OUR NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBORS By Belle K. Maniates AMARILLY OF CLOTHES-LINE ALLEY MILDEW MANCE OUR NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBORS [Illustration: "What's your rush?" I asked, when I had overtaken him. FRONTISPIECE. _See page 114._] OUR NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBORS By Belle Kanaris Maniates With illustrations by Tony Sarg Boston Little, Brown, and Company 1917 Copyright, 1917, By Little, Brown, and Company. All rights reserved Published February, 1917 Norwood Press Set up and electrotyped by J. S. Cushing Co., Norwood, Mass., U.S.A. Presswork by The Colonial Press, Boston, Mass., U.S.A. CONTENTS I ABOUT SILVIA AND MYSELF 1 II INTRODUCING OUR NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBORS 9 III IN WHICH WE ARE PESTERED BY POLYDORES 28 IV IN WHICH WE TAKE BOARDERS 45 V IN WHICH WE TAKE A VACATION 61 VI A FLIRT AND A WOMAN-HATER 77 VII IN WHICH NOTHING MUCH HAPPENS 90 VIII PTOLEMY DISAPPEARS AND I VISIT A HAUNTED HOUSE 99 IX IN WHICH WE SEE GHOSTS 123 X IN WHICH WE MAKE SOME DISCOVERIES 138 XI A BAD MEANS TO A GOOD END 152 XII "TOO MUCH POLYDORES" 164 XIII ROB'S FRIEND THE REPORTER 173 XIV A MIDNIGHT EXCURSION 195 XV WHAT MISS FRAYNE FOUND OUT 203 XVI PTOLEMY'S TALE 213 XVII ALL ABOUT UNCLE ISSACHAR'S VISIT 229 XVIII IN WHICH I DECIDE ON EXTREME MEASURES 254 XIX WHICH HAS TO DO WITH SOME LETTERS 267 XX "THE MONEY WE EARNT FOR YOU" 276 ILLUSTRATIONS