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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

"To be sure. You're going to get well."

He made no reply, but sat watching Beth's nimble fingers. Patsy was too

excited to resume her embroidery.

"I wonder if you are old enough to smoke?" remarked Beth.

"I'm over twenty-one."

"Indeed! We decided you were about eighteen."

"But we are not Spanish in Sangoa."

"What are your people?"

"Formerly all Americans. The younger generation are, like myself I

suppose, Sangoans by birth. But there isn't a black or yellow or brown

man on our island."

"How many inhabitants has Sangoa?"

"About six hundred, all told."

There was silence for a while.

"Any pains yet?" inquired Beth.

"Not yet. But I'm feeling drowsy. With your permission I'll lie down and

take a nap. I slept very little last night."

He threw away his cigar, which he had smoked nearly to the end, and

rising without assistance, bowed and walked away.

"Will he ever waken, I wonder?" said Beth softly.

"Of course," declared Patsy. "He has crossed the Rubicon and is going to

get well. I feel it in my bones!"

"Let us hope," responded Beth, "that Ajo also feels it in his bones,

rather than in his stomach."

CHAPTER X

STILL A MYSTERY

The day advanced to luncheon time and Uncle John and the Weldons came

back from their mountain trip. Hollywood is in the foothills and over the

passes are superb automobile roads into the fruitful valleys of San

Fernando and La Canada.

"Seen anything of the boy--A. Jones?" inquired Arthur.

"Yes; and perhaps we've seen the last of him," answered Beth.

"Oh. Has he gone?"

"No one knows. Patsy fed him and he went to sleep. What has happened

since we cannot tell."

The girls then related the experiences of the morning, at which both

Uncle John and Arthur looked solemn and uncomfortable. But Louise

said calmly:

"I think Patsy was quite right. I wouldn't have dared such a thing

myself, but I'm sure that boy needed a square meal more than anything. If

he dies, that breakfast has merely hastened his end; but if he doesn't

die it will do him good.

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