Hundreds of people were scattered about on the beach, but their voices and laughter sounded muffled 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 buttoning 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.