Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work

He had at once retired from active business

and invested his millions in ways that would cause him the least

annoyance; but the income on so large a sum was more than he could take

care of, and even Major Doyle, who managed these affairs for his

brother-in-law, was often puzzled to know what to do with the money that

accumulated.

Doubtless no one will ever know how much good these two kindly men

accomplished between them in their quiet, secretive way. Dozens of

deserving young men were furnished capital to start them in business;

dozens more were being educated at universities at Uncle John's expense.

Managers of worthy charities were familiar with John Merrick's signature

on checks, and yet the vast fortune grew with leaps and bounds. Mr.

Merrick's life was so simple and unostentatious that his personal

expenses, however erratic some of his actions, could not make much

headway against his interest account, and nothing delighted him more

than to find a way to "get even with fate by reckless squandering," as

he quaintly expressed it. He was far too shrewd to become the prey of

designing people, but welcomed any legitimate channel in which to unload

his surplus.

So Mr. Merrick had been revolving the possibilities of this unique

political campaign in his mind, and had decided to do some things that

would open the bucolic eyes of Kenneth's constituents in wonder. He did

not confide all his schemes to Patsy, but having urged his nieces to

attempt this conquest he had no intention of allowing them to suffer

defeat if he could help it.

The little town of Elmwood was quiet and practically deserted when they

drove into it. The farmers were too busy with the harvest to "come to

town for trading" except on Saturdays, and the arrival and departure of

the two daily trains did not cause more than a ripple of excitement in

the village.

Patsy decided she would shop at each and every store in the place, and

engage the store-keepers in conversation about the election.

"It's important to win these people," she declared, "because they are

close to every farmer who comes to town to trade; and their own votes

count, too.