Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-22
Ask No Questions
By Beldon Duff
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the rolling doors, only to face pillows
of suffocating smoke, the crackle OF
flames famed to sudden fury by the
thrush of air.
1t was the work of an instant to
tear of his flannel shirt and plunge
with 1t, head down, to the box stall.
A more sober second thought would
have shown the impossibility Of res
cue: and yet, the very foolhardiness Of
the attempt insured its success.
The stallion, mad with fright, roared
q warning as the gate to freedom
opened; but instead of charging, as one
less versed in the ways of horsefiesh
than David might have expected, he
covered in the farthest corner of the
stall, blind and stupid, signing his own
death warrant.
There was no time to back and MI.
Without warning a weight dropped
across his back. Legs that had IA
miliar feel kneed his ribs. A flannel
shirt was wrapped about his eyes and
nose. mercifully plotting out the ter
rifying flames. And at me same mo,
ment voice, remembered for its cool
assumption of authority, babe him,
"Get-the- hell-outp'
In a great rush, the Killer cleared
the burning planks and came through
into cool night air.
AS they emerged to safety David
heard hail and, looking down, saw
Willie Prentice, his youthful form OUT
lined In the fires glare against a back
ground of gesticulating men. He was
shouting something through cupped
hands. With swoop the centaur
swung his half naked body almost to
the ground and caught the smaller
man up setting him behind him on the
stations broad hack
THE other end of the tunnel" he
roared above the din, where is it,"
That's what was trying to tell
you" came the plaintive reply ITS
on the other side of the south pasture.
I'll show you just whereof don't
fall of His fingers gripped flesh that
felt slippery because it was wet with
They turned and headed for the
south pasture, unmindful of either
commands or bullets Dracula taking
the low stone wall like q trained hunt
er. To Willie holding his breath. u
was feat of daring equaled by none
he had ever witnessed In circus That
he managed to keep his seat, shouting
to the hypnotic influence of recently
acquired belief in his companions abil-
ity to handle the situation.
Across the pasture on wings of the
wind, and then another stone wall.
They were in the woods now, on
treacherous ground. Told that the
mouth of the tunnel was near at hand.
David brought the stallion to an abrupt
halt bade his companion disYnount,
and followed him, though not in such
headlong fashion, to the ground.
A few steps and Willie Prentice said,
There" pointing TO twin oaks whose
twisted trunks left a yawning gap. be-
tween. II came up through those
trees
David paused
did you bring a light with you?"
"No," moaned Willie.
Neither did l."
"Ill go first. If you want me to-" 1t
was valiant offer. The youngsters
knees were shaking.
For the time II takes to draw one
deep breath. David hesitated. Then,
In a voice which rang with newly
discovered power. he announced.
you're not even coming with me.
Take this!' It was the automatic. he
held out. IF that mob over at the
house gets here before come out :
warn them they're not to follow me.
II they try to rush you. shoot one OF
them in the leg. That'll hold them
for a while"
The order to pour bullets into people
whose flesh might be quivering like his
own did more to unseat Willie Prem
tees courage than anything that had
happened so far that evening. Tim
not much of shooter" he stammered.
but III do m-my best" And at last,
in utter panic. you know something
terribles happening in that tunnel and
you're going into alone-unarmed."
In the darkness David smiled. It
was a smile that would have bewildered
the other man had he been able to
see 1t. g
Eyes, I'm going into the tunnel alone.
I'm going into a dark hole whose
sides will almost touch me-" He said
the words softly, experimentally. But
it's ali right. I'm not afraid"
For what seemed distance of end
less miles, the tunnel dipped down like
rabbit warren. Then, Unexpectedly,
IL Strengthened out the walls fell away,
and even a six-footer could walk erect.
David breathed sigh of relief. For
all his new-found courage there was
comfort In the thought that he need
no longer crawl on hands and knees.
Only the darkness now impeded his
progress, that and the fear of stumbling
into some unexpected pitfall. How far
he had travelled since leaving Willie
Prentice he had no means of knowing;
but presently sound from somewhere
ahead OF MIN warned that another per-
son was negotiating the tunnel-some
one approaching on uncertain feet and :.
with no thought of concealing his or
her presence.
The giant planted himself in the
middle of the tunnel and waited while
the faltering steps came closer. Strange
unexplained noises fell upon his eers-
noises that resembled the gurgles Of a
child. For some reason those
sounds clutched at his heartstrings,
set his pulses to beating more fever
ishly. BY stretching out long arm
in either direction he spread q net
across the tunnel. It was not long
before he had made catch.
Silent now, the thing in his arms
sought a means Of escape, and. finding
none, collapsed with a suddenness that
was disconcerting IT. was Q woman.
Her soft body lay against his breast.
A familiar perfume filled his ncstrfls.
"Annassar' he whispered. Ami"
She struggled again. The strange
sound broke out afresh. They were
sohs.
(To be continued)