The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-03-10
Chapter s1
THE SAFE IN THE WALL

THE SAFE IN THE WALL
 The rays of Enid's flashlight re- vealed the rich interior of the large room. It was stamped with the mark of luxury. The walls were in dark, panelled wood.
 Opposite the door she noticed what was obviously a window re- cess hidden by heavy portieres closely drawn. A magnificent ori- entaI rug covered the floor, deep leather cushioned armchairs were everywhere.
 There were a number of book cases; but one, the one at the front end of the room, extended from wall to wall There was nc mistaking it. The code message had specified the large" bookcase
 Panel behind books. top, left she whispered to herself.
 "Top," of course, meant the up- per shelf; and left would natural ly be to ones left-hand side as one entered the room, which in this case was the side nearer the door and opposite the window
 She stepped quickly over to the bookcase. She could just com fortably reach the top shelf, and working with one hand while the other held the flash light, she be- ran to pull down the books and lay them on the floor,
 The wall behind came into view She quietly removed the book fem several shelves.
 Yes, she could see the pannellinl now, but it seemed to be perfectly solid.
 Press lower edge'-she was re- rcating under her breath the in- structions contained in the code translation.
 She ran her hand accordingly across the width of the panel press ing upon it firmly. There was q faint click, and a section of the panel sprang out from the wall.
 She was tense now, breathing more rapidly than ever, keyed up to the highest pitch. Here was the wall safe, its nickel knob and dial glistening under the flash lights rayl t
 But she would have to stand on tiptoe now, and reach in beyond the shelf in order to work the combination. That would be awk- ward unless she could steady her self little with one hand But the flash lighti She would have to see. of course Yes, she had 1t! That was easily fixed! She reached for another book, laid it flat down on the shelf and propped the flash light against it.
 One right, then 19'-he lips were forming the words breathlessly soundlessly. "One right" The dial spun with a musical little tinkle NOW to 19" No-sshe had gone past it. Her fingers were trernb ling. She would have to begin over again.
 "One right, then"
 She whirled, suddenly startled, away from the safe. Her elbow struck the flash light. The flash light fell on the floor rug with a dull thud.
 She seemed to have stopped breathing. What was it? Imagina- ton? Prayed nerves? She thought she had heard sound like-like the faint creak of a boot sole per- haps, as though someone in the room had suddenly shifted position; but it had been so low and indis- tinct that she could not be sure of it.
 A second passed Certainly there was no sound now except the thun- derous beating of her own heart nothing except the
 Her eyes widened and grew dark with fear. It seemed as though every drop of blood in her veins had become suddenly frozen.
 Someone was herel
 The flash light had not gone out when it had fallen, and its beam, flooding along the floor, was now focused on the lower edge of the velvet portieres that hung in front of the window recess-and just un- der one of the portieres was the toe of mans shoel
 She was caught Quick Had she any wits at all? Was there any way out? Her brain was racing Yes, there was a way-or at least a chance. It was only a few steps to the door. and there was a Key on the inside of the lock. 2 Muttering purposely, hoarsely, as . though enraged at her own care lsssness she stopped, picked up the flaslm Eight and propped it against the book again on the shelf-its ray once more fell upon the nickel dial of the safe And then. in a flash. she turned and her steps sodndless on the