The Raymer enterprise., 1918-06-06
CHAPTER xI-continued.


"Yes," she answered, releasing her
self. But you don't love me, Don
add knoww
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--swimmlng 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:
II brought my specimen home with
me. Think Of that, lad She didn't
want to eat. They don't eat after they
are mature, Donald"
Now IL came to Donald with convlc-
ton that the old captain had had ref
erence to-this woman!
And, strnining his eyes through the
darkness, he saw her again.
But this time there was visible upon
her face an expression so pitiful that
It almost brought the tears to Don.
AIDS eyes.
She was watching him with a dumb
yearning Of inexpressble pathos. That
look reminded Donald OF the old leg.
end Of the mermaid who could obtain
soul only from some human lover.
An Idea came to him. He would 90
up into the coming tower; In that mar
row space he could see her better and
understand what she was.
But rs he stood In the passage, at
the bottom OF the trapdoor, Clouts ap-
peared before him. II occurred to
Donald afterward that he had been
there for considerable time.
"It's oil right, sir!" said Clouts.
"You told me to call you when you was
10 go on duty. and It's all right"
whats all rlghtT demanded Don.
aid.
''lt's all right. sir. understand such
things" said Clouts.
'Clouts. what the devil are you talk
Ing abouti"
TITS all right, SIR" replied Clouts
Tor the third time, pointing before him.
And In the passage. not more than
dozen feet away, Donald saw the
woman's form.
His anger vanished. He took the
sailor by the arm.
"Clouts." he said, "do you suppose
We could get her into the coming
tower?"
II don't know. SIR" said Clouts,
shaking his head. III she's willing to
go, sir. That's the question. SIR"
"Clouts'-Donald's voice sank to a
whisper-"you must understand that
this Isn't woman-at least not a
human one. She's-she's-"
"Quite so. II might say so. or there
abouts." said Clouts.
'And do you think you could get
her therei'
Clouts scratched his head. ~ sup
pose so, SIR" he answered. But she'd
have to come out again. you know"
That's what l intend" said Donald
desperately. Back into the water
through the nlrlock.'
Push her In, siri"
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. | 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 II you can adjust the rud,
ier."
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 ont his mouth organ. and the
soft strains OF "Annle Rooney" went
up into the air. Clouts played II
through with quiet resolution.
"I'll do 1t, 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-
.ased In his cylinder. and holding the
glass mask In his hand. About his
shoulders he wore Donald'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 splashlng 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 of abruptly, and for a long time
Donald waited.
His nerves were so tense that when
Clouts opened the door he started vlo-
lently. He peered Into the sailors
face.
tive done It, SIR" said Clouts. "She
followed me like-like dog. sir. And
/ saw her eyes when I pushed her into
the water. and don't want to see q
look like that again. II felt like mur-
dor, SIR"