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 voice … you re delirious。 You do
not know what you are saying。 There isn't any horrible thing to
frighten you。 Now you just lie quietly here。 I'll only be a few
minutes； and …〃 She stopped abruptly as her wrists were suddenly
imprisoned in a frantic grip。
〃You swore it！〃 Gypsy Nan was whispering feverishly。 〃You swore
it！ They say the White Moll never snitched。 That's the one chance
I've got； and I'm going to take it。 I'm not delirious … not yet。
I wish to God it was nothing more than that！ Look！〃
With a low； startled cry； Rhoda Gray was on her feet。 Gypsy Nan
was gone。 A sweep of the woman's hand； and the spectacles were off；
the gray…streaked hair a tangled wig upon the pillow … and Rhoda Gray
found herself staring in a numbed sort of way at a dark…haired woman
who could not have been more than thirty； but whose face； with its
streaks of grime and dirt； looked grotesquely and incongruously old。
II。 SEVENTHREENINE
For a moment neither spoke； then Gypsy Nan broke the silence with
a bitter laugh。 She threw back the bedclothes； and； gripping at
the edge of the bed； sat up。
〃The White Moll！ The words rattled in her throat。 A fleck of blood
showed on her lips。 〃Well； you know now！ You're going to help me；
aren't you？ I … I've got to get out of here … get to a hospital。〃
Rhoda Gray laid her hands firmly on the other's shoulders。
〃Get back into bed；〃 she said steadily。 〃Do you want to make
yourself worse？ You'll kill yourself！〃
Gypsy Nan pushed her away。
〃Don't make me use up what little strength I've got left in talking；〃
she cried out piteously； and suddenly wrung her hands together。
〃I'm wanted by the police。 If I'm caught； it's … it's that 'chair。'
I couldn't have a doctor brought here； could I？ How long would
it be before he saw that Gypsy Nan was a fake？ I can't let you go
and have an ambulance； say； come and get me； can I； even with the
disguise hidden away？ They'd say this is where Gypsy Nan lives。
There's something queer here。 Where is Gypsy Nan？ I've got to get
away from here … away from Gypsy Nan … don't you understand？ It's
death one way； maybe it is the other； maybe it'll finish me to get
out of here； but it's the only thing left to do。 I thought some
one； some one that I could trust； never mind who； would have come
to…day； but…but no one came； and … and maybe now it s too late； but
there's just the one chance； and I've got to take it。〃 Gypsy Nan
tore at the shawl around her throat as though it choked her； and
flung it from her shoulders。 Her eyes were gleaming with an
unhealthy； feverish light。 〃Don't you see？ We get out on the
street。 I collapse there。 You find me。 I tell you my name is
Charlotte Green。 That's all you know。 There isn't much chance
that anybody at the hospital would recognize me。 I've got money。
I take a private room。 Don't you understand？〃
Rhoda Gray's face had gone a little white。 There was no doubt about
the woman's serious condition； and yet … and yet … She stood there
hesitant。 There must be some other way！ It was not likely even
that the woman had strength enough to walk down the stairs to begin
with。 Strange things had come to her in this world of shadow； but
none before like this。 If the law got the woman it would cost the
woman her life； if the woman did not receive immediate and adequate
medical assistance it would cost the woman her life。 Over and over
in her brain； like a jangling refrain； that thought repeated itself。
It was not like her to stand hesitant before any emergency； no
matter what that emergency might be。 She had never done it before；
but now。。。
〃For God's sake；〃 Gypsy Nan implored； 〃don't stand there looking at
me！ Can't you understand？ If I'm caught； I go out。 Do you think
I'd have lived in this filthy hole if there had been any other way
to save my life？ Are you going to let me die here like a dog？ Get
me my clothes； oh； for God's sake； get them； and give me the one
chance that's left！〃
A queer little smile came to Rhoda Gray's lips； and her shoulders
straightened back。
〃Where are your clothes？〃 she asked。
〃God bless you！〃 The tears were suddenly streaming down the grimy
face。 〃God bless the White Moll！ It's true！ It's true … all they
said about her！〃 The woman had lost control of herself。
〃Nan； keep your nerve！〃 ordered Rhoda Gray almost brutally。 It was
the White Moll in another light now； cool； calm； collected；
efficient。 Her eyes swept Gypsy Nan。 The woman； who had obviously
