Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-03-01
True Story
from
Real Life


to 20 of with hin. If I were loyal to
Jack I knew 7 would always be in
fatuated with Bob and sorry that
did not go with him, and If went
with Bob, I knew would always be
remorseful over my disloyalty to my
husband.
What SHOULD do? Oh, it's all
well enough for those Of you who
read this to say with finality what
ought to have done, but 1t Is pretty
hard to put yourself in another per-
sons place and judge fairly. ALI the
beautiful pleasures had dreamed
about since childhood, Bob had given
me in the months we had known
each other. Jack had given me his
love but very little else. Bob had the
means to enable us to live in ease
while Jack seldom made more than
S15O a month. Jack was just an ordi-
nary fellow but Bob was real lover.
I agreed to leave on Labor Day. I
had put it off as long as possible. Our
position was no longer tenable. Bob
was becoming irritable; I couldn't
bear facing the unsuspecting Jack
any longer.
The night before Labor Day, Bob
took me to the Paradox Club, q swell
cabaret. We danced and drank and
enjoyed ourselves until well past
midnight. Bob spent money like wa
ter. wondered where he got it all.
He had always been tight-lipped on
that subject. Sometimes felt little
apprehension about it. One hears so
many things In a big city Like New
York.
At enc o'clock as we rose to go, two
stocky and determined white men
pushed through the crowd to our ia
BILE. one Of them reached out to
touch Bob on the shoulder. I'VE
want to talk to you, Kid" he an
nounced In q steely voice.
Quick as shot, Bob's fist sped to
the mans jaw and he dropped Like
a log. Bob dashed through the crowd,
hatless to the street, the other man
behind him waving aside the crowd
with his revolver. 1t happened so
quickly I could hardly believe my
eye Almost fainting but suddenly
en2rgized by apprehension, follow
ed the crowd to the street.
At the curb stood Bob Phillips in
tho grip of two brawny policemen,
his collar torn, his face bleeding.
The sight sickened me. I rushed to
him blindly, thoughtlessly as he was
being hustled into taxicab. Go
home, Marie!" he commanded over
his shoulder. Don't you get mixed
up in this"
How I got home I don't know, but
I did. Somehow or other I mechan-
icaIy negotiated the two flights OF
stairs and reached home. For fear Of
scandal, was afraid to telephone
the police station. What had Bob
done? Why were they arreSting him?
Would he get cut of it? These
thoughts rocketed through my brain
as I lay across my bed.
BY morning I had drawn myself
together. Jack came in excitedly at
noon. Who'd ever thought Of Old
Bob Phillips being mixed up in big
burglary?" he exploded. "And to
think that we had him in our house!
Nice chap but I thought there was
something funny about him not work.
ing and yet Living on easy street.
They say he's got about fifteen years
coming to him, sure"
I tried to display the proper inter-
est without being suspiciously emo
tional. Yet inside wa; sick and weak
with 1t all, I had feeling Of thank
fitness, however, that had escaped.
What MIGHT have happened appall-
ed me-
Suddenly 1t dawned upon me with
a great burst of light what 1t meant
to be married to an honest man max
ing an honest living. saw in brief
moment all Of Jacks solid virtues.
He was poor. yes, but he was giving
me everything he could. He was loyal,
which was more than Bob and had
been. and he had so much faith in
my loyalty and discretion that .
had never for q moment suspected
anything betwe en- his chum and me.
Fooll that I had permitted myself to
be blinded to his true worth.
Jack seemed surprised when, weep
ing bitterly, flung myself into his
arms.
That happened three months ago.
Jack and I are living on as before.
The back room Is unrented because
neither of us want any more roomers
even if they ARE old friends. I have
learned nv lesson and am the soul
of discretion, and yet. Their are times
when think o. Bob Phillips up there
in the big stone prison and I have
a warming to see him and to hear
his voice once more: to sit once again
in that nook in the woods beside the