the white moll-第3部分

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deep；　impenetrable　shadows；　but　also　it　disclosed　the　motionless
form　of　a　woman　on　the　bed。

Rhoda　Gray's　eyes　darkened；　as　she　closed　the　door　behind　her；
and　stepped　quickly　forward　to　the　bedside。　　For　a　moment　she
stood　looking　down　at　the　recumbent　figure；　at　the　matted　tangle
of　gray…streaked　brown　hair　that　straggled　across　a　pillow　which
was　none　too　clean；　at　the　heavy…lensed；　old…fashioned；　steel…bowed
spectacles；　awry　now；　that　were　still　grotesquely　perched　on　the
woman's　nose；　at　the　sallow　face；　streaked　with　grime　and　dirt；　as
though　it　had　not　been　washed　for　months；　at　a　hand；　as　ill…cared
for；　which　lay　exposed　on　the　torn　blanket　that　did　duty　for　a
counterpane；　at　the　dirty　shawl　that　enveloped　the　woman's　shoulders；
and　which　was　tightly　fastened　around　Gypsy　Nan's　neck…and　from　the
woman　her　eyes　shifted　to　an　empty　bottle　on　the　floor　that
protruded　from　under　the　bed。

〃Nan！〃　she　called　sharply；　and；　stooping　over；　shook　the　woman's
shoulder。　　〃Nan！〃　she　repeated。　　There　was　something　about　the
woman's　breathing　that　she　did　not　like；　something　in　the　queer；
pinched　condition　of　the　other's　face　that　suddenly　frightened
her。　　〃Nan！〃　she　called　again。

Gypsy　Nan　opened　her　eyes；　stared　for　a　moment　dully；　then；　in　a
curiously　quick；　desperate　way；　jerked　herself　up　on　her　elbow。

〃Youse　get　t'hell　outer　here！〃　she　croaked。　　〃Get　out！〃

〃I　am　going　to；〃　said　Rhoda　Gray　evenly。　　〃And　I'm　going　at　once。〃
She　turned　abruptly　and　walked　toward　the　door。　　〃I'm　going　to
get　a　doctor。　　You've　gone　too　far　this　time；　Nan；　and　…〃

〃No；　youse　don't！〃　Gypsy　Nan　s　voice　rose　in　a　sudden　scream。　　She
sat　bolt　upright　in　bed；　and　pulled　a　revolver　out　from　under　the
coverings。　　〃Youse　don't　bring　no　doctor　here！　　See！　　Youse　put
a　finger　on　dat　door；　an'　it　won't　be　de　door　youse'1l　go　out　by！〃

Rhoda　Gray　did　not　move。

〃Nan；　put　that　revolver　down！〃　she　ordered　quietly。　　〃You　don't
know　what　you　are　doing。〃

〃Don't！？〃　leered　Gypsy　Nan。　　The　revolver　held；　swaying　a　little
unsteadily；　on　Rhoda　Gray。　　There　was　silence　for　a　moment；　then
Gypsy　Nan　spoke　again；　evidently　through　dry　lips；　for　she　wet　them
again　and　again　with　her　tongue：　〃Say；　youse　are　de　White　Moll；
ain't　youse？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Rhoda　Gray。

Gypsy　Nan　appeared　to　ponder　this　for　an　instant。

〃Well　den；　come　back　here　an'　sit　down　on　de　foot　of　de　bed；〃
she　commanded　finally。

Rhoda　Gray　obeyed　without　hesitation。　　There　was　nothing　to　do
but　humor　the　woman　in　her　present　state；　a　state　that　seemed　one
bordering　on　delirium　and　complete　collapse。

〃Nan；〃　she　said；　〃you　…〃

〃De　White　Moll！〃　mumbled　Gypsy　Nan。　　〃I　wonder　if　de　dope　dey　hands
out　about　youse　is　all　on　de　level？　　My　Gawd；　I　wonder　if　wot　dey
says　is　true？〃

〃What　do　they　say？〃　asked　Rhoda　Gray　gently。

Gypsy　Nan　lay　back　on　her　pillow　as　though　her　strength；　over…taxed；
had　failed　her；　her　hand；　though　it　still　clutched　the　revolver；
seemed　to　have　been　dragged　down　by　the　weapon's　weight；　and　now
rested　upon　the　blanket。

〃Dey　say；〃　said　Gypsy　Nan　slowly；　〃dat　youse　knows　more　on　de
inside　here　dan　anybody　else　…　t'ings　youse　got　from　de　spacers'
molls；　an'　from　de　dips　demselves　when　youse　was　lendin'　dem　a
hand；　dey　say　dere　ain't　many　youse　couldn't　send　up　de　river　just
by　liftin'　yer　finger；　but　dat　youse're　straight；　an'　dat　youse've
kept　yer　map　closed；　an'　dat　youse'　re　safe。〃

Rhoda　Gray's　dark　eyes　softened；　as　she　leaned　forward　and　laid　a
hand　gently　over　the　one　of　Gypsy　Nan　that　held　the　revolver。

