登陆注册
5189800000080

第80章

The door, on its well-oiled hinges, swung wide open.Jimmie Dale thrust out his head into the hall--and something fell upon the threshold with a little thud--but for a moment Jimmie Dale did not move.Listening, trying to pierce the darkness, he was as still as the silence around him; then he stooped and groped along the threshold.His hand closed upon what seemed like a small box wrapped in paper.He picked it up, closed and locked the door again, and retreated back across the room.It was strange--unpleasantly strange--a box propped stealthily against the door so that it would fall to the threshold when the door was opened! And why the stealth? What did it mean? Had the underworld with its thousand eyes and ears already succeeded in a few days where the police had failed signally for years--had they sent him this, whatever it was, as some grim token that they had run Larry the Bat to earth? He shook his head.No; gangland struck more swiftly, with less finesse than that--the "cat-and-mouse" act was never one it favoured, for the mouse had been known to get away.

Jimmie Dale lighted the gas again, and turned the package over in his hands.It was, as he had surmised, a small cardboard box; and it was wrapped in plain paper and tied with a string.He untied the string, and still suspicious, as a man is suspicious in the knowledge that he is stalked by peril at every turn, removed the wrapper a little gingerly.It was still without sign or marking upon it, just an ordinary cardboard box.He lifted off the cover, and, with a short, sudden laugh, stared, a little out of countenance, at the contents.

On the top lay a white, unaddressed envelope.HERS! Beneath--he emptied the box on the table--his black silk mask, his automatic revolver, the kit of fine, small blued-steel burglar's tools, his pocket flashlight, and the thin metal insignia case.The Tocsin!

Impulsively Jimmie Dale turned toward the door--and stopped.His shoulders lifted in a shrug that, meant to be philosophical, was far from philosophical.He could not, dared not venture far through the tenement dressed as he was; and even if he could there were three exits to the Sanctuary, a fact that now for the first time was not wholly a source of unmixed satisfaction to him; and besides--she was gone!

Jimmie Dale opened the letter, a grim smile playing on his lips.He had forgotten for the moment that the illusion he had cherished for years in the belief that she did not know Larry the Bat as an alias of Jimmie Dale was no more than--an illusion.Well, it had been a piece of consummate egotism on his part, that was all.But, after all, what did it matter? He had had his innings, tried in the role of Larry the Bat to solve her identity, devoted weeks on end to the attempt--and failed.Some day, perhaps, his turn would come; some day, perhaps, she would no longer be able to elude him, unless--the letter crackled suddenly in his fingers--unless the house that they had built on such strange and perilous foundations crashed at some moment, without an instant's warning, in disaster and ruin to the ground.Who knew but that this letter now, another call to the Gray Seal to act, another peril invited, would be the LAST? There must be an end some day; luck and nerve had their limitations--it had almost ended last week!

"Dear Philanthropic Crook"--it was the same inevitable beginning.

"You are well enough again, aren't you, Jimmie?--I am sending these little things back to you, for you will need them to-night."--Jimmie Dale read on, muttering snatches of the letter aloud: "Michael Breen prospecting in Alaska--map of location of rich mining claim--Hamvert, his former partner, had previously fleeced him of fifteen thousand dollars--his share of a deal together--Breen was always a very poor man--Breen later struck a claim alone; but, taking sick, came back home--died on arrival in New York after giving map to his wife--wife in very needy circumstances--lives with little daughter of seven in New Rochelle--works out by the day at Henry Mittel's house on the Sound near-by--wife intrusted map for safe-keeping and advice to Mittel--Hamvert after map--telephone wires cut--room one hundred and forty-eight, corner, right, first floor, Palais-Metropole Hotel, unoccupied--connecting doors--quarter past nine to-night--the Weasel--Mittel's house later--the police--look out for both the Weasel and the police, Jimmie--"There was more, several pages of it, explanations, specific details down to a minute description of the locality and plan of the house on the Sound.Jimmie Dale, too intent now to mutter, read on silently.At the end he shuffled the sheets a little abstractedly, as his face hardened.Then his fingers began to tear the letter into little shreds, tearing it over and over again, tearing the shreds into tiny particles.He had not been far wrong.From what the night promised now, this might well be the last letter.Who knew? There would be need of all the wit and luck and nerve to-night that the Gray Seal had ever had before.

