Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-30
IRE, Love, tile Unds.world Mingle in
By FRANK. L. PACKARD

now, a fascination of horror Selling
upon him. Two curious spots show
ed out there in the water. Not
lights-they weren't lights-but they
were in a sense luminous. They
seemed to stare, full Of Unsuitable
lust, giobous, protuberant from out
of the mist of that waving, feeling,
slithering forest Of tentacle arms.
He swept his hand across his eyes.
Was he mad? Was this some ugly
fantasy that he was dreaming-and
blood run cold? Look! Look!
Those two luminous spots were
coming nearer and nearer-eyes.
baleful, hungry-eyes, that's what
they were They were coming
closer to the shore-to the body of
Paul Cremarre. A dripping, tentacle,
waving in the air, sWayed forward,
and dropped and curled and fasten-
ed around the body-that was the
second one there.
It was too light now! The sight
was horror-but the fascination of
horror held him motionless. There
was no head to the thing. just a
monstrous, formless continuation of
abhorrent bulk from which were
thrust out those huge. repulsive
tentacles-from which was thrust
out another now to fasten itself, for
purchase, upon one of the small,
outer concrete. piers that rose from
the deeper water beyond.
And again the body Of Paul Gre
MARIE moved, and there was a
sound. The gurgling Of water.
1t had a beak like parrots
heak, and the mandibles opened
now-wide apart-to uncover a
cavernous mouth. And the eyes
and the tentacles of the thing be-
gan to retreat from the shore.
The gurgle of water again.
A white shirt sleeve showed for
an instant-and was gone.
A splashing. A commotion. A
swirl An eddy.
Then in the shadowy light a
placid surface, the looming central
pier of the boathouse. the little
piers, roof above-the common
place.
A voice spoke at his side-Run-
nells':
Where's Paul Cremarre?"
Captain Francis Newcombe's hand
kelchief, with apparent nonchalance.
went to his face. 1t wiped away
Leads of sweat.
I don't know what you'd call
the thing he said casually. The
scientists seem to refer to the
species under a variety of names
you may take your choice, Runnells.
between pouple, deviltish and octopus.
It's bit of an unpleasant specimen
Whatever name you choose It's
gone now-and so has Paul Gre
MARIE"
"An octopus." Runne,ls stared
through the dim light toward the
water, you, mean tit got Paul ?"
Yes" said Captain Francis New
combe. He returned the handkcr-
chief to his pocket.
"Gawd!" said Runnells in a shaky
whisper. "An octopus. l know
what that is. The things got
suckers that would tear the flesh off
you. That's where those marks on
Paurs face must have come from.
re must have had fight with it
before we found him."
YES" said Captain Francis New
combe. he undoubtedly did. It's
rather obvious now that he had lust
managed in a dying effort to break
loose and reach the shore. And the
brute was crafty enough to know. I
fancy, and waited for the tide to
come farther in to bag it's prev.
anyway, you won't need those
spades you've got there now-and
incidentally, Runnells, where the
oevli have you been all this time q"
brow. MS
lit knocked me fiat. that did !"
he said with sudden, wild rush of
words; but it amt any worse than
WHAT'S happened up there. HelTs
broke loose-just hell-that's what,
The old birds gone and done it.
Snot himself, he has"
captain Francis Newcomers hand
ieached out and closed in a quick.
'ignt grip on the others shoulder.
come out of here!" he said
aoruptiy. He Ted Runnells out be-
yond the overhang Of the veranda.
ana IN the better light stared into
the mans face. Now. then. wbat,s
himself?" 'noe
BY accident" said Runnells. mod
olng his head Nexcitedly; "Ieastways.
mats what suppose you'd cali il :"
Dead?" demanded Captain
Francis Newcombe.
Kunnells laughed nervously.
You're bloody well right he's
dead" he said gruffiy. Dead as a
herring! That's what the rows ali
about" al
TEL your story!" ordered Captain
Francis Newcombe shortly.
Wen, when ! went up there from
here" said Runnells. Il saw the
house all lit up. and the blacks All
running around, and the whole
place humming. And they spotted
me, some Of the servants did, and