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

Aunt Jane's Nieces Out West

"

"It was Maud Stanton!" asserted, the manager.

"Yes; she and some others. A man was really drowning and the brave girl

swam to his rescue, without a thought of posing."

"I don't believe it!" cried the man rudely.

Here A. Jones struggled to his feet.

"It is true," he said. "I was the drowning man whom Miss Stanton saved."

Goldstein eyed him shrewdly.

"Perhaps you were," he admitted, "for the man in the picture was about

your style of make-up. But how can you prove it was not a put-up job with

the Corona people? How do I know you are not all in the employ of the

Corona people?"

"I give you my word."

"Pah! I don't know you."

"I see you don't," returned the youth stiffly.

"Here is my card. Perhaps you will recognize the name."

He fumbled in his pocket, took out a card and handed it to the manager.

Goldstein looked at it, started, turned red and then white and began

bobbing his head with absurd deference to the youth.

"Pardon, Mr. Jones--pardon!" he gasped. "I--I heard you were in our

neighborhood, but I--I did not recognize you. I--I hope you will pardon

me, Mr. Jones! I was angry at what I supposed was the treachery of an

employee. You will--will--understand that, I am sure. It is my duty to

protect the interests of the Continental, you know, sir. But it's all

right now, of course! Isn't it all right now, Mr. Jones?"

"You'd better go, Goldstein," said the boy in a weary tone, and sat

down again.

The manager hesitated. Then he bowed to Maud Stanton and to the others,

murmuring:

"All a mistake, you see; all a mistake. I--I beg everybody's pardon."

With this he backed away, still bowing, and finally turned and beat a

hasty retreat. But no one was noticing him especially. All eyes were

regarding the boy with a new curiosity.

"That Goldstein is an ill-bred boor!" remarked Uncle John in an

annoyed tone.

"I suppose," said Maud, slowly, "he thought he was right in demanding an

explanation. There is great rivalry between the various film

manufacturers and it was rather mean of the Corona to put my name on

that placard.

Also read
Read
The Donkey
Category: Brothers Grimm
Read times: 8
Read
The Ungrateful Son
Category: Brothers Grimm
Read times: 7
Read