The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-07-12
The Dragon
Screen
1t Led to the Discovery Of a
Lost Fortune
By CLARSsA MACKiE
Copyright, 1910 by American Press
By CLARISSA MACKiE

When the last wagon load of furni-
ture had turned out Of the avenue into
the highroad and the auctioneer had
furled his red flag and driven away
from the old mansion set among tall
growing locusts Deborah Ames smiled
quizzically at her niece.
Il suppose you think my hearts
broken Polly" she said quietly.
81 saved what wanted, dear"
Polly Ames stared. you are trying
to be brave, you dear thing" she cried
impulsiyely. IF you had only listen
ed and had let me go to work you
could have saved all the things that
you have always had about you"
And Of which l am dreadfully
tired" interposed her aunt, with sud
den energy. "Larkin says the things
brought two hundred and fifty, and
that will keep us a year, Polly. You
| see father left the place free and clear
because he did not want his daughters
to work for a living. He said the in
come from the securities would be suf-
| ficient to support us for life But we
were never able to find any trace of
| them. You remember how poor moth
er and l searched for the papers up to
the very day of her death. and | look
and look now, though am very doubt
| full whether father ever had them, and
YET
II could teach music" said Polly
mutinously for the hundredth time In
the past year.
the hundredth time, your grandfather
Ames left an ample fortune-enough
to educate you and support us for the
rest Of our days"
where is it, thenT' Polly saw her
own flushed face in the long mirror
and beside it Aunt Deborah's tired
countenance, and her tender heart
smote her. Don't let us talk about
it any more tonight, Aunt Deb You
will sleep on the davenport tonight?
You sold the very beds. you know"
suggested Polly gently.
Come with me, my child You
have not made trip to the south gar
ret this many a day, I'll warrant"
smiled Miss Deborah.
| In this attic were many strangely
sheeted forms that crowded the small
space.
Carefully Miss Deborah withdrew
the dusty sheets and, rolling them into
balls. disclosed closely packed mass
of furniture.
Polly gazed open mouthed what
is it, Aunt Deb? Where did you get
| It? Why-it's solid mahogany! Oh.
the dear tables-and the highboys!
| Chippendale-and Sheraton-and real
colonialp' Her pretty nose was poked
here and there among the treasures
and her charming face was reflected
from dozen dim mirrors.
Miss Deborah smiled sadly. 1T is
my very OWL, Polly, dear 1t was left
| to me by my great-aunt Hester, and
it has remained stored away here for
twenty-five years. / planned to give
this to you and Dick for a wedding
gift, but l shall need it for awhile.
After l am gone
Polly stopped her sentence with a
kiss. after you are gone, indeedp'
she cried Indignantly. You know that
you are to live with us as soon as
ever Dick makes enough money to
start home What beautiful house
we will have-eh. Aunt DebT
She waltzed the stiff backed spinster
about the limited space until Miss
Deborah's flying skirt caught in pro-
jecting nail and dragged Gathering to
the floor a tall screen whose frame
was Of carved ebony paneled with
heavy Chinese embroidery, now faded
and dull
Polly picked 1t up with little ex-
clamation Of delight. what is this.
Aunt Deb? Why have you kept this
lovely screen hidden?
"Great-aunt Hester left it to my
father, dear. He was very fond of it.
and for years it stood close to his desk.
When he was quite helpless we used 1t
to encircle his chair and ward Off the
drafts. 1t grew quite old and shaky
and needed mending. and as no one
but a skilled workman could mend the
delicate carving it was placed up here
after fathers death. and of course
nothing has been done to 1t since. All
the broken bits Of carving are in that
little bag tied to the top" explained
Miss Deborah.
Cant l take it downstairs, Aunt
Deb? I'm sure Dick can mend 1.-THE
Is so clever. And / will mend the
broken embroidery"
Every well, dear. Tomorrow Norah's
husband win come and move this fur
niture downstairs; tonight, ! fear. We