“It’s all very beautiful,” observed Miss Campbell. “I’m sure I never saw a more enchanting scene in my life. But there’s one thing that makes it more beautiful to me even than the Vale of Cashmere, and that’s a hot bath. I’m looking forward to a hot bath, my dears, and a good night’s rest on a hair mattress in the best hotel in the city. I trust you feel the same.”
The girls laughed.
“We look a good deal like a United States geological surveying party, after three months in the wilderness,” answered Daniel Moore, looking quizzically at the girls’ sunburned faces, and glancing down at his gray flannel shirt, borrowed from Jim Bowles.
“I do feel as if I had returned to my natural element,” said Elinor; “just a handful of dust. I am chewing dust and seeing dust and hearing dust. My hair is dust and so are my clothes.”
“After we are scrubbed and shampooed and manicured and fed and rested,” here put in Billie, “I shall write a note to your Evelyn, Mr. Moore.”
The young man hesitated.
“I’ve repented my bargain with you, Miss Billie. I’m afraid you might get into some kind of trouble. I should never forgive myself if I involved you in any difficulties.”
“Nonsense,” said Billie, who, having made up her mind to see Evelyn, was not going to be thwarted at the eleventh hour. “There could be no possible harm in my writing and asking her to call. Besides, we know her now anyhow, quite well. Don’t we, Helen?”
“Yes-s—,” hesitated her cousin. “But I agree with Mr. Moore, that we had better not make any more efforts to see Evelyn, although I can’t possibly see how we could become involved in any trouble by renewing our acquaintance.”
So the discussion came to an end. What this beautiful city with the mysteries which hung over it had in store for them, they could not even guess. Perhaps they would visit its chief points of interest like ordinary tourists, and perhaps, who knows, they might penetrate far deeper into its secrets. They were certain of one thing, however, that Daniel Moore, for all his self-contained and calm exterior, was consumed with an unquenchable flame of determination. By hook or by crook, he would see Evelyn Stone, and, provided she was willing, he would take her away from Utah.