-two of them--not only on the stairs,
but already just outside the door. It seemed as though a deadly fear,
cold and numbing, settled upon her and robbed her of even the power of
movement. She was caught! If it was Pinkie Bonn and the Pug, and if this
corner hid the secret panel as she still believed it did, this was
the first place to which they would come, and they would find her here
amongst the clothing--which had evidently been the cause of deadening
any sound on those stairs out there until it was too late.

She held her breath, her hands tight upon her bosom. There was no time
to reach the sanctuary of the other room--the footsteps were already
crossing the threshold from the head of the stairs. And then a voice
reached her--the Pug's. It was the Pug and Pinkie Bonn.

"Strike a light, Pinkie! Dere's no use messin' around wid a flash. De
old geezer'll be back on de hop de minute he finds out he's been bunked,
an' de quicker we work de better."

A match crackled into flame. An air-choked gas jet, with a protesting
hiss, was lighted. And then Rhoda Gray's drawn face relaxed a little,
and a strange, mirthless smile came hovering over her lips. What was she
afraid of? The Pug was the Adventurer, wasn't he? This was one of the
occasions when he could not escape the entanglements of the gang, and
must work for the gang instead of appropriating all the loot for his own
personal and nefarious ends; but he was the Adventurer. The White Moll
need not fear him, even though he appeared, linked with Pinkie Bonn, in
the role of the Pug! So there was only Pinkie Bonn to fear.

Rhoda Gray took her revolver from her pocket. She was well armed--and
in more than a material sense. The Adventurer did not know that she was
aware of the Pug's identity. Her smile, still mirthless, deepened.
She might even turn the tables upon them, and still secure the stolen
stones. She had turned the tables upon Pinkie Bonn last night; to-night,
if she used her wits, she could do it again!

And then, suddenly, she stifled an exclamation, as the Pug's voice
reached her again:

"Wot are youse gapin' about? Dere ain't anything else worth pinchin'
around here except wot's in de old gent's safety vault. Get a move on!
We ain't got all night! It's de corner behind de washstand. Give us a
hand to move de furniture!"

It wasn't here behind the cretonne hanging! Rhoda Gray bit her lips in
a crestfallen little way. Well, her supposition had been natural e