Evening star., 1936-05-11
INSTALLMENT 3s.


folks didn't know / knew about my
little girl, did you? Sure, I knew.
Nobody ever knew I knew, but eight
years ago I was sick in a hospital
with q cut fot. The nurse I had
talked to me-she's dead now-she
was an old woman then. She didn't
tell me any names, only that she'd
had theatrical people before; she'd
taken care of little actress that was
having a baby few months before!
Somehow I tied it all up. I'd bring
in Tam's name and watch her; I'd lay
traps and she fell into 'em all. She
talked about Belmont; she'd been up in
Belmont for year. She'd had a
sick mother to take care of. so she
could only take cases near home.
at wasn't very hard for me to
>put two and two together and one
day when I had to come up to the
city anyway l went to Belmont. The
rest was easy: the man at the gas
station identified Tam and l went
up your road and walked into the
HuttonS' garden. The old lady was
there. digging plants, and the kid
with her.
Tamara and George, seated again,
regarded him in silence. The woman's
face was drained of color; she was
breathing hard.
If you feel that way about it,"
Tamara presently said. in a dead
voice, then there's nothing more to
say. Mary is with Georges mother in
Europe, you couldn't see her anyway.
4 But suppose you could hurt her
scar her"
1T isn't how I feel about it," Mayne
said, ''it's that I've got to get out.
don't want to hurt you or the kid.
either you've both fallen on your
feet and I'm glad of it. Go to it!
But II you think you can walk away
now and let me see the thing through
alone, why, you're mistaken! An ap-
peal to public sympathy might swing
the trick yet: Early love affair of
Tamara Todhunter revealed Mother
instinct urges her to fight for life of
child's father It's hokum, but. be-
lieve me, hokum gets you good, long
way" Mayne finished, sweat stand
ing ON his pallid forehead and his
voice trembling.
You want me to see the Governor"
Tam asked after silence in which she
had not moved her eyes from him.
Let me do that first I'll talk him
over-Ill get something, reprieve or
retrial or pardon-something" She
stood up. lovelier, George thought,
with wrench at his heart, than he
had ever seen her before.
We'll. remember, time counts. -
= Mayne said ungraciously. The three
were all standing again. and he tapped
Georges arm. Perhaps you'll hand
me back that letter. he said.
Il think I'll hold that" George an
swered. Il represented you once,
there's no reason why you shouldn't
hand me an important document now.
You'll get it back, don't worry, but I'm
going to keep it now
"Oh, no you're not!" Mayne said,
very low.
'Mayne," Tamara began quickly,
close to him, looking up at his height,
cant you be generous? You weren't
generous to me eight years ago; I've
lieve now that we will help you all We
can, but that it would be cruel-cruel
to connect a childs name with any
story like this? She's old enough to
understand something of it all now.
never hurt you; for Gods sake don't
hurt her! We've were wrong years
ago. I've paid for it ever since; you
haven't until now"
4 How d'you mean wrong? How
d'you mean I'm paying now? What
had that to do with Florice Fanette?"
Nothing, perhaps" Tam said sooth-
ingly. "But-but we all pay sooner or
later Mayne. Perhaps any man who
who doesn't play fair with woman
has to pay some time or other"
And I didn't play fair with you, is
that it?" Mayne said. dull, ugly red
creeping up under his unhealthy look
ing skin.
"Ah WELL it's too late for that" Tam
answered wearily. Its too late for us.
= But it's not too late to spare George
any share in this-and he did fight for
you-and it's not too late to spare
Mary! She's Such-such a nice little
thing. 1t wouldn't be fair to hurt
her!'
well, then, you get busy with the
Governor" Mayne said, and Tam saw
Georges hand hanging at his side stiff
fen and clench until the knuckles
showed white You talk now as if I'd
done something's was the one to
blame!" Mayne went on. What makes
you think it isn't always the woman?
They never are to blame, oh, no!-but
you bet your life they know what they
S,want-"
v Words. quiet swift, incredible poured
from him. Tamara stood looking at
him, painting a little, the fingers of
one hand lightly touching her cheek
"Oh, no, no, no! I was never like
that!" she said in whisper.
You can shut up. Mallory" George
said. not raising his voice. But the
hand moved, and the clenched knuck-
les connected with Mayne's jaw
George had one arm around Tamara
as the big figure went down heavily
like a log, Mayne's head striking some
thing with a horrible meaty sound as
4 he fell. Come on. Tam, let's get out
of this!" George said. rushing her
through the group that instantly
cathered about them in a babel of
voices and quick feet Just let me get
through here, will you?" he demanded
In an impatient shout.
"Mr. Davis!" one of the officers said,
delaying him. George brushed him
aside.
"You know where am" he said
impatiently. "You know where to
find mel"
- Men were gathered about Mayne,
whose great limp body looked boneless
and helpless as they raised it from the
floor. Hes got him this time all
right" some one muttered. Tam was
frightened; she clung to Georges arm.
"What happened?" the sergeant
demanded at the door.