Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-16
Ask No Questions
By Beldon Duff
american Newspaper Alliance me
cOpyrishs Newspaper Alliance me-

| 10 ILtlllh o. turning 10 LflS eQlUOT.
You promised to go with me into that
/ hole"
! With a spring, David was on his feet
again.
Hole? You've found the tunnel?"
Young Prentice cringed before the
fury in the overhanging gaze. "Y-y-
yes" he suffered, the h-h-hole that
| leads into the tunnel. IL been look
ing Tor 1t for months. Digging and"
The gaint controlled himself with an
effort.
"Oh, so it's you who's made such a
mess of the garden? I wondered what
was going on" After moment, OBJ
viously spent in putting some unex-
planned two and two together. "Well.
let me tell you something" His warning
look took in all three of his audience.
II found that tunnel weeks ago. It's
mine, understand me, mine If any
one steps foot in the red barn before I
| say the word"
Willie Prentice opened his eyes and
mouth in f1shlike expression of be-
wilderment.
Red barn? I haven't been in the
| red barn"
The giant clenched his big fists and
took a menacing step forward.
Don't lie to me. The mouth of the
tunnel is in the cellar of the red barn.
Behind the packing cases"
Here CropSey interposed his lean
length between the two men.
1T appears you've both stumbled on
the same discovery but from different
angles. Why not act like rational be-
ingS and put your heads together?"
While the giant glared at him he went
on to explain about the hole under the
rock at the edge of the pool. Its I'M
doubtedly part of a natural passage
way which gives in two directions
away from the red barn, let us say,
and toward the house.
Willie, the pacifist, was only too
ready to do his bit toward establishing
a working basis.
That's it--a natural pasSageways he
cried excitedly. See, it's all here-on
this old map" Taking a wallet from
his back pocket, miss Uptegrove loaned
me a portfolio full of data about Hales
Crossing and this was among them. Her
grandfather made it for Mr. Ezra Run
nels' father. He, Mr.. Uptegrove, was
the town engineer or something"
The two men and Abby, unable to
keep up her pose of aloofnesS any lon
ger, followed to the chest of drawers,
where the map, spread out in the light
of the candles, disclosed itself as being
single sheet of drafting paper, so
fragile with age that its folds had
cracked lengthwiSe and across, sepa-
rating it into four parts. 1t was crude
survey of the Runnels farm done in coll
ored inks and ornamented here and
there with drawings of cows and willow
trees. The house itself appeared, and
the red barn. The newer white barns
were missing.
Here" said Willie, pointing to
series of fine red lines, lis the tunnel.
1t seems, before Revolutionary times,
the family used it to escape from the
Indians, but after while one end
caved in, making it impossible. In
1859, when this map was made, Mr..
Runnels decided, for some reason or
other, to have it filled in, but the Civil
war came along and prevented him
from carrying out his PLAN"
1t doesn't lead to the red barn."
said David, who had been studying the
map closely. See, the line runs from
the house, past the pool on the north
side and back toward the town. The
red barn Is on the other side of the
pool, between the house and the south
pasture. This can't be the tunnel 1
found, after ALL
Cropsey cut in with. "Connecticut's
full of this sort of thing Caves and
assures and fossil deposits. When we
come to investigate We may find half
away from that hole by the pool"
And when are we going to inyesti-
gate it?" asked Willie Prentice sharply.
Remember, this is what I came here
for"
Il see no reason why we shouldn't go
now. The managing editor looked at
David. How about it2"
The big stranger rubbed his hands
together with deceptive briskness. but
his face had taken on a curious pallor.
One of us must stay here" he OBJ
Jected. 1T isn't safe to leave her" nod
ding toward Abby, alone. There's been
deliberate attempt made to scare her
out OF her wits tonight. 1t may be re-
peated"
True" Cropsey took a 5O-cent piece
out OF his pocket. Lets toss"
The giant drew q deep breath.
Heads I CO." he said and watched
with feverish intensity while Cropsey
lifted his hand from the coin.
It's heads" chirped Willie Prentice
and to David, THAT means you go with
me. Come, let's get started"
On leaden feet the giant followed his
diminutive companion to the door. At
the threshold he paused and looked
over his shoulder at the two who were
to remain behind
IF I shouldn't come back. tell Miss
west" He hesitated "Tell Miss
West my dark inheritance has gobbled
me up" Without adding anything
which might explain this extraordinary
message he plunged down the stairs
after Willie Prentice and out the front
door into the night.
lTo be Continued)