Evening star., 1936-04-05

too-walkin' up and down Broadway
lookin' for jobs, and askin' their
friends for dime to buy sandwich"
he said.
That's awful. I know things are
bad there"
They amt as bad as they are here"
Lance said morosely. We'll. what do
you think of the city? Some city,"
Tamara did not answer at once
She was studying the great gore of
Market street as they drove along;
handsome big buildings, handsome
big shops; every one going home at
this hour; motor cars moving toward
the ferry in streams and the pink fog
coming down over the steep, strange
hills and dropping soft wells over the
roofs.
Funny kind of a July, Lance"
"Oh, you'll get used to that. It's
the damndest climate I ever saw. Hot
at Christmas, and in Summer like
this"
They had turned into one of the
cores that ran at northwest angle
from Market street, and had stopped
in horrid neighborhood of shabby
hotel doorways. garages, candy and
delicatessen shops, cigarette and fruit
stands. The sidewalks we're full of
people and not very attractive looking
people. Tamara saw a snowy restau-
rant window upon which the words
"Valhalla Grill" were painted among
red and gold scrolls, and for a moment
her heart failed her.
rs this it?"
Sure. It's the fifth floor, apart
ment 5-B," Lance said. you work
the elevator yourself. Tell ma I'll be
home for dinner, late. Listen, Tam,
got any money!"
She opened her purse willingly
enough; she could even manage a
faint maternal smile. But her soul
was sick within her. Lance picked
the only large bill from the little sheaf
she produced.
Can you let me have twenty until
tomorrow night? Honest, can you?
-. Say, you're keen, Tam All right,
see you in the movies! Wait min
ute, I'll put these in the elevator for
you. Tell ma if I'm not there by z
I'm not coming!'
Tamara had worked automatic ele-
vators at school; she pressed No. S
with a firm gloved thumb. Once she
swallowed deliberately and felt the
swallow. somehow, tingle in her eyes.
but she was smiling when she stumbled
tn ugh a dark upper hallway and
rang the buzzer to apartment No. 5-B.
She could hear voices all about, and
something sizzling and steaming; the
tnlck, close air was scented with dust
and the odor of frying onions. car
oolic acid and old carpets and WASH.
day operations in laundry tubs-warm
suds, yellow soap, boiling linens. She
was home.
That you, Tam?" called a voice
she knew from behind the door. It's
open, honey!"
Tamara went into a small sitting
room that had two draped and cur
tanned windows looking into Turk
street. The house faced northwest
and through the dirty glass and loop
ed lace and past the chenille fringes,
sunset was streaming.
Tamara set down her bags, went
to the couch, sank down beside it
and took her mother into her arms.
After their kiss they looked at each
other. The girl had an impression of
uncorseted softness, perfume, hair
artificially Redeemed and curled into
mop, beneath which the graying
straight wisps were protruding; pow
dered face, loose painted mouth, mag
nificent eyes filled with laughter,
amusement, affection.
Her mother wore a colorless non
descript garment that had perhaps
once been . nightgown Of peach
satin, with bows on the shoulder and
lace at the breast. Over this was
draggled, thin silk kimono Of creamy
ground splashed with great red pop
pies and black dasgers. She lay In