were once beautiful and extensive grounds. But they
had long since fallen into a tangle of weeds and shrubbery.

They had decided to explore the mansion itself first, and go from there
to the annex, as it might be called--the former abode of the housekeeper
and staff of servants the rich Mr. Kenyon once kept.

During the week that had intervened, the keys of the place had been
secured from Mr. Lagg. He was delighted that the girls had finally
consented, through a chain of circumstances, to investigate the queer
manifestations.

"You'll do better than the boys, I'm sure," said the storekeeper.
"Anyhow, they've gone camping. Now find out what that ghost is, and--get
it out of there. I have received word from the doctors who want to use
the place as a sanitarium, that if I cannot, within a week, deliver them
the property with a guarantee that there will be no disturbances, they
will take another place."

"We will do all we can," promised Mollie.

They entered the old mansion. Truly it had been a magnificent place in
its day, and even now the hand of decay had touched it but lightly. With
a few repairs, some decorating, a cutting down of the trees that were
too thick about the place, it could be made into a most cheerful
sanitarium.

"And it's so big!" cried Grace, as she wandered about the spacious
rooms. But she had hold of Amy's arm, it might be noticed, and both
girls kept rather near to Mr. Blackford. He had come back unsuccessful
in his search for his sister.

"Yes, it must have been fine here when the place was new," agreed
Mollie. "Well, let's go at this search systematically."

"That is the only way," spoke Mr. Blackford. "We might start in at the
top and work downward."

They did this, ascending by means of the grand staircase to the second
floor, and thence to the third and fourth. The latter contained but few
rooms, mostly for storage, it seemed, and it was soon evident that no
ghost--of the human kind at least--had been at work here. The dust and
grime of years had accumulated in the apartments.

The third floor offered no solution. This was rather larger in extent,
and contained many guest-rooms. Some showed evidence of having been
beautifully decorated, being paneled in tapestry that now hung in shabby
strips--a relic of former beauty.

It was not until the second floor was reached that anything like a
promising clue was found. Meanwhile many queer nooks and corners had
been explored. Mr. Kenyo