The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-12-14
CHAPTER III-(continued.)

~7AP Elk tli--lContlnued.)
-
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-
tinued on it's steady course. The SEN
sation was uncanny. Captain Mas
terman's words came back to Donald:
''Pve 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 gentle
swirl as if body stood upright with
in the tank. Then a sound from the
second tank drew him toward it.
1t was a musical ringing, exactly
like that produced by drawing the
finger tip around the top of a 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
speclzs, 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 pair of eyes fixed on his and fol-
lowing them!
Like all sailors, Donald Paget was
not free from superstition. Any known
danger he could have faced bravely,
but this unknown thing was terribly
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.
DimIy, through the gathering mists
he made out the form of middle
aged bearded man. He saw the rec
face, the shrewd gray eyes that looked
into his, and recognized MacBeard
Beside him lay the sandbag witt
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
MaeBeard drew it forth with grun
and stood up under the gas to exam
inc 1t.
A brief survey satisfied him that HI
had found what he was seeking. HI
grunted again and looked down a
Donald. Apparently satisfied with hi
work, he turned toward the waite
tanks. He must have heard tn
splashing of the monster as it re
sumed its journeyings, for he starte'
an instant, and then, as if curious
he drew nearer to the first of tn
tanks with the air-pipe attachment.
He stood quite STILL looking at tn
thing in the water. Donald wondere
whether he had discovered it, an
whether he had perceived the eyes.
He knew in a moment, for with
yell MaeBeard started backward. ii
and sent it crashing to the floor.
MaeBeard, who had fallen with l
picked himself up and ran in terro
Donald heard his footsteps PATTERN
along the flags outside. He heard til
slam of the ereaking gate. He kne
that the professor, having obtaine
the document, was not likely to r
turn. And he could not blame him Il
his nervousness, for he had almo
done the same thing himself.
Donald staggered to his fee
clutched at the wall to steady himsel
and remained thus, while the swirl
ming room gradually grew still. III
light from the gas-jet fell upon Il
water tanks. And, looking at the ia
Their tank, Donald had queer Ill
sion.
He thought he saw the very mis-
outlines of the body Of a beaunt
woman, the merest shadowy snap
which swan before his eyes and WI
gone, and reappeared, yelled IN SO
of prismatie blend. of coloring.
But before he had time to conVin
himself that it was or was not q
result of his injury, to his horror
perceived very clearly cloudy for
beginning to take shape within {
nearer tank.
The outlines grew clearer nome
tarlIy. He saw what seemed to
the body of a hairless monkey, su
porting itself upon webbed feet
flappers. Budding out from the sid
were two similar arms, the webb
hands pressing against the sides
the tank.
The outlines were at first so yag
rs to be almost imperceptible; tn
the crystalline body became opal
cent and milky, resembling the VIII
of an egg. 1t hardened and, as
hardened. swelied. Donald saw I
chest heave. the gaplike mouth G
torted. !,
And suddenly he realized that Z
Srotesaue, pitiful thing was sutferin