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was heavily wooded； and surrounded by many gardens； but its chief
attraction was an artificial lake well stocked with trout that lay directly
below the terrace of the house and also in full view from the road to
Albany。
This latter fact caused Winnie Keep much concern。 In the
neighborhood were many Italian laborers； and on several nights the fish
had tempted these born poachers to trespass； and more than once； on hot
summer evenings； small boys from Tarrytown and Ossining had broken
through the hedge； and used the lake as a swimming…pool。
〃It makes me nervous；〃 complained Winnie。 〃I don't like the idea of
people prowling around so near the house。 And think of those twelve
hundred convicts； not one mile away； in Sing Sing。 Most of them are
burglars； and if they ever get out； our house is the very first one they'll
break into。〃
〃I haven't caught anybody in this neighborhood breaking into our
house yet；〃 said Fred； 〃and I'd be glad to see even a burglar！〃
They were seated on the brick terrace that overlooked the lake。 It was
just before the dinner hour； and the dusk of a wonderful October night had
fallen on the hedges； the clumps of evergreens； the rows of close…clipped
box。 A full moon was just showing itself above the tree…tops； turning the
lake into moving silver。 Fred rose from his wicker chair and； crossing to
his young bride； touched her hair fearfully with the tips of his fingers。
〃What if we don't know anybody； Win；〃 he said； 〃and nobody knows
us？ It's been a perfectly good honeymoon； hasn't it？ If you just look at it
that way； it works out all right。 We came here really for our honeymoon； to
be together； to be alone〃
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Winnie laughed shortly。 〃They certainly have left us alone！〃 she
sighed。
〃But where else could we have been any happier？〃 demanded the
young husband loyally。 〃Where will you find any prettier place than this；
just as it is at this minute； so still and sweet and silent？ There's nothing the
matter with that moon； is there？ Nothing the matter with the lake？ Where's
there a better place for a honeymoon？ It's a bowera bower of peace；
solitude abower of〃
As though mocking his words； there burst upon the sleeping
countryside the shriek of a giant siren。 It was raucous； virulent； insulting。
It came as sharply as a scream of terror； it continued in a bellow of rage。
Then； as suddenly as it had cried aloud； it sank to silence； only after a
pause of an instant； as though giving a signal； to shriek again in two sharp
blasts。 And then again it broke into the hideous long drawn scream of rage；
insistent； breathless； commanding； filling the soul of him who heard it；
even of the innocent； with alarm。
〃In the name of Heaven！〃 gasped Keep； 〃what's that？〃
Down the terrace the butler was hastening toward them。 When he
stopped； he spoke as though he were announcing dinner。 〃A convict； sir；〃
he said； 〃has escaped from Sing Sing。 I thought you might not understand
the whistle。 I thought perhaps you would wish Mrs。 Keep to come in…
doors。〃
〃Why？〃 asked Winnie Keep。
〃The house is near the road； madam；〃 said the butler。 〃And there are so
many trees and bushes。 Last summer two of them hid here； and the
keepersthere was a fight。〃 The man glanced at Keep。 Fred touched his
wife on the arm。
〃It's time to dress for dinner； Win；〃 he said。
〃And what are you going to do？〃 demanded Winnie。
I'm going to finish this cigar first。 It doesn't take me long to change。〃
He turned to the butler。 〃And I'll have a cocktail； too I'll have it out here。〃
The servant left them； but in the French window that opened from the
terrace to the library Mrs。 Keep lingered irresolutely。 〃Fred；〃 she begged；
〃youyou're not going to poke around in the bushes； are you？just
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THE RED CROSS GIRL
because you think I'm frightened？〃
Her husband laughed at her。 〃I certainly am NOT！〃 he said。 〃And
you're not frightened； either。 Go in。 I'll be with you in a minute。〃
But the girl hesitated。 Still shattering the silence of the night the siren
shrieked relentlessly； it seemed to be at their very door； to beat and buffet
the window…panes。 The bride shivered and held her fingers to her ears。
〃Why don't they stop it！〃 she whispered。 〃Why don't they give him a
chance！〃
When she had gone； Fred pulled one of the wicker chairs to the edge
of the terrace； and； leaning forward with his chin in his hands； sat staring
down at the lake。 The moon had cleared the tops of the trees； had blotted
the lawns with black； rigid squares； had disguised the hedges with
wavering shadows。 Somewhere near at hand a criminala murderer；
burglar； thugwas at large； and the voice of the prison he had tricked still
bellowed in rage； in amazement； still clamored not only for his person but
perhaps for his life。 The whole countryside heard it： the farmers bedding
down their cattle for the night； the guests of the Briar Cliff Inn； dining
under red candle shades； the joy riders from the city； racing their cars
along the Albany road。 It woke the echoes of Sleepy Hollow。 It crossed the
Hudson。 The granite walls of the Palisades flung it back against the granite
walls of the prison。 Whichever way the convict turned； it hunted him；
reaching for him； pointing him outstirring in the heart of each who heard
it the lust of the hunter； which never is so cruel as when the hunted thing is
a man。
〃Find him！〃 shrieked the siren。 〃Find him！ He's there； behind your
hedge！ He's kneeling by the stone wall。 THAT'S he running in the
moonlight。 THAT'S he crawling through the dead leaves！ Stop him！ Drag
him down！ He's mine！ Mine！〃
But from within the prison； from within the gray walls that made the
home of the siren； each of twelve hundred men cursed it with his soul。
Each； clinging to the bars of his cell； each； trembling with a fearful joy；
each； his thumbs up； urging on with all the strength of his will the h