Evening star., 1936-05-12

Let's go to Yosemite. There might
be snow there now. I'll tell you
what we'll do-well go down to the
little place we saw at Halfmoon Bay
and see If the old woman will sell it
to u.s."
"Oh, George!" Tamara said in
ecstasy. "Let'sT
What time will you start?"
Now? In an hour?"
mo-" George decided, rejecting,
1--WE can't go tonight. We'd be down
there about midnight and scare the
wits out of the poor old girl. No; but
If you'll get up early we can start at
about 6 and have breakfast down
there"
"Oh, George. I would love it sol"
Tamaras face was radiant again
when they walked to their home
George. answering a telephone call
was heard to say briefly, well, maybe
it'll teach him to keep his mouth
shut" to some speaker unidentified
Presently he said: mo, he was blowins
his face off about my throwing hin
down and not defending him in thi.
last trial He got little too lippy
Well, it'll cool him off"
In the black, cold darkness of tn,
early morning Tamara joyously tool
her place on the front seat. Door.
slammed, the car moved out through
the big garage doorway and turned
south through the sleeping down.
town streets Of the city. Sullen sill.
yer and black was streaking the east.
ern sky beyond the hills of the fal
coast ranges, but the air was heavy
and chill and Tamara shudderec
with delight as the miles began tc
slip by and they still had the Winte,
world to themselves.
George, we can't really buy thai
old woman's place over her head
Don't you remember that she sale
she had to talk to her son, who lived
in the Dalles?"
"Yes, but remember the. little white
cottage-the little shed back of he,
place? Remember she said shed
rent it? That's our meat" George
said. We'll picnic there for two
days and walk on the beach and have
fires. :"
This" Tamara said more than
once in the course of the two-hour
drive. this was simply an inspira-
tion.'
Mrs. Moretti was feeding her chick
ems when her tenants arrived and
seemed in her somewhat inarticulate
way pleased to see them. She told
them that they could sleep In the
house If they liked, it was more
warma" than the cottage, but the Da-
vises preferred the plain little one
room whitewashed shed and worked
with what was to her q completely
mysterious enthusiasm and energy at
making it habitable for the rest of the
day.
They drove back to the village for
soap and rags and a broom and q
rake and groceries and meat; they
returned to put on clothing just pur-
chased at the Quitting Co.'s big
store and for hours afterward their
landlady could see them sweeping,
raking. packing in wood, cooking and
could hear them laughing like two
children as they worked. The No.
vember day that had started with
bright sunshine clouded over; cold
fog came in from the sea, but Ia
maras cheeks glowed pink and per-
spiration stood on her forehead and
George abandoned his sweater and
worked in his white shirt. The crack
ed little stove in the cabin glowed
scarlet; the odor of young chickens
oubbling in broth of onions and
carrots, peppers and tomatoes and
celery and rice, floated upon the cool
salty air and Tamara salted and
peppered and tasted to her hearts
content.
George, why does any one ever
live any other way than this? If we
had hundred dollars a month and
a dog and after while a boy baby,
what more could we have? There's
the Pacific right in our front yard
the Morettis turned their house the
other way, but we could build a new
doorway and q terrace and put in
some eucalyptus"
She'll sell, too," George said. "Fif.
teen hundred down and so a montl,
does the trick. And in seven years
it's yours!"
Couldn't We get a refusal Of it
George?"
"Refusal!" George said, laughing
Were the only people who eve,
even thought of buying it. She thinks
we came in answer to her prayers te
st. Joseph or some one"
"St. Joseph is the patron of q
happy home" Tamara said, reflective.
ly, as he paused. But more likely
1t was st. Anthony, who finds things. >
Probably they're friends and work.
ed it together. You better get solid
with them. too. If you really want the
place, TAM" George said. We'll
have q good look at it today-that is
If we ever have anything to eat we
will, and next Sunday well come
down and make her q proposition!' p
"Done!" Tamara exulted, after au