e house and on either side
were rows of tall, uncut privet hedge.

Suddenly as Penny walked hurriedly along, she was startled to see a
lean, yellow hound hurl itself over the top of the hedge directly in
her path. She stopped short. The animal bared his fangs, growling low.

Penny was not afraid of dogs as a usual thing, but she had never seen a
more vicious looking hound. She had every reason to believe that if
she tried to go on up the lane he would attack.

Penny reached down and seized a stout stick. She did not know whether
to try to advance or retreat.

As she was eying the hound speculatively, Penny heard another sound
directly behind her. She whirled about to see an old man with intent
dark eyes watching her from beyond the hedge. Only his face was
visible for the dense green foliage completely screened his body.

"What do you want here?" asked the old fellow in a harsh voice. "Who
are you?"

CHAPTER III

A Queer Old Man

"My name is Penelope Nichols," the girl introduced herself after she
had recovered from astonishment. "Are you Mr. Crocker?"

"I am," replied the old man grimly. "What do you want here?"

"Why, my father and I rented your cottage," Penny told him quickly.
"Would you mind calling off your dog? He acts as if he'd enjoy chewing
me to pieces."

"Rudy has been trained to attack anyone who tries to come up the lane,"
Herman Crocker said evenly.

He stepped through a gap in the hedge and spoke sharply to the hound.
Rudy went reluctantly to the side of his master.

Penny could not help but stare at the old man. He was short and
stooped and his clothes were not very clean. She saw that he was
carrying a shotgun.

Herman Crocker studied the girl shrewdly.

"What is it you want of me?" he asked gruffly. "I told Kilkane he was
to handle everything about the cottage. I don't want to be bothered."

"Well, I'm sorry, Mr. Crocker, but there are a few details which must
be settled if my father and I are to remain."

"What's your complaint?"

"The electricity hasn't been turned on, Mr. Crocker. The cottage needs
cleaning. There is no wood. I can't find half enough dishes or
cooking pans. We'll need more linen and blankets."

"You can't expect me to fix up the place like it was a palace,"
complained the old man. "You're only paying fifteen dollars a week."

"If you're unwilling to do anything about it then we'll leave this
morning." Penny turned to walk away.