CHAPTER III
AN ATTRACTIVE GIRL
On Saturday they were treated to a genuine surprise, for when the omnibusdrew up before the hotel entrance it brought Arthur Weldon and hisgirl-wife, Louise, who was Uncle John's eldest niece. It also brought"the Cherub," a wee dimpled baby hugged closely in the arms of Inez, itsMexican nurse.
Patsy and Beth shrieked in ecstasy as they rushed forward to smother"Toodlums," as they irreverently called the Cherub, with kisses. Inez, ahandsome, dark-eyed girl, relinquished her burden cheerfully to the twoadoring "aunties," while Uncle John kissed Louise and warmly shook thehand of her youthful husband.
"What in the world induced you to abandon your beloved ranch?" inquiredMr. Merrick.
"Don't ask me, sir!" replied Arthur, laughing at the elder gentleman'sastonishment. He was a trim young fellow, with a clean-cut, manly faceand frank, winning manners.
"It's sort of between hay and grass with us, you know," he explained."Walnuts all marketed and oranges not ready for the pickers. All ourneighbors have migrated, this way or that, for their regular wintervacations, and after you all left, Louise and I began to feel lonely. Soat breakfast this morning we decided to flit. At ten o'clock we caughtthe express, and here we are--in time for lunch. I hope it's ready,Uncle John."
It was; but they must get their rooms and settle the baby in her newquarters before venturing to enter the dining room. So they were late forthe midday meal and found themselves almost the only guests in the greatdining hall.
As they sat at table, chatting merrily together, Arthur asked:
"What are you staring at, Patsy?"
"A lovely girl," said she. "One of the loveliest girls I have ever seen.Don't look around, Arthur; it might attract their attention."
"How many girls are there?"
"Two; and a lady who seems to be their mother. The other girl is pretty,too, but much younger than her sister--or friend, for they do notresemble one another much. They came in a few minutes ago and are seatedat the table in the opposite corner."
"New arrivals, I suppose," remarked Uncle John, who from his positioncould observe the group.
"No," said Patsy; "their waitress seems to know them well. But I've neverbefore seen them in the hotel."
"We are always early at meal time," explained Beth, "and to-day thesepeople are certainly late. But they _are_ pretty girls, Patsy. For once Iconcur in your judgment."
"You arouse my curiosity," said Arthur, speaking quietly, so as not to beoverheard in the far corner. "If I hear more ecstatic praises of thesegirls I shall turn around and stare them out of countenance."
"Don't," said Louise. "I'm glad your back is toward them, Arthur, for itpreserves you from the temptation to flirt."
"Oh, as for that, I do not need to turn around in order to see prettygirls," he replied.
"Thank you, Arthur," said Patsy, making a face at him. "Look me over allyou 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 hercritically. "Aside from your red hair, the pug nose and the freckles, youhave 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 ofscorn--burning, bitter scorn!"
"I maintain it was a squint," declared Arthur.
"That isn't her only expression," announced Uncle John, who loved theselittle exchanges of good-humored banter. "On Monday I will show you Patsyas a terror-stricken damsel in distress."
"Also Beth, still more distressful," added Patsy; and then they toldLouise 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 thestars."
"I think that unscrupulous Mr. Werner deserves a reprimand," said Louise.
"Oh, he apologized," explained Beth. "But I'm sure he'd take the sameliberty 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 partyin the other corner, and then to the amazement of his friends he coollywalked over and shook the elder lady's hand with evident pleasure. Nextmoment he was being introduced to the two girls. The three cousins andtheir Uncle John walked out of the dining hall and awaited Arthur Weldonin the lobby.
"It is some old acquaintance, of course," said Louise. "Arthur knows atremendous lot of people and remembers everyone he ever has met."
When he rejoined them he brought the lady and the two beautiful girlswith him, introducing Mrs. Montrose as one of his former acquaintances inNew 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 andFlorence Stanton, Maud being about eighteen years of age and Florenceperhaps fifteen. Maud's beauty was striking, as proved by Patsy'sadmiration at first sight; Florence was smaller and darker, yet verydainty and witching, like a Dresden shepherdess.
The sisters proved rather shy at this first meeting, being content toexchange smiles with the other girls, but their aunt was an easyconversationalist and rambled on about the delights of Hollywood andsouthern California until they were all in a friendly mood. Among otherthings Mrs. Montrose volunteered the statement that they had been at thehotel for several weeks, but aside from that remark disclosed little oftheir personal affairs. Presently the three left the hotel and droveaway in an automobile, having expressed a wish to meet their new friendsagain and become better acquainted with them.
"I was almost startled at running across Mrs. Montrose out here," saidArthur. "After father's death, when I gave up the old home, I lost trackof the Montroses; but I seem to remember that old Montrose went to thehappy hunting grounds and left a widow, but no children. I imagine thesepeople are wealthy, as Montrose was considered a successful banker. I'llwrite 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 oldfamilies," replied her husband.
"I can't see what their history matters to us," observed Patsy. "I liketo take folks as I find them, without regard to their antecedents orfinances. Certainly those Stanton girls are wonderfully attractive andladylike."
But now the baby claimed their attention and the rest of that day waspassed in "visiting" and cuddling the wee Toodlums, who seemed to knowher girl aunties and greeted them with friendly coos and dimpled smiles.
On Sunday they took a motor trip through the mountain boulevards and ontheir way home passed the extensive enclosure of the Continental FilmCompany. A thriving village has been built up at this place, known asFilm City, for many of those employed by the firm prefer to live close totheir work. Another large "plant" of the same concern is located in theheart of Hollywood.
As they passed through Film City Uncle John remarked:
"We are invited to visit this place and witness the making of a motionpicture. I believe it would prove an interesting sight."
"Let us go, by all means," replied Arthur. "I am greatly interested inthis new industry, which seems to me to be still in its infancy. Thedevelopment of the moving picture is bound to lead to some remarkablethings in the future, I firmly believe."
"So do I," said Uncle John. "They'll combine the phonograph with thepictures, for one thing, so that the players, instead of being silent,will speak as clearly as in real life. Then we'll have the grand operas,by all the most famous singers, elaborately staged; and we'll be able tosee and hear them for ten cents, instead of ten dollars. It will be thesame with the plays of the greatest actors."
"That would open up a curious complicat
ion," asserted Louise. "The operaswould only be given once, before the camera and the recorder. Then whatwould happen to all the high-priced opera singers?"
"They would draw royalties on all their productions, instead ofsalaries," replied Arthur.
"Rather easy for the great artists!" observed Patsy. "Oneperformance--and the money rolling in for all time to come."
"Well, they deserve it," declared Beth. "And think of what the publicwould gain! Instead of having to suffer during the performances ofincompetent actors and singers, as we do to-day, the whole world would beable to see and hear the best talent of the ages for an insignificantfee. I hope your prediction will come true, Uncle John."
"It's bound to," he replied, with confidence. "I've read somewhere thatEdison and others have been working on these lines for years, andalthough they haven't succeeded yet, anything possible in mechanics isbound to be produced in time."