Evening star., 1936-04-27

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asked her what she would think of
his running for district attorney. Os-
car Mullins had the job now. but his
term would soon be over, and he was
more or less in disrepute.
Tam considered it. She had known
him for six months. seven months.
Quite simply, quite naturally he had
come to be the most important person
In her life.
Il think it would be splendid if you
became district attorney" Tam said.
"Would you have a chance?"
Reilly says so. and if any one
knows, it ought to be Reilly. The po-
litical situation is peculiar right now.
He thinks I could get the party NOM
ination hands down"
"Well-" Tam smiled. You'd like
it,"
I'D like anything that brings you
a little nearer. Do you realize that
an January Goth it'll be whole year?
You said a year, you know"
Il said year without a break"
"One break. But that didn't mean
that I have to start all over again in
May?"
What amazes me. George, is that
you could do it so easily. Only break
In whole year, and that was at the
Press Club thing when every one else
was equally gay. I never can under
stand how man can go on running
his life and his health and his future
when all the time it's in his power to
stop"
Incentive, maybe, Tam"
Incentive nothing! Isn't merely
being decent sufficient incentive? You
were sliding downhill year ago" Tam
smiled. If you could have stopped any
time, why on earth didn't you?"
II don't know The truth is, Tam.
he replied. his smile whittier than ever
In the new Drowned skin his recently
acquired enthusiasm for golf and
swimming had given him, you never
think of yourself as doing anything
very rotten. I don't believe murderers
think of themselves as bad 1t was
always Just missing a court session or
forgetting to get brief ready and
meeting some fellows who were going
TO the races or dinner or somewhere
and drifting along. 1t was only when
met you that began to think that
had very little to offer girl like you
and then"
He came across to the big chair in
which her slim figure had almost lost
itself They we're in his rooms at the
Sir Francis Drake; Tam had been
having tea with him George knelt
down before her and locked his arms
about her waist, and Tam laid both
hands on his collar.
Will you marry me, Tam?" he said,
"You're the one who pulled me out.
was going away, when I met you. I
was going with Fitch to New Orleans;
1t would have meant the finish of me-
Fitch has gotten himself into trouble
there already. l belong to you. Tam.
Surely you wouldn't have done all
you've done for me to throw me down
now?"
"Just-just being good friends isn't
enough, George"
Not half enoughl We want to find
little apartment somewhere on hill,
Tam. with view. and have lamps and
teacups and all the rest of it."
But. George, suppose that after
we're married things go badly again?'
I don't think you need worry, Tam.
I'm awake now, and it's more than
I've been in 10 years. I'm myself. Do
you know what I mean when I say
that I'm myself?'
Yes. know what you mean" she
said. as he paused. Il did something
once that wasn't myself. and how
frightful it felt until I came back to
being myself again!"
He was only half listening.
There's a point he said. with
every man who drinks when he could
stop. Id made a hopeless mess of it
until you came along. and you gave
me my life-why, I'll never know"
Perhaps because Id made such a
mess of mine she said suddenly.
perhaps knew how you felt"
Il don't believe" he said, still kneel-
Ing, that you know what it is to do
anything rotten. 1t simply isn't in
you. Men don't count at all. as far
as that sort of thing goes, and what
else could you have done?"
You're extremely generous, George.
This" Tam said rehectively-"this
may be as good a time to tell you as
any other. Sooner or later, of course.
III have to tell you
you don't have to tell me anything,
you simp."
Tam pushed him aside and went
over to stand looking out of the win
dow. The bright Winter streets below
were filled with shoppers and with red
and green silver decorations. Christ
mas was close.
Come over here and sit down be-
side me. George and let me tell you
well, not Christmas story! When
was 19 I was poor and alone and
scared Of life, and I met a man who
could give me everything I wanted.
He could take me to the big hotels and
buy me orchids and hatter me and talk
to me of Hollywood engagements. I
drank it all in and believed it. He
took me over to Telegraph Hill and
introduced me to the Bohemian crowd;
Persis and Joe Holloway and Adriana
Cox and all of them. That gang is all
broken up now since Adriana killed
herself. met Persis in the street the
other day and she said that Joe had
gone to Tahiti However, that doesn't
matter. They fascinated me and their
ideas fascinated me; about its being
nobody's business what one did. To
be free was the great thing; was l9.
and felt myself gloriously free"
Loved him, eh?" George said, as
she hesitated.