The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-11-29
CHAPTER IlI-(continued.)

He could trace the movements, as
of some invisible body. He saw the
ripples glide forward along the sur
face. strike the glass wall opposite,
and continue mt right angle, turning
again and agnin as the creature con-
tinued on its steady course. The SEN
satlon was uncanny. Captain Mas
termnn's words came back TO Donald:
"Tve brought my specimen home" He
was aware Of an impulse to bolt. In
stead OF which, however, he concen-
trated all his attention on the tank.
The movements in the water sub
sided. Donald had the impression that
the invisible creature had stopped and
was regarding him. He saw q gentle
swirl as II body stood upright with
In the tank. Then a sound from the
second tank drew him toward 1t.
It was q musical ringing, exactly
like that produced by drawing the
finger tip around the top OF bowl OF
water-a long-drawn sound, sweet and
clear. Donald looked into this tank,
which was open at the top and not
connected with the apparatus. But he
could see nothing there, 'elther.
He turned back to the first tank,
and all at once he perceived two black
specks. close together, halfway be-
tween the top Of the water and the
glass roof. Each was about the size
Of small currant. Donald went
nearer He saw them move. Then he
started backward, overcome with hor-
ror.
The black specks were the pupils OF
a pnir OF eyes fixed on his and fol-
lowing them!
Like all sailors, Donald Paget was
hot free from superstition. Any known
danger he could have faced bravely,
but this unknown thing was terrlfy-
Ing. He felt his knees give under him.
His impulse was to fly.
He turned, and Mt that moment
something descended upon his head
and struck him, half conscious, to the
floor.
Dmly, through the gathering mlsts.
he made ont the form Of n middle
aged bearded man. He saw the red
face, the shrewd gray eyes that looked
into his, and recognized MacBealsl.
Beside him lay the sandbag with
which the man had felled him.
Unable to move, Donald felt Mac
Beard riflng his pockets one by one,
until he. lame upon the envelope con-
talnlng Masterman's communication.
MacBeard drew 1t forth with a grunt
and stood up under the gas to exam
Inc II.
A brief survey satisfied him that he
had found what he was seeking. He
grunted again and looked down at
Donald. Apparently satisfied with his
work, he turned toward the water
tanks. He must have heard the
splashlng of the monster as 1T re-
sumed its journeylngs, for he started
nm instant, and then, as If curious,
he drew nearer to the first OF the
tanks with the air-plpe attachment.
1 He stood quite still, looking at the
thing in the water. Donald wondered
nwhether he had discovered II, and
whether he had perceived the eyes.
He knew In a moment, for with a
yell MacBeard started backward. He
stumbled against one Of the palms
and sent It crashing to the floor.
! MacBeard, who had fallen with 1t,
picked himself up and ran in terror.
Donald heard his footsteps pattering
along the flags outside. He heard the
slam OF the creaking gate. He knew
that the professor, having obtained
the document, was not likely to re-
turn. And he could not blame him for
his nervousness, for he had almost
done the same thing himself.
Donald staggered to his feet
clutched at the wall to steady himself
and remained thus, while the swim
ming room gradually grew still. The
light from the gas-jet fell upon the
water tanks. And, looking at the far
ther tank, Donald had queer illu
sion.
He thought he saw the very misty
outlines of the body of beautiful
woman, the merest shadowy shape
which swan before his eyes and was
gone and reappenred yelled In a sort
Of prismatlc blend Of coloring.
But before he had time TO convince
himself that II was or was not tho
result of his injury, to his horror III
perceived very clearly a cloudy form
beginning to take shape within thu
nearer tank.
The outlines grew clearer momen
.tarily. He saw what seemed to b'
the body of hairless monkey, sup
portlng itself upon webbed feet, o.
flappers. Budding out from the side
were two similar arms, the webbet
hands pressing against the sides o
the tank.
The outlines were at first so vagu
as TO be almost imperceptible; thel
the crystalline body became opales
cent and milky resembling the whit
of an egg. 1t hardened and, as
hardened. swelled. Donald saw tn
chest heave, the gaplIke mouth con
torted.
And suddenly he realized that thl
grotesque, pitiful thing was suffering
lie saw Immediately that the pre-
fessor's fall had disarranged tn
tubes that led from the tank. Tha
and the removal Of the glass lid, whlc
MacBeard's tumble had knocked I
the floor, had reduced the air pressur
to normal. The creature was suffer
ing because there were only 16 pound