the white moll-第33部分

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in　South　America；　when　she　had　hunted　and　ridden　with　her　father。
It　was　easy　enough　to　hit　Danglar；　but　that　might　mean　Danglar's
life；　it　was　not　so　easy　to　hit　Danglar's　arm；　or　Danglar's　hand；
or　the　revolver　Danglar　held；　and　if　she　risked　that　and　missed；
she。。。


〃Thr　…〃

There　was　the　roar　of　a　report　that　went　racketing　through　the
silence　like　a　cannon　shot；　and　the　short；　vicious　tongue…flame
from　Rhoda　Gray's　revolver　muzzle　stabbed　through　the　black。　　There
was　a　scream　of　mingled　surprise　and　fury；　and　the　revolver　in
Danglar's　hand　clattered　to　the　floor。　　She　saw　the　Adventurer
spring；　quick　as　a　panther；　at　the　other；　and　saw　him　whip　blow
after　blow　with　terrific　force　full　into　Danglar's　face；　she　heard
a　rush　of　feet　coming　from　the　corridor　behind　her；　and　she　flung
herself　forward　into　the　inner　room；　and；　panting；　snatched　at　the
door　and　slammed　it　shut；　and　groping　for　the　bolt；　found　it；　and
shot　it　home　in　its　grooves。

And　she　stood　there；　weak　for　the　moment；　and　drew　her　hand　across
her　eyes　…　and　behind　her　they　pounded　on　the　door；　and　there　came
a　burst　of　oaths；　and　in　front　of　her　the　Adventurer　was　smiling
gravely　as　he　covered　Danglar　with　Danglar's　own　revolver；　and
Danglar；　as　though　dazed　and　half　stunned　from　the　blows　he　had
received；　rocked　unsteadily　upon　his　feet。　　And　then　her　eyes
widened　a　little。　　The　pounding　on　the　door；　the　shouts；　the　noise；
was　beginning　to　arouse　what　inmates　there　were　in　the　tenement；　and
there　wasn't　an　instant　to　lose　…　but　the　Adventurer　now　was　calmly
gathering　up；　to　the　last　one；　and　pocketing　them；　the　banknotes
with　which　Danglar　had　baited　his　trap。　　And　as　he　crammed　the　money
into　his　pockets；　he　spoke　to　her；　with　a　curious　softness；　a　great；
strange　gentleness　in　his　voice：

〃I　owe　you　my　life；　Miss　Gray。　　That　was　a　wonderful　shot。　　You
knocked　the　revolver　from　his　hand　without　even　grazing　his　fingers。
A　very　wonderful　shot；　and　…　will　you　let　me　say　it？　…　you　are　a
very　wonderful　woman。〃

〃Oh；　quick！〃　she　whispered　wildly。　　〃I　am　afraid　this　door　will　not
hold。〃

〃There　is　the　window；　and　the　fire　escape；　so　our　friend　here　was
good　enough　to　inform　me；〃　said　the　Adventurer；　as　he　composedly
pocketed　the　last　dollar。　　〃Will　you　open　the　window；　Miss　Gray；　if
you　please？　　I　am　afraid　I　hit　Mr。　Danglar　a　little　ungently；　and
as　he　is　still　somewhat　groggy；　I　fancy　he　will　need　a　little
assistance。　　I　imagine〃　…　he　caught　Danglar　suddenly　by　the　collar
of　his　coat　as　Rhoda　Gray　ran　to　the　window　and　flung　it　up；　and
rushed　the　man　unceremoniously　across　the　room　…〃　I　imagine　it　would
be　a　mistake　to　leave　him　behind。　　He　might　open　the　door；　or　even
be　unpleasant　enough　to　throw　something　down　on　us　from　above；　also
he　should　serve　us　very　well　as　a　hostage。　　Will　you　go　first；
please；　Miss　Gray？〃

She　climbed　quickly　over　the　sill　to　the　iron　platform。　　Danglar
was　dragged　through　by　the　Adventurer；　mumbling；　and　evidently　still
in　a　half…dazed　condition。　　Windows　were　opening　here　and　there。
》From　back　inside　the　room；　the　blows　rained　more　heavily　upon　the
door　…　and　now　there　came　the　rip　and　rend　of　wood；　as　though　a
panel　had　crashed　in。

〃Hurry；　please；　Miss　Gray！〃　prompted　the　Adventurer。　　

It　was　dark；　almost　too　dark　to　see　her　footing。　　She　felt　her　way
down。　　It　was　only　one　story　above　the　ground；　and　it　did　not　take
long；　but　it　seemed　hours　since　she　had　fired　that　shot；　though　she
knew　the　time　had　been　measured　by　scarcely　more　than　a　minute。　　And
now；　on　the　lower　platform；　waiting　for　that　queer；　double；　twisting
shadow　of　the　two　men　to　join　her；　she　heard　the　Adventurers　s　voice
ring　out　sharply：

