ople. Wasn't there any--She caught her breath. Yes, yes! Perhaps
there was a way to save the money; yes, and at the same time to place
herself on a firmer footing of intimacy with these two men here--if she
went on with this. But--She shook her head. She could not afford "buts"
now; they must take care of themselves afterwards. She would play Gypsy
Nan now without reservation. These two men here, like Shluker, were
obviously ignorant that Gypsy Nan was Danglar's wife; so she was--Pinkie
Bonn's hand was on her arm. She had stumbled.

"Look out for yourself!" he cautioned under his breath. "Don't make a
sound!"

They had drawn into a very dark and narrow area way between two
buildings, and now Pinkie kept his touch upon her as he led the way
along. What was this "Charlie's"? She did not know, except that,
from what had been said, it was a drug dive of some kind, patronized
extensively by the denizens of the underworld. She did not know where
she was now, save that she had suddenly left one of the out-of-the--way
East Side streets.

Pinkie halted suddenly, and, bending down, lifted up what was evidently
a half section of the folding trapdoor to a cellar entrance.

"There's only a few of us regulars wise to this," whispered Pinkie.
"Watch yourself! There's five steps. Count 'em, so's you won't trip.
Keep hold of me all the way. An' nix on the noise, or we won't get away
with it inside. Leave the trap open, Pug, for our getaway. We ain't
goin' to be long. Come on!"

It was horribly dark. Rhoda Gray, with her hand on Pinkie Bonn's
shoulder, descended the five steps. She felt the Pug keeping touch
behind by holding the corner of her shawl. They went forward softly,
slowly, stealthily. She felt her knees shake a little, and suddenly
panic seized her, and she wanted to scream out. What was she doing?
Where was she going? Was she mad, that she had ventured into this trap
of blackness? Blackness! It was hideously black. She looked behind her.
She could not see the Pug, close as he was to her; and dark as she had
thought it outside there at the cellar entrance, it appeared by contrast
to have been light, for she could even distinguish now the opening
through which they had come.

They were in a cellar that was damp underfoot, and the soft earth
deadened all sound as they walked upon it--and they seemed to be walking
on interminably. It was too far--much too far! She felt her nerve
failing her. She looked behind her again. Th