The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-03-22
''THE WHITE MOLL"
 FRANK L. PACKARD Appearing every day in serial form in the Magazine Section of The Times
FRANK l.. PACKARD

| 'Is that'sh so!" The young mans l tones expressed a fuddled defiance. 1 He rocked on his feet. and stared from one to the other. Shay. is l that'sh so. You will-eh? Gotta show me. How do I know you're l jaic-off1cer? Eh? More likely damned thief yourselfi I|'' The young man lurched suddenly and violently forward, breaking Rough Rorke's grip on Rhoda Gray and. as his arms swept out to grasp at the detective in an apparently wild effort to preserve his balance. Rhoda Gray felt a quick, significant push upon her shoulder.
 For the space of time it takes a watch to tick she stood startled and
 amazed, and then, like a flash, she
 was speeding down the street. A roar of rage. a burst of unbridled
 profanity went up from Rough Rorke
 behind her; it was mingled with
 equally angry vituperation in the
 young mans voice. She looked be-
 hind her. The two men were sway
 ing around crazily in each others
 arms. She ran on-faster than she
 had ever run in her life. The cor
 ner was not far ahead. Her brain
 was working with lightning speed
 Gypsy Nan's house was just around
 the~ corner. If she could get out of sjght-hide-it would
 She glanced behind her again, as her ears caught the pound of racing
 feet. The young men was sitting in
 the middle of the sidewalk, shaking
 his fist; Rough Rorke. perhaps a bare
 50 yards away, was chasing her at
 top speed.
 Her face set hard. She could not
 out-run a man! There was only one
 hope for her-just one-to gain Gyp- sy' Nan's doorway before Rorke got around the corner
 A yard--another-st anotherl She swerved around the corner. And,
 of the detective. The man was near
 er-much nearer. But it was only
 a little way, just a little way, to
 Gypsy Nan's-not so far the dis tance between her and Rorke-and- and if the man didn't gain too fast
 then-then@- A little. cry of dis may came with a new and terrifying thought Quite apart from Rorke. some one else might see her enter Gypsy Mans! She strained her eyes in all directions as she ran. There wasn't any one-she didn't see any one-only Rorke. around the corner there. was bawling out at the top of his voice. and-and--
 She flung herself against Gypsy Mans door, stumbled in. and. closing it, heard Rorke just swinging around the corner. Had he seen her? She didn't know.
 She was panting. gasping for her breath It seemed as though her lungs would burst She held her hand tightly to her bosom as she he Tai tr1't make any noice-they mustn't hear her breathing like that-they-they hear her going up the stairs. 1
 How dark it was! If she could 1 only see-so that she would be sure not to stumble! She couldn't go fast 1 would make a noise if she l did. Stair after stair she climbed 1 Perhaps sha was safe ! now-it had taken her a long time l to get up here to the second floor, l and there wasn't anay sound yet from i the street below.
 And now she mounted the short l ladder-like steps to the attic, and, 1 feeling with her hand for the crack l in the flooring under the partition, l reached In for the key. As her fling CTS closed upon it. she choked back 1 a cry. Some one had been here. A 1 piece of paper was wrapped around i the key. What did it mean? What 1 did all these strange. yes, sinister, | things that had happened tonight 1 mean? How had Rorke known 1 that a robbery was to be committed l at Skarbolov's? Who was that man | who had effected her escape. and who, 1 she knew now. was no more drunk l than she was? Fast. quick. piling | one upon the other, the questions rac- | ed through her mind
 She fought them back There was 1 no time for speculation now, There 1 was only one question that matter ed: Was she safe?
 She stood up. thrust the paper for | into her bosom, and un- | locked the door. Tiff R,orke did not | know that she had entered this house | here, she could remain hidden for a | few hours; it would give her time | to think, and !
 It came this time. no strength of | will would hold it back, a little moan. ! The front door below had opened. ! 3. heavy footstep sounded in the Sower l hail. She couldn't see, of course. l But she new. It was Rorke: She 1 heard him coming up the stairs.
 And then. in a flash it seemed. l her brain responded to ? .spairing ! ,ry. There was still "a des- ] perate one-but still & WS1-if there was timel She darted inside the | garrett locked the door. found the | and candle, and running si- | ently to the rear wall, pushed up | he board in the ceiling. In frantic | haste she tore off her outer garments | her stockings and shoes, pulled on l tne rough stockings and coarse boots ! that Gypsy Nan had worn, slipped the others greasy, threadbare skirt over | her head and pinned the shawl tight | about her shoulders There was ! pig, voluminous pocket in the skirt. | and into this she dropped Gypsy | Mans revolver, and the paper she | had found wrapped around the key |
 She could hear a commotion from below now. It was the one thing | she had counted upon Rough Rorke | might know she had entered the | house. but he could not know where | I bouts in the house she was, and he | would naturally search each room as | n he She I