The Raymer enterprise., 1918-03-28
CHAPTER lll-(continued.)

He could trace the movements. as
Of some Invisible body. He saw the
ripples glide forward along the sur
face. strike the glass wall opposite,
and continue at a right angle, turning
again and again as the creature con-
tlnued on Its steady course. The SEN
sation was uncanny. Captain Mas
terman's words came back to Donald /:
"rve brought my specimen home.' He
was aware Of an impulse to bolt. In
stead Of which. however. he coneen-
trnted all his attention on the tank.
The movements In the water sub
sided. Donald had the impression that
the invisible creature had stopped and
was regarding him. He saw gentle
swirl as II body stood upright with
In the tank. Then sound from the
second tank drew him toward 1t.
II was musical ringing, exactly
like that produced by drawing the
finger tip around the top Of bowl OF
water--a long-drawn sound. sweet and
clear. Donald looked into this tank,
which was open at the top and not
connected with the apparatus. But he
could see nothing there, either.
He turned back to the first tank.
and all at once he perceived two black
specks. close together. halfway be-
tween the top Of the water and the
glass roof. Each was about the size
Of small currant. Donald went
nearer. He saw them move. Then he
started backward, overcome with hor-
ror.
The black specks were the pupils Of
a pair Of eyes fixed on his and fol-
lowing them!
Like oil sailors. Donald Paget was
not free from superstition. Any known
danger he could have faced bravely,
but this unknown thing was terrify-
ing. He felt his knees give under him.
His impulse was to fiy.
He turned. and at that moment
something descended upon his head
and struck him, half conscious, to the
floor.
Dimly, through the gathering mists.
he made out the form Of middle
aged bearded man. He saw the red
face. the shrewd gray eyes that looked
into his, and recognized MacBeard.
Beside him lay the sandbag with
which the man had felled him.
Unable to move, Donald felt Mac
Beard rifiing his pockets one by one,
until he came upon the envelope con-
tninlng Masterman's communication.
MacBeard drew II forth with a grunt
and stood up under the gas to exam
Inc It.
A brief survey satisfied him that he
had found what he was seeking. He
grunted again and looked down at
Donald. Apparently satisfied with his
work, he turned toward the water
tanks. He must have heard the
splashlng OF the monster as II re-
sumed Its journeyings, for he started
an instant, and then. as II curious,
he drew nearer to the first Of the
tanks with the air-pipe attachment.
He stood quite still, looking at the
thing In the water. Donald wondered
whether he had discovered II, and
whether he had perceived the eyes.
He knew In a moment, for with a
yell MacBeard started backward. He
stumbled against one Of the palms
and sent It crashing to the floor.
MacBeard, who had fallen with II,
picked himself up and ran In terror.
Donald heard his footsteps pattering
along the flags outside. He heard the
siam Of the creaking gate. He knew
that the professor, having obtained
tho document, was not likely to re-
turn. And he could not blame him for
his nervousness, for he had almost
dene the same thing himself.
Denald staggered to his feet,
clutched at the wall to steady himself,
and remained thus. while the SWIM
ming room gradually grew still. The
light from the gas-Jet fell upon the
water tanks. And. looking at the far
thcr tank, Donald had a queer illu.
sion.
He thought he saw the very misty
outlines Of the body of beautiful
woman, the merest shadowy shape,
which swan before his eyes and was
zone. and reappeared, yelled In sort
of prismatIc blend of coloring.
But before he had time TO coprlnce
himself that II was or was not the
result Of his injury, TO his horror he
perceived very clearly cloudy form
eginning to take shape within the
nearer tank.
The outlines grew clearer fnomen-
.arily. He saw what seemed to he
the body Of a hairless monkey. sup
porting itseli upon webbed Feet. or
aappers. Budding out from the sides
we're two similar arms. the webbed
hands pressing against the sides cf
the tank.
The outlines were at first SO vague
a. to be almost imperceptible; then
the crystalline body became orales-
cent and milky, resembling the white
Of an egg. II hardened and, as It
hardened, swelled. Donald saw the
chest hea-e, the gaplike mouth con-
torted.
And suddenly ae realized that this
arotesque. pitiful thing was suffering !
Hs NV Immediately that the pro