With a jerk, Jimmie Dale roused himself from the momentary reverie into which he had fallen; and, all action now, stuffed the torn pieces of the letter into his trousers pocket to be disposed of later in the street; took off the old coat and slouch hat again, and resumed the disposal of Larry the Bat's effects under the flooring.

This accomplished, he replaced the planking and oilcloth, stood up, put on his dress coat and light overcoat, and, from the table, stowed the black silk mask, the automatic, the little kit of tools, the flashlight, and the thin metal case away in his pockets.

同类推荐
  • 上清九丹上化胎精中记经

    上清九丹上化胎精中记经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说八吉祥经

    佛说八吉祥经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 逢遇篇

    逢遇篇

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 碧霞元君护国庇民普济保生妙经

    碧霞元君护国庇民普济保生妙经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 近代词人逸事

    近代词人逸事

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 许三观卖血记(第3版)

    许三观卖血记(第3版)

    本书在国内外引起了巨大轰动!小说以博大的温情描绘了磨难中的人生,以激烈的故事形式表达了人在面对厄运时求生的欲望。讲述了许三观靠着卖血渡过了人生的一个个难关,战胜了命运强加给他的惊涛骇浪,而当他老了,知道自己的血再也没有人要时,他哭了。法国《读书》杂志在评论《许三观卖血记》时说道:这是一部精妙绝伦的小说,是朴实简洁和内涵意蕴深远的完美结合。本书获美国巴恩斯-诺贝尔新发现图书奖,入选中国百位批评家和文学编辑评选的“20世纪90年代最有影响的10部作品”。
  • 武侠世界轮回者

    武侠世界轮回者

    一个平凡少年,行走在武侠世界,最终成为超凡强者的故事。QQ书友群:718842709
  • 闺蜜(中篇小说)

    闺蜜(中篇小说)

    她本来要问你昨晚到哪里去了,那么晚才回来?结果口腔里却跑出来:你昨天是不是和小三在一起?他牵着女儿下楼梯。楼梯有点窄,还是不锈钢的,踏板不干时,就稍稍有点滑。当初对复式楼装修时就没考虑这么多。小时候,女儿在楼梯上滑倒过几次,长了记性,只要爸爸在家,一定要爸爸牵手下楼。现在女儿已经十五岁了,都上高一了,依然要他牵。每次牵的时候他就会想,如果女儿一辈子要他牵,他也愿意。他和辰辰都不做声,司空见惯。
  • 翅膀被泪灼伤飞不回天堂

    翅膀被泪灼伤飞不回天堂

    道路依旧,承载着多少路人的足迹。然而,有人还依旧地我行我素,有人却不能再行走于其间,只留下曾经走过的印记,随着时间的推移变得模糊不清、难以辨认,不断地被新的脚印所覆盖。也许只有很少的人会记得,他曾经在此处留过成长的足迹。每个人都是自私的包括你也包括我,我知道自己与大爱无疆是贴不上边的,所以每当触及‘爱’这个字眼,每当触及关于他关于我那些大城小爱的故事,心总是痛到痉挛。有人说愿意说出来或愿意写出来的东西都是想忘掉的东西!而真正不想忘也无法忘记的东西是永远藏在心底的。所以我想我是愿意忘记你的,也许我真的是不够爱你。。。。。。‘开心对对吧’群号:120985218
  • 韩娱之炽爱

