hem."

"Mr. Lagg keeps them," suggested Grace. "It wouldn't be much out of our
way to go to his store."

"We will!" decided Mollie, and she made a turn at the next crossing. Mr.
Lagg was glad to see them, as he always was. He bowed and smiled as he
came out to the car.

"Ladies, you have come, I see,
To say you'll lay that ghost for me.

"At least I hope so," went on the poetical grocer, with a laugh. "Say
you'll undertake that job," he pleaded. "I've tried to get those doctors
to take the place, ghost and all, but they won't, and I'll have it on
my hands if I don't look out."

"We can't promise," spoke Mollie. "Maybe the boys--Grace's brother and
his chums--will undertake it, Mr. Lagg. If they don't, when we come back
from our tour, we'll consider it once more."

"Well, I'll hold you to that!" he declared. "This is getting serious
with me."

"Have the doctors made any other move?" asked Betty.

"No, not yet. They asked me if I could guarantee that there would be no
queer disturbances, and of course I couldn't so they said they'd have to
wait. But they're dickering for another place, and may take it. I wish
there was no such things as ghosts."

"There aren't!" declared Mollie, decidedly.

"Then how do you account for what happened in the old mansion?" asked
Mr. Lagg.

"Imagination," said Betty.

The storekeeper shook his head.

"A fellow like Pete Skillinger, or some of the fishermen around here,
might imagine," he admitted, "but not those scientific doctors. They
certainly saw, and heard, something they couldn't explain. They sure
did!"

"Did you make any inquiries to be sure they were not doing this
themselves?" asked Mollie. "I've heard of such cases."

"No, these doctors are all well-known men, and have good reputations,"
said Mr. Lagg, with another puzzled shake of his head. "They wouldn't do
such a thing. I don't doubt but what this haunting business can be
explained; but how? That's the question. How? I can't solve it--I
haven't time--daren't leave my store. Now you girls are smart and brave.
The ghost of Elm Island didn't bother you, so why should this one?"

"Oh, well, we'll think about it," promised Mollie. "Now what we most
need are cheese crackers--and not ghostly ones, either, Mr. Lagg."

"You shall have the best in stock."

Then, his mind being turned in another channel he recited this:

"Cheese crackers I have, large and small
Enough for on