Page:The Black Camel (IA blackcamel0000earl).djvu/39

She disappeared into the hall, and Bradshaw turned quickly to the girl.

“You're looking great,” he cried. “It’s the climate. Not that you didn’t look fairly good at the start———”

“Tell me,” she cut in. “What do you think of Shelah?”

“Shelah?” He paused. “Oh, she’s all right. Nice and friendly but—a bit artificial—a good actress, on and off. In the past two years I’ve met enough screen stars to start a Hollywood of my own, and what I always say is—doffing my hat to southern California—you can have ’em.”

“You don’t really know Shelah,” protested the girl.

“No, I guess not. She’s been kind to you, and that makes her aces up with me. But my own preference in women—and I’ve looked very carefully over the field———”

“Oh, you have, have you?”

“My ideal—since you’ve asked me, and I’m glad you have—is a rather different sort. Lovely, of course, young, innocent, ingenuous—and pretty crazy about yours truly. That—and you may quote me freely—is the girl for me.”

Diana came suddenly through the curtains. She, too, still wore an afternoon gown.

“Hello, big boy,” she said. “You ready for that swim with me?”

“Sure,” replied Bradshaw. “With you—and anybody else who wants to come along.” He looked at Julie. “Let’s go. Before the moon rises is my idea. It’s the best time. Any one else going—or is it just—the three of us?”

Julie shook her head. “No one else, I guess. The others are afraid of spoiling their make-up.”