The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-08-22
"THE SIGN OF
THE FOUR"
By M. QUAD
Copyright. 1912. by Associated Lit
erary Press.
By M. QUAD

crossing of highways that made fou
roads. There was time when
guide post was set up there, and TO
years 1t pointed the way to the town
of Aillville, Goshen, Akron and Sc
willie respectively. There could be N
mistake on the part of one who coult
read. Perhaps it was fifteen year
that the guide post did service. neve
once sending any traveller to Goshei
who wanted to go to Akron. and theI
a high wind blew it down.
The nearest farmer when the pos
went down and lot of schoolboy:
kicked the signs about was a Mr.
Gray. He was half mile away, ant
yet from dozen to score OF travel
ers drove up to his gate each day t
ask what road to take to this town oil
that. Not so many came at night, but
always enough to wake him up three
or four times. At first every inquirer
received a kind answer. but the thing
became monotonous, and there were
rows. Farmer Gray could have
brought back peace and good will by
few hours work. but the average
farmer is working for himself and not
for the county. In year he got SO
mad that he sold his farm and moved
away.
Farmer Cherry found himself both.
cred just as much.
And then what did Farmer Cherry
do? Why. he got bright idea and
paid a sign painter So to help him car
ny it out. He put up on the four cor
iners a sign reading that he would an
swer no questions. day or night. and
that the travelling public must beware
of his savage dog. The sign cost
enough to replace the guidepost. but
what of it? 1t kept some people away
from the farm. but others drove boldly
up to the gate and shouted out:
Say. you with the crouch. what
road do take to go to Goshen?"
Same one you take to go to hades."
would be the reply.
Oh. yes: there were more fights and
black eyes and lawsuits and fines. and
after awhile some one tore down the
sign and carried it away. Then Farm
Ell Cherry sold out to Farmer Green.
Mr.. Green. who had studied law for
three months In his young days. at
once gave out that he did not propose
to stand any nonsense from the public.
After four weeks he began four differ.
ent lawsuits against the four officials
who were derelict about that guide.
post. They were not made terribly
anxious. 1t was the duty of their re-
spective counties to defend them. and
the counties did so. At least the suits
were put on the waiting list and are
there yet
When Farmer Green saw that the
law wasn't going to defend him he
fenced in the highway approaching his
farm. and for this he was arrested and
fined $50. Then he set his bulldog on
an inquirer and had to pay 500 to set
tie the case. Then he sold out. This
was the third sale of the farm, and II
had deprecated over $1,000. Every
body said 1t was sad case. but that's
all the consolation there was in It.
The fourth purchaser was a widow
from Indiana. She had heard all about
the case, but she winked her left eve
and remarked that she didn't think the
public would bother her very much aft
er she got started. She had a little
scheme she thought would work nicely.
For q month after the widow took
possession she hired boy to sit at her
gate and, answer all questions, and she
came In for lots OF praise for this.
Then her little scheme was sprung.
From. the printer she got fifty red pla
cards, reading:
stop! Smallpox
These signs went up between the
farmhouse and the four corners, and
they created CONSERVATION. They did
not say whether the smallpox was at /
the house or beyond, but they surely
stopped" and then turned around and
made OF. One traveller seemed to post
and at the end Of a week the
was Jeff in peace for the
irst time IN years. Very cute widow
from Indiana, but she didn't know
.plinters about law. A complaint was
made, she was arrested. and before
The got through with that little scheme
she was 800 out Of pocket. She was
,rying over It one day and wishing
she had purchaser for the farm
when a benevolent looking old man
,ame along. He didn't ask how far II
was to Goshen. but IL she could spare
him glass Of buttermilk. She could
ind did. and as he slipped It she told
rim the sad story Of the guide post
Ind the farm.
why, I can Ak that all right" he
'eplied after listening to the particu.
ars.
But howT
why. I'll have a new guide post put
Up there and take my pay in butter
milk at 5 cents glass"
But it'll take years to get your
|ay."
"Oh, don't worry about that"
It cost the benevolent old gent an
ven $40 to get gorgeous guide post
'ut up at the four corners. and its
raises fioated over half the state.
fen came and offered the widow ST.
90 more than she had paid for the
nrm, and everything was running
long smoothly when the four coun-
les decided that no unauthorized per-
on had right to put up the post, and