Aunt Jane's Nieces
"Why?"
"I'm afraid it will all disappear again."
"Nonsense!" said Uncle John. "For my part, I haven't any traps, so
I'll stay here and guard the treasure till you return."
"Dinner is served, Miss Patricia," said the small maid, appearing in
the doorway.
"Then let's dine!" cried Patsy, clapping her hands gleefully; "and
afterward the Major and I will make our last visit to Becker's flats."
CHAPTER XXVII.
LOUISE MAKES A DISCOVERY.
Uncle John did not stay to guard the treasure, after all, for he knew
very well it would not disappear.
As soon as Patsy and the Major had departed for Becker's flats, he
took his own hat from the rack and walked away to hunt up another
niece, Miss Louise Merrick, whose address he had casually obtained
from Patsy a day or two before.
It was near by, and he soon found the place--a pretty flat in a
fashionable building, although not so exclusive a residence district
as Willing Square.
Up three flights he rode in the elevator, and then rang softly at the
door which here the card of Mrs. Merrick.
A maid opened it and looked at him enquiringly.
"Are the ladies in?" he asked.
"I'll see. Your card, sir?"
"I haven't any."
She half closed the door.
"Any name, then?"
"Yes, John Merrick."
She closed the door entirely, and was gone several minutes. Then she
came back and ushered him through the parlor into a small rear room.
Mrs. Merrick arose from her chair by the window and advanced to meet
him.
"You are John Merrick?" she enquired.
"Your husband's brother, ma'am," he replied.
"How do you do, Uncle John?" called Louise, from the sofa. "Excuse my
getting up, won't you? And where in the world have you come from?"
Mrs. Merrick sat down again.
"Won't you take a chair?" she said, stiffly.
"I believe I will," returned Uncle John. "I just came to make a call,
you know."
"Louise has told me of you," said the lady. "It was very unfortunate
that your sister's death deprived you of a home. An absurd thing,
altogether, that fiasco of Jane Merrick's.
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There was once a king who was very powerful. He had great influence over the wild beasts and animals. Now the tortoise was looked upon as the wisest of all beasts and men. This king had a son named Ekpenyon, to whom he gave fifty young girls as wives, but the prince did not like any of them. The king was very angry at this, and made a law that if any man had a daughter who was finer than the prince's wives, and who found favour in his son's eyes, the girl herself and her father and mother should be killed.
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