Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-02-06
THE WIFE CHEATER
A New Romance
BY HAZEL DEYO BACHELOR
CHAPTER LII
Joan Makes Her Plans

CHAPTER LII
Joan Makes Her Plans
N N OTHER returned the following week
lV and Edith went back to the city.
Up to the very last minute she
mad made no attempt to take me into her
confidence concerning Herbert, although we
were closer than we had ever been before
and | knew that she was very unhappy.
Between Norman and myself, Herbert s
name was never mentioned L had not seen
him since the night of the accident and |
concluded that he must have left Hilton
and gone back to his apartment in town.
Life settled back into its accustomed rou-
tine, and gradually, because there seemed
no reason to play a game without Norman,
forgot the fears that Edith's warning
had stirred up in me, and was happy again.
Norman was utterly adorable, so much
the lover, and so entirely considerate of
me, and for a period of several weeks we
kept to ourselves and took no part in the
social life of Hilton.
Then came the big Christmas dance at
the country club and it was I who sug'
gested that we go.
Lets have some people out for it,"
said enthusiastically, and Norman agreed
/ When 1 suggested that we invite the
Benedicts, Norman threw a queer little
glance in my direction. I thought at first
that he was going to protest, but he said
nothing and l accordingly dispatched a note
to Mrs. Benedict. A few days later I re-
ceived very charming note of acceptance
We had resumed our friendly relations
with Margaret and Ruth, although it
amused me the way both of the girls
avoided mentioning Herbert's name to me;
Eas glad, however, to be with them again
and Norman and 1 were playing cards with
Margaret and Jim a couple of days before
the dance when Margaret remarked casu-
ally:
"Alice Wilson is in town"
L. SLrryfkh n
man in attendance who has trailed her here
from the west.
stole glance at Norman's direction
but his face told me nothing. [ am sure
that even if he had looked perturbed,
shouldn't have worried, for my mind was
made up. I knew exactly what I intended
to do. This would be my first chance OF
testing out Edith's advice, and with Laura
Benedict and Alice both at the dance ii
would be interesting to see what happened
And then, because the old adage is true
and it never rains but sit pours, Edith called
me up on the telephone the day before the
dance
Her voice had a queer ring of excite"
ment in it and it shook a little as she
asked "Can you put me up for the dance
tomorrow night?"
"Of course I returned promptly.
Thanks, Joan, I'll he out on the after
noon train And she hung up before I
could ask any questions.
"Well," l thought to myself "the die is
cast. Alice and Laura and Edith will all
be there, and I must play my charms
against the combined forces OF all three
of them" I thought of Alice's keen eyes
and the way she had always been able tc
see through me. 1 thought of Laura's gay
enthusiasm of manner. Edith did not
fear, but the other two were in sense
still my rivals. How would it turn out?
Would I be able to vanquish them forever
and with them the other women VINO from
time tn time would be sure to cross Nor,
mans path? :.
Strange to say, as I thought about it,
felt sense of power rising up in me:
was excited and thrilled at the prospect OF
doing battle with these other women. FoI
aftor all, was fighting for something that
belonged to me by right, something that
Intended TO make mine forever if it were
in any way possible.
(Next-The Final Test.)