the white moll- 第14部分

Rhoda　Gray　laid　her　hand　on　the　Sparrow's　arm。

〃Not　that　way；　Marty；〃　she　said　quietly。　　She　smiled　thinly　at
Danglar；　who；　with　genuinely　frightened　eyes　now；　seemed　fascinated
by　the　Sparrow's　movements。　　〃I　wouldn't　care　to　have　anything
happen　to　Mr。　　Danglar　…　yet。　　He　has　been　invaluable　to　me；　and　I
am　sure　he　will　be　again。〃

The　Sparrow　brushed　his　hands　across　his　eyes；　and　stared　at　her。
He　licked　his　lips　again。　　He　appeared　to　be　obsessed　with　the
knife…blade　in　his　hand　…　dazed　in　a　strange　way　to　all　else。

〃There's　enough　cord　there　for　both　of　them；〃　said　Rhoda　Gray
crisply。　　〃Tie　them　in　their　chairs；　Marty。〃

For　a　moment　the　Sparrow　hesitated；　and　then；　with　a　sort　of　queer
reluctancy；　he　dropped　the　knife　on　the　table；　and　went　and　picked
up　the　strands　of　cord　from　the　floor。

No　one　spoke。　　The　Sparrow；　with　twitching　lips　as　he　worked；　and
worked　not　gently；　bound　first　Danglar　and　then　Skeeny　to　their
respective　chairs。　　Skeeny　for　the　most　part　kept　his　eyes　on　the
floor；　casting　only　furtive　glances　at　Rhoda　Gray's　revolver　muzzle。
But　Danglar　was　smiling　now。　　He　had　very　white　teeth。　　There　was
something　of　primal；　insensate　fury　in　the　hard…drawn；　parted　lips。
Somehow　he　seemed　to　remind　Rhoda　Gray　of　a　beast；　stung　to　madness；
but　impotent　behind　the　bars　of　its　cage；　as　it　showed　its　fangs。

〃We'll　go　now；　Marty；〃　she　said　softly；　as　the　Sparrow　finished。

She　motioned　the　Sparrow　with　an　imperious　little　nod　of　her　head
to　the　door。　　And　then；　following　the　other；　she　backed　to　the　door
herself；　and　halted　an　instant　on　the　threshold。

〃It　has　been　a　very　profitable　evening；　Mr。　Danglar；〃　she　said
coolly。　　〃I　have　you　to　thank　for　it。　　When　your　friends　come；　which
I　think　I　heard　you　say　would　be　in　another　hour　or　so；　I　hope　you
will　not　fail　to　convey　to　them　my　…〃

〃You　she…fiend！〃　　Danglar　had　found　his　voice　again。　　You'll　crawl
for　this！　　Do　you　understand？　and　I'll　show　you　inside　of
twenty…four　hours　what　you're　up　against；　you　…　you　…〃　　His　voice
broke　in　its　fury。　　The　veins　were　standing　out　on　the　side　of　his
neck　like　whipcords。　　He　could　just　move　his　forearms　a　little；　and
his　hands　reached　out　toward　her；　curved　like　claws。　　〃I'll　…〃

But　Rhoda　Gray　had　closed　the　door　behind　her；　and；　with　the　Sparrow；
was　retreating　down　the　stairs。


VII。　　FELLOW　THIEVES

Reaching　the　courtyard；　Rhoda　Gray　led　the　way　without　a　word
through　the　driveway；　and　finding　the　street　clear；　hurried　on
rapidly。　　Her　mind；　strangely　stimulated；　was　working　in　quick；
incisive　flashes。　　Her　work　was　not　yet　done。　　The　Sparrow　was　safe；
as　far　as　his　life　was　concerned；　but　her　possession　of　even　the
necklace　would　not　save　the　Sparrow　from　the　law。　　There　was　the
money　that　was　gone　from　the　safe。　　She　could　not　recover　that；　but
…　yes；　dimly；　she　began　to　see　a　way。　　She　swerved　suddenly　from
the　sidewalk　as　she　came　to　an　alleyway　…　which　had　been　her
objective　…　and　drew　the　Sparrow　in　with　her　out　of　sight　of　the
street。

The　Sparrow　gripped　at　her　hand。

〃The　White　Moll！〃　he　whispered　brokenly。　　〃God　bless　the　White
Moll！　　I　ain't　had　a　chance　to　say　it　before。　　You　saved　my　life；
and　I　…　I　…〃

In　the　semi…darkness　she　leaned　forward　and　laid　her　fingers　gently
over　the　Sparrow's　lips。

