Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1916-01-27
THE LOST FISH
Observation-Disclosures.
By LOUISE OLIVER.


apartment and hurried to the front
window. Another ones gone" she
caid in bewilderment. "One goldfish
! disappeared yesterday, another today
IT'S certainly a mystery. What kind
OF place, | wonder, have | moved in.
/ to-"
Outside the window was 4 small iron
balcony. Hilda stepped over the low
window sill and found herself on the
tiny Shelf, from which she had a 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
door, 20 get the first warm rays of the
spring sun
On the balcony directly beneath, be
tween two Boston ferns, was an inn
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.
II 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
tho city library.
That afternoon while she was hand
ing out books to q cosmopolitan pub.
lie. young man approached the desk
viii you tell me where can find
some books on zoology, please?"
Hilda looked at him with interest.
Athletic of build. good looking, and
fashionabiy dressed, he had the air OF
a man who might be asking for a
thesis on Sanslrit, or of anything he
krew nothing at all about.
What kind of animals?" she in.
CURED. Mammals, the carnivora-"
"Oh, something about fish," he an
swered vaguely. Goldfish. I've got
some / don't know how to feed"
IT'S too bad. But / have goldfish
at home and when l want to know
anything l 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
a 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 Hilds 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 l 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- |
cry by reading an interesting book |
stirred by the window, then |
lrOpped lightly to the floor behind her |
She felt rather than heard it, so faint |
vas the sound. She was too fright |
med to move at first, then laughed q,
Ter fear. Slowly turning her head. she |
saw little brown monkey hopping /
Oward her on three legs. In thu other
Jaw he gripped a dripping, squirting
goldfish. She sat perfectly still and
he monkey, sitting on lis hind legs,
aid his tribute upon her knee.
The monkey was very tame and Hii
la picked him up in her arms. Then
he got the gold link from her dresser
md descended the stairs.
As she had expected, Mr.. Hubert
field was her acquaintance of the H.
'rary. Good evening"" said Hilda.
I've come to return two of your pos
essions, both found in my room. One
Explains the other, think"
Thank you very much. | was puz-
led about the link, although blamed
ocko for losing it. He's worried me
o death since my sister left him here
wo days ago. He's stolen things a..
ver the building. and have TO keep
lis existence q secret or they'll put US
10Th out"
The goldfish. ! believe, belong to
ne. He was after another when
aught him
Thank heaven, I've found the own
II OF the fish Fortunately, happened
o be at home when he brought them
II they would have died. But he han.
lies them carefully enough. it seems,
nd ] dropped them into water right
way l think I'll have to put up no
ice and ask others to claim the vari.
JUS articles I've been the recipient Of.
We comb lamb chop, letter, a
'unoh of grapes. candle shade. a silk
tocking. goldfish, box OF rouge"
Hilda laughed merrily. I'm not
,uilty of the rouge assure you"
Hubert Field looked at her fair, rosy
kin and softly curling hair. THAT Is