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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

In a few moments Louise had engaged the

agent in a spirited discussion of the absorbing "mystery" and so

occupied his attention that he paid no heed to the direction they had

taken. The back seat was hemmed in by side curtains and the canopy, so

it would be no wonder if he lost all sense of direction, even had not

the remarks of the girl at his side completely absorbed him.

Beth drove slowly down the main street, up a lane, back by the lake road

and along the street again; and this programme was repeated several

times, until she thought a sufficient distance had been covered to

convince the agent they had arrived at Brayley's. They way was pitch

dark, but the horse was sensible enough to keep in the middle of the

road, so they met with no accident more than to jolt over a stone

now and then.

But now the most difficult part of the enterprise lay before them. The

girls turned down the lane back of the main street and bumped over the

ruts until they thought they had arrived at a spot opposite McNutt's own

melon patch.

"What's wrong?" asked the agent, as they suddenly stopped with a jerk.

"This ought to be Brayley's," said Beth; "but it's so dark I'm not

certain just where we are."

McNutt thrust his head out and peered into the blackness.

"Drive along a little," he whispered.

The girl obeyed.

"Stop--stop!" said he, a moment later. "I think that's them contwisted

fifteen-cent mellings--over there!"

They all got out and Beth tied the horse to the fence. Peggy climbed

over and at once whispered:

"Come on! It's them, all right."

Through the drifting clouds there was just enough light to enable them

to perceive the dark forms of the melons lying side by side upon their

vines. The agent took out his big clasp knife and recklessly slashed one

of them open.

"Green's grass!" he grumbled, and slashed another.

Patsy giggled, and the others felt a sudden irresistible impulse to join

her.

"Keep still!" cautioned McNutt. "Wouldn't ol' Dan be jest ravin' ef he

knew this? Say--here's a ripe one.

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