the white moll-第13部分

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if　it　be　a　woman's。　　The　idea　struck　me　last　night　that　if　she　and
I　should　…　er　…　pool　our　resources；　we　should　not　have　to　complain
of　the　reward。〃

〃Oh；　so　youse　wants　to　work　wid　her；　eh？〃　sniffed　Rhoda　Gray。　　〃So
dat's　it；　is　it？〃

〃Partially；〃　he　said。　　〃But；　quite　apart　from　that；　the　reason　I
want　to　find　her　is　because　she　is　in　very　great　danger。　　Clever
as　she　is；　it　is　a　very　different　matter　to…day　now　that　the　police
have　found　her　out。　　She　has　been　forced　into　hiding；　and；　if　alone
and　without　any　friend　to　help　her；　her　situation；　to　put　it　mildly；
must　be　desperate　in　the　extreme。　　You　befriended　her　last　night；
and　I　honor　you　for　the　unselfishness　with　which　you　laid　yourself
open　to　the　future　attentions　of　that　animal　Rorke；　but　that　very
fact　has　deprived　her　of　what　might　otherwise　have　been　a　refuge　and
a　quite　secure　retreat　here　with　you。　I　do　not　wish　to　intrude；　or
force　myself　upon　her；　but　I　believe　I　could　be　of　very　material
help；　and　so　I　have　come　to　you；　as　I　have　said；　because　you　are　the
only　source　through　which　I　can　hope　to　find　her；　and　because；
through　your　act　of　last　night；　I　know　you　to　be　a　trustworthy；　and；
perhaps；　even　an　intimate；　friend　of　hers。〃

〃Aw；　go　on！〃　said　Rhoda　Gray；　alias　Gypsy　Nan；　deprecatingly。　　〃Dat
don't　prove　nothin'！　　I'd　have　done　as　much　for　a　stray　cat　if　de
bulls　was　chasm'　her。　　See？　　I　told　youse　once　youse　had　de　wrong
number。　　She　didn't　leave　no　address。　　Dat's　flat；　an'　dat's　de　end
of　it。〃

〃I'm　sorry；〃　said　the　Adventurer　gravely。　　〃Perhaps　I　haven't　made
out　a　good　enough　case。　　Or　perhaps；　even　believing　me；　you　consider
that　the　White　Moll；　and　not　yourself；　should　be　the　judge　as　to
whether　my　services　are　acceptable　or　not？〃

〃Youse　can　dope　it　out　any　way　youse　likes；〃　said　Rhoda　Gray
indifferently。　　〃Me　t'roat's　gettin'　hoarse　tellin'　youse　dere's
nothin'　doin'！〃

〃I'm　sorry；〃　said　the　Adventurer　again。　　He　smiled　suddenly；　and
tucking　his　gloves　into　his　pocket；　leaned　forward　and　tore　off　a
small　piece　from　the　margin　of　the　newspaper　on　the　floor　…　but　his
head　the　while　was　now　cocked　in　a　curious　listening　attitude　in　the
direction　of　the　door。　　〃You　will　pardon　me；　my　dear　lady；　if　I
confess　that；　in　spite　of　what　you　say；　I　still　harbor　the　belief
that　you　know　where　to　reach　the　White　Moll；　and　so　…〃　　He　stopped
abruptly；　and　she　found　his　glance；　sharp　and　critical；　upon　her。
〃You　are　expecting　a　visitor；　perhaps？〃　he　inquired　softly。

Rhoda　Gray　stared　in　genuine　perplexity。

〃Wot's　de　answer？〃　she　demanded。

〃There　is　some　one　on　the　stairs；〃　replied　the　Adventurer。

Rhoda　Gray　listened　…　and　her　perplexity　deepened。　She　could　hear
nothing。

〃Youse　must　have　good　ears！〃　she　scoffed。

〃I　have；〃　returned　the　Adventurer　coolly。　　〃My　hearing　is　one　of
the　resources　that　I　wanted　to　pool　with　the　White　Moll。〃

〃Well；　den；　mabbe　it's　Rough　Rorke。〃　　Her　tone　still　held　its
scoffing　note；　but　her　words　voiced　the　genuine　enough；　that　had
come　flashing　upon　her。　　〃An'　if　it　is；　after　last　night；　an'　he
finds　youse　an'　me　together；　dere'll　be　…〃

〃My　dear　lady；〃　interposed　the　Adventurer　calmly；　〃if　there　were
the　remotest　possibility　that　it　could　be　Rough　Rorke；　I　would　not
be　here。〃

〃Wot　do　youse　mean？〃　She　had　unconsciously　towered　her　voice。

The　Adventurer　shrugged　his　shoulders　whimsically。　　He　had　laid　the
piece　of　paper　on　his　knee；　and；　with　a　small　gold　pencil　which　he
had　taken　from　his　pocket；　was　writing　something　upon　it。