flung herself down on the bed fully dressed the night before； was
garbed in coarse； heavy boots； the cheapest of stockings which were
also sadly in need of repair； a tattered and crumpled skirt of some
rough material； and； previously hidden by the shawl； a soiled；
greasy and spotted black blouse。 Rhoda Gray's forehead puckered
into a frown。 〃What about your hands and face…they go with the
clothes； don't they？〃
〃It'll wash off；〃 whispered Gypsy Nan。 〃It's just some stuff I keep
in a box…over there … the ceiling…〃 Her voice trailed off weakly；
then with a desperate effort strengthened again。 〃The door！ I
forgot the door！ It isn't locked！ Lock the door first！ Lock the
door！ Then you take the candle over there on the washstand； and
… and I'll show you。 You … you get the things while I'm undressing。
I … I can help myself that much。〃
Rhoda Gray crossed quickly to the door； turned the key in the lock；
and retraced her steps to the washstand that stood in the shadows
against the wall on the opposite side from the bed； and near the far
end of the garret。 Here she found the short stub of a candle that
was stuck in the mouth of a gin bottle； and matches lying beside it。
She lighted the candle； and turned inquiringly to Gypsy Nan。
The woman pointed to the end of the garret where the roof sloped
sharply down until； at the wall itself； it was scarcely four feet
above the floor。
〃Go down there。 Right to the wall … in the center；〃 instructed
Gypsy Nan weakly。 And then； as Rhoda Gray obeyed： 〃Now push up on
that wide board in the ceiling。〃
Rhoda Gray。 already in a stooped position； reached up； and pushed
at a rough； unplaned board。 It swung back without a sound； like a
narrow trap…door； until it rested in an upright position against the
outer frame of the house； disclosing an aperture through which； by
standing erect； Rhoda Gray easily thrust her head and shoulders。
She raised the candle then through the opening … and suddenly her
dark eyes widened in amazement。 It was a hiding place； not only
ingenious； but exceedingly generous in expanse。 As far as one
could reach the ceiling metamorphosed itself into a most convenient
shelf。 And it had been well utilized！ It held a most astounding
collection of things。 There was a cashbox； but the cashbox was
apparently wholly inadequate … there must have been thousands of
dollars in those piles of banknotes that were stacked beside it！
There was a large tin box； the cover off； containing some black；
pastelike substance … the 〃stuff；〃 presumably； that Gypsy Nan used
on her face and hands。 There was a bunch of curiously formed keys；
several boxes of revolver cartridges； an electric flashlight； and
a great quantity of the choicest brands of tinned and bottled
fruits and provisions … and a little to one side； evidently kept
ready for instant use； a suit of excellent material； underclothing；
silk stockings shoes and hat were neatly piled together。
Rhoda Gray took the clothing； and went back to the bedside。 Gypsy
Nan had made little progress in disrobing。 It seemed about all the
woman could do to cling to the edge of the cot and sit upright。
〃What does all this mean； Nan；〃 she asked tensely； 〃all those things
up there … that money？〃
Gypsy Nan forced a twisted smile。
〃It means I know how bad I am； or I wouldn't have let you see what
you have；〃 she answered heavily。 〃It means that there isn't any
other way。 Hurry！ Get these things off！ Get me dressed！〃
But it took a long time。 Gypsy Nan seemed with every moment to
grow weaker。 The lamp on the chair went out for want of oil。 There
was only the guttering candle in the gin bottle to give light。 It
threw weird； flickering shadows around the garret； it seemed to
enhance the already deathlike pallor of the woman； as； using the
pitcher of water and the basin from the washstand now； Rhoda Gray
removed the grime from Gypsy Nan's face and hands。
It was done at last … and where there had once been Gypsy Nan；
haglike and repulsive； there was now a stylishly； even elegantly；
dressed woman of well under middle age。 The transformation seemed
to have acted as a stimulant upon Gypsy Nan。 She laughed with
nervous hilarity she even tried valiantly to put on a pair of new
black kid gloves； but； failing in this； pushed them unsteadily into
the pocket of her coat。
〃I'm … I'm all right；〃 she asserted fiercely； as Rhoda Gray；
pausing in the act of gathering up the discarded garments； regarded
her anxiously。 〃Bring me a package of that mon