Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1921-07-29
Through the Sky
light in the Studio
l9 BY Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.)
By RUBY DOUGLAS

little apartment he shared with his
sister. He had left some important
papers in the pocket of another suit
aud had been forced to return home
from the office to get them.
He stepped back in amazement at
what greeted his eyes. Then he
closed the door behind him and looked
about the little room that served
Jointly AS his sisters bedroom and
their living room. Almost every draw
or had been pulled inside out and the
contents were lying all about the
room.
"Burglurs." he said to himself
And l can't tell what is what in
Hazels belongings. l wouldn't know
If anything were stolen. I'll take a
look ut my own things" Yes-his own
chiffonier drawers had been rum
mayed also, but not TO such an extent.
Looks like the work of women
thieves" he said.
He looked about for other signs of
the burglars work. but everything else
seemed to be in good shape. There
were bits of bric-a-brac, good small
rug or two and some silver in the side
board, but evidently the thieves had
not cared for that sort Of loot.
There was a skylight In the room !;
1t was a studio apartment in build
ing adjoining other edifices Of the
same character.
Tom got out the little stepladder
that he and Hazel used as chair
when they had extra guests He
climbed up and out onto the roof to
see If he could get trace of the thieves.
He decided that they must have been
in the rooms within a couple of hours,
breakfast before going out to teach.
On the roof he came upon start
ling picture. A very lovely young
woman was drying mass Of gold
bronze hair in the sunlight. She held
book on her lap under the curtain
Of hair and she evidently had not
heard him come up through the sky
light.
''I'm sorry" Tom began.
"Oh." the girl cried, startled. II
did not hear you come up"
And did not dream there was
any one here. am looking for
thieves" announced Tom.
'"Thievesi' The girl threw back
the clouds of hair and looked inquir-
ingly at the intruder.
"Yes; l happened to return home
and have found the drawers in our
apartment all ransacked. Have you,
perhaps. seen any strangers on the
roof?"
The girl shook her head. mo.
have been here for an hour drying my
hair, but l have seen no one" She
hold him how sorry she was and he
found himself telling her all about his
sister and incidentally about himself.
He had forgotten all about the bur-
glars and was observing the wonder
full lights in the girls hair and the
same tones in her large. soft brown
eyes.
Gould |, perhaps, give you little
assistance in divining a reason-find-
ing clue?" she asked, when they had
returned to the subject of the sneak
thieves.
Would yOu--come down the lad
der and see:" he asked.
"Of COURSE" she said proudly. 81
am visiting my aunt In the apartment
below and | am almost dying of ennui.
Out West where live there is some
thing doing all the time, so that
Jump at the chance to have even so
little excitement as this" She laughed
as she followed Tom down through
the skylight.
ut does look like sneak-thieves
looking for something in particular. !"
the girl said when she had viewed
the contents Of the emptied drawers.
Just then they heard footsteps on
the stairs outside.
Ssh" said Tom, his fingers on his
lips.
They stood motionless while the
footsteps drew nearer
Presently key was inserted In
the lock and Hazel stood before them,
her arms full Of packages. a bag In
one hand
"Tom," she cried.
Hazel" her brother replied. There
have been burglars here!"
Hazel looked at the girl with her
hair all about her. "Oh," she said.
"No-no," Tom began. seeing her
mistake. This is young lady l
found drying her hair on the roof
when l went up to look for the
thieves"
Helen Rogers" the girl explained.
II stepped down with your brother to
offer my assistance"
Then, to the amazement of both Tom
and his companion, Hazel Foster
threw herself on the couch and emitted
peal after peal of merry laughter.