Cloran's the man who has been working his head
off for two years to find you. We've tried a dozen times to bump him
off in a way that would make his death appear to be due purely to an
accident, and we didn't get away with it; but we can afford to leave the
'accident' out of it to-night, and go through for keeps--and that's what
we're going to do. And once he's out of the way--by midnight--you can
heave Gypsy Nan into the discard."

It seemed to Rhoda Gray that horror had suddenly taken a numbing hold
upon her sensibilities. Danglar was talking about murdering some man,
wasn't he, so that she could resume again the personality of a woman who
was dead? Hysterical laughter rose to her lips. It was only by a
frantic effort of will that she controlled herself. She seemed to speak
involuntarily, doubtful almost that it was her own voice she heard.

"I'm listening," she said; "but I wouldn't be too sure. Cloran's a wary
bird, and there's the White Moll."

She caught her breath. What suicidal inspiration had prompted her to say
that! Had what she had been listening to here, the horror of it, indeed
turned her brain and robbed her of her wits to the extent that she
should invite exposure? Danglar's face had gone a mottled purple; the
misshapen thing at Danglar's side was leering at her most curiously.

It was a moment before Danglar spoke; and then his hand, clenched until
the white of the knuckles showed, pounded upon the table to punctuate
his words.

"Not to-night!" he rasped out with an oath. "There's not a chance that
she's in on this to-night--the she-devil! But she's next! With this
cleaned up, she's next! If it takes the last dollar of to-night's haul,
and five years to do it, I'll get her, and get--"

"Sure!" mumbled Rhoda Gray hurriedly. "But you needn't get excited!
I was only thinking of her because she's queered us till I've got my
fingers crossed, that's all. Go on about Cloran."

Danglar's composure did not return on the instant. He gnawed at his lips
for a moment before he spoke.

"All right!" he jerked out finally. "Let it go at that! I told you the
other night in the garret that things were beginning to break our way,
and that you wouldn't have to stay there much longer, but I didn't tell
you how or why--you wouldn't give me a chance. I'll tell you now; and
it's the main reason why I've kept away from you lately. I couldn't
take a chance of Cloran getting wise to that garret and Gypsy Nan." He
grinned