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made。 myself known to one of New York's assistant district attorneys；
who was an old friend of my father's。 And then； Danglar； I started
out after you。
〃I discovered you after about a month； then I wormed myself into
your gang as the Pug。 That took about a year。 I was almost another
year with you as an accepted member of the gang。 You know what
happened during that period。 A little while ago I found out that
the woman we wanted … with you； Danglar … was your wife； living in
hiding in this garret as Gypsy Nan。 But the jewels themselves were
still missing。 To…night they are not。 A … a friend of mine； one
very much misjudged publicly； I might say； has them； and has told
me they would be handed to the police。
〃And so； Danglar； after coming here to…night； I sent the Sparrow
out to gather together a few of the authorities who are interested
in the case … my friend the assistant district attorney； Cloran； the
house detective； Rough Rorke of headquarters； who on one occasion
was very much interested in Gypsy Nan； and enough men to make the
round of arrests。 They should be conveniently hidden across the
road now； and waiting for my signal。 My idea； you see； was to allow
Mrs。 Danglar to enter here without having her suspicions aroused；
and to see that she did not get away again if she arrived before
those who are duly qualified … which I am not … to arrest her did；
also； in view of what transpired earlier this evening； I must
confess I was a little anxious about those several years'
accumulation of stolen funds up there in the ceiling。 As I said
at the beginning； I hardly expected the luck to get you both at the
same time； though we should have got you； Danglar； and every one of
the rest of the gang before morning； and …〃
〃You；〃 Rhoda Gray whispered； 〃you … are not a thief！〃 Brain and
soul seemed on fire。 It seemed as though she had striven to voice
those words a dozen times since he had been speaking； but that she
had been afraid … afraid that this was not true； this great；
wonderful thing； that it could not be true。 〃You … you are not a
… a thief！〃
The Adventurer's face lost its immobility。 He half rose from his
chair； staring at her in a startled way … but it was Danglar now
who spoke。
〃It's a lie！〃 he screamed out。 〃It's a lie！〃 The man's reason
appeared to be almost unhinged； a mad terror seemed to possess him。
〃It's all a lie！ I never heard of this rajah bunk before in my
life！ I never heard of Deemer； or any jewels before。 You lie！ I
tell you； you lie！ You can't prove it； you can't …〃
〃But I can；〃 said Rhoda Gray in a low voice。 The shawl fell from
her shoulders； from her blouse she took the package of jewels and
held them out to the Adventurer。 〃Here are the stones。 I got them
from where you had put them in old Luertz's room。 I was hidden
there all the time last night。〃 She was removing her spectacles
and her wig of tangled gray hair as she spoke； and now she turned
her face full upon Danglar。 〃I heard you discuss Deemer's murder
with your brother last night； and plan to get rid of Cloran； who
you thought was the only existing witness you need fear； and …〃
〃Great God！〃 The Adventurer cried out。 〃You … Rhoda！ The White
Moll！ I … I don't understand； though I can see you are not the
woman who originally masqueraded as Gypsy Nan； for I knew her； as
I said； by sight。〃
He was on his feet now； his face aflame with a great light。 He
took a step toward her。
〃Wait！〃 she said hurriedly。 She glanced at Danglar。 The man's
face was blanched； his body seemed to have shriveled up； and
there was a light in his eyes as they held upon her that was near
to the borderland of insanity。 〃That night at Skarbolov's！〃 she
said； and tried to hold her voice in control。 〃Gypsy Nan； this
man's wife； died that night in the hospital。 I had found her here
sick； and I had promised not to divulge her secret。 I helped her
get to the hospital。 She was dying； she was penitent in a way；
she wanted to prevent a crime that she said was to be perpetrated
that night； but she would not inform on her accomplices。 She begged
me to forestall them； and return the money anonymously the next day。
That was the choice I had … either to allow the crime to be carried
out； or else swear to act alone in return for the information that
would enable me to keep the money away from the thieves without
bringing the police into it。 I … I was caught。 You … you saved me
from Rough Rorke； but he followed me。 I put on Gypsy Nan's clothes；
and managed to outwit him。 I had had no opportunity to return the