〃It　couldn't　be　any　other　way；　could　it；　Nan？〃　she　said　simply。

〃Wot　yer　after？〃　demanded　Gypsy　Nan；　with　sudden　mockery。　　〃De　gun？
Well；　take　it！〃　She　let　go　her　hold　of　the　weapon。　　〃But　don't　kid
yerself　dat　youse're　kiddin'　me　into　givin'　it　to　youse　because
youse　have　got　a　pretty　smile　an'　a　sweet　voice！　　Savvy？　　　I〃　…　she
choked　suddenly；　and　caught　at　her　throat　…　〃I　guess　youse're　de
only　chance　I　got…dat's　all。〃

〃That's　better；〃　said　Rhoda　Gray　encouragingly。　　〃And　now　you'll
let　me　go　and　get　a　doctor；　won't　you；　Nan？〃

〃Wait！〃　said　Gypsy　Nan　hoarsely。　　〃Youse're　de　only　chance　I　got。
Will　youse　swear　youse　won't　t'row　me　down　if　I　tells　youse
somet'ing？　　I　ain't　got　no　other　way。　　Will　youse　swear　youse'll
see　me　through？〃

〃Of　course；　Nan；〃　said　Rhoda　Gray　soothingly。　　〃Of　course；　I　will；
Nan。　　I　promise。

Gypsy　Nan　came　up　on　her　elbow。

〃Dat　ain't　good　enough！〃　she　cried　out。　　〃A　promise　ain't　good
enough！　　For　Gawd's　sake；　come　across　all　de　way！　　Swear　youse'll
keep　mum　an'　see　me　through！〃

〃Yes；　Nan〃　…　Rhoda　Gray's　eyes　smiled　reassurance　…〃I　swear　it。
But　you　will　be　all　right　again　in　the　morning。〃

〃Will　I？　　You　think　so；　do　you？　　Well；　I　can　only　say　that　I　wish
I　did！〃

Rhoda　Gray　leaned　sharply　forward；　staring　in　amazement　at　the
figure　on　the　bed。　　The　woman's　voice　was　the　same；　it　was　still
hoarse；　still　heavy；　and　the　words　came　with　painful　effort；　but
the　English　was　suddenly　perfect　now。

〃Nan；　what　is　it？　　I　don't　understand！〃　she　said　tensely。　　〃What
do　you　mean？〃

〃You　think　you　know　what's　the　matter　with　me。〃　　There　was　a
curious　mockery　in　the　weak　voice。　　〃You　think　I've　drunk　myself
into　this　state。　　You　think　I'm　on　the　verge　of　the　D。T。's　now。
That　empty　bottle　under　the　bed　proves　it；　doesn't　it？　　And　anybody
around　here　will　tell　you　that　Gypsy　Nan　has　thrown　enough　empties
out　of　the　window　there　to　stock　a　bottle　factory　for　years；　some
of　them　on　the　flat　roof　just　outside　the　window；　some　of　them　on
the　roof　of　the　shed　below；　and　some　of　them　down　into　the　yard；
just　depending　on　how　drunk　she　was　and　how　far　she　could　throw。
And　that　proves　it；　too；　doesn't　it？　　Well；　maybe　it　does；　that's
what　I　did　it　for；　but　I　never　touched　the　stuff；　not　a　drop　of　it；
from　the　day　I　came　here。　　I　didn't　dare　touch　it。　　I　had　to　keep
my　wits。　　Last　night　you　thought　I　was　drunk　when　you　found　me　in
the　doorway　downstairs。　　I　wasn't。　　I　was　too　sick　and　weak　to　get
up　here。　　I　almost　told　you　then；　only　I　was　afraid；　and　…　　and　I
thought　that　perhaps　I'd　be　all　right　to…day。〃

〃Oh；　I　didn't　know！〃　Rhoda　Gray　was　on　her　knees　beside　the　bed。
There　was　no　room　to　question　the　truth　of　the　woman's　words；　it
was　in　Gypsy　Nan's　eyes；　in　the　struggling；　labored　voice。

〃Yes。〃　　Gypsy　Nan　clutched　at　the　shawl　around　her　neck；　and
shivered。　　〃I　thought　I　might　be　all　right　to…day；　and　that　I'd
get　better。　　But　I　didn't。　　And　now　I've　got　about　a　chance　in　a
hundred。　　I　know。　　It's　my　heart。〃

〃You　mean　you've　been　alone　here；　sick；　since　last　night？〃　　There
was　anxiety；　perplexity；　in　Rhoda　Gray's　face。　　〃Why　didn't　you
call　some　one？　　Why　did　you　even　hold　me　back　a　few　minutes　ago；
when　you　admit　yourself　that　you　need　immediate　medical　assistance
so　badly？〃

〃Because；〃　said　Gypsy　Nan；　〃if　I've　got　a　chance　at　all；　I'd　finish
it　for　keeps　if　a　doctor　came　here。　　I　…　I'd　rather　go　out　this　way
than　in　that　horrible　thing　they　call　the　'chair。'　　Oh；　my　God；
don't　you　understand　that！　　I've　seen　pictures　of　it！　　It's　a
horrible　thing　…　a　horrible　thing　…　horrible！〃

〃Nan〃　…　Rhoda　Gray　steadied　her　v