Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-17
The Worst Happens

CLEO realized that whatever she had
~ to say to Bob must be said quickly
II Carey Phelps arrived and understood
the situation he would Immediately
jump TO the conclusion that she was a
girl who liked to trife with men.
Desperately she faced Rob. her fingers
tightly interlaced and her face drained
of color
Her voice was very low as she spoke.
Listen. Bob. Last night ran away
because l knew what You were going to
say TO me and I didn't want to hurt
you. ] don't care for you that way,
and cant promise anything because |
know that I'll never feel any differ.
cnt
You did care for ne. Cleo. until last
night. YOU cared for me-
Cleo shook her head.
'Tou re mistaken Bob. "
You did. could swear il. You
made me think you did, anyway"
Bob. don say tha, 49, There was
almost sob in Cleo'> voice. "Say
you don't mean that Bob. Why. we've
never been NOR" than just good
friends.'
Il cant say | don't mean il when
it's true. You may not have meant to
cncourag" Mo. bur you did. Once I
thought It was Dick Wheeler thar YOU
liked. and when he went abroad ! de-
c!de'l that. after all, I was mistaken.
Now I'm beginning TO realize the
truth. iou probably got tired Of poor
old Dick, just as you're tired Of me.
| suppose there's somc one else Just
about ready 10 jump into my shoes
Cleo had dropped back from him and
a queer lttl" hunted look had leaned
into her eyes. She was realizing how
all too true Rob'S accusation would
seem if Carey Phelps wcrc 10 walk into
the room at thar moment. First Dick.
then Bob, and now Carey Phelps, But
II WASN'T true. in her heart of hearts
she knew II wa~n' true. She was
caught in queer web Of circumstances.
that was all. and Just now every way
out seemed like blind alley.
''IS there some one cISo?' Bob was
ing some one tonight? Answer me truth
fully II you can
To Cleo came tho sudden temptation
t" lie, but almost instantly hcr lead
went up and she mot Bob's angry oyes
sQunrey.
Yes. ] am expecting some ono to-
night. bur what you say isn't true.
'iDf course not. hc snnercd, "T
wouldn't expect YOU TO admit ", but
mark my words somo dav yOu'll be
caught in your own net and then II Will
be YOUR turn TO suffer the conse.
Quences.
Without another word. ho left the
room, but he had hardly reached the
hall when the bell rang imperious!y.
Cleo's heart leaped ana then con-
tracted. as though some ono had seized
1t and were slowly Squeezing the blood
out OF II. The two men would pass
each other in the hall and II was inev-
table that recognition would take place
What then? What would be the rcac.
tion in the heart Of each man? Bob, of
course, would believe that his summing
OF her had been true, and Carey Phelps
| could not fail 10 see that a scene Of
some kind had taken place prior to his
coming.
nconscious Of tho fact. Cleo swaycd
lightly as she stood there listening. She
could hear Mary on her way to open tho
door. and then there was an uncon. .
scionably long wait before the door
closed.
Out in the hall both men had come
face to face under the hall light. As
Cleo had feared the recognition had
been instantaneous and although neither
man spoke. Carey realized with light
ming like intuition that this was the
boy Cleo had been at the dance with
last night. and that evidently she had
just given him his congo.