that had driven Danglar's wife into hiding； and which was Danglar's
crime too； and with the evidence in the shape of those jewels in her
possession； she and Danglar would meet somewhere … alone。 Before the
law got him； when he would be close…mouthed and struggling with all
his cunning to keep the evidence of other crimes from piling up
against him and damning whatever meager chances he might have to
escape the penalty for Deemer's murder； she meant … yes； even if
she pretended to compound a felony with him … to force or to inveigle
from him； it mattered little which； a confession of the authorship
and details of the scheme to rob Skarbolov that night when she；
Rhoda Gray； in answer to a dying woman's pleading； had tried to
forestall the plan； and had been caught； apparently； in the very act
of committing the robbery herself！ With that confession in her
possession； with the identity of the unknown woman who had died in
the hospital that night established； her own story would be believed。
And so； if she were weary； what did it matter？ It was only until
morning。 Danglar was at the Silver Sphinx now with the man he meant
that she should help him murder； only … only that plan would fail；
because there would be no 〃Bertha〃 to lure the man to his death； and
she； Rhoda Gray； had only to keep track of Danglar until somewhere；
where he lived perhaps； she should have that final scene； that final
reckoning with him alone。
It was a long way to the Silver Sphinx； which she knew； as every one
in the underworld； and every one in New York who was addicted to
slumming knew； was a combination dance…hall and restaurant in the
Chatham Square district。 She tried to find a taxi； but with out
avail。 A clock in a jeweler's window which she passed showed her
that it was ten minutes after eleven。 She had had no idea that it
was so late。 At eleven； Danglar had said。 Danglar would be growing
restive！ She took the elevated。 If she could risk the protection
of her veil in the Silver Sphinx； she could risk it equally in an
elevated train！
But； in spite of the elevated； it was； she knew； well on towards
half past eleven when she finally came down the street in front of
the Silver Sphinx。 From under her veil； she glanced； half curiously；
half in a sort of grim irony； at the taxis lined up before the
dancehall。 The two leading cars were not taxis at all； though they
bore the ear…marks； with their registers； of being public vehicles
for hire； they were large； roomy； powerful； and looked； with their
hoods up； like privately owned motors。 Well； it was of little
account！ She shrugged her shoulders； as …she mounted the steps of
the dance…hall。 Neither 〃Bertha〃 nor Cloran would use those cars
to…night！
XVII。 THE SILVER SPHINX
A Bedlam of noise smote Rhoda Gray's ears as she entered the Silver
Sphinx。 A jazz band was in full swing； on the polished section of
the floor in the center； a packed mass of humanity swirled and
gyrated and wriggled in the contortions of the 〃latest〃 dance； and
laughed and howled immoderately； and around the sides of the room；
the waiters rushed this way and that amongst the crowded tables；
mopping at their faces with their aprons。 It seemed as though
confusion itself held sway！
Rhoda Gray scanned the occupants of the tables。 The Silver Sphinx
was particularly riotous to…night； wasn't it？ Yes； she understood！
A great many of the men were wearing little badges。 Some society
or other was celebrating … and was doing it with abandon。 Most of
the men were half drunk。 It was certainly a free…and…easy night！
Everything went！
Danglar！ Yes； 'there he was … quite close to her； only a few tables
away … and beside him sat a heavy built； clean…shaven man of middle
age。 That would be Cloran； of course … the man who was to have been
lured to his death。 And Danglar was nervous and uneasy； she could
see。 His fingers were drumming a tattoo on the table； his eyes were
roving furtively about the room； and he did not seem to be paying any
but the most distrait attention to his companion； who was talking
to him。
Rhoda Gray sank quickly into a vacant chair。 Three men； linked arm
in arm； and decidedly more than a little drunk； were approaching
her。 She turned her head away to avoid attracting their attention。
It was too free and easy here to…night； and she began to regret her
temerity at having ventured inside； she would better； perhaps； have
waited until Danglar came out … only there were two exits； and she
might have missed him … and。。。
A cold fear upon her； she shrank back in her chair。 The three men
had halted at the table； and were clustered around her。 They began
a jocular quarrel amongst themselves as to who should dance with her。
Her heart was pounding。 She stood up； and pushed them away。
〃Oh； no； you don't！〃 hiccoughed one of the three。 〃Gotta see your
… hic！ … pretty face； anyhow！〃
She put up her hands frantically and clutched at her veil … but just
an instant too late to save it from being wrenched aside。 Wildly her
eyes flew to Danglar。 His attention had been attracted by the scene。