〃This　is　your　chance；　Danglar！　　I　didn't　waste　the　time　to　bring
you　along　because　it　afforded　me　any　amusement。　　They've　found　their
heads　at　last；　and　gone　to　the　next　window；　instead　of　wasting　time
on　that　door。　　They　can't　reach　the　fire　escape　there；　but　if　they
fire　a　single　shot　…　you　go　out！　　You'd　better　tell　them　so　…　and
tell　them　quick！〃

And　then　Danglar's　voice　shrieked　out　in　sudden；　for　God's　sake；
don't　fire！〃

They　were　all　on　the　lower　platform　together　now。　　The　Adventurer
was　pressing　the　muzzle　of　his　revolver　into　the　small　of　Danglar's
back；　and　was　still　supporting　the　man　by　the　collar　of　his　coat。

〃I　think；〃　said　the　Adventurer　abruptly；　〃that　we　can　now　dispense
with　Mr。　Danglar's　services；　and　I　am　sure　a　little　cool　night　air
out　here　on　the　fire　escape　will　do　him　good。　　Miss　Gray　…　would　you
mind？　…　there's　a　pair　of　handcuffs　in　my　left…hand　coat　pocket。〃

Handcuffs！　　She　could　have　laughed　out　idiotically。　　Handcuffs！
They　seemed　the　most　incongruous　things　in　the　world　for　the
Adventurer　to　have；　and　…　　She　felt　mechanically　in　his　pocket；　and
handed　them　to　him。

There　was　a　click　as　a　cuff　was　snapped　over　Danglar's　wrist；
another　as　the　other　cuff　was　snapped　shut　around　the　iron
hand…railing　of　the　fire　escape。　　The　act　seemed　to　arouse　Danglar；
both　mentally　and　physically。　　He　tore　and　wrenched　at　the　steel
links　now；　and　burst　suddenly；　raving；　into　oaths。

〃Hold　your　tongue；　Danglar！〃　ordered　the　Adventurer　in　cold　menace；
and　as　the　other；　cowed；　obeyed；　the　Adventurer　swung　himself　over
the　platform　and　dropped　to　the　ground。　　〃Come；　Miss　Gray。　　Drop！
I'll　catch　you！〃　he　called　in　a　low　voice。　　〃One　step　takes　us
around　the　corner　of　the　tenement　into　the　lane；　and　Mr。　Danglar
won't　let　them　fire　at　us　before　we　can　make　that　…　when　we　could
still　fire　at　him！〃

She　obeyed　him；　swinging　at　arm's…length。　　She　felt　his　hands　fold
about　her　in　a　firm　grasp　as　she　let　go　her　hold；　and　she　caught　her
breath　suddenly；　she　did　not　know　why；　and　felt　the　hot　blood　sweep
her　face　…　and　then　she　was　standing　on　the　ground。

〃Now！〃　he　whispered。　　〃Together！〃

They　sped　around　the　corner　of　the　tenement。　　A　yell　from　Danglar
followed　them。　　An　echoing　yell　from　above　answered　…　and　then　a
fusillade　of　abortive　shots；　and　the　sound　as　of　boot　heels
clattering　on　the　iron　rungs　of　the　fire　escape；　and　then；　more
faintly；　for　they　were　putting　distance　behind　them　as　fast　as　they
could　run；　an　excited　outburst　of　profanity　and　exclamations。

〃They　won't　follow！〃　panted　the　Adventurer。　　〃Those　shots　of　theirs
outdoors　will　have　alarmed　the　police；　and　they'll　try　and　get
Danglar　free　first。　　It's　lucky　your　shot　inside　wasn't　heard　by
the　patrolman　on　the　beat。　　I　was　afraid　of　that。　　But　we're　safe
now　…　from　Danglar's　crowd；　at　least。〃

But　still　they　ran。　　They　crossed　an　intersecting　street；　and
continued　on　along　the　lane；　then　swerving　into　the　next　intersecting
street；　moderated　their　pace　to　a　rapid　walk　…　and　stopped　finally
only　as　Rhoda　Gray　drew　suddenly　into　the　shadows　of　another
alley…way；　and　held　out　her　hand。　　They　were　both　safe　now；　as　he
had　said。　　And　there　were　so　many　reasons　why；　though　her　resolution
faltered　a　little；　she　should　go　the　rest　of　the　way　alone。　　She
was　not　sure　that　she　trusted　this　strange　〃gentleman；〃　who　was　a
thief　with　his　pockets　crammed　even　now　with　the　money　that　had
lured　him　almost　to　his　death；　but；　too；　she