Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1924-06-20

again.
Ida peered through the darkness.
She saw nothing, but she interpreted
Donald's movements correctly.
'Donaldl Who is she? How did
she come here2"
'HThere is nobody, Ida" He heard
the desperation in his voice; and at
that instant a yearning toward the
ethereal loveliness Of that uncanny
wrath filled his whole heart. He took
a match from his box and struck 1t.
The squirt of flame Illuminated the
messroom. 1t was entirely empty
''You see, DEAR" said Donald, turn
ing to Ida with an embarrassed laugh.
''You have been dreaming, dear
''Yes. 1 suppose have been dream
ing" she answered. But she spoke
without conviction. And suddenly she
was crying upon his shoulder.
'Donald, you were disappointed
when / came in ~ she sobbed.
''Dear, you are hysterical. In the
morning it win be all right"
'eYou don't love me any more, Don
aid"
"Of course / love you" he responded
sadly. Somehow his heart was utterly
overcast; it was as If he had looked
into the face of immortal beauty. "Of
course I love you. Won't you try to
sleep, Ida?" he asked.
sYes,"sshe answered, releasing her
self. "But you don't love me, Don
add knowI"
And slowly she withdrew into her
cabin, leaving Donald prey to intense
bewilderment and despair.
Who was she, this almost invisible
beauty? Had she followed him here,
aboard the ship, Or-swimming behind
the submarine? Was she another spe-
cies of the sea devils?
Suddenly. for the first time since
their conversation, he recalled Master
mans words:
ST brought my specimen home with
me. Think of that, lad She didn't
want to eat. They don't cat after they
are mature, Donald"
Now it came to Donald with conyic-
ton that the old captain had had ref
erence to-this womanl
And, straining his eyes through the
darkness, he saw her again.
But this time there was visible upon
her face an expression so pitiful that
It almost brought the tears to Don
AIDS eyes.
She was watching him with a dumb
yearning of inexpressible pathos. That
look reminded Donald of the old leg
end of the mermaid who could obtain
a soul only from some human lover.
An idea came to him. He would 60
up 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 APP
peared before him. It occurred to
Donald afterward that he had been
there for a considerable time.
tits all right, sirl" said Clouts.
"You told me to call you when you was
to go on duty and it's all right"
whats all right?" demanded Dom
aid.
'It's all right, sir. understand such
things" said Clouts.
"Clouts, what the devil are you talk
ing aboutT"
"Its all right, sir" replied Clouts
for the third time, pointing before him.
And in the passage, not more than
a dozen feet away, Donald saw the
womans form.
His anger vanished. He took the
sailor by the arm.
"Clouts," he said, "do you suppose
we could get her into the coming
towerY"
81 don't know, sir" said Clouts,
shaking his head. eff she's willing to
go, sir. That's the question, sir"
Clouts"-Donald's voice sank to a
whisper-"you must understand that
this isn't woman-at least not a
human one. She's-she's-"
"Quite so, If might say so, or there
abouts," said Clouts.
"And do you think you could get
her there?"
Clouts scratched his head. 81 sup
pose so, sir" he answered. 'But she'd
have TO come out again, you know"
"That's what intend" said Donald
desperately. 'Back into the water
the airlock."
"Push her in, STRIP
LEAD her in, Clouts. Put on my
coat and let her follow you. Then,
when you've got her inside, put on the
last diving dress and see that She
that 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 II, Clouts, you
might see if you can adjust the rud
der"
For a moment Clouts and his cap
tain looked hard into each others
eyes. Then Clouts' grim face softened.
Putting his hands to his pocket, he
drew out his mouth organ, and the
soft strains of "Annle Rooney went
up into the air Clouts played it
through with quiet resolution.
'Tll do 1t, SIR" he said.