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Main > Fairy tale > All authors > Frank Baum > Fairy tale "Aunt Jane's Nieces at Millville"

Aunt Jane's Nieces at Millville

"I would like Mr. West to explain what became of the money he paid for

this stock," said Louise; adding: "That is, if he will be so courteous."

West did not answer for a moment. Then he said, with a gesture of

indifference:

"I am willing to tell all I know. But you people must admit that the

annoyances you have caused me during the past fortnight, to say nothing

of the gratuitous insults heaped upon my head, render me little inclined

to favor you."

"You are quite justified in feeling as you do," replied Uncle John,

meekly. "I have been an ass, West; but circumstances warranted me in

suspecting you, and even Joseph Wegg did not know that the Almaquo stock

had been transferred to you. He merely glanced at it at the time of his

father's death, without noticing the endorsement, and thought the fire

had rendered it worthless. But if you then owned the stock, why was it

not in your possession?"

"That was due to my carelessness," was the reply. "The only notary

around here is at Hooker's Falls, and Mr. Thompson offered to have him

come to Captain Wegg's residence and witness the transfer. As my

presence was not necessary for this, and I had full confidence in my

friends' integrity, I paid them their money, which they were eager to

secure at once, and said I would call in a few days for the stock. I did

call, and was told the notary had been here and the transfer had been

legally made. Wegg said he would get the stock from the cupboard and

hand it to me; but we both forgot it at that time. After his death I

could not find it, for it was in the secret drawer."

"Another thing, sir," said Uncle John. "If neither Wegg nor Thompson was

then interested in the Almaquo property, why did the news of its

destruction by fire shock them so greatly that the result was Captain

Wegg's death?"

"I see it will be necessary for me to explain to you more fully,"

returned West, with a thoughtful look. "It is evident, Mr. Merrick, from

your questions, that some of these occurrences seem suspicious to a

stranger, and perhaps you are not so much to be blamed as, in my

annoyance and indignation, I have imagined.

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