Page:Arthur Stringer - Gun Runner.djvu/189

 It was the watching and motionless woman who finally emitted a little gasp in which anger seemed to override astonishment. Her companion was startled by the look of bewilderment, mounting almost to open distrust, that crept slowly over her face. There seemed to be something akin to pitying contempt in her eyes as she slowly turned about and gazed at him.

"What does this mean?" she demanded.

"Does what mean?" he parried, disturbed by the hostility of her gaze.

"The way you have played into Ganley's hand—the way you have sacrificed everything for your own safety!"

"But nothing has been sacrificed," persisted the unhappy McKinnon.

"I have been sacrificed—you have watched him humiliate me—you have helped him to humiliate me!"

"It was hard to bear, I know. But it could not be helped. It's a part of the price we have to pay for our victory. It's a part I would have borne myself, a thousand times over, if I'd only been able."

"The price for what victory?" she demanded.

"The victory we wanted; the thing we've been working for, all along. It's settled—and he doesn't even understand it's settled!"