Page:The Black Camel (IA blackcamel0000earl).djvu/24

The formalities of the port were quickly ended, and the Oceanic docked. Shelah Fane was the first down the plank, to be received by the eager arms of her secretary. Julie was young, impetuous, unspoiled; her joy was genuine.

“The house is all ready, Shelah. It’s a knockout. Jessop is there, and we’ve found a Chinese cook who’s a magician. The car’s waiting.”

“Really, dear?”

The star looked up into the dark deep-set eyes of the man at Julie’s side. “Tarneverro—what a relief to see you here. But I knew I could depend on you.”

“Always,” said the fortune-teller gravely.

What the crowd lacked in numbers, it made up in noise and confusion. Anna, the maid, was overwhelmed with boxes and bags, and seeing this, Tarneverro went to help her. There was no condescension in his manner; he treated her with the same courtly grace he would have shown the star.

Alan Jaynes and Bradshaw appeared on the scene. The latter went over to greet Julie with as much warmth as though he had just arrived after a long hard voyage from some distant port. Jaynes stepped quickly to Shelah’s side.

“I shall be damnably anxious,” he said. “This afternoon—may I come then?”

“Of course,” she nodded. “Oh—this is Julie—you've heard about her. Julie, please tell him the number of our house. We're just beyond the Grand Hotel, on Kalakaua Avenue.”

Julie told him, and he turned back to Shelah, “I shan’t keep you———” he began.

“Just a moment,” said the star. “I want to in-