The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-31
The LOST FISH
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

F++F++++++F+4+++F+9FF++++4
Hilda unlocked the door of her little
apartment and hurried to the front
window. Another ones gone she
said in bewilderrent. "One goldfish
disappeared yesterday, another today
It's certainly mystery. What kind
of place, l wonder, have l moved in
to-" HI
Outside the window was small iron
balcony. Hilda stepped over the low
window sill and found herself on the
tiny shelf, from which she had splen-
did view of the street. She looked
down. Below her for several stories
were little iron balconies similar to
her own, few of them gay with green
things that the owners had put out
doors to get the first warm rays of the
spring sun.
On the balcony directly beneath, be-
tween two Boston ferns, was an i'm
provised aquarium, and in the water
two goldfish were swimming.
That night she slept without fresh |
air from the outside, leaving only the
transom open for ventilation. And in |!
| the morning another fish was gone.
| She almost tainted with the shock.
Someone or something had been in her |
room in he night! Then her foot
struck something. She picked it up.
1t was mans cuff link with single
diamond inset. She counted her money,
the spoons, and felt of her few bits of
jewelry and her watch. All there.
She locked the aquarium in the bath
room and went to her daily work in
the city library.
That afternoon, while she was hand
ing out books to cosmopolitan pub
lie, young man approached the desk.
will you tell me where can find
some books on zoology, please?"
Hilda looked at him with interest.
: Athletic of build, good looking, and
fashionably dressed, he had the air OF
a man who might be asking for
thesis on Sanskrit, or of anything he
a knew nothing at all about.
0 What kind of animals?" she in
e CURED Mammals, the carnivora-'
r "Oh, something about fish" he an
q swered vaguely Goldfish. I've got
some | don't know how to feed
ITS too bad But | have goldfish
= at home ana when | want to know
> anything go to Finney's pet store in
the next square. If you go there you
* can get everything you want"
Thank you very much. Good after
noon" He put On his hat to depart
and. as he lifted his hand, llilda sa"
st diamond studded cuff link like the
d. one she had found in the morning. The
d, mystery deepened. Here was the MAI
d. who had her goldfish, but why would
er anyone steal goldfish?
of That night IIilda discovered IRON
n, the janitcr that her neighhor below
he was unmarried and went by the nam
en- of Hubert Field.
is Has he any pets or anything INK
that" she inquired anXiously.
IRIS Not that | know of. They don
nd allow cats and dogs in the building,
ms That evening, as she was trying [
az, calm her nerves and forget the my'
ess terry by reading an interesting booi
nat something stirred by the window, the
ess dropped lightly to the floor behind he
md She felt rather than heard it, so fair
was the sound. She was too frigh
rst ened to move at first, then laughed
md her fear. Slowly turning her head, ST
tan saw little brown monkey hoppil
1t toward her on three legs. In the oth'
vas paw he gripped dripping, squirmr
up goldfish. She sat perfectly still al
'ge, the monkey, sitting on lis hind leg
t. laid his tribute upon her knee.
ble The monkey was very tame and H
ev' da picked him up in her arms. INT
pro she got the gold link from her dress
un ard descended the stairs.
ms AS she had expected, Mr., Hube
ned Field was her acquaintance of the
ers brary. Good evening. said Hllt
that I've come to return two of your pr
wen sessions, both found in my ROOM
by explains the other, think.
wife Thank you very much. | was p
for zled about the link, although blam
who /, Jocko for losing it. He's worried
be, to death since my sister left him he
two days ago. He's stolen things
over the building and have to Ike
his existence secret or they'll put
all both out
istic The goldfish, | believe, belong
posi- me. He was after another wher
with caught him"
'lain Thank heaven. I've found the o.
must er of the fish Fortunately, happier
em to be at home when he brought tn
sing or they would have died. But he b
not dies them carefully enough, it see
gen. and | dropped them into water ri
plain away. think I'll have to put up a
use tice and ask others to claim the
1t is Gus articles I've been the recipient
our I've a comb, lamb chop, lette
odes bunch of grapes, candle shade,
mite. stocking, goldfish, a box of rouge
ersal Hilda laughed merrily. I'm
i, by guilty of the rouge | assure you.
Hubert Field looked at her fair,
skin and softly curling hair. "Tha
obvious. Miss Neighbour" he asst
aked her. And now that Jocko has il
pow duced us, may l hope that our fri
I'M ship will continue?
sn TO Il don't see why it shouldn't,
isses' Hilda, flushing a trifle.
anu Copyright. 1915 by Mcclure Newsr
wish Syndicate)
; the