Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1918-01-23
CHAPTER XI-Continued.
IA

Slspp. Ida?" he asked.
SI @yos she answered, releasing her
..t "But you don't love me, Don
~ And slowly she withdrew into her
hin leaving Donald a prey to intense
Saw,Iderment and despair.
Wbo was she, this almost invisible
hsautyl Had she followed him here,
's.ord the ship, or-swimming behind
49, crbmarine? Was she another spe-
Nos of the sea devils?
Suddenly, for the first time since
,hoir conversation, he recalled Master
mans words:
VI brought my specimen home with
-. Think Of that, lad! She didn't
rant to eat. They don't eat after they
are mature, Donald"
Now II came to Donald with convic-
Ann that the old captain had had ref
srence to-thiS woman!
And. straining his eyes through the
darkness, he saw her again.
Rut This time there was visible upon
ber face an expression so pitiful that
n almost brought the tears to DON
AIDS eyes.
She was watching him with dumb
warming of inexpressible pathos. That
iook reminded Donald of the old leg
snd of the mermaid who could obtain
a soul only from some human lover.
An idea came to him. He would go
ID into the coming tower; in that mar
row space he could see her better and
understand what she was.
But as he stood in the passage, at
the bottom Of the trapdoor, Clouts ap-
peared before him. 1t occurred to
Donald afterward that he had been
there for a considerable time.
Ifs all right, sir!" said Clouts.
"YOu told me to call you when you was
20 go on duty, and it's all right"
whats all right?" demanded DON
AID
ITS all right, sir. I understand such
things" said Clouts.
"ClOuts, what the devil are you talk
Ing abOutT
"Its all right, sir" replied Clouts
Tor the third time, pointing before him.
And in the passage, not more than
a 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
tOWerp
Il don't know, sir" said Clouts,
shaking his head. "If she's willing to
30, sir. That's the question, sir"
"ClOuts"-DOnald's voice sank to a
Whisper-"you must understand that
this isn't a woman-at least not a
human one. She's-she's-"
quite so, If I might say so, or there
abOutS," said Clouts.
sand do you think you could get
her thereY
ClOuts scratched his head. II sup
pose so, sir" he answered. But she'd
have to come out again, you know"
That's what I intend" said Donald
desperately. Back into the water
through the airlock."
Push her in, Sir?"
Lead her in, Clouts. Put on my
coat and let her follow ysE. Then,
"hen you've got her inside, put on the
last diving dress and see that She
mat she doesn't come back. I don't
mean you to hurt her. She can live
under the water, you know. And,
while you're about 1t, Clouts, you
might see if you can adjust the rud-
der"
For moment ClOuts and his cap
Aln looked hard into each others
eyes. Then Clouts' grim face softened.
surung his hands to his pocket, he
ueW out his mouth organ, and the
SOFT strains Of annie Rooney" went
Up into the air. Clouts played it
through with quiet resolution.
III do 1t, sir" he said.
Donald turned and saw that the
"Onan Of the sea stood exactly where
sue mad been throughout that inter
new She had not stirred.
he waited while Clouts found the
SSl diving suit in the storeroom, and
uen the two went back into the mess
,OVLn. Presently Clouts emefged, en-
saSeu IN his cylinder, and holding the
sass mask in his hand. About his
sIouIderS he wore DonaId's coat. DON
au waited within.
ne heard the coming tower trap
tOO' close, and after that he could
gsaf nothing. He waited an indefinite
t s,ue' suddenly a soft splashing of wa
~ 'old him that the lower levels of
ue sea were being agitated by the
~. SnuehSed oxygen in the airlock. There
.Ul0"ed silence. The sounds were
NJ NJ Oh abruptly, and for a long time
Donald waited.
ON IIIS nerves were so tense that when
I L.OulS opened the door he started vto-
face. eAeu in'o INC ''iOt :
EN- I've done it, sir" said Clouts. "She
TVuO"ed me like-like a dog, sir. And
q "a" her eyes when I pushed her into
Sa y water, and 1 don't want to see a
took Ike that again. II faIt like mur-