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I handed you a rap about beating it with the empty money…belt
the night you croaked Deemer with an overdose of knockout drops
in the private dining…room up at the Hotel Marwitz； but you forget
that！ I ain't for starting any argument about that。 None of us
blames you。 We thought the stuff was in the belt； too。 And none
of us blames you for making a mistake and going too strong with the
drops； either； anybody might do that。 And I'll say now that I take
my hat off to you for the way you locked Cloran into the room with
the dead man； and made your escape when Cloran had you dead to
rights for the murder； and I'll say； too； that the way you've played
Gypsy Nan and saved your skin； and ours too； is as slick a piece of
work as has ever been pulled in the underworld。 That puts us
straight； you and me； don't it； Bertha？〃
Rhoda Gray blinked at the man through her spectacles； her brain was
whirling in a mad turmoil。 〃I always liked you； Matty；〃 she
whispered softly。
Danglar was lolling back in his chair； blowing smoke rings into the
air。 She caught his eyes fixed quizzically upon her。
〃Go on； Matty！〃 he prompted。 〃You'll have her in a good humor； if
you're not careful！〃
〃We were playing more or less blind after that。〃 The withered hand
traced an aimless pattern on the table with its crooked and
half…closed fingers； and the man's face was puckered into a shrewd；
reminiscent scowl。 〃The papers couldn't get a lead on the motive
for the murder； and the police weren't talking for publication。 Not
a word about the Rajah's jewels。 Washington saw to that！ A young
potentate's son； practically the guest of the country； touring about
in a special for the sake of his education； and dashed near 'ending
it in the river out West if it hadn't been for the rescue you know
about； wouldn't look well in print； so there wasn't anything said
about the slather of gems that was the reward of heroism from a
grateful nabob； and we didn't get any help that way。 All we knew
was that Deemer came East with the jewels； presumably to cash in on
them； and it looked as though Deemer 〃were pretty clever； that he
wore the money…belt for a stall； and that he had the sparklers
safe somewhere else all the time。 And I guess we all got to
figuring it that way； because the fact that nothing was said about
any theft was strictly along the lines the police were working
anyway； and a was a toss…up that they hadn't found the stuff among
his effects。 Get me？〃
Get him！ This wasn't real； was it； this room here； those two
figures sitting there under that shaded lamp？ Something cold； an
icy grip； seemed to seize at her heart； as in a surge there swept
upon her the full appreciation of her peril through these confidences
to which she was listening。 A word； in act； some slightest thing；
might so easily betray her； and then … Her fingers under the shawl
and inside the wide pocket of her greasy skirt； clutched at her
revolver。 Thank God for that！ It would at least be merciful！ She
nodded her head mechanically。
〃But the police didn't find the jewels … because they weren't there
to be found。 Somebody got in ahead of us。 Pinched 'em； understand；
may be only a few hours before you got in your last play； and； from
the way you say Deemer acted； before he was wise to the fact that
he'd been robbed。〃
Rhoda Gray let her chair come sharply down to the floor。 She must
play her role of 〃Bertha〃 now as she never had before。 Here was a
question that she could not only ask with safety； but one that was
obviously expected。
〃Who was it？〃 she demanded breathlessly。
〃She's coming to life！〃 murmured Danglar； through a haze of cigarette
smoke。 〃I thought you'd wake up after a while； Bertha。 This is the
big night； old girl； as you'll find out before we're through。〃
〃Who was it？〃 she repeated with well…simulated impatience。
〃I guess she'll listen to me now；〃 said Danglar； with a little
chuckle。 〃Don't over…tax yourself any more； Matty。 I'll tell you；
Bertha； and it will perhaps make you feel better to know it took
the slickest dip New York ever knew to beat you to the tape。 It was
Angel Jack； alias the Gimp。〃
〃How do you know？〃 Rhoda Gray demanded。
〃Because；〃 said Danglar； and lighted another cigarette； 〃he died
yesterday afternoon up in Sing Sing。〃
She could afford to show her frank bewilderment。 Her brows knitted
into furrows； as she stared at Danglar。
〃You … you mean he confessed？〃 she said。
〃The Angel？ Never！〃 Danglar laughed grimly； and shook his head。
〃Nothing like that！ It was a question of playing one 'fence' against