    韩娱之炽爱

    2014年的夏天,李珂遇见金孝渊,开启了他们俩疯狂的炽爱之旅
  • 穿越之寻到红楼去爱你

    穿越之寻到红楼去爱你

    他叫水溶,一个让人无比郁闷的名字,只因为老爹是超级红楼迷。抗议多次无效,只能认命,却不曾想这个名字却是开启他命运的钥匙。什么?那个从天而降的女子居然就是袅娜的林家黛玉!与他相伴一生的佳侣?等等!书中的林黛玉不是与贾宝玉情投意合吗?怎么会.~"砰!”一声枪响,黛玉如同风中花瓣一般飘落在他怀中。“不!”水溶绝望地嘶喊着,痛苦不可言状!老天既然要自己爱上黛玉,为何要还要这般残忍的将她带走!“我要回去了.记得.我.”黛玉眼睛合上的一瞬,水溶的心崩溃了.~这就是红楼的世界吗?那个该死的北静王爷居然是皇上的情敌!还好自己聪明,轻易摆脱!玉儿!为何你从没告诉我本该锦衣玉食的你竟然如此凄凉;为何你从没告诉我天杀的贾家不止谋了钱财,还要谋人!玉儿!从今以后,定不再让你受得丝毫委屈,为了你,我寻到红楼!--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------推荐宛颐新文《红楼之碧水盈玉》无穿越,无玄幻,单纯的一篇红楼同人,白水般淡淡的感觉。水玉一直是主角,这次也不例外。一张地图,牵出了野心,三分天下,鹿死谁手?慈爱的祖母为何渐行渐远,亲情的温暖如何竟昙花一现,骨肉血亲抵不过万丈权柄谋算,最初的呵护已淡淡消散。只,那一双眼眸为何还会在梦中出现?沉静的心波澜不宁,却是心头萦绕已久不曾?原以为自此陌路,不料却再次相见…宫廷深深深几许,调包计,调进的是谁?成全了谁?兜兜转转,真真假假,水玉缘自有天定…-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------宛颐的第一部红楼作品《穿越之溶心傲玉》欢迎大家去踩踩~~~~~
  • Notes on Life and Letters

    Notes on Life and Letters

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 名山诗话

    名山诗话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 邪肆狼君

    邪肆狼君

    他勒住马在她面前踱步一双绿莹莹、明亮的眸子如黑夜魅惑人心的鬼火——诡异而神秘传说他是母狼所生,嗜血残暴传说他养着无数恶魔,残害生灵无数传说他宠溺妖妃,妄杀忠良……“这就是假死,躲避进宫服侍本王的女人?”他紧抿的唇角扯出残佞的笑容寒山蚕丝特制的马鞭夹杂着芦花,抽打到她背上,让她腾然下跪,破碎的衣衫随着芦花在风中飘荡晶莹雪白的肌肤……渗出耀眼鲜红的血珠……暧昧的伸出舌头,众人面前,他舔舐她伤口上的鲜血——眯起阴鸷的绿眸,随即启唇:“这个女人,从此是为本王暖床的奴隶,我要让她地下的父亲看到,他的女儿如何在朕的身下夜夜承欢发出让人羞愧的呐喊……”连续不断的侍寝,整夜不寐的索取……后宫残忍的争斗……妃嫔无端的陷害……还有传说中惨绝人寰的妖妃……让她疲惫让她心伤……何去何从?无语问苍天……*一具诡异的干尸,一次离奇的厄运,一段悱恻的缠绵…荡气回肠的爱情…缠绵疯狂的欲望…让她茫然、徘徊在不同男人之间…*“采苹…采苹…”他喘息着,深情的双眸倒映出她的模样…感谢亲i萌恋给做的视频,若有兴趣可以去瞅瞅,其中有一幅鄯烨的图片,很棒哦
  • 神涅

    神涅

    这些年来,随着时间的流逝,那些曾经和他很是要好的朋友,也都一个个的渐渐和他疏远,而唯独自己身前的这个大哥,依旧是一如既往的关心他,鼓励他。孱弱少年意志坚,孤身勇斗神魔劫,掌万物生机,控天地火焰……