The Washington times., 1922-08-27

ooh, did he shoot a poacherr'
asked Cicero weakly.
The doctor pointed out the iden-
tical oak tree and the exact spot
hereunder where the deed had
been committed.
81 was going to say, think he
was well within his rights. Now,
if you want a real lunatic" he
was going on, but Cicero stopped
him. ...o..
'T don't want a real lunatic,"
he said. 'G want a real holiday.
But if ever l do want q real one,
doctor, I shall know where to
come"
He watched the doctor disappear
on his crazy trap and then climbed
into a fly.
Crap Apple Farm, sir, that's q
matter of four miles from here"
Over his shoulder the fy-man
became conversational as his horse
clop-clopped along the dusty road.
"Yes, it is a good four milesx At
least, it is four miles from Hang
mans Cross, and that's not half a
mile from the station. I'll point 1t
out to you. You haven't seen
Hangman's Cross, have your"
Cicero admitted that he hadn't.
"You ought to see it," the driver
shook his head admiringly. at
was put up nigh on a hundre4
years ago to commemorate a poor
farmer who was killed by some
sailors. They hanged him where
s0 hot ha
fold" he explained. 81 once met
a very old woman in these parts
who remembered it, too. She was
at the execution, said he took an
hour to die" .'@
Cicero Jones sighed unhappily.
"The funny thing about it." said
the driver, after they had passed
the worn granite cross, and he had
stopped the fly in order to allow
Cicero to get out and make a
thorough inspection, "the funny
thing about it is that that old far
mer who was murdered used to
live in that farm" he pointed with
his whip. eve call it 'Gibtet
House. though some call it Sui
eide Manor"
"Why not call it Wild Rose Cot
tage" entreated Cicero Jones.
because nobody ever wanted
to call it that" said the driver
gravely. "The funny thing about
that house is that three people
have committed suicide"
Don't ten me any more funny
stories," said Cicero, cor I shall
laugh myself to death. Do you
know Mr.. Yeoman?"
every Well, sir" said the fly
man; "a very nice man and highly
respected in these parts His
daughter is bit queer"
"Eh? ?" said Cicero, startled.
"When l say she is bit queer,
| mean she is not quite all there"
"You mean she's mad?'
"Well, l wouldn't go so far as
saying that" said the flyman, "but
she's certainly got a funny way
with her, and they do say that the
language she uses is terrible to
hear"
Cicero looked at his watch.
There was not another train back
for three hours.
"Tell me the worst" he said
recklessly. -.
"The worst-well, that's about
all. I'm not saying that she's
mad" said the driver, with vague
apprehensions of a SANDER suit.
"Far be it from me to say that,
but there is something queer about
her, by all accounts. And even
the rector never goes to that
house."
"Ts it pretty country about
there?" asked Cicero.
eyes, sir" said the driver en-
Enthusiastically; at is certainly the
most beautiful country I have ever
seen. There's lovely stretch of
water quite close to the house.
Dead Mans Pool they call it."
T should have been surprised If
they hadn't" said Cicero, and for
the rest of the journey was silent.
He took his suitcase from the
driver and stood at the gate of
Crab Apple Farm with a wistful
look on his face until the carriage
had disappeared. The front door
was open and he knocked. There
was no response, but from some
where within came the sound of
voices raised in anger. He put
down his suitcase, walked farther
into the passage and opened the
door. And then he stopped.
"'You want the truth?' asked
the passionate voice of woman.
Cicero Jones stood stock still.
"Yes, the whole truth. Where
is Reginald?'" ...-
The second voice waJ that of a
woman, too, and peeping through
the crack of a screen he saw two
girls. The first was tall and
pretty. Her hair was untidy, her
breast heaved with pent emotion.
She who faced her was not so tall
nor in a sense so handsome. Her
face was set in a mould of grim
determination, her hands were
clenched.
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