Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-16
Bob Is Persistent

CAREY was fortunate In the fact
~ that no one connected him with
Dick Wheeler. His official guardianship
OF Di'a had been terminated at Dick $
eo'ing of age four years ago, and since
slen the two men had not seen great
deal of each other. due to the fact that
LICK went everywhere. and Carey sci.
dom appeared at the dances and various
social affairs of Dicks set.
1t was as though Fate herself PLAYED
INTO Carey's hands in making it possible
FOR him to meet Cleo, and he lost no
time in following up their meeting with
MS gifts OF flowers, which he made as
extraVagant as possible. He wanted
Cieo to believe that he had lost his
heart at sight Of her. and he intended
to follow it up with whirIwind court.
ship that would sweep her off her feet.
lie called her up on the telephone ON
the afternoon Of the day he had sent
ms flowers, apologized for his precipi.
fancy and asked when he nigh. call.
Cleo's response was immediate. All
day she had been unhappy because Of
Bob Ellsworth. but the sound of Corev's
voice made her forget every other man in
the world.
is tonight too soon:' Carcy's voice
was lazily deliberate.
Cleo made no effort to keep the glad
lilt out Of her own voice. She aunc
discretion to the winds as she responded
gayly,
Much too soon. unless we waive
conventions together
Shall we do that?'
Yes She barely breathed tbe
word, and there was a hushed quality
in her voice that Carey chose to ignore
lie did not actually believe that the
girl did or said anything that wasn't
studied. He believed now that her
manner was pose. and that the glad
ness IN her voice was the bait she used
to hook and catch her victims.
If he could have seen Cleo when she
hung up the receiver, standing with her
hahds tightly cfasped together, with the
color coming and going in her checks,
would he have felt pity for her? Woulo
ne nave been surprised and would his
surprise have forced him to admit that
he had misjudged her? It is doubtful.
for Carey still remembered Dick as he
had last seen him, and his desire for
revenge was stronger than any other
feeling he had just at present.
At O'Clock that evening Cleo was in
her own room dressing when the door.
bell rang.
She started to hcr feet. That couldn't
be Carey Phelps: it was too early for
him. and then suddenly as she stood in
the middle of the room listening a sus-
picion darted into her mind. Could il
be Bob? Was Bob going to spoil every
thing for her after all?
A moment later there came a knock
at her door and she few to open it.
'Mr. Ellsworth for you. Miss Cleo"
said Mary. the maid, grinnlng broadly,
and Cleo Felt her heart sink and all The
old misgivings sweep over her.
Five minutes later she hurried into
the living room and Bob rose to his feet
and came toward her.
'CleO. ] had to see you: want to
tell tel you eS,, how sorry ! am for talking that
That's all right Bob, I was sure
you didn't mean it"
Eve been thinking about it all day.
] couldn't get you out of my mind
Cleo, ! cant give you up. I want n
chance to prove to you that I'm not
altogether fool. just give me u
chance. dear, and l won't ask anything
moro Of YOU. Wen be just friends until
you're ready to give me more than
friendship. Surely Cleo, you cam re-
fuse to give me that much -
His voice was shaking with passion.
but in Cleo's mind there was only the
one thought. How could she get rid of
him before Carey Phelps arrived? II
absorbed her 50 that she could not even
feel pity for Bob, and his presence here
tonight seemed an unwarrantable in
trusion. inasmuch as she had already
given him to understand that she di:
not love him.
ToinOrrow-The Worst Happens
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