Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-10-25
= SYNOPSIS.

exploring expedition, bringing with him
member of the strange race, the existence
or whose species, he asserts, menaceS the
human family
CHAPTER II-At the club, the March
Hares," Masterman explains his theory
to Paget The recital is interrupted by
the arrival of a lifelong enemy of Mas
terman, Ira MacBeard, and the former is
seized with fatal paralytic stroke.
CHAPTER III-From Mastermans body
Paget secures documents bearing upon
the discovery and proceeds to the home
of the scientist. There he discovers the
specimen of the strange race which Mas
terman had described. While examining
IL Paget is struck down by MacBeard,
who had followed him. MacBeard robs
Paget of the documents, and escapes. The
specimen dies.
CHAPTER IV-Paget proceeds to sea
on his submarine, the F'-55. He encOun-
ters and sinks a German cruiser which
had just destroyed the steamer BeOtia,
which Ida Kennedy, Paget's fiancee, was
a passenger. Ida escapes from the BeOtia
In a small boat.
CHAPTER v-Paget swims to the boat
and attempts to reach the submarine.
His progress through the water is
strangely impeded and he discovers that
a horde of the creatures which Master
man had discovered had surrounded the
boat They are invisible while alive. One
invades the boat and Paget kills it At
death the creature becomes visible. Paget
and Ida are picked up by the submarine
CHAPTER VI-The F-55 is invaded by
the swarm and all on board devOured
cept Ida. Paget, a midshipman named
Davies, and a seaman, Sam ClOuts, whose
hobby Is the playing of the mouth organ.
CHAPTER VII-MacBeard. guided by
information contained in Masterman's pa
pers, sets out for the unknown creatures
abode, off the Shetland islands. He is
man of high scientific attachments, though
embittered against the human race, which
he would willingly destroy. In the strange
creatures whom he is able to control
through instructions left by Masterman.
he thinks he sees an instrument fitted to
his insane desires.
CHAPTER VIII-Paget and his party
are stranded in the submarine on Fair
island, which MacBeard had made his
headquarters. Attempting to escape, the
submarine, which had been damaged,
sinks, and the party, in diving suits, aban-
don her.
CHAPTER IX-The air in their diving
suits becoming exhausted Paget plans to
escape the agony of suffOcation by
quicker death and removes his headpiece.
He discovers that there is pure air at
the bottom of the sea.
CHAPTER x-Paget at once releases
Ida from her diving suit. the others OF
the party having disa ppeared. They meet
MacBeard surrounded by the sea mon
sters whom ne has subjugated by the use
OF tuning fork, the sound OF which re.
sembles the call made by the queen OF
the swarm. Paget and Ida are made
prisoners and taken to cavern, where
they meet Davies and Clouts. also pTls-
oners MacBeard falls in love with Ida
and offers Paget his life in exchange for
two pages of Masterman's manuscript,
which Paget had. Paget insists they must
all be freed and MacBeard plans to XIII
Clouts. The seaman, thinking his last
moments at hand, produces his mouth or
gan. the sounds from which produce a
Mt hn
escapes and reaches the submarine.
He stared at ner tremendously. He
saw her so family that once again he
believed himself the victim of a hallu-
cination. The faintest illumination
played about her, showing only the
ethereal spirit that seemed incarnate
in a vapOry cloud.
But this was no monster such as
those devils of the sea. It was the
most beautiful woman whom Donald
had ever seen or imagined.
He stumbled toward her. He put
out his hand As he did so, the figure
moved, and he heard Enthusiastically the
fatntest slide of feet upon the floor.
He tried to catch her, to satisfy him
self that he was not dreaming, but she
eluded him with ease. seeming to float
before his eyes, now here, now there
Suddenly the door opened. Donald
saw Ida standing in the doorway, by
the light of the candle within hel
cabin.
Donald" she cried. 81 thought
1 thought I saw a woman pass my
door"
ida !"
The denial died on his lips. He was
not sure. He glanced hastily about
him, and, at the far end. he thought
he saw the dim outlines of his visitor
again.
Ida peered through the darkness
She saw nothing, but she interpreted
Donald's movements correctly.
Donald! Who is she? How die
she come here?"
There is nobody, Ida" He heaTt
the desperation in his voice; and q
that instant yearning toward th'
ethereal lOveliness of that uncann!
wrath filled his whole heart. He tool
a match from his box and struck it.
The squirt of flame illuminated tn
messroom. It was entirely empty.
''You see. dear" said Donald, turn
ing to Ida with an embarrassed laugh
you have been dreaming, dear"
Eyes. suppose have been dream
ing" she answered. But she spOk
without conviction. And suddenly sh
was crying upon his shoulder.
Donald, you were dlsappOinte
when | came I'M! she sobbed.
Dear, you are hysterical. In tn
morning it will be all right"
"You don't love me any more, Don
aid"
'Of course love you" he respOnde
sadly. Somehow his heart was utterl
overcast; it was as If he had locke
into the face of immortal beauty. SO
course I love you. Won't you try
sleep, Ida?" he asked.
Eyes" she answered. releasing he1
self But you don't love me, Dor
add know ~
And slowly she withdrew into he
cabin, leaving Donald a prey to intens
bewilderment and despair.
Who was she, this almost invisibl
beauty? Had she followed him her
aboard the ship, or-swimming benin
%bo S,1hr,or;0a2 Was she another 81