, 1921-06-23
Through the Sky
light in the Studio
) by Mcclure Newspaper s~yndlcate.)
BY RUBY

Tom Foster opened the door of the
little apartment he shared with his
sister. He had left some important
papers in the pocket of another suit
II a been forced to return home
from the office to get them.
He stepped back in amazement ut
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
er had been pulled inside out and the
contents were lying all about the
room.
burglars he said to himself
And | can't tell what is what in
Hazel's belongings. / wouldn't know
If anything were stolen. I'll take a
look at my own things" Yes-his own
%chiffonler drawers had been rum
mayed also, but not to such an extent.
Looks like thc work of ONE
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, Il 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 II skylight in the room
it was Il studio apartment in "A build
ing adjoining other ediLces 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 hat 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
roman 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 ONE up"
And l did not dream there was
any one here. am looking for
thieves" announced Tom.
'ThievesT' The girl threw back
the clouds of hair and looked inquir.
ingly nj the intruder.
Yes; / happened to return home
md 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 beer 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.
Gould l, perhaps, give you a little
assistance in divining a reason-find-
ing a 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. ~
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 l
jump at the chance to have even so
little excitement as this" She laughed
as she followed Tom down through
the skylight.
at 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.
"Sh-' said Tom, his fingers on his
lips.
They stood motionless while the
footsteps drew nearer.
Presently "A key was inserted in
the lock md Hazel stool 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 IA young lady I
found drying her hair on the roof
when | went up to look for the
thieves"
Helen Rogers" the girl explained.
II stepped down with your brother TO
oTer my assistance
Then. to the amnzement Of both Tom
and his companion, Hazel Foster
threw herself on the couch and emitted
peal after peal OF merry laughter.
Hazel. what's the matter7' asked
Tom.