Aunt Jane's Nieces out West

," said a young girl, still in her "teens,"

h," said another girl who was sitting on the

"but the people are doing su

g chair within hearing distance; "that is the way with you

, Uncle John?" asked Patricia Do

get along very well without

ed Patsy, her blue eyes twinkling so tha

re growing bold and impudent. The law appears to allow them too much liberty. After our experience of thi

cing from one to another of his two nieces. He was a genial looking, round-faced man, qu

use Beth hesitated to. "For my part, I think it was fun, and harmless fun, at that; but Beth was scared out of a year's gro

rrick, earnestly, for whatever affected his

tood before a brick building that seemed like a factory, while from its doors other crowds of workmen and some shopgirls were rushing into the street and several policemen were shaking their clubs and running here and there in a sort of panic. At first Beth and I s

ed to stagger into the street, where a dozen men caught us and hurried us away. I hardly thought we were in a safe place when the big workman cried: 'There, young ladies; that will do. Your expression was simply immense and i

ith genuine merriment, but her cousin Beth seem

was it all abou

icemen were all actors. There must have been a hundred of them, all told, and when we recove

l fall?" ask

o a safe distance away. We watched them set up some dummy figures of girls and workmen, closer in, and then in some way they topp

k drew a l

st have cost a lot of money to ruin such a

uilt in its place; so he invented a picture story to fit the falling walls and it didn't cost him so much as one might think. So you see

a shrug; "that is, if the picture proves good enough

likely, will show the picture, and perhaps millions of spect

fame than I bargained for. Do millio

, and he told me a good deal about it. Werner is with one of the big concerns here-the Continental, I think-and he's a very nice

s exhibitions for months," announced Beth;

l picture?" asked P

d tragedies alike. They are wild and weird in conception, quite unreal and wholly impossible. Of course the scenic pictures, and those

ts him but five or ten cents and it's the sort of show he can appreciate. I'm told the motion picture is considered the saloon's worst enemy, for ma

itted Beth, who was strong on temperance; "but I hope, Uncle, you

rs to be-eh-er-highly reprehensible, and perhaps worse. If I can d

t, U

es you an apology," he c

iled sc

critical eyes of millions of stupid workmen, reformed drunkards, sad-faced women and wiggling childre

trapped at all; we were the victims of circumstances. When I remember how quick-witted and alert that manager

much as downright imp

rick. "Do you wish me to buy that film

ying to see how we look. I wouldn't have

you,

eing drawn into such a thing against my will, but I doubt if anyone who knows us, or whose opinion we value,

y." Beth was really a lovable and sunny-tempered girl, very democratic in her tastes in spite of the fact that she was the possessor of

er than her cousin's and her nature more responsive. She quickly saw the humorou

tablished themselves at a cosy hotel in Hollywood, which is a typical California village, yet a suburb of the great city of Los Angeles. A third niece, older and now marr

s, where his many millions made him an important figure. He had practically retired from active business and his large investments were managed by his brother-in-law, Major Gregory Doyle, who was Miss Patsy's father and sole surviving parent. All of Mr. Merrick's present

to discover new interests in life in order to keep themselves occupied and contented. All three were open-handed and open-hearted, sympathetic to the unfortunate and eager to assist those who needed money, as many a poor girl and worthy young fellow could testify. In all their charities the

ed to render him the more interesting to those who knew him best. He did astonishing things in a most matter-of-fact way and acted more on impulse than on calm reflection; so it is not to be wondered at that the quee

o hide themselves in Hollywood, where they might spend a quiet and happy winter in wandering over the hills, in

rope. Appreciating the value of such a monster industry, the authorities permitted the cameras to be set up on the public streets or wherever there was an appropriate scene to serve for a background to the photo-plays. It was no unusual sight to see troops of cowboys and Indians racing through the pretty village or to fin