The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-09-07
'<The Probationer''
 BY MAX MARGIN
CHAPTER 1. The Desire and the Dread.

CHAPTER 1.
 The Desire and the Dread.
 Mrs. Lake, fluctuating between . great fear and an equally great in- clination. stood. at the window of her apartment, anxious and hesitant. The fear that checked her fNclination held all the terror of a woman's past long since forgotten, but suddenly loomed up with double-edged menace.
 It had kept her seduestered in the luxury of her apartment ever since she came to New York, four weeks ago.
 She knew when she left Kansas City to join her husband, that, on the day she set foot in New York, the wretchedness of the past would link itself to the present and the future. Yet. she was power1ess in the cur rent of her life, a current that had carried her husband irresistiibily to New York and compelled her to join him.
 "Why, Maragret?" The rising note of surprise in the voice brought Mrs. Lake out of her abstraction and she turned. "You really don't think of going out. I hope?" the voice added quickly.
 T think I'll go for a short stroll, Ethel" replied Mrs. Lake. "It's such a lovely day."
 The features of Ethel Lake screw ed themselves into a look of utter amazement, for she had come to the room expecting to find her sister-in- law in bed.
 I'm afraid you're feverish,' she remarked anxiously.
 "I haven't been as i'll as you and Harvey thought" said Mrs. Lake. T have been somewhat nervous in ftfse last month, that's all.
 Well. if you insist on going out I'll dress and go with you.
 Are you ready?" EtheFs voice caused a f1utter of agitation in her sister -in-law.
 Mrs. Lake left the window and started for the door. pa ss'ns the mir TOT on the way. She observed the un- wonted paleness of he: cheeks but she kept straight ahead. She stepped boldly into the car, but as it shot down the shaft, she felt a sudden trepidation. But the elevator door had osened before she came to a deeisien and she found herself almost at the thres- hold of the house. She stood there for several anxious moments until the turmoil of her mind subsided and her head ceased, to throb. Then she opened wide her arms, ready to embrace her destiny. CHAPTER IT. The Menace Grows Apaee. A year had passed-twelve months of crowded interests for Margaret Lake. The haunting shadow had reeeded far into the background. The pale ness had left her cheeks; they were aglow with the bloom of health. Life had taken on new meaning for her "a meaning in which was lntefwo- ven the fate of Ethel. For EthePs engagement had been announced, and her marriage to Frank Atwood was q matter of only six weeks. She enjoyed the freedom of the streets boldly, undisturbed by visions of lurking danger. No longer was she prey to the fear of being receg- nized. In fact, she seldom gave the subject a thought
 She stood at the window gulping long drafts of the fra grant air, when she became conscious of a moving she found herself in the embrace of her husband and felt his kisses on her face.
 "Dearie," he said, "do you know this is the third anniversary of our marriage?"
 She pressed her cheek to his and drew fhim close to her. Slowly his hand left her shoulder and she felt his fingers gfoping at her throat. Then something clicked and she ut tered an exclamation of surprise.
 Lake pressed a button and the room was flooded with light. The mirror reflected a diamond brooch glistened at her throat. "A little present." he said. "But that isn't all. There's a little surprise for you in the dining room"
 Arm in arm they marched to the room in which the table had been prepared for supper. In tke center stood a silver platter. brilliant in the light. A card rested agains< one of the braided silver handles. She took it up and read the inscription aloud |: To the best fellow and the best girl who ever graduated from the Kansas City office,
 Sent as a slight token of remerl- brance from
 The Boys. 'They remembered us," she com mented. How happy we were out there!"
 And aren't you happy now?" he asked, with tinge of mock annoy ance.
 "Of course I am,' she responded. 'How could be otherwise?" | Ethel joined them. and they sat | down to dinner. Their talk was of Kansas City, rekindIing menpe~ies of | the office of the D. H. & M. Railroad 1 for which they had worked. She re- 1 called the day she first saw him. and told of her trepidation when she asked him for a position. He seemed so important in his mighty office of | local passenger agent! 1 You were such a miserable. for lorn-looking creature,' he said laugh l ingly, that I think I gavo you the job more >ut of pity than anything 1 else. 1 And your pity became love-" she replied. ''It's not the first time 8 man began by pitying woman, and | ended by marrying her. l NYnu Ne1x