书城外语珍珠谜案
5601700000021

第21章 THE MAGIC OF A NAME(2)

Our little conversation has given me much pleasure;I'm so alone in the world.Perhaps you will allow me to join you again—some other time ?"They hastened to assure him his presence would always be welcome.Patsy even added,with her cheery smile,that theyfelt a certain proprietorshipa in him since they had dragged him from a watery grave.The boy showed,as he walked away,that he was not yet very steady on his feet,but whether the weakness was the result of his malady or his recent trying experience they could not determine.

"What staggers me,"said Maud,looking after him,"isthe effect his name had on Goldstein,who has little respect or consideration for anyone.Who do you suppose A.Jones is ?""Why,he has told us,"replied Louise."He is an islander,on his ?rst visit to this country.""He must be rather more than that,"declared Arthur."Do you remember what the manager said to him ?""Yes,"said Beth."He had heard that A.Jones was in this neighborhood,but had never met him.A.Jones was a person of sufficient importance to make the general manager of the Continental Film Company tremble in his boots.""He really did tremble,"asserted Patsy,"and he wasabject in his apologies.""Showing,"added Flo Stanton,"that Goldstein is afraid of him.""I wonder why,"said Maud.

"It is all very easy of solution,"remarked Arthur."Goldstein believes that Jones is in the market to buy films.Perhaps he's going to open a motion picture theatre on his island.So the manager didn't want to antagonizeb a goodcustomer.""That's it,"said Uncle John,nodding approval."There's no great mystery about young Jones,I'm sure."