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the white moll-第43部分

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If she telephoned the police and sent them to the Pug's room; they
would of a certainty recover the money; and with equal certainty
restore it to its rightful owners。  She had already thought of that
when she had been with Pinkie and the Pug; and had been loath even
then to take such a step because it seemed to spell ruin to her own
personal plans; but now there was another reason; and one far more
cogent; why she should not do so。  There had been murder committed
back there in that underground drug…dive; and of that murder Pinkie
Bonn was innocent; but if Pinkie were found in possession of that
money; and French Pete; to save his own skin from the consequences
of a greater crime; admitted to its original theft; Pinkie would be
convicted out of hand; for there were the others in that dive; who
had come running along the passage; to testify that an attack had
been made on the door of French Pete and Marny Day's room; and that
the thieves and murderers had fled through the cellar and escaped。

Her lips pressed harder together。  And so there was no Adventurer
upon whom she could call; and no police; and no one in all the
millions in this great pulsing city to whom she could appeal; and
so there remained only … herself。

Well; she could do it; couldn't she?  Not as Gypsy Nan; of course
… but as the White Moll。  It would be worth it; wouldn't it?  If
she were sincere; and not a moral hypocrite in her sympathy for
those two outraged old people in the twilight of their lives; and
if she were not a moral coward; there remained no question as to
what her decision should be。

Her mind began to mull over the details。  Subconsciously; since
the moment she had made her escape from that cellar; she found now
that she had been walking in the direction of the garret that
sheltered her as Gypsy Nan。  In another five minutes she could
reach that deserted shed in the lane behind Gypsy Nan's house where
her own clothes were hidden; and it would take her but a very few
minutes more to effect the transformation from Gypsy Nan to the
White Moll。  And then; in another ten minutes; she should be back
again at the Pug's room。  The Pug had said he would not be much more
than half an hour; but; as nearly as she could calculate it; that
would still give her from five to ten minutes alone with Pinkie
Bonn。  It was enough … more than enough。  The prestige of the White
Moll would do the rest。  A revolver in the hands of the White Moll
would insure instant and obedient respect from Pinkie Bonn; or any
other member of the gang under similar conditions。  And so … and so
… it … would not be difficult。  Only there was a queer fluttering
at her heart now; and her breath came in hard; short little
inhalations。  And she spoke suddenly to herself:

〃I'm glad;〃 she whispered; 〃I'm glad I saw those two old faces on
that doorstep; because … because; if I hadn't; I … I would be afraid。〃

The minutes passed。  The dissolute figure of an old hag disappeared;
like a deeper shadow in the blackness of a lane; through the broken
door of a deserted shed; presently a slim; neat little figure;
heavily veiled; emerged。  Again the minutes passed。  And now the
veiled figure let herself in through the back door of the Pug's
lodging house; and stole softly down the dark hall; and halted
before the Pug's door。  It was the White Moll now。

From under the door; at the ill…fitting threshold; there showed a
thin line of light。  Rhoda Gray; with her ear against the door panel;
listened。  There was no sound of voices from within。  Pinkie Bonn;
then; was still alone; and still waiting for the Pug。  She glanced
sharply around her。  There was only darkness。  Her gloved right hand
was hidden in the folds of her skirt; she raised her left hand and
knocked softly upon the door…two raps; one rap; two raps。  She
repeated it。  And as it had been with Shluker; so it was now with
her。  A footstep crossed the floor within; the key turned in the
lock; and the door was flung open。

〃All right; Pug;〃 said Pinkie Bonn; 〃I …〃

The man's words ended in a gasp of surprised amazement。  With a
quick step forward; Rhoda Gray was in the room。  Her revolver;
suddenly outflung; covered the other; and her free hand; reaching
behind her; closed and locked the door again。

There was an almost stupid look of bewilderment on Pinkie Bonn's
face。

Rhoda Gray threw back her veil。

〃My Gawd!〃 mumbled Pinkie Bonn … and licked his lips。  〃The White
Moll!〃

〃Yes!〃 said Rhoda Gray tersely。  〃Put your hands up over your head
and go over there and stand against the wall … with your face to it!〃

Pinkie Bonn; like an automaton moved purely by mechanical means;
obeyed。

Rhoda Gray followed him; and with the muzzle of her revolver
pressed into the small of the man's back; felt rapidly over his
clothes with her left hand for the bulge of his revolver。  She
found and possessed herself of the weapon; and; stepping back;
ordered him to turn around again。

〃I haven't much time;〃 she said icily。  〃I'll trouble you now for
the cash you took from Marny Day and French Pete。〃

〃My Gawd!〃 he mumbled again。  〃You know about that!〃

〃Quick!〃 she said imperatively。  〃Put it on the table there; and
then go back again to the wall!〃

Pinkie Bonn fumbled in his pocket。  His face was white; almost
chalky white; and it held fear; but its dominant expression was one
of helpless stupefaction。  He placed the sheaf of banknotes on the
table; and shuffled back again to the wall。

Rhoda Gray picked up the money; and retreated to the door。  Still
facing the man; working with her left hand behind her back; she
unlocked the door again; and this time removed the key from the lock。

〃You are quite safe here;〃 she observed evenly; 〃since there appears
to be no window through which you could get out; but you might make
it a little unpleasant for me if you gave the alarm and aroused the
other occupants of the house before I had got well away。  I dare say
that was in your mind; but … she opened the door slightly; and
inserted the key on the outer side … 〃I am quite sure you will
reconsider any such intentions … Pinkie。  It would be a very
disastrous thing for you if I were caught。  Somebody is 'wanted' for
the murder of Marny Day at Charlie's a little while ago; and a jury
would undoubtedly decide that the guilty man was the one who broke
in the door there and stole the money。  And if I were caught and
were obliged to confess that I got it from you; and French Pete
swore that it was whoever broke into the room that shot his pal; it
might go hard with you; Pinkie … don't you think so?〃 She smiled
coldly at the man's staring eyes and dropped jaw。  〃Good…night;
Pinkie; I know you won't make any noise;〃 she said softly … and
suddenly opened the door; and in a flash stepped back into the hall;
and closed and locked the door; and whipped out the key from the
lock。

And inside Pinkie Bonn made no sound。

It was done now。  Rhoda Gray drew in her breath in a great choking
gasp of relief。  She found herself trembling violently。  She found
her limbs were bearing her none too steadily; as she began to grope
her way now along the black hall toward th
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