"Oh, yes, let us go on to Etoria by all means," pleaded Sam.
"Any particular reason for going to that city?" asked Tom, quickly.
"Yes, I've got a reason, but I'm not going to tell you," returned his younger brother. And then, as both Dick and Tom looked at him questioningly, he blushed and turned away.
"Oh, go ahead. I think I can stand it," said Mrs. Stanhope, with a smile.
"I am getting used to traveling," declared Mrs. Laning. "It's much more comfortable than I at first supposed it would be."
Nightfall found them still ten miles from Etoria and Dick asked the others if they wished to stop anywhere along the way for supper. All declared, however, that they would rather keep on until the city was reached.
"They tell me that they have got a dandy hotel there—something new," said Sam. "We ought to get first-class accommodations there."
Etoria was a city of some fifty thousand inhabitants, with a long main street brightly lighted up. The new hotel was opposite a beautiful public park, an ideal location. Sam seemed to be in unusual haste to finish his supper, and immediately it was over he asked Grace if she would not take a walk with him.
"We are going to do up the town, so don't worry if we get back a little late," he told Mrs. Laning, and then whispered something in her ear which made her smile and gaze at him fondly.
They pursued their way along the main street of the town, and while doing so the youngest Rover kept his eyes on the various shops that were passed. At last they came to a large jewelry establishment and here he brought the girl to a halt.