Page:Arthur Stringer - Gun Runner.djvu/257

 Then he gave a gasp of relief, and fell back, slowly drawing himself upright as he retreated. He had recovered the revolver. He was armed again; he was once more able to face the situation. All he wanted now was to get the woman out of the way, out of the cabin, if possible. It was not going to be the sort of thing she should face. It was too late for half-measures. He had been subjected to too much; he had gone through too much. There could be no possibilities of further compromise. He felt, dimly, that it would be horrible; and yet he felt that it had to be. It was the inevitable and final movement toward which all others had centred.

He backed toward the door until his groping hand came in contact with its knob. Then he caught at the girl's arm, and half-pushed, half-dragged her toward the threshold, with a whispered "Quick!"

He never knew whether she mistook him for Ganley. or whether she had determined to remain in the wireless room, even against his wishes. But she did not go; she only drew closer in to the wall as he swung the door open for her.

It was at that moment that Ganley must have caught some dim silhouette of his figure against the less opaque blackness of the open deck. For, as the door circled back on its hinges,