Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-07-08
Through the Sky
light in the Studio

BY RUBY DOUGLAS


papers in the pocket of another suit
and 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 tho door behind him and looked
about the little room that served
jointly as his sisters bedroom and
their living room. Almost every draw
er had been pulled inside out and the
contents were lying all about the
room.
Burglars" he said to himself
"And l can't tell what is what in
Hazel's belongings. l wouldn't know
If anything were stolen. I'll take
look at 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, a 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;
it was a studio apartment in a build
ing adjoining other ediices of the
same character.
Tom got out the little stepladder
that he and Hazel used as a 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,
since Hazel always remained to have
breakfast before going out to teach.
On the roof he came upon a start
ling picture. A very lovely young
woman was drying a mass of gold
bronze hair in the sunlight. She held
a 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. 81
did not hear you come up"
"And 1 did not dream there was
any one here. 1 am looking for
thieves" announced Tom.
"Thieves?" The girl threw back
the clouds of hair and looked inquir-
ingly at the intruder.
''Yes; 1 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. I
have been here for an hour drying my
hair, but | 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.
could l, perhaps, give you a little
assistance in divining a reason-hnd-
ing a clueY 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. Il
am visiting my aunt in the apartment |
below and l am almost dying of ennui.
Out West where I live there is some
thing doing all the time, so that L
lump 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
for something in particular"
he girl said when she had viewed
he contents of the emptied drawers.
Just then they heard footsteps on
he stairs outside.
Ssh" said Tom, his fingers on his
Ups.
They stood motionless while the
drew nearer.
Presently a key was inserted in
he lock and Hazel stood before them,
Ter arms full of packages, a bag in
me hand.
"Tom," she cried.
Hazel" her brother replied. 'There
ave been burglars here ~
Hazel looked at the girl with her
air all about her. "Oh," she said.
Mono" Tom began, seeing her
Mistake. ''This is a young lady
ound drying her hair on the roof
then l went up to look for the
hieves.r
Helen Rogers" the girl explained.
| stepped down with your brother to
fer my assistance"
Then, to the amazement of both Tom
nd his companion, Hazel Foster
rev herself on the couch and emitted ,
cal after peal of merry laughter.
"Hazel, what's the matter?' asked
ON.