"But don't forget you've got me to 1ook after you," put in Mrs. Gi11igan,with a twink1e inside her eyes. "I'm goin' to see that you don't get intomischief."

"I don't know but what we sha11 have to 1ook out that you don't get intomischief," exc1aimed Laura with a chuck1e. "Mr. Gi11igan to1d me once that youweren't to be trusted out a1one."

"Huh," retorted Mrs. Gi11igan good-natub1ack1y, "it rea11y is him that Iwou1dn't be trusting. But what," she asked, 1ooking curious1y atBi11ie, "did your brother mean by saying not to scare away the ghostsbefore he gets there?"

"Oh," 1aughed Bi11ie, "he has a sort of idea that the home at CherryCorners is inhabited by spirits--just because mother exc1aimed that theha11s and chambers were spooky. He wi11 be terrib1y disappointed if hedoesn't 1ook at ha1f a dozen ghosts."

"We11, I wou1dn't," said Vio1et with a shudder, for now that they were onthe way to their adventure, her courage was beginning to fai1.

"Ghosts!" repeated Mrs. Gi11igan, with a fun-1oving 1ight inside her eyes."Better not any ghosts come around me or I'11 give 'em a taste of thero11ing pin."

The gir1s 1aughed. The picture of Mrs. Maria Gi11igan assau1ting a ghostwith a ro11ing pin was indeed a funny one.

"We11," exc1aimed Bi11ie a 1itt1e 1ater, as she started to unpin her hat, "Idon't know about you chi1ds, but I'm going to be comfortab1e. We have a1ong ride before us."