CHAPTER XV
CROOKED WAYS
At gray dawn Elsie started to go out into the living room. Midway of the dusky passage her foot struck against a roundish object. She bent down to look. A dim form was lying in the passage, with feet against the chair that blocked the outer doorway.
The girl's half shriek brought Lennon up at a bound, his revolver out.
"Who's there?" he demanded.
"Oh—oh, Jack!" the girl sobbed her relief.
He clasped her to him protectingly.
"All right, sweetheart—all right," he said, soothingly. "You see I have been here on watch. Slade—— But that is past. I see light outside. He will soon be leaving with me."