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could have bumped you off when you went for those papers； but if
you went that far you'd come farther； and that wasn't the place to
do it； and we couldn't cover ourselves there the way we could here。
This is the place。 We brought that trick table here a while ago；
as soon as we had got rid of Nicky Viner。 That was the only bit of
stage setting we had to do to make the story ring true right up to
the curtain； in case it was necessary。 It wouldn't have been
necessary if you and the White Moll had both come together； for
then you would neither of you have got any further than that other
room。 It would have ended there。 But we weren't taking any chances。
I'll pay you the compliment of admitting that we weren't counting on
getting you off your guard any too easily if； as it happened； you
came alone； for； being alone； or if either of you were alone； there
was that little proposition that had to be settled； instead of just
knocking you on the head out there in the dark in that other room；
and so； as I say； we weren't overlooking any bets on account of the
little trouble it took to plant that table and the money。 We tried
to think of everything！〃 Danglar paused for a moment to mock the
Adventurer with narrowed eyes。 〃That's the story； here's the end。
I hoped I'd get you both together； you and the White Moll。 I didn't。
But I've got you。 I didn't get you both … and that's what gives you
a chance for your life； because she's worth more to us than you are。
If you'd been together； you would have gone out…together。 As it is；
I'll see that you don't do any more harm anyway； but you get one
chance。 Where is she？ If you answer that； you will； of course；
answer a minor question and locate that 'leak'； for me； that I was
speaking about a moment ago。 But we'll take the main thing first。
And you can take your choice between a bullet and a straight answer。
Where is the White Moll？〃
Rhoda Gray's hand felt Out along the wall for support。 Was this a
dream； some ghastly； soul…terrifying nightmare！ Danglar！ Those
working lips！ That callous viciousness； that leer in the degenerate
face。 It seemed to bring a weakness to her limbs； and seek to rob
her of the strength to stand。 She could not even hope against hope；
she knew that Danglar was in deadly earnest。 Danglar would not have
the slightest compunction； let alone hesitation； in carrying out his
threat。 Terrified now； her eyes sought the Adventurer。 Didn't the
Adventurer know Danglar as she knew him； didn't he realize that
there was deadly earnestness behind Danglar's words？ Was the man
mad； that he stood there utterly unmoved； as though he had no
consideration on earth other than those carefully manicured finger
nails of his！
And then Danglar spoke again。
〃Do you notice anything special about this gun I'm holding on you？〃
he demanded； in low menace。
The Adventurer did not even look up。
〃Oh； yes；〃 he said indifferently。 〃I fancy you got it out of a dime
novel； didn't you？ One of those silencer things。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Danglar grimly； 〃one of those silencer things。 Where is
she？〃
The Adventurer made no answer。
The color in Danglar's face deepened。
〃I'll make things even a little plainer to you；〃 he said with brutal
coolness。 〃There are two men in our organization from whom it is
absolutely impossible that that leak could have come。 Those two
men followed you from Perlmer's office to this place。 They are in
the next room now waiting for me to get through with you； and ready
for anything if they are needed。 But they won't be needed。 That's
not the way it works out。 This gun won't make much noise； and it
isn't likely to arouse the inmates of this dive； but even if it
does； it doesn't matter very much … we aren't going out by the front
door。 The two of them； the minute they hear the shot； slip in here；
and lock the door … you see it's got a good； husky bolt on it … and
then we beat it by the fire escape that runs past that window there。
Get the idea？ And don't kid yourself into thinking that I am taking
any risk with the consequences on account of the coroner having got
busy because a man was found here dead on the floor。 Nicky Viner
stands for that。 It isn't the first time he's been suspected of
murder。 See？ Nicky was easy。 He'd crawl on his hands and knees
from the Battery to Harlem any time if you held a little money in
front of his nose。 He's been fooled up to the eyes with a faked…up
message that he's to deliver secretly to some faked…up crooks out
