Page:Arthur Stringer - The Door of Dread.djvu/219

 When she had made sure that he did not move she went back to the table and replaced the candle-stick. Then she stepped quickly in over his outstretched legs, crouched down in front of the safe and tossed out on the middle of the floor the different bundles of paper which she found there. An exultant little thrill ran through her as she glanced at the appellation penciled on the third bundle. It ran: "Secret & Confidential—Navy Department Wireless Code—For Officers Only."

She had no chance to read further, for a throaty little groan from the fallen man told her that he was coming to his senses. But she knew that she had recovered the wireless code.

So she scrambled to her feet, dodged back to the other room for her wrap and slippers and as quickly returned. She flung her wrap on the floor, and into it tossed the entire collection of papers. She had no time for sorting. That, she knew, could be done later. But she took everything that the wall safe could yield. Then she even more hurriedly put on her slippers, for by this time the grotesquely rotund figure on the floor had moved an arm and then its head, and was even staring up at her with dazed and uncomprehending eyes.