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Main > Fairy tale > All authors > Frank Baum > Fairy tale "Aunt Jane's Nieces Out West "

Aunt Jane's Nieces Out West

"

"I have!" cried Goldstein, blusteringly. "They have treated me

shamefully--unprofessionally! They have played me a trick, and I've the

right to demand why they are working for a rival firm while in my pay."

Mrs. Montrose now arose and said with quiet dignity:

"Mr. Goldstein, you are intruding, as Mr. Weldon says. But you have said

so much to defame my nieces in the eyes of our friends, here assembled,

that you must explain yourself more fully."

The manager seemed astonished by his reception. He looked from one to

another and said more mildly:

"It is easy enough for _me_ to explain, but how can the Stantons explain

their conduct? They are under contract to act exclusively for the

Continental Film Company and I pay them a liberal salary. Yet only

yesterday, when I was kind enough to give them a holiday, they went down

to the beach and posed for a picture for our rivals, the Corona

Company!"

"You are mistaken, sir!" retorted Arthur. "The young ladies were in our

company the entire afternoon and they did not pose for any picture

whatever."

"Don't tell me!" cried Goldstein. "I've just seen the picture down town.

I was going by one of the theatres when I noticed a placard that read:

'Sensational Film by Maud Stanton, the Queen of Motion Picture Actresses,

entitled "A Gallant Rescue!" First run to-night.' I went in and saw the

picture--with my own eyes!--and I saw Maud Stanton in a sea scene,

rescuing a man who was drowning. Don't deny it, Miss," he added, turning

upon Maud fiercely. "I saw it with my own eyes--not an hour ago!"

After a moment's amazed silence his hearers broke into a chorus of

laughter, led by Flo, who was almost hysterical. Even A. Jones smiled

indulgently upon the irate manager, who was now fairly bristling with

indignation.

"The Corona people," remarked Arthur Weldon, "are quite enterprising. I

did not know they had a camera-man at the beach yesterday, but he must

have secured a very interesting picture. It was not posed, Mr. Goldstein,

but taken from life.

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