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."But don't blame me forPage 58ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlbringing you on this particular wild-goose chase.I didn't like the idea,believe me.I told you in New York that Endicott was taking Janey to a touristhotel.That's what I believed then.""Didn't you say Janey told you her father was taking her into one of theloneliest places in the world?""I sure did.Mother, Arizona looks to me to be about half of the UnitedStates.And it's lonely all right, all right.Imagine fine-combing this desertall to hunt up a girl! That fellow who charged a hundred dollars for a carride that scrambled my insides! I'd like to get hold of him.Mother, I've anidea Endicott and that trader Bennet were laughing at us up their sleeves.""Humph! That dirty-looking trader laughed in my face," asserted Mrs.Durland."And as for the wasting of a whole hundred dollars that's your fault, too.Younever knew how to bargain.You just threw money away.It drives me mad.Youhave no backbone, no stamina.Otherwise you'd have eloped with Janey beforeher father ran off with her to this terrible place of rocks.""Eloped! My dear Mother, you don't know Janey Endicott," returned her son,significantly."Perhaps we'd better not talk so loud or mention names," remarked Mrs.Durland, apprehensively."Didn't you try to tell that Indian guide and the car driver our familyhistory?.Hello! Here comes a white man! Tough-looking customer!""Oh, dear, I hope he isn't a desperado," replied Mrs.Durland, in alarm.This last from mother to son tickled Janey so keenly that she was hard put toit to keep from side-splitting laughter.She peeped round the edge of hercovert.Yes, Phil was coming.He had spied the visitors, and he was peeringeverywhere for Janey."How do you do," greeted Randolph, as he came up."Your Indian told me of yourarrival.""Very nice of him to find someone," returned Mrs.Durland, gratefully."Whom have I the pleasure of addressing?""Mrs.Percival Smith Durland, of New York, and her son Bertrand.Of courseyou've heard of us.""I regret to say I never have."Janey giggled inwardly at this slight, because she had more than once toldPhil about the Durlands."Indeed.I see.You've never been away from this raw crude Arizona," repliedMrs.Durland, apologizing for his ignorance."Do many tourists come here tothis Becky--something or other?""Very few.We don't encourage them.""There, Mother.I told you so," broke in Bert, who had been staring hard atRandolph."Is there any resort for tourists near?" asked Mrs.Durland."Bennet's trading post is the nearest habitation of white folks.But you'dhardly call it a resort.""I should say not.We stopped there to get ready for this trip.May I askyour name?""Phillip Randolph, at your service, Madam.""Randolph? Surely that's the name we heard.You're an archaeologist, Iunderstand.""Yes, Madam," returned Randolph, shortly."Work for the government, don'tyou?""Yes.""And you're the Mr.Randolph.Well, I'm sorry for you.There's a Mr.Elliot atthe post now.He came the day we arrived.He's from Washington, D.C.I heardMr.Bennet say he was furious that you had gone to this Becky--place beforethe time scheduled, and it would likely cost you your job.""Mr.Elliot at the post! Well, that is a surprise," returned Randolph, quiteperturbed."I daresay.It's too bad.I'm sorry for you.But you might find decent worksomewhere.You look stronger than those bowlegged cowboys.""Thank you.Yes, I think I am rather strong.You spoke of cowboys.WerePage 59ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlthey--did you see any round the post?""Cowboys! I rather think so.They nearly rode us down.Stopped our car to keepus from being killed by stampeding cattle.One of them was tow-headed, andpretty fresh, to say the least.""Cattle stampede! Oh, Lord!" muttered Randolph, in distress."What did you say?" asked Mrs.Durland."I--I was just talking to myself,"replied Randolph, hastily."We are looking for Miss Janey Endicott and her party," interrupted Bert, withimportance."I'll give you ten dollars to guide us to her camp.""There you go, Bert Durland, flinging money to the four winds," declared hismother."Miss Janey Endicott and party!" echoed Randolph."That's what I said," returned the young man, testily."Mr.Endicott informedme.I'm a very dear friend of Janey's--in fact of the family.""Did Endicott say how many were in the party?" inquired Randolph."No.I gathered there were several.People from the post.Where are theycamped?""Not here.I have not seen any--party.Do you mean you've ridden all the wayout here to see Miss Endicott?""Certainly.Do you know her?" replied Bert, suspiciously."I think I've seen the young woman," said Randolph, dryly."You haven't.Any man who ever saw Janey Endicott wouldn't think he'd seenher.He'd never forget her.""Oh, excuse me, perhaps I'm wrong.The person I saw was about twenty, andacted fifteen, and dressed as if she were ten.Very coy and vivacious, andwild, I may say.She was not bad looking.""Miss Endicott is strikingly beautiful, one of the loveliest girls in NewYork," returned young Durland, grandly.The expression on Phil's face made Janey want to shout with glee.Mrs.Durland had been looking at the bits of broken pottery and stone utensilswhich lay carefully arranged on a flat rock."Is this the kind of bric-a-brac you dig for?" she inquired."You appear to becareless with it.""It's broken when we find it, Madam.I could not be careless with suchpriceless relics.""Priceless? That lot of junk!" interposed Bert, in amazement."We would like to see a little of your--your place here," said Mrs.Durland,graciously."Then I will engage you to fmd Miss Endicott's camp for us.""Beckyshibeta is very dangerous," returned Randolph."You have to climb overrough rocks.""Excuse me from climbing.But we'll take a look.Come, son.""I don't care anything about Bechyshib--or Beckysharp," responded Bert."Iwant to see Janey Endicott.""What! After our long journey out here to see this wonderful place?""You called it beastly before Professor Randolph dropped in," replied Bert,scornfully."Oh, dear, this generation.No appreciation of art or love of the beautiful!""I'll have a look up the canyon to see if Miss Endicott--and party--are campednear," said Randolph, moving away with Mrs.Durland.Bert unsaddled his horse.Janey, convinced that the Durlands would fmd hersooner or later, preferred to surprise Bert.So she took advantage of hisoccupation with horse and saddle to run back the way she had come.Then sheboldly turned round the corner.Durland was sauntering here and there,inspecting the camp, plainly nonplused.Presently he heard Janey's step andwheeled."Oh!" cried Janey, starting back."Janey!" he burst out, rapturously."What luck! By heaven, I'm glad to seeyou!""Young man, you frightened me," returned Janey."What are you doing here?"Suddenly his gaze took in her apparel and his eyes popped.Janey had notPage 60ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm
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