〃And　there's　no　time　to　say　it　now；　Marty；〃　she　said　quickly。　　〃You
are　not　out　of　this　yet。〃

He　swept　his　hand　across　his　eyes。

〃I　know　it；〃　he　said。　　〃I　got　to　get　those　shiners　back　up　there
somehow；　and　I　got　to　get　that　paper　they　planted　on　me。〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃Even　that　wouldn't　clear　you；〃　she　said。　　〃The　safe　has　been　looted
of　money；　as　well；　and　you　can't　replace　that。　　Even　with　only　the
money　gone；　who　would　they　first　naturally　suspect？　　You　are　known　as
a　safe…breaker；　you　have　served　a　term　for　it。　　You　asked　for　a　night
off　to　stay　with　your　mother　who　is　sick。　　You　left　Mr。　Hayden…Bond's；
we'll　say；　at　seven　or　eight　o'clock。　　It's　after　midnight　now。　　How
long　would　it　take　them　to　find　out　that　between　eight　and　midnight
you　had　not　only　never　been　near　your　mother；　but　could　not　prove　an
alibi　of　any　sort？　　If　you　told　the　truth　it　would　sound　absurd。　　No
one　in　their　sober　senses　would　believe　you。〃

The　Sparrow　looked　at　her　miserably。

〃My　God！〃　he　faltered。　　He　wet　his　lips。　　〃That's　true。〃

〃Marty；〃　she　said　quietly；　〃did　you　read　in　the　papers　that　I　had
been　arrested　last　night　for　theft；　caught　with　the　goods　on　me；
but　had　escaped？〃

The　Sparrow　hesitated。

〃Yes；　I　did；〃　he　said。　　And　then；　earnestly：　〃But　I　don't　believe
it！〃

〃It　was　true；　though；　Marty　…　all　except　that　I　wasn't　a　thief；〃
she　said　as　quietly　as　before。　　〃What　I　want　to　know　is；　in　spite
of　that；　would　you　trust　me　with　what　is　left　to　be　done　to…night；
if　I　tell　you　that　I　believe　I　can　get　you　out　of　this？〃

〃Sure；　I　would！〃　he　said　simply。　　〃I　don't　know　how　you　got　wise
about　all　this；　or　how　you　got　to　know　about　that　necklace；　but
any　of　our　crowd　would　trust　you　to　the　limit。　　Sure；　I'd　trust
you！　　You　bet　your　life！〃

〃Thank　you；　Marty；〃　she　said。　　〃Well；　then；　how　do　you　get　into　Mr。
Hayden…Bond's　house　when；　for　instance；　you　are　out　late　at　night？〃

〃I've　got　a　key　to　the　garage；〃　he　answered。　　〃The　garage　is
attached　to　the　house；　though　it　opens　on　the　side　street。〃

She　held　Out　her　hand。

The　Sparrow　fished　in　his　pocket；　and　extended　the　key　without
hesitation。

〃It's　for　the　small　door；　of　course；〃　he　explained。

〃You　haven't　got　a　flashlight；　I　suppose？〃　she　smiled。

〃Sure！　　There's　plenty　of　'em！　　Each　car's　got　one　with　its　tools
under　the　back　seat。〃

She　nodded。

〃And　now；　the　library；〃　she　said。　　〃What　part　of　the　house　is　it
in？　　How　is　it　situated？〃

〃It's　on　the　ground　floor　at　the　back；〃　he　told　her。　　〃The　little
short　passage　from　the　garage　opens　on　the　kitchen；　then　the　pantry；
and　then　there's　a　little　cross　hallway；　and　the　dining…room　is　on
the　left；　and　the　library　on　the　right。　　But　ain't　I　going　with　you？〃

She　shook　her　head　again。

〃You're　going　home；　Marty　…　after　you've　sent　me　a　taxicab。　　If　you
were　seen　in　that　neighborhood　now；　let　alone　by　any　chance　seen　in
the　house；　nothing　could　save　you。　　You　understand　that；　don't　you？
Now；　listen！　　Find　a　taxi；　and　send　it　here。　　Tell　the　chauffeur　to
pick　me　up；　and　drive　me　to　the　corner　of　the　cross　street；　one　block
in　the　rear　of　Mr。　Hayden…Bond's　residence。　　Don't　mention　Hayden…Bond's
name。　　Give　the　chauffeur　simply　street　directions。　　Be　careful　that
he　is　some　one　who　doesn't　know　you。　　Tell　him　he　will　be　well　paid
…　and　give　him　this　to　begin　with。〃　She　thrust　a　banknote　into　the
Sparrow's　hand。　　〃You're　sure　to　find　one　at　some　all…night　cabaret
around　here。　　And　remember；　when　you　go　home　afterward；　not　a　word
to　your　mother！　　And　not　a　word　to…morrow；　or　ever…to　any　one！
You've　simply　done　as　you　told　your　employer　you　were　going　to　do
…　spent　the　night　at　home。〃

