The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-03-29

l Skeeny, a scintilating flash of light as | a magnificent string of diamonds fell | from his hand to the table But Dan l glar did not move or speak; only his ! lips twitchedS and a queer white | ness came and spread itself over his | face.
 Put up your hands-both of voice.
 It was Skeeny who spoke, as both men obeyed her.
 '"The White Mo1l so help mel" he mumbled, and swallowed hard.
 Danglar's eyes never seemed to leave her face, and they narrowed now, full of hatred and a fury that he made no attempt to conceal. She smiled at him coIdIy. She quite un- derstoOdi He had already complain ed that evening that the While Mo1 for the last few weeks had been rob- bing them of the fruits of their la boriously planned schemes. And now -againl Well, she would not dispel his iIlusionI He had given the White MoIl that role-and it was the safest role to play s
 She stepped forward now. and with her free hand suddenly pulled the table toward her out of their reach; and then, as she picked up the neck lace, she appeared for the first time to become aware of the presence of the huddled form on the floor near the wall. She could see that the Sparrow was bound and gagged and he squirmed now he turned his face toward her.
 why, it's the Sparrow, isn't it?' she exclaimed sharply; then. evenly, to the two men: 'I had no idea you were so hispitable! Push your chairs closer together-with your feet, not your hands! You are easier to watch if you are not too far apart.'
 Dangler compiled sullen1y. Skeeny, over the scraping of his chair legs, cursed in a sort of unnerved abandon, as he obeyed her
 Thank you!" said Rhoda Gray pleasa ntly-and calmly tucked -.the necklace into her bodice.
 The act seemed to rouse Danglar to the last pitch of fury. The blood rushed in an angry tide to-his face, and, suffusing, purpied his cheeks.
 This isn't the first crack you've maden he flung out hoarsely. You've been getting wise to a whole lot lately somehow, you and that dude pal of yours, but you'll pay for it, you female devilI Understand By God, you'll pay for it! l promise you that you'll pray yet on your pended knees for the chance to take your own life, Do you hear?"
 ''I hear" said Rhoda Gray cold1y.
 She picked up the jack-knife from the table, and keeping both men covered, stepped backward to the wall. Here, kneeling, she reached behind her with her left hand, and felt for, and cut the heavy cord that bound tha Sparrow's arms; then, pushing the knife into the Sparrow's I.s, from the rest of his bonds, she stood up again
 A moment more, and the Sparrow, rubbing the circulation back intt his wrists, stood beside her. There was a look on the young, white face that was not good to see. He circled dry lips with the tip of his tongue. and then his thumb began to feel over the blade of the big jack-knife in a sort of horribly supercritical appraisal of its edge. He spoke tl1tckly for the gag that had been in his mouth.
 You dirty skatesi" he whispered. 1 You were going to pump me off, l were you? You planted me cold, did l you? Oh, hell!" His laugh. like the I laugh of one insane, dangling, dis l cordant rang through the room. | body was coiling itself in a slow, cur ious, almost snake-1ike fashion, "and you'll"
 Rhoda Gray laid her hand on the l Sparrow's arm.
 Not that way Marty" she said l quietly. She smiled thinly at Dam glar, who, with genuinely frightened l eyes now, seemed fascinated by the | Sparrows movements. 'I wouldn't l care to have anything happen to MT. | Danglar-yet He has been invalu- a ble to me, and I am sure he will be again"
 The Sparrow brushed his hands across his eyes, and stared at her. He | licked his lips again. He appeared i in his hand-dazed in strange way | to all else.
 There's enough cord there for | both of them,' said Rhoda Gray l crisp1y. ''Tie them in their chairs | Marty"
 For a moment the Sparrow hes I itated; and then, with a sort of queer | reluctancy, he dropped the knife on l the table and went and picked up
 No one spoke. The Sparrow, with | twitching lips as he worked, and 1 worked not gently. bound first Dang | lar and tf.en Skeeny to their respec- | tive chars. Skeeny for the most | part kept his eyes on the floor, east ing only furt1Fe glanceS at Rhoda Gray's revolver muzzIe. But Dang lar was smiling now. He had very white teeth. There was something of ] primal, insensate fury in the hard | drawn parted lips. Somehow he seemed to remind Rhoda Gray of a beast, stung to madness, but impo- tent behind the bars of its cage, as it showed its fangs.
 wen ago now. Marty she said softly, as~ the Sparrow finished.
 She motioned the Sparrow with an imperious little nod of her head to the door. And then, following the other, she backed to the door her self, and halted an instant~ on the threshold.
 'It has been a very profitable eve ming, MT. Danglar," she said coolly- ''I have you to thank for it. When your friends come, which I think I heard you say would be in another