Evening star., 1936-05-14
INSTALLMENT XXXv.

INSTALLMENT XAXt.
HERE was no wind stirring
among the silent, leafless Or
chard trees and over the FROST
L bound earth. Tam and George
mounted steep, muddy roads and
looked down on the town and the
houses as upon panorama, got their
breath and climbed again.
"What'd you all talk of in the IL
brary, George?"
"Oh, lots of things"
will you promise me one thing?"
I'll promise you anything, darling" F"
I'm not reading the papers, you
know-you asked me not to. But as
soon as you know anything will you
tell me?"
You could read the papers If you
wanted to. But there's q lot of bosh
in them about the thing-my being
district attorney-elect and your being
Tam Todhunter Is meat and drink
for them, of course!' Read EN- If you
want to-"
Was he deceiving her? Was that
careless, unalarmed manner assumed?
Il don't want to read them." Tam
said forlornly. Il just-dont want
them to do anything to you. They're
not holding you, anyway. Is that q
good thing?"
"A very good thing. Oh, they're
giving me the break all through
George said comfortably. Don't you
worry about me-"
You re not on bail, George?"
well, Of course. Judge Moore fixed
that
Tam stopped in the thickenine
dusk; turned upon him a stricken
face.
"Oh, George, you're not!"
Its just a matter of form in case!
of this kind, Tam"
She came close to him, put a hane
on his arm.
Tell me the worst" she said
What is the worst than can hap
pen?"
I don't know. pussy" Georg,
stopped and put kiss on her nose
Lets wait and see what actually doe
happen" he said.
Gould they-I have to ask you'll
could they send you to jail?"
We'll, yes: they could" George an
swered cheerfully, his hand under he
arm as he walked her briskly along
We've got to get back to our road.
he reminded her, before it gets to-
dark. But what a swell walk"
mo, but listen, George. You sa.
they could?"
"Oh. sure they could"
"But-but your being district attor
ney-elect would have some weight
wouldn't it?"
II should think SOL"
I've been-for five days since W,
came back from Halfmoon Bay
you don't know what purga
tory I've been in" Tamara exclaimed
Il can imagine it. sweetheart. ant
I've appreciated your not talking abou
it. but feeding me and going to pic
tures,' George said in his tenderes
tone. But / believe it'll be over sool
now-this week anyway. Just buck VI
and try not to take it too hard"
II could bear anything as long as
knew you weren't going to pay for it..
Il knocked him down, and a goot
job, too," George said with q brie
laugh
But before would let them sent
you to prison I'd tell everything!" Ia
mara said. II would, George! I'd tel
them about Mary, and what he did t
me and what he said to you! III no
have your whole career blighted b.
anything he could have done. Yol
must let me! They'd open the who'll
thing up again, then. and it'd be justi
fable homicide. You said yourself
would"
Don't you get excited, little girl
Here we are home again, and I'm 60
ing to have bath before dinner.
could eat a horse" George said sim
ply. IF you'll worry about this thin
as little as I do we'll come out of /
all right"
Her small soft hand was warm il
his as they came blinking into tn
lighted hospitable hallway.
II adore you'll" she murmured.
y
He took her to dinner at the city
finest hotel a few nights later; the,
had soft music and mellowed light
about them when he told her tn
news:
II think they're going to make
sort of example of me, Tam"
Her alarmed eyes came up from he
plate; George hooked smoking oyste
from its shell, put it in his mouth
grinned at her.
How do you mean?" Tam demand
ed, paling.
oh" he said carelessly, Il think II
have to 60 across the bay for littl
while"
How do you mean?" Tam breathe
again, very white.
Il mean that I think that-formah
ties must be gone through with,
George explained.
"They're-they're not" Sh
choked on the words and was still
her eyes on his.
II think so"
"Jail?" she whispered.
"Oh, for while. Nothing much.
mo, they wont!" Tam whispered
She looked about her like q creatur
| IN q from ooh uhy did volJ hrin