〃But　you；〃　he　burst　out；　and　his　words　choked　a　little。　　〃I　…　I
can't　let　you　go；　and　…〃

〃You　said　you　would　trust　me；　Marty；〃　she　said。　　〃And　if　you　want
to　help　me；　as　well；　don't　waste　another　moment。　　I　shall　need　every
second　I　have　got。　　Quick！　　Hurry！〃

〃But　…〃

She　pushed　him　toward　the　street。

〃Run！〃　she　said　tensely。　　〃Hurry；　Marty；　hurry！〃

She　drew　back　into　the　shadows。　　She　was　alone　now。　　The　Sparrow's
racing　footsteps　died　away　on　the　pavement。　　Her　mind　reverted　to
the　plan　that　she　had　dimly　conceived。　　It　became　detailed；　concrete
now；　as　the　minutes　passed。　　And　then　she　heard　a　car　coming　along
the　previously　deserted　street；　and　she　stepped　out　on　the　sidewalk。
It　was　the　taxi。

〃You　know　where　to　go；　don't　you？〃　she　said　to　the　chauffeur；　as
the　cab　drew　up　at　the　curb；　and　the　man　leaned　out　and　opened　the
door。

〃Yes'm；〃　he　said。

〃Please　drive　fast；　then；〃　she　said；　as　she　stepped　in。

The　taxi　shot　out　from　the　curb；　and　rattled　forward　at　a　rapid
pace。　　Rhoda　Gray　settled　back　on　the　cushions。　　A　half　whimsical；
half　weary　little　smile　touched　her　lips。　　It　was　much　easier；　and
infinitely　safer；　this　mode　of　travel；　than　that　of　her　earlier
experience　that　evening；　but；　earlier　that　evening；　she　had　had　no
one　to　go　to　a　cab　rank　for　her；　and　she　had　not　dared　to　appear
in　the　open　and　hail　one　for　herself。　　The　smile　vanished；　and　the
lips　became；　pursed　and　grim。　　Her　mind　was　back　on　that　daring；
and　perhaps　a　little　dangerous；　plan；　that　she　meant　to　put　into
execution。　　Block　after　block　was　traversed。　　It　was　a　long　way
uptown；　but　the　chauffeur's　initial　and　generous　tip　was　bearing
fruit。　　The　man　was　losing　no　time。

Rhoda　Gray　calculated　that　they　had　been　a　little　under　half　an
hour　in　making　the　trip；　when　the　taxi　finally　drew　up　and　stopped
at　a　corner；　and　the　chauffeur；　again　leaning　out；　opened　the　door。

〃Wait　for　me；〃　she　instructed；　and　handed　the　man　another　tip　…　and；
with　a　glance　about　her　to　get　her　location；　she　hurried　around　the
corner；　and　headed　up　the　cross　street。

She　had　only　a　block　now　to　go　to　reach　the　Hayden…Bond　mansion　on
the　corner　of　Fifth　Avenue　ahead　…　less　than　that　to　reach　the
garage；　which　opened　on　the　cross　street　here。　　She　had　little　fear
of　personal　identification　now。　　Here　in　this　residential　section
and　at　this　hour　of　night；　it　was　like　a　silent　and　deserted　city；
even　Fifth　Avenue；　just　ahead；　for　all　its　lights；　was　one　of　the
loneliest　places　at　this　hour　in　all　New　York。　　True；　now　and　then；
a　car　might　race　up　or　down　the　great　thoroughfare；　or　a　belated
pedestrian's　footsteps　ring　and　echo　hollow　on　the　pavement；　where
but　a　few　hours　before　the　traffic…squad　struggled　valiantly；　and
sometimes　vainly；　with　the　congestion　…　but　that　was　all。

She　could　make　out　the　Hayden…Bond　mansion　on　the　corner　ahead　of
her　now；　and　now　she　was　abreast　of　the　rather　ornate　and　attached
little　building；　that　was　obviously　the　garage。　　She　drew　the　key
from　her　pocket；　and　glanced　around　her。　　There　was　no　one　in　sight。
She　stepped　swiftly　to　the　small　door　that　flanked　the　big　double
ones　where　the　cars　went　in　and　out；　opened　it；　closed　it　behind
her；　and　loc