She saw him rise from his seat； she saw his eyes widen … and then；
stumbling over his chair in his haste； he made toward her。 Danglar
had recognized the White Moll！
She turned and ran。 Fear； horror； desperation； lent her strength。
It was not like this that she had counted on her reckoning with
Danglar！ She brushed the roisterers aside； and darted for the door。
Over her shoulder she glimpsed Danglar following her。 She reached
the door； burst through a knot of people there； and； her torn veil
clutched in her hand； dashed down the steps。 She could only run
… run； and pray that in some way she might escape。
And then a mad exultation came upon her。 She saw the man in the
chauffeur's seat of the first car in the line lean out and swing
the door open。 And in a flash she grasped the situation。 The man
was waiting for just this … for a woman to come running for her life
down the steps of the Silver Sphinx。 She put her hand up to her
face； hiding it with the torn veil； raced for the car； and flung
herself into the tonneau。
The door slammed。 The car leaped from the curb。 Danglar was coming
down the steps。 She heard him shout。 The chauffeur； in a startled
way； leaned out； as he evidently recognized Danglar's voice … but Rhoda
Gray was mistress of herself now。 The tonneau of the car was not
separated from the driver's seat； and bending forward； she wrenched
her revolver from her pocket； and pressed the muzzle of her weapon to
the back of the man's neck。
〃Don't stop！〃 she gasped； struggling for her breath。 〃Go on！
Quick！〃
The man； with a frightened oath； obeyed。 The car gained speed。 A
glance through the window behind showed Danglar climbing into the
other car。
And then for a moment Rhoda Gray sat there fighting for her
self…control； with the certain knowledge in her soul that upon her
wits； and her wits alone； her life depended now。 She studied the
car's mechanism over the chauffeur's shoulder； even as she continued
to hold her revolver pressed steadily against the back of the man's
neck。 She could drive a car … she could drive this one。 The
presence of this chauffeur； one of the gang； was an added menace；
there were too many tricks he might play before she could forestall
them； any one of which would deliver her into the hands of Danglar
behind there … an apparently inadvertent stoppage due to traffic；
for instance； that would bring the pursuing car alongside … that；
or a dozen other things which would achieve the same end。
〃Open the door on your side！〃 she commanded abruptly。 〃And get out
… without slowing the car！ Do you understand？〃
He turned his head for a half incredulous； half frightened look at
her。 She met his eyes steadily … the torn veil； quite discarded now；
was in her pocket。 She did not know the man； but it was quite
evident from the almost ludicrous dismay which spread over his face
that he knew her。
〃The … the White Moll！〃 he stammered。 〃It's the White Moll！〃
〃Jump！〃 she ordered imperatively … and her revolver pressed still
more significantly against the man's flesh。
He seemed in even frantic haste to obey her。 He whipped the door
open； and； before she could reach to the wheel； he had leaped to
the street。 The car swerved sharply。 She flung herself over into
the vacated seat； and snatched at the wheel barely in time to
prevent the machine from mounting the curb。
She looked around again through the window of the hood。 The man
had swung aboard Danglar's car； which was only a few yards behind。
Rhoda Gray drove steadily。 Here in the city streets her one aim
must be never to let the other car come abreast of her； but she
could prevent that easily enough by watching Danglar's movements；
and cutting across in front of him if he attempted anything of the
sort。 But ultimately what was she to do？ How was she to escape？
Her hands gripped and clenched in a sudden； almost panic…like
desperation at the wheel。 Turn suddenly around a corner； and jump
from the car herself？ It was useless to attempt it； they would
keep too close behind to give her a chance to get out of sight。
Well； then； suppose she jumped from the car； and trusted herself to
the protection of the people on the street。 She shook her head grimly。
Danglar； she knew only too well； would risk anything； go to any
length； to put an end to the White Moll。 He would not hesitate an
instant to shoot her down as she jumped and he would be fairly
safe himself in doing it。 A few revolver shots from a car that
speeded away in the darkness offered an even chance of escape。 And
yet； unless she forced an issue such as that； she knew that Danglar
would not resort to firing at her here in the city。 He would want
to be sure that was the only chance he had of getting her； before
he accepted the risk that he would run of being caught for it by
the police。
She found herself becoming strangely； almost unnaturally； cool and
collected now。 The one danger； greater than all others； that
menaced her was a traffic block that would cause her to stop； and
allow those in the other c