"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 290 - Death has Grey Eyes" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

most captivating singer of recent months. In fact it was rumored that several
important producers were present nightly, largely on Irene's account, but that
so far, she hadn't signed with any musical show.
At least Dick Whitlock wasn't present, though Claire wasn't too solaced
by
the fact. Dick had been keeping close to his new and lavish apartment, the one
that Jerry had decorated with the unusual interiors including the Petite Salon
from the steamship Bretagne.
Dick's excuse was that he had caught a cold during a hunting trip at
Rook's Retreat, but when Claire talked to him on the phone she hadn't noticed
any thickness to his voice. Maybe Dick was avoiding her, but he seemed to be
avoiding Irene, too, which squared matters temporarily.
A camera man was taking flash shots of Irene as she sang, and Jerry
turned
to Claire to say:
"They're rating Irene as the most photographed star in New York. With all
the magazine publicity she'll be getting, Dick will be running into
competition
from the wolf-pack."
"I can't see that Dick cares," returned Claire. "At least he isn't
interested in protecting his priority."
Whether Claire meant Irene or herself, Jerry wasn't sure, but his
expression showed some sort of determination. Evidently Jerry wasn't setting
too fast a pace in his own wooing of Claire and he seemed to know why.
When Irene's song ended, the orchestra left its platform and a huge drum
was pushed away from the side where it protruded. Claire saw other
photographers gather and was pleased that Irene had a rival until the person
turned out to be a brown-faced mystic wearing Egyptian robe, head-piece and
other regalia.
This was Karnak, the celebrated Fakir, starting his routine with the
basket trick wherein he intended to vanish his tawny assistant Abu and make
him
reappear. Magic bored Claire because it made her think, so she was quite
pleased
when Irene suddenly joined the group at the table.
"Oh, hello," said Claire, sweetly. "I've heard you've been taking the
photogenic laurels lately, Irene."
"Mostly for publicity," returned Irene, modestly. "Of course there have
been a few requests from show managers."
"To be really popular," suggested Claire, "you should turn yourself into
a
human pin-cushion like that Abu chap. He's probably hiding in the basket where
Karnak is punching all those swords. Or is he?"
"I really wouldn't know," said Irene. "Only the photographers aren't here
to shoot the basket trick. What bothers them is the famous rope trick,
Karnak's
feature number."
"You mean the thing from India where the boy actually climbs a rope and
disappears?"
"Exactly. Karnak claims he brought it here by way of Egypt. Anyway,