The log cabin Democrat., 1916-01-03
THE LOST FISH
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

Hilda 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.
It's certainly a mystery What kind
of a 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 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 a 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 q 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
fashionabiy dressed, he had the air of
a man who might be asking for a
thesis on SansRrit, or of anything he
knew 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 l don't know how to feed"
It's too bad. But | have goldfish
at home and when l 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
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 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.
mot 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-
| terry 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 Ills hind legs,
laid his tribute upon her knee.
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, Mr.. Hubert
Field was her acquaintance Of the IL
| brary. Good EVENING"" said Hilda.
I've come to return two of your pos
sessions, both found in my room. One
explains the other, think"
Thank you very much. l was puz-
zled about the link. although l blamed
,Iocko 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 / have to keep
his existence secret or they'll put US
both out
THE goldfish, l believe, belong to
me. He was after another when /
caught him"
Thank heaven, I've found the own
er of the fish. Fortunately. 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 a no
tice and ask others to claim the vari-
Gus articles I've been the recipient of.
I've comb. lamb chop, a letter, q
bunch Of grapes. candle shade, silk
stocking, goldfish. box Of rouge"
Hilda laughed merrily. I'm not
guilty of the rouge | assure you"
Hubert Field looked at her fair, rosy
skin and softly curling hair. That is
obvious, Miss Neighbor," he assured
l.