Produced by Annie R. McGuire. This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print archive. [Illustration: Book Cover] THE GIRL NEXT DOOR [Illustration: Marcia turned to stare out of the window at the house opposite] THE GIRL NEXT DOOR BY AUGUSTA HUIELL SEAMAN Author of "The Sapphire Signet," "The Boarded-Up House," etc. ILLUSTRATED BY C. M. RELYEA [Illustration] NEW YORK THE CENTURY CO. Copyright, 1917, by THE CENTURY CO. TO HOA-SIAN-SIN-NÎU (Margaret Gillespie Fagg) AND TO THE MEMORY OF HOA-SIAN-SIN (John Gerardus Fagg, D.D.) THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I MARCIA'S SECRET 3 II THE FACE BEHIND THE SHUTTER 20 III THE GATE OPENS 32 IV THE BACKWARD GLANCE 43 V THE HANDKERCHIEF IN THE WINDOW 54 VI CECILY REVEALS HERSELF 62 VII SURPRISES ALL AROUND 72 VIII AT THE END OF THE STRING 81 IX FOR THE SAKE OF CECILY 94 X THE FILIGREE BRACELET 111 XI THE LIFTED VEIL 119 XII MISS BENEDICT SPEAKS 129 XIII VIA WIRELESS 141 XIV THE WRITING ON THE BRACELETS 149 XV PUZZLING IT OUT 160 XVI ONE MYSTERY EXPLAINED 170 XVII MAJOR GOODRICH ASSISTS 183 XVIII THE MAJOR HAS A FURTHER INSPIRATION 192 XIX THE UNEXPECTED 206 XX AUNT MINERVA TAKES COMMAND 227 XXI SIX MONTHS LATER 251 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS