Part 29 (1/2)
”Nothing lives in it, you know,” said Billie. ”No fish of any kind. It's salty beyond words to tell.”
Hundreds of people were scattered about on the beach, but their voices and laughter sounded m.u.f.fled and far away. It was all very strange to the travelers who seemed to have fallen under the spell of the enchanted lake on whose waters they presently floated in a dreamy state, as if a magician's wand had changed them into so many human boats.
They sat on the sands for a long time after their bath, chatting in low voices. Then, after another dip, they dressed and lunched in the restaurant of the splendid bathing pavilion, one of the finest structures of its kind in the world. Again they sat on the beach watching the opalescent mountains. They felt intensely drowsy in the warm, dry air, and by and by sleep descended on them, and they lay like so many enchanted victims by the still waters of that mysterious lake.
At last the sun set in a blaze of red and gold, wonderful to behold, and the five sleepers sat up and rubbed their eyes.
”Dear children, it's been a remarkable experience,” announced Miss Campbell; but whether she referred to the nap or the bath or the entire splendid day she did not explain.
It was seven o'clock when they reached the hotel in a blissful state of irresponsibility, like human beings who had wandered unexpectedly into fairy land.
There would be lots to tell Daniel Moore that night at dinner, they were thinking. And perhaps he would have news for them.
All this time Billie and Nancy had carefully kept secret the meeting with Evelyn Stone.
Letters awaited them at the hotel, and last of all, Miss Campbell opened a note from Daniel Moore, so certain was she that they would see him in ten minutes in the dining room. Suddenly, without warning, she burst into the next room where the four girls were engaged in a quartette of b.u.t.toning up.
”Oh, my dears, my dears, something dreadful has happened,” she cried.
”Mr. Moore has been arrested and put in jail for receiving stolen goods from the train robbers. He expects to get bail, he says, very soon, but he advises us to leave this town at once. It's that dreadful Stone man who has done it. Poor Mr. Moore says-'I look for trouble for you and dread your being involved in anything disagreeable. Don't lose a moment in leaving Salt Lake City. They have no case against me, of course, but I am afraid the old villain will keep me here until after Evelyn's marriage. He's a very powerful man in this town. I beg of you not to make any efforts to see Evelyn. He is capable of most anything, I think, and it is too late to stop the wedding now.' Now, wasn't I right not to let you deliver that note, Billie, dear?” she added triumphantly. ”I tell you it is most dangerous interfering with other people's affairs.”
Billie smiled faintly and exchanged a frightened look with Nancy.
”We had better leave town to-morrow morning,” she said. ”We can't leave to-night. The Comet isn't quite ready.”
”Leave town, indeed!” exclaimed Miss Campbell. ”We have nothing on our consciences. We shall stay as long as we choose. This is a free country, and I am not in the least afraid of that dreadful Mormon. Let us go down to dinner and forget all about him.”
And down she went presently, sweeping into the dining room like a haughty little queen, the Motor Maids following behind her. Elinor held her head high. She was a princess and feared no man, neither Mormon nor Gentile. Mary walked innocently at her side. Her conscience was clear, and she was not afraid to look the whole world in the face. Then came the guilty ones, pale and silent. Oh, heavens! What it is to have a black secret on one's soul. The food had no taste. The music clashed inharmoniously, and the murmur of the conversation of other diners grated on their nerves.
”Nancy, dear, you have no appet.i.te,” Miss Campbell was saying, when a waiter approached bearing a long, official-looking envelope on a tray.
”Another communication from our poor friend, I suppose,” she observed, breaking the seal and drawing out the letter without noticing the inscription on the envelope which announced that it came straight from the Department of Police, Salt Lake City.
As Miss Campbell read the communication contained within this formidable cover, a deep scarlet flush spread over her face, which gradually faded into a deadly white pallor. She tried to speak, but her lips refused to frame the words.
The girls were very much frightened and several of the waiters drew near with evident curiosity. It was Elinor who had the presence of mind to say:
”Dear Miss Campbell, won't you take my arm? I am quite through dinner.”
And the two walked slowly from the room, taking the mysterious letter with them.
”We had better wait a moment,” whispered Billie to the other girls. ”It would be less conspicuous than if we all rushed out at once. People are already looking at us.”
She tried to b.u.t.ter a piece of bread, but her hands trembled and she felt that the color had left her cheeks. Nancy was the picture of misery.
”What is it, girls?” whispered Mary in a frightened voice.
”I don't know,” answered Billie; ”but something dreadful has happened, I feel sure. The letter was from the Chief of Police, I think. I did deliver the note to Evelyn Stone, Mary. I know it was wrong to have disobeyed, but I couldn't see the harm of giving one person a letter from another person.”