"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