　out；　and　queerin'　the　whole　works。　　You
don't　owe　me　nothin'；　Miss　Gray；　and；　besides；　I'm　gettin'　a　lot
more　than　is　comm'　to　me；　'cause　that　same　gent　friend　of　yours
there　says　I'm　goin'　to　horn　in　on　the　rewards；　and　I　guess　that's
goin'　some；　for　they　got　the　whole　outfit　from　Danglar　down；　and
the　stuff　up　in　the　ceiling　there；　too。〃

She　turned　her　head。　　The　Adventurer　was　coming　toward　the　cot。

〃Better？〃　he　called　cheerily。

〃Yes；〃　she　said。　　〃Quite！　　Only　I　…　I'd　like　to　get　away　from　here；
from　this　…　this　horrible　place　at　once；　and　back　to　…　to　my　flat
if　they'll　let　me。　　Are　…　are　they　all　gone？〃

The　Adventurer's　gray　eyes　lighted　with　a　whimsical　smile。

〃Nearly　all！〃　he　said　softly。　　〃And　…　er　…　Sparrow；　suppose　you　go
and　find　a　taxi！〃

〃Me？　　Sure！　　Of　course！　　Sure！〃　said　the　Sparrow　hurriedly；　and
retreated　through　the　door。

She　felt　the　blood　flood　her　face；　and　she　tried　to　avert　it。

He　bent　his　head　close　to　hers。

〃Rhoda；〃　his　voice　was　low；　passionate；　〃I　…〃

〃Wait！〃　she　said。　　〃Your　friend　…　the　assistant　district　attorney
…　did　he　come？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　Adventurer。　　〃But　I　shooed　them　all　out；　as　soon　as
we　found　you　were　not　seriously　hurt。　　I　thought　you　had　had　enough
excitement　for　one　night。　　He　wants　to　see　you　in　the　morning。〃

〃To　see　me〃　…　she　rose　up　anxiously　on　her　elbow　…　〃in　the　morning？〃

He　was　smiling　at　her。　　His　hands　reached　out　and　took　her　face
between　them；　and　made　her　look　at　him。

〃Rhoda；〃　he　said　gently；　〃I　knew　to…night　in　the　iron　plant　that
you　cared。　　I　told　him　so。　　What　he　wants　to　see　you　for　is　to　tell
you　that　he　thinks　I　am　the　luckiest　man　in　all　the　world。　　You　are
clear；　dear。　　Even　Rough　Rorke　is　singing　your　praises；　he　says　you
are　the　only　woman　who　ever　put　one　over　on　him。〃

She　did　not　answer　for　a　moment；　and　then　with　a　little　sob　of　glad
surrender　she　buried　her　face　on　his　shoulder。

〃It　…　it　is　very　wonderful；〃　she　said　brokenly；　〃for　…　for　even　we；
you　and　I；　each　thought　the　other　a　…　a　thief。〃

〃And　so　we　were；　thank　God！〃　he　whispered　…　and　lifted　her　head
until　now　his　lips　met　hers。　　〃We　were　both　thieves；　Rhoda；　weren't
we？　　And；　please　God；　we　will　be　all　our　lives　…　for　we　have　stolen
each　other's　heart。〃







End