The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-04-19
Continued from Yesterday

wants you at once. That's what the
 message was for. I thought you were
 out. and I left it in the usual place
 so you'd get it the minute you got
 back and come along over. So, come
 on now with me-
 He was moving down the hallway
 blotching like some misshapen toad
 in the shadowy light, 1urching in his
 walk, that was, nevertheless, almost
 uncannMy noiseless. Mechanically
 she followed him. She was trying
 to think; striving frantically to bring
 her wits to play on this sudden and
 unexpected denouement. It was olb- vious that he was taking her to Dagn- lara She had striven desperately last night to run Danglar to earth in his lair. And here was self appointed guideI And yet her emo tions conflicted and her brain was confused. It was what she wanted, what through bitter travail of mind she had decided must be her course; but she found herself shrinking from it with dread and fear now that it promised to become a reality. It was not like last night when of her own initiative she had sought to track Danglar, for then she had started out with a certain freedom of action that held in reserve a freedom to retreat if it became necessary. Tonight it was as though she were deprived of that freedom, and being led into what only too easily might develop into a trap from which she could not retreat or escape.
 Suppose she refused to go?
 They had reached the street now, and now she obtained a better view of .thei mssahpen thing that lurched jerkily along beside her. The man was deformed, miserab1y deformed. He walked most curiously half bent over; and one arm, the left, seemed to swing helplessly, and the left hand was like withered thing. Her eyes sought the others facee. It was an old face. much older than Danglar's. and it was white and pinched and drawn; and in the dark eyes, as they sudd enIy darted a glance at her, she read a suIlen, bitter breeding and discontent She turned her head away It was not a pleasant face; 1t struck her as being both morbid and cruel to a degree
 Supposed she refused to go?
 What did you mean by after to- night? 9" she asked again.
 You'll sec" he answered. ''Pierre'1l tell you. You're in luck, that's all The whole thing that has kept you under cover has bust wide open your way, and you win. And Pierre's go- ing through for a cleanup. Tomor- row you can swell around in a linn- cuisine again. And maybe you'll come around and take me for @ drive, if I dress up, and promise to hide in a corner of theb ack seat sos they won't see your handsome friend!"
 The creature flung a bitter smile at her. and lurched on-
 He had told her what she wanted to know-more than she had hoped for The mystery that surrounded the character Of Gypsy Nan, the evil dence of the crime at which the woman who had originated that role had hinted on the night she died, and which must necessarily involve Dang lar. was 'hers. Rhoda Gray's, now for the taking. As well go and give herself up to thep office as the White Moll and have done with it all, as to refuse to seize the opportunity which fate. evidently in a kindlier mood to- ward her now, was offering her at this instant. It promised her the force an avowal of her own innocence, the very hold that she had but a few minutes before been hoping she could obtain through the Adventurer.
 There was. no longer any question as to whether she would go or not.
 Her hand groped down under the shabby black shawl into the wide. voluminous pocket of her greasy skirt. Yes, her revolver was there. She knew it was there, but the touch of her fingers upon it seemed to bring a sense Of reassurance. She was perhaps stalking her all in ac- companying this cripple here tonight -she did not need to be told that but there was a way of escape at the last if she were cornered and caught. Her fingers played with the weapon. If the worst came to the worst she would never be at Dang lars mercy while she possessed that revolver. and, if the need came, turn ed it upon herself.
 They walked on rapidly: the 1urch- ing figure beside her covering the ground at an astounding rate of speed. The man made no effort to talk. She was glad of it. She need not be so anxiously on her guard as would be the ease if a conversation were car ried on, and she, who knew so much and yet so pitifully little. must weigh her every word. and feel her way with every sentence.
 And besides, too, it gave her time to think. Where were they going2 What sort of a place was it, this head quarters Of the gang? For it must be the headquarters, since it was from there the code messa ges would naturally emanate, and this deformed creature. from what he had said, was the secretary of the nefratous clique that was ruled by his brother. And was luck really with her at last? Suppose she had been but a few minutes later in reaching Gypsy Mans house. and had found, instead Of this man here. only the note in- structing her to go and meet Dang lar. What would she have done? What explanation could she have made for her non-appearance? Her hands would have been tied. She would have been helpless. She could rot have answered the summons, for she could have had no idea where this gang-lair was; and the note cer- tatnly would not. contain such de- tails as street and number, which she was obviously supposed to know. She smiled a little grimly to herself. Yes. it seemed as though fortune