按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 money after you've put
those things away … yes； and you'll find a flashlight there。 We'll
need it going down the stairs。〃
Rhoda Gray made no answer。 There was no hesitation now in her
actions； as； to the pile of clothing in her arms； she added the
revolver that lay on the blanket； and； returning to the little
trap…door in the ceiling； hid them away； but her brain was whirling
again in a turmoil of doubt。 This was madness； utter； stark； blind
madness； this thing that she was doing！ It was suicide； literally
that； nothing less than suicide for one in Gypsy Nan's condition to
attempt this thing。 But the woman would certainly die here； too；
with out medical assistance … only there was the police！ Rhoda
Gray's face； as she stood upright in the little aperture again；
throwing the wavering candle…rays around her； seemed suddenly to
have grown pinched and wan。 The police！ The police！ It was her
conscience； then； that was gnawing at her … because of the police！
Was that it？ Well； there was also； then； another side。 Could she
turn informer； traitor； become a female Judas to a dying woman； who
had sobbed and thanked her Maker because she had found some one whom
she believed she could trust？ That was a hideous and an abominable
thing to do！ 〃You swore it！ You swore you'd see me through！〃 … the
words came and rang insistently in her ears。 The sweet； piquant
little face set in hard； determined lines。 Mechanically she picked
up the flashlight and a package of the banknotes； lowered the board
in the ceiling into place； and returned to Gypsy Nan。
〃I'm ready； if there is no other way；〃 she said soberly； as she
watched the other tuck the money away inside her waist。 〃I said I
would see you through； and I will。 But I doubt if you are strong
enough； even with what help I can give you； to get down the stairs；
and even if you can； I am afraid with all my soul of the consequences
to you； and …〃
Gypsy Nan blew out the candle； and staggered to her feet。
〃There isn't any other way。〃 She leaned heavily on Rhoda Gray's
arm。 〃Can't you see that？ Don't you think I know？ Haven't you
seen enough here to convince you of that？ I … I'm just spilling
the dice for … for perhaps the last time … but it's the only chance
… the only chance。 Go on！〃 she urged tremulously。 〃Shoot the glim；
and get me to the door。 And … and for the love of God； don't make
a sound！ It's all up if we're seen going out！〃
The flashlight's ray danced in crazy gyrations as the two figures
swayed and crept across the garret。 Rhoda Gray unlocked the door；
and； as they passed out； locked it again on the outside。
〃Hide the key！〃 whispered Gypsy Nan。 〃See … that crack in the floor
under the partition！ Slip it in there！〃
The flashlight guiding her； Rhoda Gray stooped down to where；
between the rough attic flooring and the equally rough boarding of
the garret partition； there was a narrow space。 She pushed the key
in out of sight； and then； with her arm around Gypsy Nan's waist；
and with the flashlight at cautious intervals winking ahead of her
through the darkness； she began to descend the stairs。
It was slow work； desperately slow； both because they dared not
make the slightest noise； and because； too； as far as strength was
concerned； Gypsy Nan was close to the end of her endurance。 Down
one flight； and then the other； they went； resting at every few
steps； leaning back against the wall； black shadows that merged
with the blackness around them； the flashlight used only when
necessity compelled it； lest its gleam might attract the attention
of some other occupant of the house。 And at times Gypsy Nan's head
lay cheek to Rhoda Gray's； and the other's body grew limp and
became a great weight； so heavy that it seemed she could no longer
support it。
They gained the street door； hung there tensely for a moment to
make sure they were not observed by any chance passer…by； then
stepped out on the sidewalk。 Gypsy Nan spoke then：
〃I … I can't go much farther；〃 she faltered。 〃But … but it doesn't
matter now we're out of the house … it doesn't matter where you
find me … only let's try a few steps more。〃
Rhoda Gray had slipped the flashlight inside her blouse。
〃Yes；〃 she said。 Her breath was coming heavily。 〃It's all right；
Nan。 I understand。〃
They walked on a little way up the block； and then Gypsy Nan's grasp
suddenly tightened on Rhoda Gray's arm。
〃Play the game！〃 Gypsy Nan's voice was scarcely audible。 〃You'll
play the game； won't you？ You'll … you'll see me through。 That's
a good name … as good as any … Charlotte Green … that's all you know
… but … but don't leave me alone with them … you … you'll come to
the hospital with me； won't you … I …〃
Gypsy Nan had collapsed in a heap on the sidewalk。
Rhoda Gray glanced swiftly around her。 In the squalid tenement
before which she stood there would be no help of the kind that was
needed。 There would be no telephone in there by means of which she
could summon an ambulance。 And then her glance rested on a figure
far up the block under a street lamp … a policeman。 She bent
hurriedly over the prostrate woman； whispered a word of
encouragement； and ran in the officer's direction。
As she drew closer to the policeman； she called out to him。 He
turned and came running toward； and； as he reached her； after a
sharp glance into her face； touched his helmet respectfully。
〃What's wrong with the White Moll to…night？〃 he asked pleasantly。
〃There's … there's a woman down there〃 … Rhoda Gray was breathless
from her run … 〃on the sidewalk。 She needs help at once。〃
〃Drunk？〃 inquired the officer laconically。
〃No； I'm sure it's anything but that；〃 Rhoda Gray answered quickly。
〃She appears to be very sick。 I think you had better summon an
ambulance without delay。〃
〃All right！〃 agreed the officer。 〃There's a patrol box down there
in the direction you came from。 We'll have a look at her on the
way。〃 He started briskly forward with Rhoda Gray beside him。 〃Who
is she d'ye know？〃 he asked。
〃S