Evening star., 1936-05-09
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HmE&W wkATHLEEN NORRIS ~

that's what he could have DONE"
Mayne said sourly. IT saw he was
giving Just about half his attention to
my case and switched to Willough-
by!"
"You told me to get out" George
reminded him mildly.
"Well, they told ME Willoughby
could swing it," Mayne muttered.
II thought he might myself" George
said.
I'm in a hell of hole"
"Yes, you're in a bad hx!" George
agreed. And Tamara and I are
going to do what we can to get you
out Of it. because was your at
torney in the first trial. and Tam
because she used to know you years
ago"
Maybe you don't know Just ex-
actly what good friends Tam and I
used to be-" Mayne said, with his old
trick of narrowing his eyes on
faint, superior smile. This is q
damn important thing to me, Davis,
and I'm not going to mince words
with you. Your wife wrote me a
letter a few years ago; I've got it
we don't need any of that old friend
talk. What she's got to tell the Gov
ernor is that she and were sweet
hearts a long time ago. She got
her husband to defend me because
she still remembers-that's the line!
No woman ever gets away from her
first love; every one knows that. What
do I care what he thinks as long as
he signs a pardon?"
Tamara was very white. She spoke
simply.
You don't think for one moment
that George doesn't know all you
know of me, and more?" she said.
I'm not quite such fool as that"
Mayne looked from one to the other
suSpiciously. moodily.
We'll, maybe he does" he said.
"And maybe he'd like to look at
that"
From his pocket he took folded
sheet of pale blue paper; Tam re-
membered the paper.
This was not long letter; it was
but dozen lines. She knew them all
George glanced at it, leaned toward
mis- wife: Here, you'll want that back
again." he said.
You aren't going to go away with
it just the same" Mayne said. But,
even if you did, I've witnesses-the
old crowd that knew what was going
on isn't all dead. You'll not open
that up. I don't think"
"Blackmail," George said quietly.
Call it what you likeI" the other
man said sharply. I'm in a tight
corner and you've got to get me out!
I've never told any one word Of
this; I've never mentioned Tamara
Todhunter to any one. But you threw
me down; you ran for district attorney
partly to get out Of this. and I could
make it hot for you, Davis. could
tell Mullins gang that you defended
me to protect your wife"
II don't suppose you can under
stand that, can you, Mallory?" George
said in quiet voice.
II can understand-don' you worry
about me understanding" Mayne NUT
tered. I'm not bothered about what
you think OF me, or Tam either. Will
loughby told me all along we'd get a
verdict Of not guilty and then he
shows up this morning drunk, saying,
1T begins to look bad; it begins to
look badl'"
Lots Of men have got of later
alone than this George said. You
talk it over with Willoughby, and If
you think it the wisest thing Tam
will certainly write to the Governor,
or see him"
Write to him, hell" Mayne said.
you've got to play this up big. Her
old love returns-she will fight for
his life"
II think I would rather have you
do anything you can do, Mayne, than
that should do that" Tamara said
with sudden spirit.
How d'you mean you'd rather have