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Aunt Jane's Nieces Out West

"

"It is but natural that we should feel an interest in you, Mr. Jones,"

replied Mr. Merrick; "yet I assure you we have no desire to pry into your

personal affairs. You have already volunteered a general statement of

your antecedents and the object of your visit to America, and that, I

assure you, will suffice us. Pardon me for asking an impertinent

question."

The boy seemed perplexed, now.

"I did not consider it impertinent, sir. I made a business proposal to

your nieces," he said, "and before they could accept such a proposal they

would be entitled to know something of my financial standing."

For a green, inexperienced youth, he spoke with rare acumen, thought Mr.

Merrick; but the old gentleman had now determined to shield the boy from

a forced declaration of his finances, so he said:

"My nieces can hardly afford to accept your proposition. They are really

able to build one or two theatres without inconveniencing themselves,

but twenty would be beyond their means. You, of course, understand they

were not seeking an investment, but trying, with all their hearts, to

benefit the children. I thoroughly approve their original idea, but if it

requires twenty picture theatres to render it practical, they will

abandon the notion at once."

Jones nodded absently, his eyes half closed in thought. After a brief

pause he replied:

"I hate to see this idea abandoned at the very moment of its birth. It's

a good idea, and in no way impractical, in my opinion. So permit me to

make another proposition. I will build the twenty theatres myself, and

furnish the films for them, provided the young ladies will agree to

assume the entire management of them when they are completed."

Dead silence followed this speech. The girls did some rapid-fire mental

calculations and realized that this young man was proposing to invest

something like fourteen hundred thousand dollars, in order that they

might carry out their philanthropic conception. Why should he do this,

even if he could afford it?

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