American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1916-03-25
THE LOST FISH
sy LOUISE OLIVER.

window. Another ones gones .ss
said in bewilderment. "one eoldsss
disappeared yesterday, another tod.s
rs certainly a mystery. What MA
Of place, I wonder. have moved N
tor" ~
Outside the window was sinai, ,,o,
balcony. Hilda stepped over the Ia.
window sill and found herself on ths
tiny shelf. from which she had sp,en
did view Of the street. She lootsd
down. Below her for several stor,s,
were little iron balconies similar "a
her own, few Of them gay with green
things that the owners had nut ou,.
doorr to get the first warm rays Of n.
spring sun.
On the balcony directly beneath, be.
tween two Boston ferns, was an i'm.
provised aquarium, and in the vate,
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 Il up
II was mans cuff link with sinrl,
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
hc, young man approached the desk
will you tell me where ' can find
some books on zoology, please7'
Hilda looked at him with interest
Athletic Of build, good looking, and
fashionabiy dressed, he had the air Of
man who might be asking for 4
thesis on 'Sanskrit, or of anything be
knew nothing at all about.
What kind Of animals?' she In
Iuired. Mammals. the carnivora---
"Oh, something about fish," he an.
swered vaguely. Goldfish. I've go.
some ! don't know how to feed"
ITS too bad. But have goldhsh
at home and when I want to know
anything 60 to Finney's pet store IN
the next square. II you 80 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
Q 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 belov
was unmarried anu went b. tho N. N,
Of Hubert Field. 81 T.
Has he any pets or anything liks
that?" she inquired anxiously.
mot that I know of. They dont
allow cats and dogs in the building.
That evening. as she was trying to
calm her nerves and forget the mys
tefy by reading an interesting book
something stirred by the window, then
dropped lightly to the floor behind her
She felt rather than heard II, 80 faint
was the sound. She was too fright
oned to move at first. then laughed ct
her fear. Slowly turning her head, she
saw :. little brown monkey hopping
toward her on three legs. In the otha
paw he gripped . dripping. sQuirmins
goldfish. She sat perfectly still and
the monkey. sitting on ais hind lsss
laid his tribute upon her knee.
The monkey was very tame and Hi
do picked him up in her arms. Then
she got the gold link from her dresser
,, and descended the stairs.
As she had expected, Mr.. Huber
Field was her acquaintance Of the y
brary. Good evening"" said Hildi
"I've come to return two Of your poe
sessions, both found In my room. on'
explains the other, I think"
Thank you very much. I was put
zled about the link. although blamed
Jocko for losing II. He's worried n'
/, w uooth oihSo my oibtcT icit hiih ~
two days ago. He's stolen things
over the building, and have to kse'
his existence a secret or they'll put
both out"
THE goldfish, I believe, belong
me. He was after another when
caught him"
Thank heaven, I've found the ovt
or Of the fish. Fortunately. happens
to be at home when he brought ths'
or they would have died. But he bar
dies them carefully enough, It seem,
and ] dropped them into water risp
away. l think I'll have to put up aps
tice and ask others to claim the var
GUS articles I've been the recipient
I've a comb. lamb chop, q letter,
bunch of grapes. candle shade ~
stocking, goldfish, a box of rouge
Hilda laughed merrily. I'm u"
guilty OF the rouge assure YOU
Hubert Field looked at her fair, io'
skin and softly curling hair. "Tna'
obvious. Miss Neighbor," he ASSURE
her. And now that Jocko has ihus