The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-12-29
CHAPTER xI-continued.

IHIO Tue IdCe u lIuIHOEIdI beduly- VI
course love you. Won't you try TO
sleep, IdaY' he asked
"Yes," she answered, releasing her
self. But you don't love me. Don
add knowr'
And slowly she withdrew into her
cabin. leaving Donald prey to intense
bewilderment and despair.
Who was she, this almost invisible
beauty? Had she followed him here,
aboard the ship, Or-swimming behind
the submarine? Was she another spe-
cies of the sea devils?
Suddenly, for the first time since
their conversation, he recalled Master
mans words:
81 brought my specimen home with
me. Think of that, ladl She didn't
want TO eat. They don't eat after they
are mature, Donald
Now it came to Donald with convic-
ton that the old captain had had ref
erence tO-this woman!
And, straining his eyes through the
darkness, he saw her again.
But this time there was visible upon
her face an expression so pitifuI that
it almost. brought the tears to Don
AIDS eyes.
She was watching him with a dumb
yearning of inexpressible pathOs. That
look reminded Donald of the old leg
end of the mermaid who could obtain
a soul only from some human lover.
An idea came to him. He would go
up into the coming tower; in that mar
row space he could see her better and
understand what she was.
But as he stood in the passage, at
the bottom of the trapdoor. ClOuts ap-
peared before him. 1t occurred to
Donald afterward that he had been
there for a considerable time.
sits all right, siri" said CIouts.
you told me to call you when you was
to go on duty, and it's all right"
whats all right?' demanded Don
aid.
ITS all right, sir understand such
things" said Clouts.
"ClOuts, what the devil are you talk
ing about?"
'It's all right, sir" replied Clouts
for the third time, pointing before him.
And in the passage, not more than
a dozen feet away, Donald saw the
His anger vanished. He took the
sailor by the arm.
"CIouts," he said, "do you suppose
we could get her into the coming
tower?''
81 don't know, sir" said Clouts,
shaking his head. eff she's willing to
go, sir. That's the question, sir"
"Clouts'' voice sank to a
whisper must understand that
this isn't a wOman-at least not Il
human one. She's-she's-"
"Quite so. if might say so, or there
abouts," said CIouts
"And do you think you could get
her there?''
Clouts scratched his head. 81 sup
pose SO, SIR" he answered. But she'd
have to come out again, you know"
''That's what intend" said Donald
desperately. Back into the water
through the airlock."
'Push her in, sir?'
LEAD her in, Clouts Put on my
coat and let her follow you. Then,
when you've got her inside, put on the
last diving dress and see that She
that she doesn't come back. 1 don't
mean you to hurt her. She can live
under the water, you know. And
while you're about it, Clouts, you
might see if you can adjust the rud-
der"
For a moment Clouts and his cap
! tain looked hard into each others
eyes. Then Clouts' grim face softened
Putting his hands to his pocket, he
drew out his mouth organ, and the
soft strains of "Annie Rooney went
up into the air. Clouts played it
| through with quiet resolution.
'T'n do it, sir" he said.
Donald turned and saw that the
woman of the sea stood exactly where
she had been throughout that inter
view. She had not stirred.
He waited while Clouts found the
last diving suit in the storeroom, and
then the two went back into the mess
room. Presently Clouts emerged, en-
| cased in his cylinder, and holding the
glass mask in his hand. About his
shoulders he wore DonaId's coat Don
| aid waited within.
He heard the coming tower trap
door close, and after that he could
hear nothing. He waited an indefinite
time. Suddenly soft splashing of wa
ter told him that the lower levels Of
the sea were being agitated by the
condensed oxygen in the airlock. There
followed silence. The sounds were
cut on abruptly, and for a long time
Donald waited.
His nerves were so tense that when
Clouts opened the door he started VIC
lently. He peered into the sailors
face.
"Fve done it, sir" said Clouts. 'She
followed me like-like q dog, sir. And
I saw her eyes when pushed her into
the water, and 1 don't want to see q
look like that again. It felt like muir
der, SIR
Nonsense exclaimed Donald an
grily- 'fYou know perfectly well,
Clouts, that she wasn't on board when
we started Therefore, she must have
come in with US from the sea bottom -
81 know, SIR said Clouts, shaking
his head mournfully. Then, unable to
control himself, he clapped his hand
to his mouth organ.