{"product_id":"2940013537484","title":"AUNT JANE'S NIECES AT MILLVILLE","description":"LIST OF CHAPTERS\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    I UNCLE JOHN'S FARM\u003cbr\u003e   II THE AGENT\u003cbr\u003e  III _MILLVILLE HEARS EXCITING NEWS_\u003cbr\u003e   IV ETHEL MAKES PREPARATION\u003cbr\u003e    V THE ARRIVAL OF THE NABOBS\u003cbr\u003e   VI PEGGY PRESENTS HIS BILL\u003cbr\u003e  VII LOUISE SCENTS A MYSTERY\u003cbr\u003e VIII THE LITTLE SCHOOL-MA'AM\u003cbr\u003e   IX THE \"LIVES OF THE SAINTS\"\u003cbr\u003e    X THE MYSTERY DEEPENS\u003cbr\u003e   XI THREE AMATEUR DETECTIVES\u003cbr\u003e  XII THE BAITING OF PEGGY McNUTT\u003cbr\u003e XIII BOB WEST, HARDWARE DEALER\u003cbr\u003e  XIV THE MAJOR IS PUZZLED\u003cbr\u003e   XV THE MAN IN HIDING\u003cbr\u003e  XVI A MATTER OF SPECULATION\u003cbr\u003e XVII JOE TELLS OF \"THE GREAT TROUBLE\"\u003cbr\u003eXVIII THE LOCKED CUPBOARD\u003cbr\u003e  XIX THE COURT'N' OF SKIM CLARK\u003cbr\u003e   XX A LOST CAUSE\u003cbr\u003e  XXI THE TRAP IS SET\u003cbr\u003e XXII CAUGHT!\u003cbr\u003eXXIII MR. WEST EXPLAINS\u003cbr\u003e XXIV PEGGY HAS REVENGE\u003cbr\u003e  XXV GOOD NEWS AT LAST\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCHAPTER I.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUNCLE JOHN'S FARM.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"How did I happen to own a farm?\" asked Uncle John, interrupting his\u003cbr\u003esoup long enough to fix an inquiring glance upon Major Doyle, who\u003cbr\u003esat opposite.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"By virtue of circumstance, my dear sir,\" replied the Major, composedly.\u003cbr\u003e\"It's a part of my duty, in attending to those affairs you won't look\u003cbr\u003eafther yourself, to lend certain sums of your money to needy and\u003cbr\u003eambitious young men who want a start in life.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Oh, Uncle! Do you do that?\" exclaimed Miss Patricia Doyle, who sat\u003cbr\u003ebetween her uncle and father and kept an active eye upon both.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"So the Major says,\" answered Uncle John, dryly.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"And it's true,\" asserted the other. \"He's assisted three or four score\u003cbr\u003eyoung men to start in business in the last year, to my certain\u003cbr\u003eknowledge, by lending them sums ranging from one to three thousand\u003cbr\u003edollars. And it's the most wasteful and extravagant charity I ever\u003cbr\u003eheard of.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"But I'm so glad!\" cried Patsy, clapping her hands with a delighted\u003cbr\u003egesture. \"It's a splendid way to do good--to help young men to get a\u003cbr\u003estart in life. Without capital, you know, many a young fellow would\u003cbr\u003enever get his foot on the first round of the ladder.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"And many will never get it there in any event,\" declared the Major,\u003cbr\u003ewith a shake of his grizzled head. \"More than half the rascals that John\u003cbr\u003ehelps go to the dogs entirely, and hang us up for all they've borrowed.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I told you to help _deserving_ young men,\" remarked Uncle John, with a\u003cbr\u003escowl at his brother-in-law.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"And how can I tell whether they're desarving or not?\" retorted Major\u003cbr\u003eDoyle, fiercely. \"Do ye want me to become a sleuth, or engage detectives\u003cbr\u003eto track the objects of your erroneous philanthropy? I just have to form\u003cbr\u003ea judgment an' take me chances; and whin a poor devil goes wrong I\u003cbr\u003echarge your account with the loss.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"But some of them must succeed,\" ventured Patsy, in a conciliatory tone.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Some do,\" said John Merrick; \"and that repays me for all my trouble.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"All _your_ throuble, sir?\" queried the Major; \"you mane all _my_\u003cbr\u003ethrouble--well, and your money. And a heap of throuble that confounded\u003cbr\u003efarm has cost me, with one thing and another.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"What of it?\" retorted the little round faced millionaire, leaning back\u003cbr\u003ein his chair and staring fixedly at the other. \"That's what I employ\u003cbr\u003eyou for.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Now, now, gentlemen!\" cried Patsy, earnestly. \"I'll have no business\u003cbr\u003econversation at the table. You know my rules well enough.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"This isn't business,\" asserted the Major.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Of course not,\" agreed Uncle John, mildly. \"No one has any business\u003cbr\u003eowning a farm. How did it happen. Major?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe old soldier had already forgotten his grievance. He quarreled\u003cbr\u003epersistently with his wealthy employer and brother-in-law--whom he\u003cbr\u003efairly adored--to prevent the possibility (as he often confided to\u003cbr\u003ePatsy) of his falling down and worshiping him. John Merrick was a\u003cbr\u003emulti-millionaire, to be sure; but there were palliating circumstances\u003cbr\u003ethat almost excused him. He had been so busily occupied in industry that\u003cbr\u003ehe never noticed how his wealth was piling up until he discovered it by\u003cbr\u003eaccident. Then he promptly retired, \"to give the other fellows a\u003cbr\u003echance,\" and he now devoted his life to simple acts of charity and the\u003cbr\u003ewelfare and entertainment of his three nieces. He had rescued Major\u003cbr\u003eDoyle and his daughter from a lowly condition and placed the former in\u003cbr\u003ethe great banking house of Isham, Marvin \u0026amp; Company, where John Merrick's\u003cbr\u003evast interests were protected and his income wisely managed. He had\u003cbr\u003egiven Patsy this cosy little apartment house at 3708 Willing Square and\u003cbr\u003emade his home with her, from which circumstance she had come to be\u003cbr\u003erecognized as his favorite niece.","brand":"SAP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47173179277552,"sku":"2940013537484","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013537484_p0.jpg?v=1763582099","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013537484","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}