"Green," he said, smiling, "we have a little private stock left in the cellar up there. Our guests are permitted to use it." Green’s eyes twinkled. "That might help to keep them ghosts away. One poison sometimes counteracts another, so I guess one kind o’ spirits _might_ chase away the other kind." "Then the matter is settled?" asked Forrester. "Sure thing," grinned the mollified detective. "But remember—I’ve got to have regular protection against ghosts." CHAPTER VIII—THE GIRL ON THE HORSE Taking Green to breakfast and listening to his story had occupied more time than Forrester had allotted for his interview with the detective. So, after leaving the city behind and entering the smooth and less frequented roads of the North Shore, he drove his roadster at a pace that would quickly have brought him into the toils of any local guardians of the law who might have spied his racing motor. Fortunately, they were reserving their watchfulness for a later hour of the day and Forrester kept up his swift pace until familiar landmarks told him that he was approaching Jasper lane. He had just placed his hand on the gear lever when a horse and rider unexpectedly appeared coming out of a narrow side-road a short distance ahead. Forrester threw out his clutch and shifted his hand to the emergency brake. So great had been his speed, however, that the car slid for some distance along the oily roadway and passed directly under the horse’s nose. Both horse and rider were startled. Snorting wildly, the horse reared on his hind legs with such suddenness that his rider was thrown to the ground. Forrester jumped from his car and ran back to see if he could be of any assistance. He discovered then that the rider was a girl, who had sprung quickly to her feet before he reached her. "I am sorry," exclaimed Forrester, apologetically, removing his cap. "Are you hurt?" "Oh, no," she returned, with a smile, "it was nothing at all." "It was very careless of me," continued Forrester, "not seeing you sooner." "Not at all!" returned the girl. "It was entirely my fault. I should have remembered that I was approaching the main motor highway and been more cautious." Her eyes twinkled, as she added, "Just like a woman, wasn’t it?" "Well," smiled Forrester, hesitatingly, "I wouldn’t exactly say that." "Oh, yes, you would," she asserted. "I know how you men talk about us behind our backs. You see, I have a brother." "I would not take what a brother said as a guide to other men’s opinions," suggested Forrester. "Brothers do not always fully appreciate their sister’s charms." "Am I to consider that as a compliment, or just a piece of information?" challenged the girl. "I leave that to your own good judgment," returned Forrester. The girl flushed slightly. "Would you mind catching my horse?" she requested.