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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〃
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 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 hunted； rat…like figure that stumbled
panting through the crisp October night； bewildered by strange
lights； beset by shadows； staggering and falling； running like a
mad dog in circles； knowing that wherever his feet led him the
siren still held him by the heels。
As a rule； when Winnie Keep was dressing for dinner； Fred； in the
room adjoining； could hear her unconsciously and light…heartedly
singing to herself。 It was a habit of hers that he loved。 But on
this night； although her room was directly above where he sat
upon the terrace； he heard no singing。 He had been on the terrace
for a quarter of an hour。 Gridley； the aged butler who was rented
with the house； and who for twenty years had been an inmate of
it； had brought the cocktail and taken away the empty glass。 And
Keep had been alone with his thoughts。 They were entirely of the
convict。 If the man suddenly confronted him and begged his aid；
what would he do？ He knew quite well what he would do。 He
considered even the means by which he would assist the fugitive
to a successful get…away。
The ethics of the question did not concern Fred。 He did not weigh
his duty to the State of New York； or to society。 One day； when
he had visited 〃the institution；〃 as a somewhat sensitive
neighborhood prefers to speak of it； he was told that the chance
of a prisoner's escaping from Sing Sing and not being at once
retaken was one out of six thousand。 So with Fred it was largely
a sporting proposition。 Any man who could beat a
six…thousand…to…one shot commanded his admiration。
And； having settled his own course of action； he t