Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1918-04-05
CHAPTER xi-continued.
IA

UNiINlNN " VIM uN ~ Nv NWN 80
into the fnce OF immortal beauty. "Of
course ! love you. Won't you try to
sleep, Ida7" he nsked.
ayes" she answered, releasing her
self. "But you don't love me, Don
add know !"
And slowly she withdrew into her
cabin, leaving Donald n prey to Intense
bewilderment and despair.
Who was she. this almost invisible
benuty7 HID she followed him here,
aboard the ship. or-swlmming behind
the submarlne1 WINS she another spe-
cles Of the sen deyilsf
Suddenly, for the first time since
their conversation. he recalled Master
mans words:
~ brought my specimen home with
me. Think Of that, ladl She didn't
wunt to ent. They don't eat after they
are mature. Donald"
Now II came TO Donald with convic-
ton that the old captain had had ref
erence to-this womanl
And, strninlng his eyes through the
darkness, he saw her again.
But this time there was visible upon
her face an expression so pitlful that
II almost brought the tears TO Dom
AIDS eyes.
She was watching him with n dumb
gearnlng Of indispensable pnthos. Tint
look reminded Donald OF the old leg
end Of the mermaid who could obtain
q soul only from some human lover.
An idea came TO him. He would go
up into the coming tower; In that mar
row spnce he could see her better and
understand what she was.
But as he stood In the passage, Mt
the bottom OF the trapdoor, Clouts mp
peared before him. II occurred to
Donald nfterward that he had been
there for n considerable time.
'It's all right, sir u said Clouts.
"You told me to call you when you was
to go on duty, and it's all right"
"What's all rlght7" demanded Don
AID.
TITS all right. sir. I understand such
things" said Clouts.
"Clouts, what the devil are you talk
Ing aboutf"
TITS all right, SIR" replied Clouts
" NV Ahlih NiiiNf HVihAAAk bNAVAN iAahh'
And In the passage, not more than
A dozen feet away, Donald saw the
woman's form.
His & vanished. He took the
sailor by the arm.
"ClOuts," he said, "do you suppose
we could get her into the coming
tower7"
II don't know, sir" said Clouts
shaking his head. III she's willing e
go, sir. That's the question, sir"
"Clouts"-Donnld's voice sank TO q
whlsper-"you must understand thai
this isn't n woman-at least not q
human one. She's-she's-"
"Qulte so. II | might say so, or there
nbouts," said Clouts.
"And do you think you could geI
her there3"
Clouts scratched his head. ~ sup
pose so, sir" he answered. "But she't
have to come out again, o know.
''That's what l intend" said Donal,
desperately. Back into the water-
through the alrlock."
Push her In, slr7"
LEAD her In, ClOuts. Put on IN,
coat and let her follow you. Then
when you've got her inside. put on IN
last diving dress and see that she
that she doesn't come back. l don
mean you to hurt her. She can llv,
under the water, you know. And
while you're about II, Clouts, yol
might see II you can adjust the ud
der"
For n moment Clouts and his car
tain looked hard into each other
eyes. Then Clouts' grim face softcned
Putting his hands 10 his pocket, h
drew ont his mouth organ. and IN
soft strains OF Annie Rooney wen
up into the air. Clouts played
through with quiet resolution.
"Ill do II, sir" he said.
Donald turned ana saw that IN
woman Of the sea stood exactly wher
she had been throughout that inter
view. She had not stirred.
lie waited while Clouts found IN
last diving suit In the storeroom, an
then the two went back into the mes,
room. Presently Clouts emerged. er
cnsed I'm his cylinder, and holding IN
glass mask IA his hand, About nj
shoulders he wore Donald's coat. Dor
aid waited within.
lie heard the coming tower trnI
door close, and after that he coul
hear nothing. lie waited nm indennit
time. Suddenly n soft splashlng Of WI
ter told him that the lower levels {
the sen were being aritatcd by m