AUNT JANE'S NIECES AT MILLVILLE BY EDITH VAN DYNE 1908 LIST OF CHAPTERS I UNCLE JOHN'S FARM II THE AGENT III _MILLVILLE HEARS EXCITING NEWS_ IV ETHEL MAKES PREPARATION V THE ARRIVAL OF THE NABOBS VI PEGGY PRESENTS HIS BILL VII LOUISE SCENTS A MYSTERY VIII THE LITTLE SCHOOL-MA'AM IX THE "LIVES OF THE SAINTS" X THE MYSTERY DEEPENS XI THREE AMATEUR DETECTIVES XII THE BAITING OF PEGGY McNUTT XIII BOB WEST, HARDWARE DEALER XIV THE MAJOR IS PUZZLED XV THE MAN IN HIDING XVI A MATTER OF SPECULATION XVII JOE TELLS OF "THE GREAT TROUBLE" XVIII THE LOCKED CUPBOARD XIX THE COURT'N' OF SKIM CLARK XX A LOST CAUSE XXI THE TRAP IS SET XXII CAUGHT! XXIII MR. WEST EXPLAINS XXIV PEGGY HAS REVENGE XXV GOOD NEWS AT LAST CHAPTER I. UNCLE JOHN'S FARM. "How did I happen to own a farm?" asked Uncle John, interrupting his soup long enough to fix an inquiring glance upon Major Doyle, who sat opposite. "By virtue of circumstance, my dear sir," replied the Major, composedly. "It's a part of my duty, in attending to those affairs you won't look afther yourself, to lend certain sums of your money to needy and ambitious young men who want a start in life." "Oh, Uncle! Do you do that?" exclaimed Miss Patricia Doyle, who sat between her uncle and father and kept an active eye upon both. "So the Major says," answered Uncle John, dryly. "And it's true," asserted the other. "He's assisted three or four score young men to start in business in the last year, to my certain knowledge, by lending them sums ranging from one to three thousand dollars. And it's the most wasteful and extravagant charity I ever heard of." "But I'm so glad!" cried Patsy, clapping her hands with a delighted gesture. "It's a splendid way to do good--to help young men to get a start in life. Without capital, you know, many a young fellow would never get his foot on the first round of the ladder." "And many will never get it there in any event," declared the Major, with a shake of his grizzled head. "More than half the rascals that John helps go to the dogs entirely, and hang us up for all they've borrowed." "I told you to help _deserving_ young men," remarked Uncle John, with a scowl at his brother-in-law. "And how can I tell whether they're desarving or not?" retorted Major Doyle, fiercely. "Do ye want me to become a sleuth, or engage detectives to track the objects of your erroneous philanthropy? I just have to form a judgment an' take me chances; and whin a poor devil goes wrong I charge your account with the loss." "But some of them must succeed," ventured Patsy, in a conciliatory tone. "Some do," said John Merrick; "and that repays me for all my trouble." "All _your_ throuble, sir?" queried the Major; "you mane all _my_ throuble--well, and your money. And a heap of throuble that confounded farm has cost me, with one thing and another."