The Carlisle independent., 1915-12-30
NE LOST FISH
 N-5-
By LoUfsE OLIVER.

Htlda unlocked the door of her little apartment and hurried to the front window. Another ones gone" she said in bewilderment "One goldfish disappeared yesterday, another today. flt's certainly mystery What kind of place, wonder, have moved in- to?"
 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, a 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 im- 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 gonel 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. It was mans cuff link with a single diamond inset. She counted her money, the spoons, and felt of her few bits of jewelry and her watch All there. ho rirr in hot h 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 man who might be asking for a thesis on Sanskrit, or of anything he knew nothing at al! about.
 What kind of animals?" she in- quired. Mammals, the carnivora--"
 "Oh, something about fish," he an- swered vaguely. Goldfish. I've got some I don't know how to feed
 Its too bad. But I have goldfish at home and when I 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. Hilda saw diamond-studded cuff link like the one she had found in the morning The mystery deepened. Here was the man who had her goldfish, but why would anyone steal goldfish?
 That night Hilda discovered from the janitor that her neighbor below was unmarried and went by the name of Hubert Field
 Has he any pets or anything like that?" she inquired anxiously.
 Not that I know of. They don't allow cats and dogs in the building"
 That evening, as she was trying to calm her nerves and forget the mys- tery by reading an interesting book, something stirred by the window, then dropped lightly to the floor behind her. She felt rather than heard it, so faint was the sound. She was too fright ened to move at first, then laughed at her fear. Slowly turning her head, she saw :. little brown monkey hopping toward her on three legs In the other paw he gripped dripping, squirming goldfish. She sat perfectly still and the monkey, sitting on his hind legs, laid his tribute upon her knee. -r The monkey was very tame and Hill da picked him up in her arms. Then she got the gold link from her dresser and descended the stairs.
 As she had expected, MT. Hubert Field was her acquaintance of the E- brary. Good evening"" said Hilda. I've come to return two of your pos sessions, both found in my room. One explains the other, 1 think
 Thank you very much. I was puz- zled about the link, although I blamed Jocko for losing it. He's worried me to death since my sister left him here two days ago. He's stolen things all over the building, and l have to keep his existence secret or they'll put us both out"
 The goldfish, believe, belong to me. He was after another when I caught him"
 Thank heaven, I've found the own CT of the ish. Fortunately, I happened to be at home when he brought them or they would have died. But he ham, dies them carefully enough, it seems, and l dropped them into water right away. ] think I'll have to put up no tice and ask others to claim the yari- ous articles I've been the recipient of. I've q comb. a lamb chop, a letter, a bunch of grapes, candle shade, silk stocking, goldfish, box of rouge"
 Hilda laughed merrily. I'm not guilty of the rouge I assure you.'
 Hubert Field looked at her fair, rosy skin and softly curling hair. That is obvious. Miss Neighbor," he assured