another。 You know that Witzer； who's handled all our jewelry for
us； has been on the look…out for any stones that might have come
from that collection。 Well； this afternoon he passed the word to me
that he'd been offered the finest unset emerald he'd ever seen； and
that it had come to him through old Jake Luertz's runner； a very
innocent…faced young man who is known to the trade as the Crab。〃
Danglar paused … and laughed again。 Unconsciously Rhoda Gray drew
her shawl a little closer about her shoulders。 It seemed to bring
a chill into the room； that laugh。 Once before； on another night；
Danglar had laughed； and； with his parted lips； she had likened him
to a beast showing its fangs。 He looked it now more than ever。 For
all his ease of voice and manner； he was in deadly earnest； and if
there was merriment in his laugh； it but seemed to enhance the
menace and the promise of unholy purpose that lurked in the cold
glitter of his small； black eyes。
〃It didn't take long to get hold of the Crab〃 … Danglar was rubbing
his hands together softly … 〃and the emerald with him。 We got him
where we could put the screws on without arousing the neighborhood。〃
〃Another murder； I suppose！〃 Rhoda Gray flung out the words crossly。
〃Oh； no；〃 said Danglar pleasantly。 〃He squealed before it came to
that。 He's none the worse for wear； and he'll be turned loose in
another hour or so； as soon as we're through at old Jake Luertz's。
He's no more good to us。 He came across all right … after he was
properly frightened。 He's been with old Jake as a sort of familiar
for the last six years； and …〃
〃He'd have sold his soul out； he was so scared！〃 The withered hand
on the table twitched； the deformed creature's face was twisted
into a grimace； and the man was chuckling with unhallowed mirth； as
though unable。 to contain himself at； presumably； the recollection
of a scene which he had witnessed himself。 〃He was down on his
knees and clawing out with his hands for mercy； and he squealed like
a rat。 'It's the sixth panel in the bedroom upstairs；' he says；
'it's all there。 But for God's sake don't tell Jake I told。 It's
the sixth panel。 Press the knot in the sixth panel that …'〃 He
stopped abruptly。
Danglar had pulled out his watch and with exaggerated patience was
circling the crystal with his thumb。
〃Are you all through； Matty？〃 he inquired monotonously。 〃I think
you said something a little while ago about wasting time。 Bertha's
looking bored； and； besides； she's got a little job of her own on
for to…night。〃 He jerked his watch back into his pocket； and turned
to Rhoda Gray again。 〃The only one who knew all the details Angel
Jack； and he'll never tell now because he's dead。 Whether he came
down from the West with Deemer or not； or how he got wise to the
stones； I don't know。 But he got the stones； all right。 And then
he tumbled to the fact that the police were pushing him hard for
another job he was 'wanted' for； and he had to get those stones out
of sight in a hurry。 He made a package of them and slipped them to
old Luertz； who had always done his business for him； to keep for
him； and before he could duck； the bulls had him for that other job。
Angel Jack went up the river。 See？ Old Jake didn't know what was
in that package； but he knew better than to monkey with it； because
he always thought something of his own skin。 He knew Angel Jack；
and he knew what would happen if he didn't have that package ready
to hand back the day Angel Jack got out of Sing Sing。 Understand？
But yesterday Angel Jack died…without a will； and old Jake appointed
himself sole executor…without bonds！ He opened that package；
figured he'd begin turning it into money … and that's how we get
our own back again。 Old Jake will get a fake message to…night
calling him out of the house on an errand uptown； and about ten
o'clock Pinkie Bonn and the Pug will pay a visit there in his
absence； and … well； it looks good； don't it； Bertha； after two
years？〃
Rhoda Gray was crouched down in her chair。 She shrugged her
shoulders now； and infused a sullen note into her voice。
〃Yes； it's fine！〃 she sniffed。 〃I'll be rolling in wealth in my
garret … which will do me a lot of good！ That doesn't separate me
from these rags； and the hell I've lived； does it … after two years？〃
〃I'm coming to that；〃 said Danglar； with his short； grating laugh。
〃We've as good as got the stones now； and we're going through
to…night for a clean…up of all that old mess。 We stake the whole
thing。 Get me； Bertha … the whole thing ！ I'm showing