XVI. MERRY CHRISTMAS 217

XVII. PHIL'S PERPLEXITIES 241

XVIII. AMZI IS FLABBERGASTED 259

XIX. PHIL MOVES TO AMZI'S 272

XX. BACK TO STOP SEVEN 281

XXI. PHIL'S FISTS 292

XXII. MR. WATERMAN'S GREAT OPPORTUNITY 308

XXIII. PLEASANT TIMES IN MAIN STREET 321

XXIV. THE FORSAKEN GARDEN 336

XXV. PHIL ENCOUNTERS THE SHERIFF 355

XXVI. A CALL IN BUCKEYE LANE 373

XXVII. AMZI'S PERFIDY 385

OTHERWISE PHYLLIS

OTHERWISE PHYLLIS

CHAPTER I

THE KIRKWOODS BREAK CAMP

"Stuff's all packed, Phil, and on the wagon. Camera safe on top and your
suit-case tied to the tail-gate. Shall we march?"

"Not crazy about it, daddy. Why not linger another week? We can unlimber
in a jiffy."

"It's a tempting proposition, old lady, but I haven't the nerve."
Kirkwood dropped an armful of brush on the smouldering camp-fire and
stood back as it crackled and flamed. There came suddenly a low whining
in the trees and a gust of wind caught the sparks from the blazing twigs
and flung them heavenward. He threw up his arm and turned his hand to
feel the wind. "The weather's at the changing point; there's rain in
that!"

"Well, we haven't been soaked for some time," replied Phil. "We've been
awfully respectable."

"Respectable," laughed her father. "We don't know what the word means!
We're unmitigated vagabonds, you and I, Phil. If I didn't know that you
like this sort of thing as well as I do, I shouldn't let you come. But
your aunts are on my trail."

"Oh, one's aunts! Oh, one's three aunts!" murmured Phil.

"Not so lightly to be scorned! When I was in town yesterday your Aunt
Kate held me up for a scolding in the post-office. I'd no sooner climbed
up to my den than your Aunt Josie dropped in to ask what I had done with
you; and while I was waiting for you to buy shoes at Fisher's your Aunt
Fanny strolled by and gave me another overhauling. It's a question
whether they don't bring legal process to take you away from me. What's
a father more or less among three anxious aunts! As near as I can make
out, Aunt Fanny's anxiety is chiefly for your complexion. She says you
look like an Indian. And she implied that I am one."

"One of her subtle compliments