大家都认为琼斯先生是一个令人惊异的年轻人，他身上有太多的不解之谜。从表面上看，他是那样清瘦而脆弱，但最近发生的一件又一件事情又令大家愈发迷惑不解。于是，几个女孩决定设计一个小小的“陷阱”。那么，琼斯会落入这个“陷阱”之中吗？
"Well，Aunt Jane，"said Maud Stanton，when their car was rolling toward the hotel and the girl had related the remarkable interview in the of？ce，"what do you think of Ajo now ？""He is certainly an amazing young man，"was the reply.
"I cannot in any way ？gure out his connection with Goldstein，or his power over the man.The Continental Film Manufacturing Company is a great corporation，with headquarters in New York，and Mr.Goldstein is the authorized head and manager of the concern on the Paci？c coast.I understand his salary is ten thousand a year.On the other hand，young Jones has only been in this country for a year，coming from an insigni？cant island somewhere in the South Seas，where he was born and reared.Much of the time since he arrived in America he has been an invalid.Aside from this meagera information，no one seems to know anything about him.""Putting the case that way makes it all the more remarkable，"observed Maud."A big，experienced，important man，cowed by a mere boy.When Goldstein first met this callowb，sallow youth，he trembled before him.When the boy enters the office of the great film company he dictates to the manager，who meekly obeys him.Remember，too，that A.Jones，by his interference，has caused a direct loss to the company，which Goldstein will have to explain，as best he may，in his weekly report to the New York of？ce.Amore astonishing state of affairs could not be imagined，Aunt Jane！""The puzzle will solve itself presently，"said the lady."Abnormal conditions seldom last long."Maud passed the day in bed，quietly reading a book.Herinjury was really slight and with rest it mended rapidly.Patsy and Beth came in to see her and in the conversation that ensued the girls were told of the latest mystery surrounding A.Jones.
"It is surely queer ！"admitted Miss Doyle，impressed andthoughtful."Uncle John and Arthur were saying this noon，at lunch，that Ajo was a helpless sort of individual and easily influenced by others—as witness his caving in to me when I opposed his doctor's treatment.Arthur thinks he has come to this country to squandera what little money his father left him and that his public career outside the limits of his little island will be brief.Yet according to your story the boy is no weakling but has power and knows how to use it.""He surely laid down the law to Goldstein，"said Maud."He is very young，"remarked Beth，ignoring the factthat she was herself no older，"and perhaps that is why we attach so much importance to his actions.A grown—up man is seldom astonishing，however eccentric he may prove to be.In a boy we expect only boyishness，and young Jones has interested us because he is unique."After a little the conversation drifted to motion pictures，for both Patsy and Beth were eager to learn all about the business details of film making，which Maud，by reason of her months of experience，was able to explain to them in a comprehensive manner.Flo came home toward evening，but had little more to tell them，as the day had passed very quietly at the "studio."Jones had remained closeteda with the manager for a full hour，and it was remarked that after he had gone away Goldstein was somewhat subduedb and performed hisduties less aggressively than usual.
Maud's visitors now left her to dress for dinner，at which meal she was able to rejoin them，walking with a slight limp but otherwise recovered from her accident.To their surprise，young Jones appeared as they were entering the dining room and begged for a seat at their table.Uncle John at once ordered another place laid at the big round table，which accommodated the company of nine very nicely.
Ajo sat between Patsy and Maud and although he selected his dishes with some care he partook of c all the courses from soup to dessert.
The morning interview with Goldstein was not mentioned.Ajo inquired about Maud's hurt but then changed the subject and conversed upon nearly everything but motion pictures.However，after they had repaired to the hotel lobby and were seated together in a cosy，informal group，Patsy broached aproject very near to her heart.
"Beth and I，"said she，"have decided to build a Children's Picture Theatre.""Where ？"asked Uncle John，rather startled by theproposition.
"Here，or in Los Angeles，"was the reply.
"You see，"explained Beth，"there is a crying need for a place where children may go and see pictures that appeal especially to them and are，at the same time，quite proper for them to witness.A great educational ？eld is to be opened by this venture，and Patsy and I would enjoy the work of creating the first picture theatre，exclusively for children，ever established in America.""You may say，'in the world，'"added Arthur."I like thisidea of yours，girls，and I hope you will carry it out.""Oh，they'll carry it out，all right，"remarked UncleJohn."I've been expecting something of this sort，ever since we came here.My girls，Mr.Jones，"he said，turning to the young man，"are always doing some quaint thing，or indulging in some queer enterprise，for they're a restless lot.Before Louise married，she was usually in these skirmishesa with fate，but now—""Oh，I shall join Patsy and Beth，of course，"asserted Louise."It will make it easier for all，to divide the expense between us，and I am as much interested in pictures as theyare.""Perhaps，"said Patsy musingly，"we might build two theatres，in different parts of the city.There are so many children to be amused.And we intend to make the admission price ？ve cents.""Have you any idea what it costs to build one of these picture theatres ？"asked Arthur.
