oundish 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."

Elsie clutched him, in renewed panic.

"But I'm afraid! I don't want you to leave me, Jack. You'll never, never
come back! I want to go along, too. If you leave me, I'm awful afraid
Cochise'll catch me!"

"You dear little frightened Blossom! But I cannot take you now. You must
stay with Carmena. She will keep you up here, safe from Cochise. I will
come back--never fear. I will come back and take you away."

"Take me--away from Dead Hole? Oh, how wonderful! Mena says I came from
outside, where are all the book things and people--like you. I can't
remember, but I'll just love to go out and see the wide world with
you--and Mena--and Dad. Only Dad doesn't want to leave the Hole at all."

"You shall go with me out of this place," replied Lennon. "I will bring
the sheriff and have him arrest every member of this band of outlaws."

The rug curtains of the inner room flung apart. Carmena sprang out into
the passage. She drew her foster-sister away from Lennon with a grasp as
resolute as it was gentle.

"Go and start breakfast, Blossom," she directed. "The sooner they leave
the better."

Elsie darted to the doorway and disappeared. Lennon started after her.
He was checked by a low-spoken command from Carmena:

"Stop. I want a show-down from you, Jack Lennon. I heard what you said
about the sheriff. Good thing Slade wasn't in earshot. You'd have a
bullet in you by now. You may yet. What are you aiming to do?"

"You say you heard me," said Lennon. "I spoke clearly."

"Do you count Dad in the gang?"

"Don't you?"

In the brightening light of red dawn Lennon saw the girl's eyes cloud
with anguish. At sight of her grief and suffering a wave of compassion
surged up within him. The flood overwhelmed and submerged all his
prejudice against her.

He started to express his pity and sympathy--only to be checked before
the words could leave his lips. The girl's eyes were ablaze. Her mouth
straightened in resolute lines.

"All r