The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-03
The LOST FISH
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

window Another ones gone" she
said in bewilderEent "One goldfish
disappeared yesterday, another today
It's certainly 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.
doors to 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 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 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
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
ITS too bad. But l have goldfish
at home and 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, 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 janitCr 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 | know of. They don't
allow cats ana 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 a dripping squirming
goldfish. She sat perfectly still and
the monkey, sitting on his 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 | was puz-
zled about the link, although 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 | have to keep
his existence a secret or they'll put us
both out
The goldfish, | 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 han
dies them carefully enough, it seems,
and | dropped them into water right
away. think I'll have to put up a no.
tice and ask others to claim the yari.
Gus articles I've been the recipient of.
I've comb. lamb chop, letter. a
bunch of grapes, a 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," lie assurec
her. And now that Jocko has intro
duced us, may hope tl1t our friend
ship will coLtinue?"
Il don't see why it shouldn't. said
Hilda, flushing a trifle.
Copyright. 1915 hv Mcclure Newspap
Syndicate9
More Experience IN Eating.
of vor, could