was　only　one　question　that　mattered：　Was　she　safe？
  She　stood　up；　thrust　the　paper　for　safe…keeping　into　her　bosom；　and
  unlocked　the　door。　　If　…　if　Rorke　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；　a　heavy　footstep　sounded　in
  the　lower　hall。　　She　couldn't　see；　of　course。　　But　she　knew。　　It　was
  Rorke！　　She　heard　him　coming　up　the　stairs。
  And　then；　in　a　flash；　it　seemed；　her　brain　responded　to　her
  despairing　cry。　　There　was　still　a　way　…　a　desperate　one　…　but　still
  a　way　…　if　there　was　time！　　She　darted　inside　the　garret；　locked　the
  door；　found　the　matches　and　candle；　and；　running　silently　to　the　rear
  wall；　pushed　up　the　board　in　the　ceiling。　　In　frantic　haste　she　tore
  off　her　outer　garments；　her　stockings　and　shoes；　pulled　on　the　rough
  stockings　and　coarse　boots　that　Gypsy　Nan　had　worn；　slipped　the　other's
  greasy；　threadbare　skirt　over　her　head；　and　pinned　the　shawl　tight
  about　her　shoulders。　　There　was　a　big；　voluminous　pocket　in　the　skirt；
  and　into　this　she　dropped　Gypsy　Nan's　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　whereabouts　in　the　house　she　was；　and　he　would
  naturally　search　each　room　as　he　came　to　it　on　the　way　up。　　She　fitted
  the　gray…streaked　wig　of　tangled；　matted　hair　upon　her　head；　plunged
  her　hand　into　the　box　that　Gypsy　Nan　used　for　her　make…up　and　daubed
  some　of　the　grime　upon　both　hands　and　face；　adjusted　the　spectacles
  upon　her　nose；　hid　her　own　clothing；　closed　the　narrow　trap…door　in
  the　ceiling；　and　ran　back；　carrying　the　candle；　to　the　washstand。
  Here；　there　was　a　small　and　battered　mirror；　and　more　coolly；　more
  leisurely　now；　for　the　commotion　still　continued　from　the　floor　below；
  she　spread　and　rubbed　in；　as　craftily　as　she　could；　the　grime　streaks
  on　her　face　and　hands。　　It　was　neither　artistic　nor　perfect；　but　in
  the　meager；　flickering　light　now　the　face　of　Gypsy　Nan　seemed　to
  stare　reassuringly　back　at　her。　　It　might　not　deceive　any　one　in
  daylight　…　she　did　not　know；　and　it　did　not　matter　now　…　but　with　only
  this　candle　to　light　the　garret；　since　the　lamp　was　empty；　she　could
  fairly　count　on　her　identity　not　being　questioned。
  She　blew　out　the　candle；　left　it　on　the　washstand；　because；　if　she
  could　help　it；　she　did　not　want　to　risk　having　it　lighted　near　the
  bed　or　door；　and；　tiptoeing　now；　went　to　the　door；　unlocked　it；　then
  threw　herself　down　upon　the　bed。
  Possibly　a　minute　went　by；　possibly　two；　and　then　there　was　a　quick
  step　on　the　ladder…like　stairs；　the　door　handle　was　rattled　violently；
  and　the　door　was　flung　open　and　slammed　shut　again。
  Rhoda　Gray　sat　upright　on　the　bed。　　It　was　her　wits　now；　her　wits
  against　Rough　Rorke's；　nothing　else　could　save　her。　　She　could　not
  even　make　out　the　man's　form；　it　was　so　dark；　but；　as　he　had　not
  moved；　she　was　quite　well　aware　that　he　was　standing　with　his　back
  to　the　door；　evidently　trying　to　place　his　surroundings。
  It　was　Gypsy　Nan；　not　Rhoda　Gray；　who　spoke。
