ed him, coolly, as he started to get in
between her and Amy.
"We'll buy them when we get out a ways," he promised.
"Get them at Lee's," she stipulated. "His are best."
"Did you ever see such a sister!" cried Will. "She has no heart! Very
well, run us around to Lee's, Mollie. I'll get the candy if it--breaks
me," and he began searching through his pockets, picking up bits of
change on the way.
The other boys took their seats, and soon the machine was moving again,
a stop being made for the chocolates. Grace insisted on going into the
store with her brother.
"If I didn't he'd palm off the twenty-cent kind on us, and tell us they
were Lee's best," she said to her chums.
"You eat so many of them that you can't tell the difference--your taste
is jaded," taunted Will.
"Can't I, though?" replied Grace. "Well, I'm not going to give you the
chance to try me. We'll have the best!"
Again they were under way, Grace passing around the box of
confectionery.
"Shall we tell the boys about Mr. Lagg?" asked Betty of Mollie, beside
whom she rode on the front seat, the boys and other girls being in the
tonneau.
"Just as you like."
"Then I think I will." The story was soon told.
"Was he in earnest?" demanded Will.
"He seemed so."
"Then let's have a try at laying the ghost!" proposed Frank. "I wonder
what the union rates are for ridding haunted houses of the haunt? We
must have union wages."
"Of course," agreed Will. "Girls, will you transfer any rights you may
have as ghost-layers to us, if we pay you a commission?"
"We'll think about it," murmured Betty.
"I believe it's all foolishness!" declared Grace. "Maybe Mr. Lagg was
only making fun of us."
"No, there _is_ something in it," said Allen Washburn, quietly.
"How do you know?" demanded Will, quickly.
"Because I acted as Mr. Lagg's representative in some legal matters,"
replied the young law student, who was allowed to do some practice. "I
know that he owns the old mansion, and I heard, indirectly, that he was
having trouble disposing of it to the sanitarium doctors. Of course I
can't say as to the ghost, but there is some hitch over carrying out the
transaction. If you girls could solve the mystery, providing there is
one, I know you would be doing Mr. Lagg a service."
"Then let's do it!" cried impulsive Mollie.
"And we'll help," added Will.
Half-jokingly they talked about it as they motored over the pleasant
road. There had been a he
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