The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1918-01-24
CHAPTER xi--contInued.

CHAPTER xi-contInued.
-13-
"Of course I love you" he responded
sadly. Somehow his heart was utterly
overcast: 1t was as II he had looked
into the face OF immortal beauty. "Of
.cpurse I love you. Won't you try to
sleep. dar' he asked.
YES" she answered, releasing her.
self. "But you don't love me. Dom
add knowr"
And slowly she withdrew into her
cabin. leaving Donald a prey to intense
bewIlderment and despair.
WIFE -ss she. this almost Invisible
beauty Had she followed him here,
aboard the ship. or-swimmlng behind
the submnrlnef Was she another spe-
cies OF the sen devilsf
Suddenly. for the FIRST time since
their conversation, he recalled Master
mans words:
N brought my specimen home with
me. Think OF that, ladi She didn't
want to eat. They don't eat altar they
are mature. Donald"
Now It came to Donald with convic-
ton that the old captain had had ref
arencs to-this womani
And. stralnlng his eyes through the
darkness. he saw her again.
But this time there was visible upon
her face an expression 70 pitiful that
n almost brought the tears to Dom
AIDS eyes.
She was watching him with a dumb
yearning Of ine~xpressible pathos. That
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 20
MP Into the coming tower /: In that mar
rpw space he could see her better and
understand what she was.
But ~ he stood In the passage, at
the bottom OF the trnpdoor. Clouts ap-
peared before him. II occurred to
Donald afterward that he had been
there for q considerable time.
tits all right sir said Clouts.
.syou told me to call you when you was
10 60 on duty. and It's oil right"
"What's all rightf" demanded Don
aid.
ats all right. sir. I understand such
things" said Couts.
'Clouts, what the devil are you talk.
Eng aboutr'
~It's all right. SIR. replied CIcuts
Tor the third time. pointing before him.
And In the passage. not more than
q dozen feet away. Donald saw tho
w0man's form.
HIS anger vanished. He took the
sailor by the arm.
sClouts." he said. do You suppose
yc could get her into the coming
fowerf"
II don't know. SIR said Clouts,
shaking his head. "If she's willing to
-. SIR. That's the question. SIR"
"Olouts"-Donaid's voice sank to q
whisper-"you must understand that
this isn't q wOman-at least not O
human one. Ehe's-she's-"
'.Quite so. IL I might say so. or there
abouts." said Cicuts.
sAnd do you think you could get
nsr therers
Clouts scratched his head. II sup
pose 20, SIR he answered. "But she'd
have to come out again. you know"
s.rhat's what I intend.n said Donald
desperately. "Back into the water
through the airlock."
"Push her In. sirf"
LEAD her In, Clouts. Put on my
soat and let her follow you. Then.
when you've got her inside. put on the
nSt diving dress and zee that she
tAat she doesn't come back. I don't
mean you 10 hurt her. She can live
nnder the water. you know. And.
WAils you're about II. Clouts, you
might % II you adjust the rud-
zer.s
Dor . momeut Clouts and his cap
tain looked hard into each others
s5e4 Then Ciouts grim face softened.
Ruttlng his hands 10 his pocket. he
drew out his mouth organ. and the
tDft strains Of sAnnie Rooney went
% into the air. Oouts played It
t1rough with quiet resolution.
It'll do Il. slr.~ he said.
Donald turned and saw that the
woman Of the sea stood exactly where
ahe had been throughout that inter
View. She had not stirred.
he waited while Clouts found the
1ast diving suit In the storer0om, and
then the two went back into the mess-
xoooA Presently Couts emerged. en-
ensed In his cylinder. and holding the