  〃Who's　dere？〃　she　screeched。　　〃D'ye　hear；　blast　youse；　who's　dere？〃
  Rough　Rorke　laughed　gratingly。
  〃That　you；　Nan；　my　dear？〃
  〃Who　d'youse　t'ink　it　is…me　gran'mother？〃　demanded　Rhoda　Gray
  caustically。　　〃Who　are　youse？〃
  〃Rorke；〃　said　Rorke　shortly。　　〃I　guess　you　know；　don't　you？〃
  〃Is　dat　so？〃　snorted　Rhoda　Gray。　　〃Well　den；　youse　can　beat　it　…　hop
  it　…　on　de　jump！　　Wot　t'hell　right　have　youse　got　bustin'　into　me
  room　at　dis　time　of　night　…　eh？　　I　ain't　done　nothin'！〃
  Rough　Rorke；　his　feet　scuffling　to　feel　the　way；　came　forward。
  〃Cut　it　out！〃　he　snarled。　　〃I　ain't　the　only　visitor　you've　got！
  It's　not　you　I　want；　it's　the　White　Moll。〃
  〃Wot's　dat　got　to　do　wid　me？〃　Rhoda　Gray　flung　back　hotly。　　〃She
  ain't　here；　is　she？〃
  〃Yes；　she's　here！〃　Rough　Rorke's　voice　held　an　ugly　menace。　　〃I　lost
  her　around　the　corner；　but　a　woman　from　a　window　across　the　street；
  who　heard　the　row；　saw　her　run　into　this　house。　　She　ain't　downstairs
  …　so　you　can　figure　the　rest　out　the　same　way　I　do。〃
  〃De　woman　was　kiddin'　youse！〃　　Rhoda　Gray；　alias　Gypsy　Nan；　cackled
  derisively。　　〃Dere　ain't　nobody　here　but　me。〃
  〃We'll　see　about　that！〃　said　Rough　Rorke　shortly。　　〃Strike　a　light！〃
  〃Aw；　strike　it　yerself！〃　retorted　Rhoda　Gray。　　〃I　ain't　yer　servant！
  Dere's　a　candle　over　dere　on　de　washstand　against　de　wall；　if　youse
  wants　it。〃
  A　match　crackled　and　spurted　into　flame；　its　light　fell　upon　the
  lamp　standing　on　the　chair　beside　the　bed。　　Rough　Rorke　stepped
  toward　it。
  〃Dere　ain't　any　oil　in　dat；〃　croaked　Rhoda　Gray。　　〃Didn't　I　tell
  youse　de　candle　was　over　dere　on　de　washstand；　an'　…〃
  The　words　seemed　to　freeze　in　her　throat；　the　chair；　the　lamp；　the
  shadowy　figure　of　the　man　in　the　match　flame　to　swirl　before　her
  eyes；　and　a　sick　nausea　to　come　upon　her　soul　itself。　　With　a　short；
  triumphant　oath；　Rough　Rorke　had　stopped　suddenly　and　reached　in
  under　the　chair。　　And　now　he　was　dangling　a　new；　black　kid　glove　in
  front　of　her。　　Caught！　　Yes；　she　was　caught！　　She　remembered　Gypsy
  Nan's　attempt　to　put　on　her　gloves　…　one　must　have　fallen　to　the　floor
  unnoticed　by　either　of　them　when　Gypsy　Nan　had　thought　to　put　them
  in　her　pocket！　　The　man's　voice　came　to　her　as　from　some　great
  distance：
  〃So；　she　ain't　here　…　ain't　she！　　I'll　teach　you　to　lie　to　me！
  I'll　…〃　The　match　was　dying　out。　　Rorke　raised　it　higher；　and　with
  the　last　flicker　located　the　washstand；　and　made　toward　it；　obviously
  for　the　candle。
  Her　wits　against　Rough　Rorke's！　　Nothing　else　could　save　her！
  Failing　to　find　any　one　here　but　herself；　certain　now　that　the　White
  Moll　was　here；　only　a　fool　could　have　failed　in　his　deduction　…　and
  Rough　Rorke　was　not　a　fool。　　Her　wits　against　Rough　Rorke's！　　There
  was　the　time　left　her　while　the　garret　was　still　in　darkness；　just
  that；　no　more！
  With　a　quick　spring　she　leaped　from　the　bed；　seized　the　chair；
  sending　the　lamp　to　the　floor；　and；　dragging　the　chair　after　her　to