West。 He's just about starting away on the train now。 And that's
where the police nab him … running away from the murder he's pulled
in his room here to…night。 Looks kind of bad for Nicky Viner … eh？
We should worry！ It cost a hundred dollars and his ticket。 Cheap；
wasn't it？ I guess you're worth that much to us。〃
A dull horror seized upon Rhoda Gray。 It seemed to clog and confuse
her mind。 She fought it frantically； striving to think； and to
think clearly。 Every detail seemed to have been planned with Satanic
foresight and ingenuity； and yet … and yet … Yes； in one little
thing； Danglar had made a mistake。 That was why she was here now；
that was why those men in that next room had not been out in the hall
on guard； or even out in the street on watch for her。 Danglar had
naturally gone upon the supposition that the Adventurer and herself
worked hand in glove； whereas they were as much in the dark
concerning each other's movements as Danglar himself was。 Therefore
Danglar； and logically enough from his viewpoint； had jumped to the
conclusion that； since they had not come together； only one of them；
the Adventurer； was acting in the affair to…night； and … Danglar's
voice was rasping in her ears。
〃I'm not going to stay here all night！〃 he snarled。 〃You've got
one chance。 I've told you what it is。 You're lucky to have it。
We'd sooner have you out of the way for keeps。 I'd rather drop you
in your tracks than let you live。 Where is the White Moll？〃
The Adventurer was side face to the doorway again； and Rhoda Gray
saw him smile contemptuously at Danglar now。
〃Really；〃 he said blandly； 〃I haven't the slightest idea in the
world。〃
Danglar laughed ironically。
〃You lie！〃 he flung out hoarsely。 〃Do you think you can get away
with that？ Well； think again！ Sooner or later； it will be all the
same whether you talk or not。 We caught you to…night in a trap；
we'll catch her in another。 Our hand doesn't show here。 She'll
think that Nicky Viner was a little too much for you； that's all。
Come on； now … quick！ Are you fool enough to misunderstand？ The
'don't know' stuff won't get you by！〃
〃The misunderstanding seems to be on your side。〃 There was a cold；
irritating deliberation in the Adventurer's voice。 〃I repeat that
I do not know where the young lady you refer to could be found； but
I did not make that statement with any idea that you would believe
it。 To a cur； I suppose it is necessary to add that； even if I did
know； I should take pleasure in seeing you damned before I told you。〃
Danglar's face was like a devil's。 His revolver held a steady bead
on the Adventurer's head。
〃I'll give you a last chance。〃 He spoke through closed teeth。
〃I'll fire when I count three。 One！〃
A horrible fascination held Rhoda Gray。 If she cried out； it was
more likely than not to cause Danglar to fire on the instant。 It
would not save the Adventurer in any case。 It would be but the
signal； too； for those two men in the next room to rush in here。
〃Two！〃
It seemed as though； not in the hope that it would do any good； but
because she was going mad with horror； that she would scream out
until the place rang and rang again with her outcries。 Even her
soul was in frantic panic。 Quick！ Quick！ She must act！ She
must！ But how？ Was there only one way？ She was conscious that she
had drawn her revolver as though by instinct。 Danglar's life； or
the Adventurer's！ But she shrank from taking life。 Her lips were
breathing a prayer。 They had called her a crack shot back there
in South America； when she had hunted and ridden with her father。
It was easy enough to hit Danglar； but that might mean Danglar's
life； it was not so easy to hit Danglar's arm； or Danglar's hand；
or the revolver Danglar held； and if she risked that and missed；
she。。。
〃Thr …〃
There was the roar of a report that went racketing through the
silence like a cannon shot； and the short； vicious tongue…flame
from Rhoda Gray's revolver muzzle stabbed through the black。 There
was a scream of mingled surprise and fury； and the revolver in
Danglar's hand clattered to the floor。 She saw the Adventurer
spring； quick as a panther； at the other； and saw him whip blow
after blow with terrific force full into Danglar's face； she heard
a rush of feet coming from the corridor behind her； and she flung
herself forward into the inner room； and； panting； snatched at the
door and slammed it shut； and groping for the bolt； found it； and
shot it home in its grooves。
And she stood there； weak for the moment； and drew her hand across
her eyes … and behind her they pounded on the door； and there came
a bur