The Girl Next Door

CONTENTS

I Marcia's Secret
II The Face Behind the Shutter
III The Gate Opens
IV The Backward Glance
V The Handkerchief in the Window
VI Cecily Reveals Herself
VII Surprises All Around
VIII At the End of the String
IX For the Sake of Cecily
X The Filigree Bracelet
XI The Lifted Veil
XII Miss Benedict Speaks
XIII Via Wireless
XIV The Writing on the Bracelets
XV Puzzling it Out
XVI One Mystery Explained
XVII Major Goodrich Assists
XVIII The Major has a Further Inspiration
XIX The Unexpected
XX Aunt Minerva Takes Command
XXI Six Months Later

CHAPTER I
MARCIA'S SECRET
"Marcia Brett, do you mean to tell me—"
"Tell you—what?"
"That you've had a secret two whole months and never told me about it yet? And I'm your best friend!"
"I was waiting till you came to the city, Janet. I wanted to tell you; I didn't want to write it."
"Well, I've been in the city twelve hours, and you never said a word about it till just now."
"But, Janet, we've been sight-seeing ever since you arrived. You can't very well tell secrets when you're sight-seeing, you know!"
"Well, you might have given me a hint about it long ago. You know we've solemnly promised never to have any secrets from each other, and yet you've had one two whole months?"
"No, Jan, I haven't had it quite as long as that. Honest! It didn't begin till quite a while after I came; in fact, not till about three or four weeks ago."
"Tell me all about it right away, then, and perhaps I'll forgive you!"