the white moll-第69部分

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two　men　locked　and　struggling　in　each　other's　embrace。

The　Adventurer's　voice　reached　her；　quick；　imperative：

〃Show　the　candle　at　the　window；　Rhoda！　　The　Sparrow　is　waiting　for
it　in　the　yard　below。　　Then　open　the　door　for　them。〃

A　sudden　terror　and　fear　seized　her。　　The　Adventurer　was　not　fit；
after　what　he　had　been　through　to…night　to　cope　with　Danglar。　　He
had　been　limping　badly　even　a　few　minutes　ago。　　It　seemed　to　her；
as　she　rushed　across　the　garret　and　snatched　up　the　candle；　that
Danglar　was　getting　the　best　of　it　even　now。　　And　the　Adventurer
could　have　shot　him　down；　and　been　warranted　in　doing　it！　　She
reached　the　window；　waved　the　candle　frantically　several　times
across　the　pane；　then　setting　the　candle　down　on　the　window　ledge；
she　ran　for　the　door。

She　looked　back　again；　as　she　turned　the　key　in　the　lock。　　With　a
crash；　pitching　over　the　chair；　both　men　went　to　the　floor　…　and　the
Adventurer　was　underneath。　　She　cried　out　in　alarm；　and　wrenched　the
door　open　…　and　stood　for　an　instant　there　on　the　threshold　in　a
startled　way。

They　couldn't　be　coming　already！　　The　Sparrow　hadn't　had　time　even
to　get　out　of　the　yard。　　But　there　were　footsteps　in　the　hall　below；
many　of　them。　　She　stepped　out　on　the　landing；　it　was　too　dark　to
see；　but。。。

A　sudden　yell　as　she　showed　even　in　the　faint　light　of　the　open
garret　door；　the　quicker　rush　of　feet；　reached　her　from　below。

〃The　White　Moll！　　That's　her！　　The　White　Moll！〃　　She　flung　herself
flat　down；　wrenching　both　the　automatic　and　the　revolver　from　her
pocket。　　She　understood　now！　　That　was　Pinkie　Bonn's　voice。　　It　was
the　gang　arriving　to　divide　up　the　spoils；　not　the　Sparrow　and　the
police。　　Her　mind　was　racing　now　with　lightning　speed。　　If　they　got
her；　they　would　get　the　Adventurer　in　there；　too；　before　the　police
could　intervene。　　She　must　hold　this　little　landing　where　she　lay
now；　hold　those　short；　ladder…like　steps　that　the　oncoming　footsteps
from　below　there　had　almost　reached。

She　fired　once　…　twice　…　again；　but　high；　over　their　heads；　to　check
the　rush。

Yells　answered　her。　　A　vicious　tongue…flame　from　a　revolver；　another
and　another；　leaped　out　at　her　from　the　black　below；　the　spat；　spat
of　bullets　sounded　from　behind　her　as　they　struck　the　walls。

Again　she　fired。　　They　were　at　least　more　cautious　now　in　their　rush
…　no　one　seemed　anxious　to　be　first　upon　the　stairs。　　She　cast　a
wild　glance　through　the　open　door　into　the　garret　at　her　side。　　The
two　forms　in　there；　on　their　feet　again；　were　spinning　around　and
around　with　the　strange；　lurching　gyrations　of　automatons　…　and　then
she　saw　the　Adventurer　whip　a　terrific　blow　to　Danglar's　face　…　and
Danglar　fall　and　lie　still　…　and　the　Adventurer　come　leaping　toward
her。

But　faces　were　showing　now　above　the　level　of　the　floor；　and　there
was　suddenly　an　increased　uproar　from　further　back　in　the　rear　until
it　seemed　that　pandemonium　itself　were　loosed。

〃It's　the　police！　　The　police　behind　us！〃　she　heard　Shluker's　voice
shriek　out。

She　jumped　to　her　feet。　　Two　of　the　gang　had　reached　the　landing
and　were　smashing　at　the　Adventurer。　　There　seemed　to　be　a　swirling
mob　in　riot　there　below。　　The　Adventurer　was　fighting　like　a　madman。
It　was　hand　to　hand　now。

〃Quick！　　Quick！〃　she　cried　to　the　Adventurer。　　〃Jump　back　through
the　door。〃

〃Oh；　no；　you　don't！〃　　It　was　Skeeny　…　she　could　see　the　man's　brutal
face　now。　　〃Oh；　no；　you　don't；　you　she…devil！〃　he　shouted；　and；
over…reaching　the　Adventurer's　guard；　struck　at　her　furiously　with
his　clubbed　revolver。

It　struck　her　a　glancing　blow　on　the　head；　and　she　reeled　and
staggered；　but　recovered　herself。　　And　now　it　seemed　as　though　it
were　another　battle　that　she　fought　…　and　one　more　desperate；　a
battle　to　fight　back　a　horrible　giddiness　from　overpowering　her；
and　with　which　her　brain　was　swimming；　to　fight　it　back　for　just
a　second；　the　fraction　of　a　second　that　was　needed　until　…　until
…　〃Jump！〃　she　cried　again；　and　staggered　over　the　threshold；　and；
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