Evening star., 1936-05-09
NSTALLMENT XXI.


~ HE kept close to him as they
crossed q wide marble tagged
entrance hall with a domed
~ roof, entered large doors and
walked down strange Railways scented
with carbolic acid, waited for keys to
turn and chairs to clank.
They were finally in large base
fnent room, whitewashed and stark,
and furnished only with benches. A
sergeant of police with many bands
on his arm was sitting at table.
George talked with him in low
tone, and he glanced from time to
time thoughtfully at Tamara. When
finally he stood up it was to greet her
pleasantly with the observation that
his wife would surely envy him the
opportunity of meeting Miss Tod
hunter. We've seen you lots of times
at the old Geary Theater," he said.
"You folks want to see Mallory, don't
you? I guess We can Ak it."
He rang bell, murmured to an
other ofdcer who came in, and imme-
diately the newcomer indicated that
S41Cy WCIC W lOIAOW 1luIl.
They threaded more passages,
opened more locked doors, and finally
came to large room smelling drearily
Of the usual whitewash and carbolic.
There were four or five newspaper men
in this room, scribbling on yellow
paper. Mayne was dressed as he had
been in court; his face looked pale
and bloated, and he was talking nerv-
ously to whoever would listen.
Mayne saw them at once and got
up from his chair. Tamara and
George went up to him, and Tamara
put her hand in his.
Hello, Mayne," she said, almost in
audibly. They had not spoken to each
other since that dreadful Sunday in
Sacramento almost eight years ago.
Hello" he said quickly, taking their
hands in both Of his in turn. He ad-
dressed the nearest guard: I'D like
to talk to these folks" he said. II
suppose I could see them alone?"
You can't see any one alone" the
policeman said indifferently.
George sat down at an end Of the
table and Mayne came to take chair
that made their group somewhat apart
from the room.
1T surely is long time since you
and have talked together, Tamara,"
Mayne said. And remembering what
he had been, she found something
heartbreaking in this hint of the old
gallantry and ease.
"Oh, long time!" Tamara agreed,
her face colorless.
You look just as good as you ever
did. You played in stock for long
time, didn't you?"
Eyes, I-yes. did!" Tsmara agreed
on a light, huttered voice. Mayne
looked heavily at George.
Il am surely in mean jam" Mr..
Davis" he said.
80 I saw" George said. II made
what was an honest case for you and
I'm surprised that Willoughby didn't
follow the same lines"
-''If you and I hadn't split, Mr..
Davis" Mayne said, I'D be free man
tonight"
."Oh, don't think you can say that.
We might have put up better show,
but you never can be sure with a
jury" George said. TITS too bad.
You'll appeal, Of course"
II think our best bet is the Cover
nor"
Tamara turned anxious eyes from
one mans face to the other. If only
they we're out Of this-if only they
were out of this ...
Hes. pretty hard man." George
said doubtfully.
Rose? Yep. he's a hard man."
Mayne concened. And that's why we
want Tamara to get at him."
The old stupid, easy arrogance, the
detestable plural, the significance Of
the glances he occasionally sent to-
ward her, as one who had secret un-
derstanding with him, chilled Ia
nara's heart.
II don't know the Governor" she
said.
That doesn't make any difference,
Mayne assured her. You get in touch
with him, see? You tell him why you
want him to let me of, see?"
Pm sure Tamara would be quite
willing to write to him or see him."
George said in tone he held quiet.
Tamara could not speak.
Look, I never touched Florice!"
Mayne said.
mo. So you said. No, think the
next move could very well be an ap-
peal to the Governor" George agreed
briefly. He looked at Tamara, whose
expression Of reluctance and sickness
and bitter endurance betrayed the mis-
cry she was in, and he put hand
over her hand. That will be quite
simple, Tam" he said, land not more
than any one would do for an old
friend"
IF you want to put it that way!"
Mayne said with touch Of signifi-
canoe.
You know I will do all I can for
you, Mayne." Tamara said for herself
in a rather faint voice, but quickly,
George did do all he could"
But George ran for the ofice of
district attorney right in the middle
of my trial." Mayne said dryly. Ia
mara eyed him Indignantly.
What else could he do?" she ex-
claimed.
He could have seen me through,
--Ny~wyv1-