Middletown transcript., 1917-12-01
CHAPTER lIl-(continued.)

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CHAPTER lII-(continued.)
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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 at right angle, turning
again and again as the creature con-
hnued on its steady course. The SEN
sation was uncanny. Captain Mas
terman'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 a gentle
swirl as if a body stood upright with
in the tank. Then sound from the
second tank drew him toward it.
It was a 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, either.
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 a small currant. Donald went
nearer He saw them move. Then he
started backward, overcome with hor-
ror.
The black specks wefe the pupils Of
a pair 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 terrify-
Ing. He felt his knees give under him.
His impulse was to fly.
He turned, and at that moment
something descended upon his head
and struck him, half conscious. to the
floor.
Dimly, through the gathering mists.
he made out the form Of middle
aged bearded man. He saw the red
face, the shrewd gray eyes that looked
into his, and recognized MacBealN.
Beside him lay the sandbag with
which the man had felled him.
Unable to move, Donald felt Mac
Beard rif1ing his pockets one by one,
until he came upon the envelope con-
tanning Masterman's communication.
MacBeard drew it forth with q grunt
and stood up under the gas to exam
Inc it.
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
splashing Of the monster as it re-
sumed it's journeyings, for he started
an instant, and then, as if curious
he drew nearer to the first of the
tanks with the air-pipe attachment.
He stood quite still, looking at the
thing in the water. Donald wondered
whether he had discovered it, and
whether he had perceived the eyes.
He knew in a moment, for with
yell MacBeard started backward. He
stumbled against one of the palms
and sent it crashing to the floor.
MacBeard, who had fallen with it
picked himself up and ran in terror
Donald heard his footsteps patterins
along the flags outside. He heard thu
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 fol
his nervousness, for he had almos
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. Tn
light from the gas-jet fell upon tn
water tanks. And, looking at the far
Their tank, Donald had a queer illu
sion.
He thought he saw the very mist
outlines of the body of a beautiful
woman, the merest shadowy shape
which swan before his eyes and wa
gone, and reappeared, yelled in sor
Of prismatic blend Of coloring.
But before he had time to convinc
himself that it was or was not tn
result of his injury, to his horror h
perceived very clearly a cloudy forr
beginning to take shape within tn
nearer tank.
The outlines grew clearer molcen
tarily. He saw what seemed to b
the body Of hairless monkey, SUP
porting itself upon webbed feet. o
flappers. Budding out from the side
were two similar arms, the webbe
hands pressing against the sides o
the tank.
The outlines were at first so vagu
as to be almost imperceptible; the
the crystalline body became opales
cent and milky, resembling the whit
of an egg. 1t hardened and, as
hardened. swel1ed. Donald saw tn
chest heave, the gaplike mouth cor
torted.
And suddenly he realized that thi
grotesque, pitiful thing was suffering
He saw Immediately that the pro
fessor's fall had disarranged tn
tubes that led from the tank. Tha
and the removal Of the glass lid, whic
MacBeard's tumble had knocked t
the floor, had reduced the air pressur
TO normal. The creature was suffel
ing because there were only 16 pound