Aunt Jane''s Nieces out West is a young-adult novel by L. Frank Baum, written under the pen name Edith Van Dyne and the ninth book in the Aunt Jane''s series. The story opens soon after the conclusion of Aunt Jane''s Nieces and Uncle John. Patsy and Beth are still in southern California visiting Louise and her husband Arthur Weldon. One day at the beach a new friend Maud rescues a young man in danger of drowning; Patsy, Arthur, and Uncle John all assist in transporting him to a hospital and saving his life. The young man turns out to be a mysterious and eccentric youth called Ajo. Jones. Ajo is mistaken for a wanted jewel thief and the ladies take up his cause. L. Frank Baum was an author of children''s books, best known for writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. He wrote 55 novels in total, plus four "lost" novels, 83 short stories, over 200 poems, and more.