“But it will soon be cold weather,” objected Mother Bunker.

“All the better!” laughed Grandpa Ford.  “There is no nicer place in the world in winter than Great Hedge.  The big hedge made of what are almost trees, keeps off the cold north wind.  We always have plenty of snow up in New York state, and the children will have no end of good times.  You must all arrange to come back with me.”

“Well, I suppose we’ll have to,” said Mrs. Bunker.  “But we won’t say anything to the children about the ghost.”

“Unless they find it out for themselves,” remarked Daddy Bunker.  “And if they do I don’t believe it will frighten them much.  Laddie will, most likely, make up a riddle about it.”

“He certainly is good at them,” said Grandpa Ford with a chuckle.

Meanwhile Russ and Rose had told the good news to the other little Bunkers—­that is, the news about the five-cent pieces.

“Oh, come on down to the store!  I know what I’m going to buy!” exclaimed Laddie, when they all had their money.

“What?” asked Vi.  “Some candy?  Oh, let’s all buy candy and then we can have a play-party with it!”

“I’m not going to buy candy!” exclaimed Laddie.

“What are you going to get?” Rose asked.

“A toy balloon,” Laddie answered.  “I’m going to see how far up I can make it go.”

“How are you going to get it back?” asked Russ.

“I’ll tie a string to it.  I know how to do it.  And if your doll wants a ride, Vi, I’ll give her one in my balloon.  I can tie a basket to the balloon and put your doll in it—­in the basket, I mean.”

“Oh, no!” cried Vi.  “Rose’s doll went up into the air in a balloon like that once, when we were at Aunt Jo’s, and it was a good while before she got her back.  I’m not going to lose my doll.”

“Well, I’ll send my balloon up, anyhow,” said Laddie.

“I guess I’ll get a balloon, too,” said Russ.  “Then we can have a race.”

“Aren’t you going to get any candy?” asked Rose.

“No, I don’t guess so,” answered Russ.  “Maybe Grandpa Ford will give us more money for candy to-morrow.”

“I’ll give you a little of mine if you let me hold your balloon,” said Vi to Laddie.

“Then I will.”

“So will I,” said Rose to Russ.

Down to the toy and candy store they went, and while four of the six little Bunkers got sweets, Russ and Laddie each bought a five-cent balloon, that would float high in the air.  They had lots of fun playing with them, and Rose and Violet kept their words about giving their brothers some candy in exchange for the treat of holding the balloon strings part of the time.

After a bit Mun Bun and Margy went back to the house with Vi and Rose.  Laddie and Russ remained in the side yard, flying their balloons.

“I know what we can do!” suddenly exclaimed Russ.

“What?” asked his smaller brother.