The Dolores star., 1918-11-29
Observation-Disclosures
ACROSS THE ROOF f;
7iIiIiIlIIIIllIIIIIIIlIiIIIlruIl,IIlIIlIIlIIiIIi
BY JACK lAWToN.

old nunsiOn, Dora began her carsey
ms an artist. And when the big rented
room seemed unusually bare, Dora,
with her happy sangnlne spirit. CON
graduated Herself upon its 'sky.lipht,'
lnere we're days. however. when the
skSliehtlieh' fniled to compensate
When those reflections Threatened
TO overcome her. Dora would arise
briskly to light the rose shaded lamp
which WIS her comfort.
silly she would raprove herself,
"glooming awey. while those same
young people are envylng your appar.
ent royal road to fame and fortune;
you should he grateful. my dear. Crate.
ful NJ can he. that you can soil
sketches enough to almost pay your
lodging"
Dora did not mention payment Of
food. Sometimes Dora's food was not
w"rtl mentioning. Paper bag meals
as "ue, when she finished h"- draw
in"s: n dinner or two =. --rstyea.ion
when the checks came in. And so.
working feveriShlv. saving much heat.
ing. saving altogether too much foof.
II was not strange that the ambitious
g!rl awakened one morning - find
herself III. on the cnmouil,Grd bed,
which passed day times as Z, gorgeous
couch.
Dora wondered weakly concerning
the problem of meals whi,h she would
he unable to prepare. then gave up the
problem in q long and dr-am'eSS sleep
When again her gray eyes opened
shadows stretched across the room,
while over the sloring roof beneath
her window. came st'enm of light
from IN opposite apartment.
Dora liked to look int1 the brilliant
rooms Of this nXurlOlSly appointed
apartment building towe ing above the
old shabby house. Almost It was like
gazing upon the stage of II theater.
galy dressed women p. sSinC to and
fro. men too. idling ab,nt the long,
smoking room. One who came nrd
went among them had tk:a appearance
of a distinguished actor.
Dora liked his fresh 1ne youthful
face beneath Its crown of strangely
white hair.
Suddenly from the grnvaled roof be-
meath her window. n rou.d and furry
ball came leaping over the sill. Dora
leaned forward listening. until with
coaxing whine small white dog stood
beside her cot. putting forth friend
ly paw.
Delightedly the girl caught the AMI
nal In her arms.
thinr-5 hn
INJURED. then all at once 1,ora's arms
lay still.
Anxiously the dogs r,oIst nose
shifted inquiringly at her white out.
stretched arms, once or twce an eag-
er tongue Tapped at her uHresponsive
face, then back over the sill and across
the roof rushed the furry body.
The handsome man Of the white
hair had just settled himself for m
evening smoke. Before lowering the
window shade he had looked across
the roof toward window that WAS
darkened, and when he leaned hack
In his chair 1t was as with IN air OF
disappointment.
"You rascal" he greeted the dog
which scrambled painting to his knee.
playing truant again, eh?'
But Fluff was In no mood for net
ting. Fiercely she caught at the mnn's
sleeve, running few steps from him
she barked back appealingly.
"What the dickens" frowned the
man, 1t was evident that the dog was
entreating him to follow.
Doctor Wilton decided to obey the
animals whim. His mothers raising
of Fufr had made the little creature
in some ways almost human.
The doctor followed through the
French door to the apartment roof. He
hesitated as Fluff bounded across that
other roof, then whimsically continued
the chase.
Disappearing over the sill of Dora's
window the dog still Enthusiastically
called to him from inside.
In that one shaft of light the doctor
saw a girls white upturned face-the
girls face-he caught his breath. How
often he had seen the same sweet
features framed In the old house win
dow.
When the doctor lighted the gas,
Dora raised slowly her dark fringed
lids.
Anything to eat today?" he asked,
his fingers on her pulse.
It was too much trouble to reply SO
the young artist shook her head.
"Or yesterday" asked the doctor.
Dora smiled wanly. yesterday 10
too far away to remember" Her eyes
fell upon the now joyous Fluff.
"Oh!" she murmured, "you came for
your dog. He visits me sometimes
You don't mind?"
The man smiled down upon her.
"He was even nicer" Dora copsld-
cred, "when he smiled" 1t was strenge
that she had learned his face so veil.
She was sure that she could sketch
from memory Its every line.
"I did not come for the dog" David
uN