Evening star., 1936-05-01
INSTALLNIENT XIV.

NAlllll SllA1AlCA PACeodAApAJ "a
dinner preparations and flowers
l. and the clean country atmos-
phere of washed woodwork and pol
ished fiocrs George went upstairs to
fling himself sleepily on his bed;
Mary and Tam attacked the NOUN
tain of boxes and packages in the
sitting room. There were small rubber
boots for little Mary and knapsack
for big Mary-neither of whom was
going-and more boots and another
knapsack for Tam; grills and fishing
poles and roll-top sweaters and tin
cups. When George came downstairs
after more than an hours deep sleep,
the supper table was set III the slant
ing beams of sunlight on the western
terrace, and Tam. in blue shirt and
blue Jeans, with a red handkerchief
knotted about her throat, a wide
brimmed Stetson hat on her bright
hair and a knife and tin cup at her
belt, was carrying out the salad bowl.
Tam Todhunter plays last part, "
she said. Brilliant young actress sac
rifiCes career to wed rising San Fran
cisco attorney. Will live for home and
kiddies.' says girl who has enthralled
nillions-George pick up my hat, look
what you did to my new hat! George,
this is the way I'm going to look in
the high mountains. Can you stand
st."
I'll have on dark glasses" George
said Tam" he added at her ear,
'you are adorable"
I'm excited" she said, elbows on
the table and eyes very blue under the
gold. soft tangle of her disordered
hair. Getting married seems tre-
mendously thrilling"
And your girl got OFF," Mrs. Hutton
unused in great satisfaction.
'Hatty Elliot? Yes; she walked out
of the court room as free as any one
else"
"Oh. it must be a horrible feeling
to be accused of murder" Tam shud-
6ered.
George" said his mother. you be-
lieved this girl-thls poor Elliot girl
was innocent. didn't you?"
Il asked him that very same ques-
ton this morning, when we were
walking to the City Hail." Tam said.
And no doubt got a brilliant an
sver. my girl" George observed. And
if can think it up again III pass it on
to my mother"
1T was to the effect that in the be-
ginning you'd had YOUR doubts Tam
reminded him.
But didn't think you'd ever take
a case if you suspected the murder
charge was true, George?" the older
woman objected.
WELL don't" he said hesitat-
ingly. That is. my learned part
ners don't. They think it's mistake.
But this case was queer. Old Martell
handled it to begin with; then he had
his smash and went to the hospital
and passed it on to me. l talked to
him about it-oh. 20 times. l think
he thought then that Hatty was
guilty"
But you, Judge Davis?' Tamara
asked.
Y didn't think anything about 1t; I
didn't know a damned thing about
the case. I'd been on the Billings
will case. But Martell was terribly
anxious to get her off And the rea-
SON." George proceeded. stripping
the woolly vet skin from peach. was
mixed up with politics. Oscar Mullins
gave young Martel a close licking
at the polls last election. We all
think he's crooked and his whole ma
wants to play NE up against Mullins
as district attorney. Mullins has been
going around thinking out loud about
this case and he thought he had a
sure thing. That's the inside on it."
And if you had lost it, George"
Tamara asked leaning forward in
the warm Summer dusk to fix her
blue eyes on him. then would 1t
have been as bad for you?"
"As what, Beautiful"
"As-well. as it's good for you now"
Tam clarified it, with laugh.
Yes, Id have felt rotten" George
agreed.
But now they can't ever reopen
the case and try her again, can they,
George?"
No; not now"
"Oh. she must feel good tonight"
Tam said, under her breath.
"She and the girl friend are off
for the hop-picking country" George
remembered.
Just as free as We are!" Tam
stared about at the softened, clear.
shadowless light in the garden and
the arch of the opalescent sky. The
air was freshened by the water that
had been circling and spraying from
the sprinklers ever since the sun went
down. 1T would be so terrible to be
mixed into any case like this-person-
ally, I mean" she said "1f I can
get excited as did TODAY over a