Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-11-23
CHAPTER X.
Getting Even

AIices frock for the country club dance
inspired me to concentrate on delectable
one of my own. l was feverishly Determined
10 fight for Norman's love with every weap-
on I could muster and feminine charms were
not to be despised, so I went to the city and
bought a silyery, gauzy frock, the ant1thesls
of Alice's flame-colored one.
On the day of the dance I dropped in on
Margaret and found Alice there. When
entered the room there was a silence and I
knew in minute that the two women had
been talking about me. Margaret's face was
flushed and angry. She had evidently been
quarreling with Alice, who was, as usual,
quite unperturbed, and more or less COM
Losed and defiant. She sat back studying
me deliberately with her strange eyes nalr
shut, and left to Margaret the burden OF
greeting me as though nothing had nap
pened.
"You two haven't been quarreling, have
your I asked lightly. "Alice, You look as
though you had been scolded thoroughly"
YES Margaret has been giving me some
good advice" Alice returned slowly Since
that night when Alice and Norman had stay"
ed in town, Alice had treated me strangely.
1t was as though the old friendship between
us had vanished, and this was due in some
part to Norman's attitude.
Alice was the kind of woman who expected
homage from men, She had evidently loved
the idea Of sharing a secret with Norman,
and she, of course, thought me the kind OF
woman who is easy to deceive. But since
that night Norman had maintained an att1-
tude of 1overIike devotion toward me and
had treated Alice almost indiferently. This
fact had piqued her and, of course, had not
improved her friendship for me. 1t came
to me suddenly that Alice had just been
boasting of her friendship with Norman, and
that Margaret had been thoroughly indig-
nant. Good old Margaret! OF course, she
would take that attitude.
"And what was the good advtce|" asked
looking from one to the other.
Margaret looked suddenly flushed and dis
tressed, but Alice was enjoying herself thor
oughly.
81 don't know whether you would appre-
| cate it or not, JOAN" she said, smiling mys-
teriOusly.
Margaret interrupted quickly.
"Stop it, Alice!"
Alice turned her long, languid eyes quickly
on Margaret and drawled exasperatingly. 81
don't see why Joan shouldn't know since she
asked for It,"
'Know what?" I asked cool1y, although
my heart had begun to beat fast
what we were talking about" Alice went
on, ignoring Margarets distressed signals.
ct happened that Norman and l had dinner
together the other evening, and Margaret
has been scold1ng me turlouSly. L assure ,
you, Joan, didn't ask him to take me. He
urged me to go, but I don't see any reason
why you shouldn't know about it."
l laughed apparent unconcern. But I do
know about it. I've known about it since
the day you went. Norman called me up
that afternoon
If ever l enjoyed a moment Of triumph it
was mine at that moment and I certainly
did not regret tho white lie I had told. 1t
was true that l had known from the first,
but from the way 1 had spoken 1t sounded
as though Norman had called me up to tell
me he was taking Alice to dine, which, of
course, was not as it happened
Slowly the look in Alice's eyes changed
from insolent triumph to one of vndictive
fury. She was speeches.. She simply had
no comeback, and when 1 proceeded evenly:
II don't see any reason why you shouldn't
dine with Norman, Alice" 1 knew that in
spite of my victory had made an enemy of
Alice, although at the moment l did not
care.
Next: "ThA Country CIuh nauco