The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-21
ROMANCE ON the ROOF
BY IZolA FORESTER.

After nearly three months of en-
forced idleness along Broadway, he
had chance at a part in production
that was really sure fire. He felt he
must face the armament and the stars
il he was to learn his part prop
erly.
Yet he found another before him.
and she came every day and every
night to walk up and down the ad-
joining roof
There was a narrow brick para
pet between, with narrow chimneys.
Over this he locked at her frown-
ingly, but she never paid any atten-
ton to him. Sometimes a little white
woolly dog came up with her. 1t
grated ON the soul of Dorr when he
heard her COO over it:
"Muzzer's little woolly lamb"
Still she was young. He could tell
that. About nineteen. She might
outgrow woolly lambs in time. She
had q steamer chair with a sun can
opy fixed up over it where she sat
during the afternoons. Sometimes
her book would fall from her hand.
and she would curl up and sleep with
the woolly dog beside her.
She did not appear to notice him
as he paced back and forth studying
his part. After week or two he
wished that she would. When one
is twenty-eight and athletic and
healthily normal, one resents being
utterly ignored by likely person Of
the opposite sex. Once, when the
white fuzzy dog ran over to him and
jumped up on the brick parapet, he
even spoke to it pleasantly.
Hello, there, Snookums." he said.
She turned and looked at him in
q sort Of distant unintroduced way,
and called the dog back to her.
1t was late in the afternoon Dorr
stood thinking Of the opening rehears-
al Of the morrow. And suddenly there
came sharp cry of alarm that sent
him speeding over the tarred roof
to her. She was standing at the
parapet. leaning over. looking down
one Of the chimney openings. Her
face was colorless. her eyes wide with
dread.
"Zou-Zou's down there!" she gasped.
Right down the chimney"
Just moment. please" said Dorr
efficiently. He looked down the par
ticular chimney she designated Zou-
Zou surely was there. Yelps and
bowls rose in smothered cadence from
below
81 can see him. He's stuck there
about seven feet down. Lucky he's
fat" Dorr stood up, and looked
about for something to fish with.
Something with a sort Of hook"
She started for the stairway.
Where are you going?" called
Dorr.
I'm going to call the fire depart
ment," she threw back over her shout
der as she disappeared.
The chimney seemed q bit shaky.
He put both hands down inside. and
pushed outward with all his force
One brick gave way, and he used 1t
as q hammer and prod against the
others. When the girl came back she
found him with the chimney in ruins.
and himself fiat on the roof, angling.
"Oh, be careful, please" she begged.
He's worth his weight in gold; really
he Isl
Far below in distant streets there
came the clang Of fire gongs. Dorr
made q final dip down with crooked
cane, and when he hauled up Zou-Zou
was on the end Of it, strangling, kick
ing. hapless, but still alive.
"Oh, nuzzer's title woolly lamb"
crooned the girl tenderly.
Dorr looked at her. The engines
were near There was much excite
ment and clamor In the street below,
yet he kept his presence Of mind.
I'D rescue a hundred woolly lambs
II they belonged to you, and I don't
know even what your name u.s." he
blurted out.
Don't you?" she smiled up at him
from over Zou-Zou's head. Il am
| Mona Lawrence. Well meet at re-
hearsal tomorrow morning Now you
understand why was SO anxious
about Zou-Zou. He plays my dog in
Under Fire You have to rescue us
both in the scehe where tho Mexicans
try to burn my automobile"
Great Scott" muttered Dorr.
blankly staring at the woolly lamb.
And I've got to save 1t every night
and two matinees indefinitely?" He
met her eyes. They were filled with
gratitude and mirth, too. There came
the tramp OF feet on the stairs, the
bang of q door. Just wait while
send back the fire department." he
said gently. heroically.
II took time and diplomacy. After
the last red wagon had turned about
and wepded its way back he came
back and sat down on the brick para
pet, his head in his hands. She
looked at him wistfully. admiringly.
, until he raised his head and smiled
at her.
Say, listen to me-" he SAID fer
vently. Don't back away and look
worried. I'm dead in love with you,
but I'll stay on my own side Of the
brick wall, only l want to say this
right now: Well be married before
the seasons over. It's writ In the
everlasting celestial documents. It's
on the callboard of fate. but you've
got to stop calling that pup 'Muzzer's
little woolly lamb If you don't I'll
forget some day and step on it,"