  make　as　much　noise　and　confusion　as　she　could；　she　rushed　for　the
  door；　screeching　at　the　top　of　her　voice：
  〃Run；　dearie；　run！　　Run！〃　　She　was　scuffling　with　her　feet；
  clattering　the　chair；　as　she　wrenched　the　door　open。　　And　then；　in
  her　own　voice：　〃Nan；　I　won't！　　I　won't　let　you　stand　for　this；　I　…〃
  Then　as　Gypsy　Nan　again：　〃Run；　dearie！　　Don't　youse　mind　old　Nan！〃
  She　banged　the　door　shut；　locked　it；　and　whipped　out　the　key。　　It　had
  taken　scarcely　a　second。　　She　was　still　screeching　at　the　top　of　her
  voice　to　cover　the　absence　of　flying　footers　on　the　stairs。　　〃Run；
  dearie；　run！　　Run！〃
  And　then；　in　the　darkness；　the　candle　still　unlighted；　Rough　Rorke
  was　on　her　like　a　madman。　　With　a　sweep　of　his　arm　he　sent　her
  crashing　to　the　floor；　and　wrenched　at　the　door。　　The　next　instant
  he　was　on　her　again。
  〃The　key！　　Give　me　that　key！〃　he　roared。
  For　answer　she　flung　it　from　her。　　It　fell　with　a　tinkle　on　the
  floor　at　the　far　end　of　the　garret。　　The　man　was　beside　himself
  with　rage。
  〃Damn　you；　if　I　had　time；　I'd　wring　your　neck　for　this；　you
  she…devil！〃　he　bawled…and　raced　back；　evidently　for　the　candle
  on　the　washstand。
  Rhoda　Gray；　sprawled　on　the　floor　where　he　had　thrown　her；　did　not
  move…except　to　take　the　revolver　from　the　pocket　of　her　dress。　　She
  was　crooning　queerly　to　herself；　as　she　watched　Rough　Rorke　light
  the　candle　and　grope　around　on　the　floor：
  〃She　was　good　to　me；　de　White　Moll　was。　　Jellies　an'　t'ings　she
  brought　me；　she　did。　　An'　Gypsy　Nan　don't　ferret。　　Gypsy　Nan　don't　…〃
  She　sat　up　suddenly；　snarling。　　Rorke　had　found　the　key；　left　the
  bottle　with　the　short　stub　of　guttering　candle　standing　on　the　floor；
  and　was　back　again。
  〃By　God！〃　he　gritted　through　his　teeth；　as　he　jabbed　the　key　with
  frantic　haste　into　the　lock。　　〃I'll　fix　you　for　this！〃　　He　made　a
  clutch　at　her　throat；　as　he　swung　the　door　open。
  She　jerked　herself　backward；　eluding　him；　her　revolver　leveled。
  〃Youse　keep　yer　dirty　paws　off　me！〃　she　screamed。　　〃Yah；　wot　can
  youse　do！　　Wot　do　I　care！　　She　was　good　to　me；　she　was；　an　…〃
  Rough　Rorke　was　gone…taking　the　stairs　three　and　four　at　a　time。
  Then　she　heard　the　street　door　slam。
  She　rose　slowly　to　her　feet　…　and　suddenly　reached　out；　grasping　at
  the　door　to　steady　herself。　　It　seemed　as　though　every　muscle　had
  gone　limp；　as　though　her　limbs　had　not　strength　to　support　her。
  And　for　a　moment　she　hung　there；　then　she　locked　the　door；　staggered
  back；　sank　down　on　the　edge　of　the　bed；　and；　with　her　chin　in　her
  hands；　stared　at　the　guttering　stub　of　candle。　　And　presently；　in
  an　almost　aimless；　mechanical　way；　she　felt　in　her　pocket　for　the
  piece　of　paper　that　she　had　found　wrapped　around　the　key；　and　drew
  it　out。　　There　were　three　figures　scrawled　upon　it　…　nothing　else。
  7　　　　　3　　　　　9
  She　dropped　her　chin　in　her　hands　again；　and　stared　again　at　the
  candle。　　And　after　a　while　the　candle　went　out。
  IV。　　THE　ADVENTURER
  Twen