fore. It was just outside the
city of Tarrington, in New York State, and was a fine, big country
estate.

Grandpa Ford looked around the room. He saw Russ and Rose over by the
sideboard, each taking a cookie to eat out in the yard. The other little
Bunkers had already run out, for it was not yet dark.

"As soon as they go I'll tell you why I came away from Great Hedge,"
said Grandpa Ford in a low voice to Mr. and Mrs. Bunker. "It's something
of a mystery, and I don't want the children to become frightened,
especially as they may go up there," he went on. "I'll tell you when
they go out."

CHAPTER III

SOMETHING QUEER

Russ Bunker took a cookie from the dish on the sideboard, handed one to
Rose, and then the two children went out on the porch. Rose was just
going to run along to find Vi, who had taken her Japanese doll to play
with, when Russ caught his sister by her dress.

"Wait a minute, Rose."

"What for?" she asked.

"Hush!" went on Russ. "Not so loud. Didn't you hear what Grandpa Ford
said?"

"I didn't listen," admitted Rose. "I wanted to see if there were any
molasses cookies, but they're all sugar. What was it?" and Rose, too,
talked very low.

They were now out on the side porch, under the dining-room windows,
which were open, for, as I have said, it was warm October weather.

"He said there was something queer about Great Hedge, where he lives
with Grandma," went on Russ. "He didn't want us to hear, 'cause I heard
him tell Daddy and Mother so. But we can hear out here if we listen.
Let's keep still, and maybe we can tell what it is."

"But that won't be nice," protested Rose. "Mother said we shouldn't peep
through keyholes, or listen behind doors."

"There isn't any keyhole here," said Russ. "And we're not behind a door,
either."

"Well, but----" But Rose could think of nothing else to say. Besides,
just then, she heard her grandfather's voice. He was speaking to Mr. and
Mrs. Bunker, and saying:

"Yes, it certainly is very strange. It's quite a puzzle to me--a riddle,
I suppose Laddie would call it. But I don't want the children to know
anything about it."

"There, you see!" exclaimed Russ in a whisper. "It's only a riddle he is
going to tell. We can listen to it, and have some fun. We won't tell
what the answer is when he asks us. We'll make believe we don't know."

"Well, if it's only a riddle, I guess it's all right to listen to it,"
agreed Rose.

So the two eldest Bunker ch