ildren crouched down on the side porch, under
the dining-room windows, and listened to the talk that was going on
inside. Of course this was not right, but they did not know any better,
especially after Grandpa Ford spoke about a "riddle."

And so it came about that Rose and Russ heard what it was not intended
they should hear.

"You know," went on Grandpa Ford, as Russ and Rose listened outside,
"that I bought Great Hedge Estate from a Mr. James Ripley, who lives
near here."

"Yes, I know that," said Daddy Bunker. "Well, you like it, don't you,
Father?"

"Quite well. Your mother likes it, too. It is a large farm, as you know,
and there is a big stretch of woods, as well as land where I can raise
fruits and vegetables. There are meadows for grazing, and fields for
corn, hay and oats. Great Hedge is a fine place, and your mother and I
like it there very much.

"We were a bit lonesome, at first, as it is large, but we hope to get
over that part in a little while.

"What brought me down here is to see Mr. Ripley, and find out something
about the place he sold me. I must find out something about Great
Hedge."

"Here is where the riddle comes in," said Russ in a whisper to his
sister. "We must listen hard now."

"What do you want to find out about Great Hedge, Father?" asked Daddy
Bunker. "Do you think you paid too much for it?"

"No, I got it very cheap. But there is something queer about it, and I
want to find out if Mr. Ripley can tell me what it is."

"Something queer?" repeated Mrs. Bunker.

"Yes, a sort of mystery," went on Grandpa Ford. "It's a puzzle to me. A
riddle I should call it if I were Laddie. By the way, I hope the
children don't hear me tell this, or they might be frightened."

"No, they have all gone out to play," said Mrs. Bunker. "They can not
hear you."

"So there is something wrong about Great Hedge, is there?" asked Daddy
Bunker. "By the way," he went on, "I have never been there, but I
suppose it is called that because it has a big hedge around it."

"That is it," said Grandpa Ford. "All around the house, enclosing it
like a fence, is a big, thick hedge. It is green and pretty in summer,
but bare and brown in the winter. However, it keeps off the north wind,
so I rather like it. In the summer it shades the house and makes it
cool. Yes, the hedge gives the name to the place.

"But now I must tell you what is queer about it--the mystery or the
puzzle. And I don't want you or the chil