The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-02-15
CRATER xl-con.lnusd.

overcast II was ss II he had looked
into the face Of immortal beauty. cor
course ! love you. Won't you try to
sleep. Idar' he asked.
''Ycsn she answered, releasing her
self "Flut you don't love me, Dom
add know T.
And slowly she withdrew into her
cabin, leaving Donald prey 20 intense
bewlldesment and despair,
Who vas she, this almost invisible
BEAUTY Had she followed him here,
aboard the ship or--awlmming behind
the suhmneine1 Was she another spe-
Giles of the sea devils7
Suddenly, Tor 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
wan, 70 cat They don't eat after they
are mature. Donald"
Now n came to Donald with conyic-
tion that the old captain had had ref
erence to--thla woman
And. strnInlng his eyes through the
darkness. he saw her again.
But this time there was visible upon
her face ~ expression SO pldful that
Il almos, brought the tears 10 Don.
aids eyes.
She WAS watching him with dumb
yearnlng Of indispensable pathos, That
look Feiainded Donald o. the old leg.
end Of The mermaid who could obtain
eaui only from some human lover
An Idea came 70 him. He would 90
up into the counting tower; IN that mar
rom space he could see her better and
understand what She was.
Bnt as he stood IN the passage, at
the bottom n the Tapdoor. Clouts np-
pearpd before him. Ii occurred TO
Donald aftefward that he had been
fhere for Z considerable time.
cts an right. SIRE said Ciouts.
@You told mo 70 call you when you was
to go On duty. ana It's all right"
whats an rightT" demanded Dom
ala.
Fits all right. sir / understand such
things" said Clouts.
"Tlunts what the devil are you talk.
ing aboutf"
.is,= al ssssssss..ttss , sir" replied Clouts
Tor the third time, pointing before him,
And Ia the passage. not more than
q dozen feet away, Donald saw the
woman's form.
Ills anger vanished He took the
sailor by the arm.
"Clouts,' he said, "do you suppose
we could get her into the coming
tower7"
Il dont know. SIR" said Clouts,
shaking his head. III she's willing 10
80, sir. That's the question. sir"
aCl0uts" D0nald's voice sank 10 a
whisper-"you must understand that
this isn't woman--at least not a
human one. she's-she's--"
quite 40. n might say 80, or there.
abouts said Clouts
"And DO you think you could yet
her theref'
Clants scratched his head II sup
pose 50. sir" he answered, "But she'd
have 70 come out again, You know"
that's what intend" said Donald
desperately. "Back into the water
through the alrlock,"
"Push her 10, slr2'
Lead her Ia. Clouts, Put on my
coat aud Eet her follow you, Then,
when you've rot her inside, put on the
last diving dress and see that She
that she doesn't come back. / don't
mean YOU 20 hurt her She ean live
under the water, you know And,
while you're about Il. Clouts, you
might sec II you can adjust the rud.
der"
For Il slamcnt Clouts and his cap.
tain looked hard into each others
eyes. Then ClOuts grim face softened
Putting bis hands 70 his pocket, he
dfeW out hts mouth orgaa, aud this
soft strains - annie Rooney" went
up into the cir. Clouts played Il
through with quies resolution.
~I'll 40 T. sir be said.
Donald turned and saw that th'
wunSu d the SEA stood exactly wher'
ae had heen throughout thst Inter
yleW she bad not stirred.
laW MNttr3 Whtle AlNRkh kolNA w
last diving suit In the storsroom, ans
thea ne two went back into the mess
rooln. Presently Clouis emerged. ca
eassd in bis cylinder. and holding ~
glass mask Ia bis hand About hi
siau.aers he wore ponuid's coat Don
ala waited within.
lie hsard the coming tower trar
DOR close and after that he caul
hear upthing He waited an indeHnit
time Suddenly soft splashiug q WI
~ told him that tho lower levels I
the sea we're being agitated by n
cpudenssa oxygen % the airloek. Thel
foliumed slieneA The sounds wel
eui 90 abruptly aud Tor a long tin
Donald waited
HIS neryes were 80 tense that whs
C1onts opened the door he started Vi
ieutiy. Re peered into the sailor
face.
srye done 4. sir" said Clouts. "sl
followed nae like--llke a dog. sir. Al
! saw her eyes when pushed her IN
asfsaE ssFtssf al. uaa