〃The　fact　that　I　can　assure　you　that；　whoever　else　it　may　be；　the
person　outside　there　cannot　be　Rough　Rorke；　is　simply　a　proof　that；
if　I　had　the　opportunity；　I　could　be　of　real　assistance　to　the　White
Moll；〃　he　said　imperturbably。　　〃Well〃　…　a　grim　little　smile　flickered
suddenly　across　his　lips　…　〃do　you　hear　any　one　now？〃

Quite　low；　but　quite　unmistakably；　the　short；　ladder…like　steps　just
outside　the　door　were　voicing　a　creaky　protest　now　as　some　one
mounted　them。　　Rhoda　Gray　did　not　move。　　It　seemed　as　though　she
could　hear　the　sudden　thumping　of　her　own　heart。　　Who　was　it　this
time？　　How　was　she　to　act？　　What　was　she　to　say？　　It　was　so　easy　to
make　the　single　little　slip　of　word　or　manner　that　would　spell　ruin
and　disaster。

〃Rubber　heels　and　rubber　soles；〃　murmured　the　Adventurer。　　〃But；　at
that；　it　is　extremely　well　done。〃　　He　held　out　the　torn　piece　of
paper　to　Rhoda　Gray。

〃If〃　…　he　smiled　significantly　…　〃if；　by　any　good　fortune；　you　see
the　White　Moll　again；　please　give　her　this　and　let　her　decide　for
herself。　　It　is　a　telephone　number。　　She　can　always　reach　me　there
by　asking　for　…　the　Adventurer。〃　　He　was　still　extending　the　piece
of　paper。　　〃Quick！〃　he　whispered；　as　the　door　knob　rattled。


V。　　A　SECOND　VISITOR

Mechanically　Rhoda　Gray　thrust　the　paper　into　the　pocket　of　her
skirt。　　The　door　swung　open。　　A　tall　man；　well　dressed；　as　far　as
could　be　seen　in　the　uncertain　light；　a　slouch　hat　pulled　far　down
over　his　eyes；　stood　on　the　threshold；　surveying　the　interior　of
the　garret。

The　Adventurer　rose　composedly　to　his　feet　…　and　moved　slightly
back　out　of　the　direct　radius　of　the　candlelight。

There　was　silence　for　a　moment；　and　then　the　man　in　the　doorway
laughed　unpleasantly。

〃Hello！〃　he　flung　out　harshly。　　〃Who's　the　dude；　Nan？〃

Rhoda　Gray；　on　the　edge　of　the　bed；　shrugged　her　shoulders。　　The
Adventurer　was　standing　quite　at　his　ease；　his　soft　hat　tucked
under　his　right　arm；　his　hand　thrust　into　the　side　pocket　of　his
coat。　　She　could　no　longer　see　his　face　distinctly。

〃Well？〃　There　was　a　snarl　in　the　man's　voice　as　he　advanced　from
the　doorway。　　〃You　heard　me；　didn't　you？　　Who　is　he？〃

〃Why　don't　youse　ask　him　yerself？〃　inquired　Rhoda　Gray　truculently。
〃I　dunno。〃

〃You　don't；　eh？〃　　The　man　had　halted　close　to　where　the　candle
stood　on　the　floor　between　himself　and　the　Adventurer。　　〃Well；　then；
I　guess　we'll　find　out！〃　　He　was　peering　in　the　Adventurer's
direction；　and　now　there　came　a　sudden　savage　scowl　to　his　face。
〃It　seems　to　me　I've　seen　those　clothes　somewhere　before；　and　I
guess　now　we'll　take　a　look　at　your　face　so　that　there　won't　be　any
question　about　recognition　the　next　time　we　meet。〃

The　Adventurer　laughed　softly。

〃There　will　be　none　on　my　part；〃　he　said　calmly。　　〃It's　Danglar；
isn't　it？　　I　am　surely　not　mistaken。　　Parson　Danglar；　alias　…　ah！
Please　don't　do　that！〃

It　seemed　to　Rhoda　Gray　that　it　happened　in　the　space　of　time　it
might　take　a　watch　to　tick：　The　newcomer　stooping　to　the　floor；
and　lifting　the　candle　with　the　obvious　intention　of　thrusting　it
into　the　Adventurer's　face　…　a　glint　of　metal；　as　the　Adventurer
whipped　a　revolver　from　the　side　pocket　of　his　coat　…and　then；
how　they　got　there　she　could　not　tell；　it　was　done　so　adroitly　and
swiftly；　the　thumb　and　forefinger　of　the　Adventurer's　left　hand
had　closed　on　the　candle　wick　and　snuffed　it　out；　and　the　garret
was　in　darkness。

There　was　a　savage　oath；　a　snarl　of　rage　from　the　man　whom　the
Adventurer　had　addressed　as　Danglar；　then　an　instant　s　silence；　and
then　the　Adventurer's　voice　…　from　the　doorway：

〃I　beg　of　you　not　to　vent　your　disappointment　o