Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-05-21

~ breakfast together. Im-out,
Tam"
"out?" she repeated, trying to smile
over a rush of tears.
"For always. 1t was to be a surprise
for you, Tam. Billy and fixed II up
fools that we were. got my PARDON
yesterday-today, was 1t? oniy Iln
afternoon, it was. But Billy ana Ellen
had an idea that it would be wonoer-
full to surprise you!"
"pardoned! You knew when I saw
you-when was it, yesterday!
mo didn't. My God, Tam. you
don't think I could have let you go
away from the prison not knowing II
had known!
BILLY knew"
mot until today. Ill tell you how
It was. Billy was in Sacramento yes
terday. and he ran into Whitteil-
Coates right-hand man. He ana
WHITFIELD began talking about my case,
and Whitfield said that he wished that
certain facts about it had been brought
to Gov. Coates notice. Billy said the
whole thing had been gone over a
hundred times, but Whittell said no.
he didn't believe Coates understood the
whole story. He said there had been
litterally hundreds of applications THIS
wear. and they had had hard time.
Rilly went out to dinner and to q
movie last night-that was In Sacra-
mento-and when he got back to the
hotel he found a message there from
Whittell asking him to get in toucn
with Gov. Coates at once. Billy Ielt
pretty sick at missing 1t; 1t was zoo
late then. But he took chance anu
went over the first thing in the morn
ing. and he and Coates talked. Az
noon Billy was on his way driving
down to San Quentin, and he missed
YOU by about 10 minutes. II ne'o
driven Just a little faster he'd have
seen YOUR car in the yard. We nxeo
It all I'D in about an hour, and then
he telephoned Ellen. Ellen said ia
mara's coming down here Tor dinner
and we'll keep it for Christmas sur
prise!"
Tamaras wondering eyes broke over
his reproachfully.
"Oh, no, George, for I was tnere
when Billy got home!
so was I. darling!"
"Not-not right there in Billys
housed
Right there, within a few feet OF
YOU. shaving and bathing and getting
into decent clothes. And perhaps you
think it didn't all feel good!"
"Free?" she whispered.
Free"
George, you're not home again for
always?"
"Ah, but I am, darling"
ct can't believe it,"
She shut her eyes again; the long
lashes wet against her cheek. After
a moment she opened them.
You we're right there in Ellens
house?"
Bill brought me and Max down at
well, when was it? At about 5, ]
guess. couldn't see you or any one
else as looked then; they sneaked me
in the back way and up to young
Brrs bed room. I said to Billy, Is
she really in the house,? and he said
yes, but hold your horses! You've
got to clean up, and take 1t easy
so he went down to talk to you
and I got started dressing. After q
while he came upstairs again and
said. MY God, George, I came near
splitting the beans! Tam's just about
at the end of her rope! 1t made me
feel a little sick-I thought 1t wasn't
quite fair to play with it that way
and I 60 downstairs about z. and
waited-and waited-and after while
Billy came down and said, Great Scott,
isn't she here?' and he ran upstairs,
and Ellen was just coming out of your
room. She said, Billy, she's gone to
San Francisco! She brought down
your note. You'd been gone more than
an hour"
"Oh, George, George, George" Tam
walled. What fool was!"
What fools we all were!"
"Then what. George?"
"Then took Hills and the car. We
went in to the Fairmont. You weren't
there! I knew your mother was down
South, and my mother in Europe. ]
thought, Where the hell has that girl
gone TOP"
Tam's laughter held a note 1t had
not known for long years. George was
on the couch beside her now, with his
arm about her, her head on his
shoulder, in the old way.
Then suddenly I remembered that
word 'over,'" George said.
"Over?"
I'm your note. You said you'd surely
come over tomorrow or Wednesday.
You see, didn't know you'd bought
this place, Tam. but even when Ellen
first read 1t I thought that word was
funny. I asked Hills If he knew any
place from which you could come
over and he said, She wouldn't GO
to the Halfmoon Bay place at this
time of night, I should think, SIR ]
said, What Halfmoon Bay placer and
he said, She bought a place there
quite while back, sir. I've often
driven Mrs. Martell and the children
there in Summer. She's done quite
a bit of work there in the garden.
Then. of course, I knew, and I said
we must get right down here, to be
here before you went to bed, so as moi
to frighten you. But I thought, Of
course, some one was with you"
But then what took you so long?'
1--WE came right down, dear. tt,
only quarter to 10 now"
"Only a what" Tam exclaimed, sit.
ting upright.
1T isn't quite 10, Tam. I thought
Of course, you'd be UP, although II
does seem later"
Later! thought 1t was the middle
Of the night. I must have gone t.
bed at about 8. I was tired"
"You are tired, you poor little thing!'
Tired? Now? I'm on wings
George, Is it really all over-is thu
way really clear?" Tam murmured
rubbing small thumb back and forth
on his big hand, tears streaming dowr
her fare care voII and inst onf