Aunt Janes Nieces Out West | Page 7

and stare them out of countenance."
"Don't," said Louise. "I'm glad your back is toward them, Arthur, for it
preserves you from the temptation to flirt."
"Oh, as for that, I do not need to turn around in order to see pretty
girls," he replied.
"Thank you, Arthur," said Patsy, making a face at him. "Look me over
all you like, and flirt if you want to. I'm sure Louise won't object."
"Really, Patsy, you're not bad to look at," he retorted, eyeing her
critically. "Aside from your red hair, the pug nose and the freckles, you
have many excellent qualities. If you didn't squint--"
"Squint!"
"What do you call that affection of your eyes?"
"That," she said, calmly eating her dessert, "was a glance of
scorn--burning, bitter scorn!"
"I maintain it was a squint," declared Arthur.

"That isn't her only expression," announced Uncle John, who loved
these little exchanges of good-humored banter. "On Monday I will
show you Patsy as a terror-stricken damsel in distress."
"Also Beth, still more distressful," added Patsy; and then they told
Louise and Arthur about the picture.
"Fine!" he cried. "I'm deeply gratified that my own relatives--"
"By marriage."
"I am gratified that my secondhand cousins have been so highly
honored. I'd rather see a good moving picture than the best play ever
produced."
"You'll see a good one this time," asserted Patsy, "for we are the stars."
"I think that unscrupulous Mr. Werner deserves a reprimand," said
Louise.
"Oh, he apologized," explained Beth. "But I'm sure he'd take the same
liberty again if he had the chance."
"He admits that his love of art destroys his sense of propriety," said
Patsy.
As they rose from the table Arthur deliberately turned to view the party
in the other corner, and then to the amazement of his friends he coolly
walked over and shook the elder lady's hand with evident pleasure.
Next moment he was being introduced to the two girls. The three
cousins and their Uncle John walked out of the dining hall and awaited
Arthur Weldon in the lobby.
"It is some old acquaintance, of course," said Louise. "Arthur knows a
tremendous lot of people and remembers everyone he ever has met."
When he rejoined them he brought the lady and the two beautiful girls
with him, introducing Mrs. Montrose as one of his former
acquaintances in New York, where she had been a near neighbor to the

Weldons. The girls, who proved to be her nieces instead of her
daughters, were named Maud and Florence Stanton, Maud being about
eighteen years of age and Florence perhaps fifteen. Maud's beauty was
striking, as proved by Patsy's admiration at first sight; Florence was
smaller and darker, yet very dainty and witching, like a Dresden
shepherdess.
The sisters proved rather shy at this first meeting, being content to
exchange smiles with the other girls, but their aunt was an easy
conversationalist and rambled on about the delights of Hollywood and
southern California until they were all in a friendly mood. Among other
things Mrs. Montrose volunteered the statement that they had been at
the hotel for several weeks, but aside from that remark disclosed little
of their personal affairs. Presently the three left the hotel and drove
away in an automobile, having expressed a wish to meet their new
friends again and become better acquainted with them.
"I was almost startled at running across Mrs. Montrose out here," said
Arthur. "After father's death, when I gave up the old home, I lost track
of the Montroses; but I seem to remember that old Montrose went to
the happy hunting grounds and left a widow, but no children. I imagine
these people are wealthy, as Montrose was considered a successful
banker. I'll write to Duggins and inquire about them."
"Duggins seems to know everything," remarked Louise.
"He keeps pretty good track of New York people, especially of the old
families," replied her husband.
"I can't see what their history matters to us," observed Patsy. "I like to
take folks as I find them, without regard to their antecedents or finances.
Certainly those Stanton girls are wonderfully attractive and ladylike."
But now the baby claimed their attention and the rest of that day was
passed in "visiting" and cuddling the wee Toodlums, who seemed to
know her girl aunties and greeted them with friendly coos and dimpled
smiles.

On Sunday they took a motor trip through the mountain boulevards and
on their way home passed the extensive enclosure of the Continental
Film Company. A thriving village has been built up at this place,
known as Film City, for many of those employed by the firm prefer to
live close to their work. Another large "plant" of the same concern is
located in the heart of Hollywood.
As they passed through