d the papers. My guardian had them, but I recalled that the day
we came here he placed them on the mantle in this room. I came back to
get them, but they were gone, and then I heard a noise--I fainted--and,
well, here I am, and you are here too, I see."

"It is quite a mystery," said Betty. "Now, I have this to propose. You
come home, with us, and we will take you to Mr. Washburn, or have him
come to see you. Perhaps he can dispense with the papers."

"Oh, I hope so!" Carrie cried. "If only I could have a new guardian, I
might be happy."

"Well, let's start on the road to happiness," said Mr. Blackford, with a
smile. "We haven't found the ghost, but perhaps it is just as well."

"Did you ever see any queer manifestations while you were here?" asked
Mollie of the girl.

"I was here only part of one day," she said. "I am glad it was not
dark--I should have been afraid. Oh, it must have been terrible for you
to have been caught by--by that man!" she said to Mollie. "Who could he
have been?"

"I am just wondering if it could have been your guardian," said Mollie,
a strange look on her face. "He said something about me having 'come
back.' Girls, I'm sure that was it!" she cried. "He took me for Carrie,
with my long hair----"

"We are coming on!" cried Mr. Blackford. "We will soon have this mystery
solved."

"What sort of a looking man was the one who caught you?" asked Carrie.

"I could not see--he had on long white garments."

"Well, let us get under way. The lawyers will be the best ones to settle
this affair," resumed Mr. Blackford, as he started for the waiting
auto.

They left the strange mansion behind. Whether it was "haunted" or not
they had failed to establish. But they had gotten on the trail of
another mystery.

It was while autoing toward the town of Franklin, on their way to
Deepdale, that the girls saw on the road a farmer standing beside a
carriage with a broken axle. The man was ruefully contemplating the
damage.

"Can we help you any?" asked Mollie, as she stopped her car. Mollie was
always glad to help people.

"Wa'al," said the man slowly, "if you had a new axle it would be a help.
But I know you haven't. What riles me most though, is that the rascal
will get away from me."

"Are you after some one?" asked Mr. Blackford, catching at the man's
words.

"Yes, I am; after as slick a swindler as has been around these parts in
a long time. He done me out of a bunch of money not long ago, an