The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-03-08
Chapter 30. THE WOMAN BURGLAR

 from a towering apartment house It was very narrow-so narrow that the only justification she could think of for it's existence was that it might perhaps furnish light and air to the rooms of the larger building. Thanks to the telephone directory, she had found Murk- mans house easily It was, as she had thought, just little west of Park avenue, and she was quite sure no one had seen her when, a moment ago, she had stepped into the areaway from the street.
 Now she moved silently along 1t, searching for the basement window. It was very dark. She was glad of that. Certainly no one passing by on the street could see her now Here and there above her were lighted windows in the apart ment house, but they did not dis pcl the lower shadows-and the Murkman house naturally was in blackness.
 Those lighted windows She halt ed suddenly and looked up at them. Suppose someone were watch ing from one of those windows Het lips frightened. Yes, she was afraid afraid of everything toright
 She had been afraid when she had left Martha Debbins' house and more afraid the moment she had entered this areaway.
 She stood for 2 full minute scan- ming the windows There was nc one at any of them.
 She went on again, hugging close up against the wall of the Murk. man mansion, but, so far as she could make out in the gloom. Il was not until she was near the extreme end of the sreaway that she came upon the basement win dow she was looking for-and then only to find herself peerihg down at it in sudden dismay. It was quite accessible because it's sill lay practically on the level with the areaway-but it was protected by an iron grill
 Perhaps this wasn't the only basement window-perhaps there was another. She went on doWf the full length of the house. There was no other window. She cams back and stood staring helplessly al the iron grill. There wasn't any mistake-at least, she had not mad' any. That was what the cod' message said: Easement window areaway." And this was the onl! one there was-one with an irof grill
 Under the Hopping brim of he hat she passed her hand nervousi! across her forehead. What wa she to do?
 Mechanically she bent down t examine the grill more closely and, as she touched it, she drew hei breath in sharply. It was loose and not only loose, but now, as sn' put a little pressure upon 1t, ] came away readily in her hand.
 She smiled at herself thinly. O course! She was stupid! This hat all been fixed long ago.
 She lifted the grill just enougi to one side to free the window, ant tried the window itself It opene' inward-easily Nor did it mak any sound. Well-oiled hinges, Q coursel Whoever had prepared tn way had left nothing undone! i
 A vague wonder came upon hei Knowing the location and comoilnla tiof, of the wall safe, and with tn means of entry into the house al ready provided for, it SC m e strange that the safe itself shoui still have been left iuntoucne merely because the house had nc been entirely unoccupied until nov Surely it could have been ioote without a sleeping household sa! being any the wiser for iti
 Such things had been done oite enough. Why not here? There mus be, very good reason for It, course, but she did not know wna if was. She probably never woui know She could not ask Roy!
 She was down on her hands an knees now working herself In ie' first through the window, but ne Is eyes were constantly scanning tr lighted windows of the apartmel house, It was not quite so eas .s it had appeared to be.
 The basement window was onlof in shape, and, though amply TOT enough, was hardly two feet height. She could scarcely sqee' through--as it was. Martha's na with it's preposterous brim, caus' on the easement and was near nulled from her head.
 Her feet, just as she was aDo' ;, to let go and drop, toucaed U