Aunt Jane's Nieces on the Ranch

ou dar

Don't be selfish. Le

Beth. Here-giv

mine,

by! There; you'v

aughing because I k

e a dear,

e, "suppose we give Uncle Joh

nervously standing. "Yes, yes," he said, touching one cheek gently with the tip of his finge

babies are soft. Aren't yo

n't-hu

eth and Patsy nearly

yhow, that's the penalty they pay for being born helpless." And with

er the operation he looked sheepish and awkward, as if he

uise," he remarked, to

whitest baby of her age they ever saw.

; how ve

id Arthur, coming in from the garage. "

d mother. While they continued, Mildred Travers quietly took the child from Loui

scomfited as the cold, fathomless eyes of the trained nurse met her own. For an instant the girl stood irresolut

wned. Mildred folded her arms and stood in the background unmoved

who fed the baby chile con carne

ur. "What ever put such

replied the little man. "Anyhow, it

ome queer Mexican remedy, but I'm confident it

s a good joke on Mr. Merrick. It was so good a joke that it might serve as a basis for many cutting remarks in future discussions. His brother-in-law was so seld

the house and through the stately rooms to the open court,

an girl, Inez, hugging it defiantly to

passing their most ardent anticipations, Beth and Patsy had little desire for food. Uncle John and th

e John, when finally the men were left alone to smoke whi

e to get American help and the Japs I won't have. Some of the ranch hands have

eh?" sugges

many house servants as a similar establishment would require in the east; but they are content with much smaller

ch pay?" aske

done all the paying. We shall harvest a big orange crop next month, and in time the olives w

a Californi

ther hand, my next neighbor at the north is nearly bankrupt, because he's a greenhorn from the east

ent. "It's the most delightful country on earth, for a re

and Beth, having picked out their rooms, bega