Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-15
Bob Interferes

CLEO had forgotten all about Bob
~ Ellsworth. She felt as IL she were
trcading on air, and even when the tel
ephone rang her heart beat fast with
the hope that It might be Carey Phelps.
She flew to answer 1t, but almost i'm
mediately her happiness was clouded.
''Cleo, this is Bob Ellsworth talking.
/ must see you. think you owe me- an
explanation for what happened last
night"
"Oh, Bob!' She almost gasped the
words.
when will you let me see you? And
why did you run away like that?"
Il ran away because I didn't want
to- listen. Oh. Bob. can't you UNDER
stand? Please don't say anything
more.''
''Oh, sce," the boys voice was cut
ting. Cleo could almost see his angry
face as he spoke the words, and 1t did
more than make her unhappy; it filled
her with vague misgivings, 1t brought
back all the old fear that Dicks threat
had reused in her. II see," he went OH.
one new has appeared on the scene. You
had 1t all figured out that you could
drop me whenever 1t happened to suit
your fancy. Is that it?'
Cleo had sense of unrcality. 1t
couldn't be true that she was standing
here at the telephone listening to such
words from Bob Ellsworth. She had
an impulse to ring off, but she was
afraid. and Bob was so angry that HI
wouldn't even allow her to defend her /.
self.
''It's that man you met last night.
You needn't deny it -
II do deny it," Cleo was furious
herself now. "And I refuse to allow
you to talk to me like this. You're not
fair, and I won't listen to you. Good.
by!' And with shaking fingers Cleo
put the receiver back on the hook.
She was sorry for Bob. until he had
brought Carey Phelps into it. but that
had been the last straw. As though
her meeting with Carey Phelps had
made any difference in the way she
felt toward Bob. AS though she coult
ever feel for Bob this mad, sweet stir.
ring of the pulses that she felt fol
Carey Phelps! That Bob should ex
pect such a thing when she had giver
him no reason to believe that she caret
for him filled Cleo with anger.
She went back to her unfinished
breakfast. but the glory of the day wa.
spoiled for her.
Even the two huge vases filled Will
roses brought no glad thrill to hcl
heart. Bob had spoiled everything, ant
try as she would, she could not recap
ture the glad happiness that Carey
Phelps gift had brought her.
That this should come just now
That was her one thought, and search
ing her heart carefully, she was Ger
tain that she had done nothing to en-
courage Bob, save perhaps allowing him
to see her. She blamed herself 70,
that, but how could she know that Boil
would get such foolish ideas in hi.
head, and suppose Carey Phelps wer,
to hear things and to believe then
about her! Suppose he were to con
demn her without giving her a chance
Cleo began actually to doubt herself
She began to wonder If, after all, she
hadn't acquired n reputation for play
ing fast and loose with men. She
wasn't Mt all sure that Bob loved her
and If his feeling were largely one OF
hurt pride. it would be easy for him
to say things about her that wcren',
true.
Suppose hint of such gossip should
reach Carey Phelps. Suppose even now
people spoke of her as n vamp who lei
men make love to her for the thrift
there was in it. What would he thinl
of her, what would any man thinl
Of n woman like that? And yet Il
she had done wrong. she had been en-
tirely unconscious of it in every case
T0m0rr0W-R0h Is PerSiSfant