money； which would have been proof of my innocence； the only way I
could prove it； then； was to try and find the authors of the crime
myself。 I … I have lived since then as Gypsy Nan； fighting this
hideous gang of Danglar's here to try and save myself； and … and
to…night I thought I could see my way clear。 I … I knew enough at
last about this man to make him give me a written statement that it
was a pre…arranged plan to rob Skarbolov。 That would substantiate
my story。 And〃 … she looked again at Danglar； the man was still
crouched there； eying her with that same mad light in his eyes
… 〃and he must be made to … to do it now for …〃
〃But why didn't you ask me？〃 cried the Adventurer。 〃You knew me as
the Pug； and therefore must have believed that I； too； know all
about it。〃
〃Yes；〃 she said； and turned her head away to hide the color she felt
was mounting to her cheeks。 〃I … I thought of that。 But I thought
you were a thief； and … and your testimony wouldn't have been much
good unless； with it； I could have handed you； too； over to the
police； as I intended to do with Danglar； and … and … I … I couldn't
do that； and … Oh； don't you see？〃 she ended desperately。
〃Rhoda！ Rhoda！〃 There was a glad； buoyant note in the Adventurer's
voice。 〃Yes； I see！ Well； I can prove it for you now without any
of those fears on my behalf to worry you！ I went to Skarbolov's
myself； knowing their plans； to do exactly what you did。 I did not
know you then； and； as Rough Rorke； who was there because； as I
heard later； his suspicions had been aroused through seeing some of
the gang lurking around the back door in the lane the night before；
had taken the actual money from you； I contrived to let you get
away； because I was afraid that you were some new factor in the
game； some member of the gang that I did not know about； and that I
must watch； too！ Don't you understand？ The jewels were still
missing。 I had not got the general warning that was sent out to
the gang that night to lay low； for at the last moment it seems that
Danglar here found out that Rough Rorke had suspicions about
Skarbolov's place。〃 He came close to her … and with the muzzle
of his revolver he pushed Danglar's huddled figure back a little
further against the washstand。 〃Rhoda … you are clear。 The
assistant district attorney who had your case is the one I spoke
of a few minutes ago。 That night at Hayden…Bond's； though I did
not understand fully； I knew that you were the bravest； truest
little woman into whom God had ever breathed the breath of life。
I told him the next day there was some mistake； something strange
behind it all。 I told him what happened at Hayden…Bond's。 He
agreed with me。 You have never been indicted。 Your case has
never come before the grand jury。 And it never will now！ Rhoda！
Rhoda！ Thank God for you！ Thank God it has all come out right；
and …〃
A peal of laughter； mad； insane； horrible in its perverted mirth；
rang through the garret。 Danglar's hands were creeping queerly
up to his temples。 And then； oblivious evidently in his frenzy
of the revolver in the Adventurer's hand； and his eye catching the
weapons that lay upon the cot； he made a sudden dash in that
direction … and Rhoda Gray； divining his intention； sprang for the
cot； too； at the same time。 But Danglar never reached his objective。
As Rhoda Gray caught up the weapons and thrust them into her pocket；
she heard Danglar's furious snarl； and whirling around； she saw the
two men locked and struggling in each other's embrace。
The Adventurer's voice reached her； quick； imperative：
〃Show the candle at the window； Rhoda！ The Sparrow is waiting for
it in the yard below。 Then open the door for them。〃
A sudden terror and fear seized her。 The Adventurer was not fit；
after what he had been through to…night to cope with Danglar。 He
had been limping badly even a few minutes ago。 It seemed to her；
as she rushed across the garret and snatched up the candle； that
Danglar was getting the best of it even now。 And the Adventurer
could have shot him down； and been warranted in doing it！ She
reached the window； waved the candle frantically several times
across the pane； then setting the candle down on the window ledge；
she ran for the door。
She looked back again； as she turned the key in the lock。 With a
crash； pitching over the chair； both men went to the floor … and the
Adventurer was underneath。 She cried out in alarm； and wrenched the
door open … and stood for an instant there on the threshold in a
startled way。
They couldn't be coming already！