The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-01-26


Then, for the third time, the i'm
prisoned queen gave the swarming call.
The sound, soft, yet incredibly volu-
minous, rolled from the interior Of the
ship and seemed to I'LL the universe.
II was like a deep, soft note upon
some mighty organ. And the response
was instant
For the third time the swarm, mad
dened by the call. leaped toward its
leader. And, as on Fair island, a tidal
bore came on. a wall Of water which
struck the F55 and rendered her help
less in an instant 1t dashed her round
like a top, it drove her. uncomfortable,
before it. In an instant the steering
gear was disabled. and the vessel
skidded through the waves toward the
cliffs Of the ford, which grew larger
with unbelievable swiftness-
It was the last voyage of the F55-
The battered old submarine which had
rendered such yeoman service, drove
hard on the rocks A needle point
pierced her amidships, a score OF razor
edges rent her TANKS Slowly she sank,
still spinning, into the seething waters
that whipped the deSolate shore.
AS soon as they realized that moth
ing could be done, the three had gath
cred upon the deck and waited for the
disaster. As the F55 struck they leaped
into the sea They escaped the hid
den fangs Of the rocks almost by a
miracle. A few strokes, and Donald
found himself upon the shore, which
the waves were wildly flashing, and
helping Davies to scramble out.
They gasped a moment and recov-
cred their breath.
where's Clouts?" asked Donald
anxiously.
Then they saw the sailors head bob
bling among the waves. He was ap-
parently clinging to a point Of rock
with one hand, while he thrust the
other down into the water.
"Ciouts! Are you drowning?" Don
aid called.
A bubbling sound replied. Donald
waded into the sea. clInging TO the pro-
jecting reef to save himself against the
pounding waves. AS he neared Clouts,
the latter Strengthened himself and
sighed regretfully.
what is it, Clouts7 Are you badly
hurt7'' asked Donald.
mo, sir" he gasped. But I've
I've lost it, sir"
Donald grasped him and pulled him
through the breakers to dry land IN
gently. At that moment ClOuts had
strained his patience severely with his
lost mouth organ.
Look, sir" said Davies, when the
Two hundred yards away Mac
Beard and Ida were standing beside
the motorbOat. MacBeard's light craft,
built upon scientific principles Of his
own devising. had once again estab-
lished its worth. The waves-and luck
had driven it ashore uninjured. And
MacBeard seemed to be inviting Ida to
re-enter it.
The game seemed in MacBeard's
hands once more.
Gomez shouted Donald, starting
forward.
Butsbefore he had broken into a run
Clouts stood barring his way.
"Fve found her, sir" he shouted.
Look, siri''
Donald was on the point Of knock
ing the sailor down. His mouth organ
had become a justification for homi-
eide.
But Clouts was not making refer
ence to his mouth organ just then A
cry from Davies stopped Donald upon
the verge OF delivering his blow.
Donald started and saw, close &c his
side, the eYanescent, nebulous out
lines Of the queen OF the swarm.
And in that moment the memory OF
Ida faded from his mind. He stared
at her like a man bewitched.
Her face, which had always been
the most conspicuous part, was
strangely clouded. 1t was, indeed, as
If a veil Of vapor had been drawn over
it. 1t seemed to cover her, like a long
bridal veil, giving her the aspect of a
shrouded figure.
Davies did not stay to watch that
meeting. Neither did Clouts. They
started at full speed toward MacBeard,
who, already having launched his mo-
tOrboat upon the waves, was holding
out his hand to Ida.
She hesitated and drew back. They
were only fifty PAGES away. And, torn
between her pledge and the desire to
see Donald for one last moment on
earth, the girl stood waiting.
Donald, alone with the queen, looked
into her face and was aware Of moth
ing else.
She raised her arms, slowly she
threw of the draperies OF clinging mist
that covered her head. She stretched
her arms out toward him. She fell
upon her knees.
Her face was visible now, and Don
aid was aware OF a startling change
in IT The beauty that had dazzled
him was gone. A milky palIOr, spread
ing along the veins and arteries, SUI
fused the flesh. The same change was
passing over her that had passed over
the dying monster in the house in Bal
timOre.
With horror Donald realized that
she was dying.
She crouched at his feet; she raised
her eyes to his once more in that mite
yearning. And her face was that of
an aged woman
For few seconds longer the eyes
looked into Dona1d's- Then. without