and Thalma watched it and could
not understand its writhings. But as it continued to writhe and groan
they understood at last--the stone had lodged firmly in its throat and
was choking it to death.

Then they sprang to Alpha's side. Omega gathered him up in his arms, but
he saw with one agonized glance that he was dead. His skull was crushed
and it appeared that every bone in his body was broken.

Omega's heart was bursting, but he did not cry out. Holding the crushed
body of his son, he raised his eyes to that God who throughout the ages
had hidden His face from man, and smiled a brave smile of humility and
resignation. While Thalma, understanding all, looked on dumb and
dry-eyed.

Leaving the monster floundering about in its death agony, they took
their beloved son to the cottage and there injected those chemicals
which would forever arrest decay. Then they placed him on his cot that
he might be with them to the end of life. It was then that Thalma,
broken in spirit, found refuge and relief in tears which have always
been woman's solace and savior.

And Omega, gazing out toward the lake, saw that the monster lay still.
They had won their long battle, but at an awful cost. Omega realized
that the gigantic creature, probably deep in a water cavern, had been
only stunned by the electric charges.

* * * * *

Thalma refused to be comforted. Day after day she wept above the
lifeless form of her boy. All Omega's words of consolation, all his
reasoning and faith in the wisdom and justice of all things, failed to
soothe her torn heart. Nor did the promise of another child, rouse her
from her sorrow. She steadfastly refused to consider another child. Life
had lost its last hold on her soul, and now she was ready to surrender
to that cruel fate which had given them mirages of promise and mocked
their misery. In vain Omega explained that it was their duty to fight
on; that they, the last of a once noble race, must not show the white
feather of cowardice. He mentioned the great consolation they had of
having their beloved son ever near them, though lifeless. But Thalma
longed for the presence of the soul, for those words of endearment and
love that had thrilled her mother heart.

Before the embalmment it would have been possible for Omega to restore
life to his boy. Man had mastered all the secrets of biology and life.
He could have mended the broken bones and tissues, revitalized the heart