Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-25
Ask No Questions
By Beldon Duff
copyrish. north American
Copyright 1880 By fna

| David returned the millionaire's look
with interest. "Roderick and Annabelle.
But they were only my foster-parents.
I am founding"
| The owner of the Daily Free Press
! laid his one sound hand on the young
mans shoulder and looked up at his
managing editor breathlessly.
The mystery of Brides House deep
ems, Alva," he said. Frederick and
| Annabelle Kenny were my own father
and mother. And this lad, with his
great body and dark curly hair, might
well be. as Miss West says, my own
SON"
It was Sunday afternoon. and the liv-
| ing room of Brides House was crowded:
Alva Cropssy, smoking his pipe; John
Diamond his arm in sling. occupying
the big chair in the bay window; Willie
Prentice and Claudia, hand in hand on
the couch Even Seth Toby and Noah
conscious, in their prayer meeting
clothes.
The table was set for tea. There
were sandwiches and a plate Of iced
cakes. Noah hoped that Miss West
would come soon. The ride over from
the Crossing had given him an appe-
tite.
"All's well that ends WE'LL" observed
Seth Toby, breaking what had become
a painful silence.
John Diamond sighed and Alva Crop
sey glared 1t seemed that perhaps the
observation needed a bit of explaining.
There's no danger Of any further
publicity" said the chief of police. "Of
course, there'll be talk for while, but
something's always happening to turn
gossip into other channels" Hesitat-
ingly, I'm glad the boy didn't see his
mother"
Cropsey started to speak, but the
millionaire, with a gesture that had
something of its old imperiousness in 1t,
stopped him.
s'Tm glad he didn't, too. Toby. And I
have to thank you for 1t. Gaining the
confidence of son ones never seen
until he's grown man Is difncuit
enough. I'd rather David never knew
how badly his mother was disfigured,
nor why"
It was an admission that took cour-
age, the managing editor thought. But
his chiefs next question showed that
the ordeal had only begun.
HAS Cranson made a statement YETI"
Seth Toby nodded.
"a pretty clear one when we first
took him. Lucky he did, because now
he's gone completely of his head.
Thinks he's back In his circus days and
keeps yelling for them to bring on the
elephants"
John Diamond raised his uninjured
hand and held 1t as a shield before his
eyes.
what did he say about-her?"
Cropsey, sensing that his employer
was in some way getting dissolution
from this public. crucifying of himself,
held his peace. It was certain, too,
Seth Toby realized the difficult nature
of the task assigned to him, for he had
prefaced every answer with an apollo
getic cough. He did so now.
Seems, to hear him tell 1t, the little
doc musta lived for the past 80 years
between the devil and the deep sea. He
wanted revenge on you: but he was
afraid If he had 1t they'd take Jane
Runnels away from him." Adjusting
his collar and tie in q desperate effort
to appear at ease, you'll have to re-
member, sir, that Cranson loved Jane
Runnels from the minute he set eyes
on her. Naturally. he recognized she
was out of his class: and not until he'd
rescued her. crazed and with her beauty
gone forever, did he seriously believe
she might be his.
Diamond asked, without lowering his
hand, How did Cranson know I had