The Glenwood post., 1912-05-18
Stealing a Plate

Sso YsAtS shouiu AaAo ah Iuls tTOu-
blsi 1t was mean of Uncle John to
make . will Ike that"
"Hs didn't make q will like that"
oontsnded Harry Warren. "How was
he to know that one Of the plates
should be broken between his death
and the reading Of the will! He was
fair enough. He left one to your
mother and one to my father. Surely
that was q fair division OF the two.
HIS intention was all right"
We'll, then" said Nettie. stamping
very pretty little foot, Its shame
full that our parents should be SO hor-
rtbly stubborn as to fight over one
miserable old PLATED"
You can't blame them, exactly"
dsfended Harry, charitably.
And In the meantime we can't
even announce our engagement"
walled Nettie. ito say nothing Of get
ting married"
I'VE don't want to get married un-
I'll spring." reminded Harry, optimis-
ticaliy. Something will turn up be-
fore tAsn-if l have to turn it up
myself"
He smiled down into the worried
little face, but found NO answering
smile. Ever since Jason Pomfret's
will had been read. and 1t was found
that the two famous Washington
plates were left to his brother, silas
Warren, and to Martha Bourn, there
had been bitter warfare waged be-
tween the two legatees. In the hustle
Of preparing for the funeral one Of the
plates had been broken beyond the
skill Of the most expert mender to
put together, and Mrs. Bourn and
silas Warren. who were both a little
mad ON the subject OF china, had TAX
"a the matter into the courts, each In
sisting that the remaining plate was
the one Jason Pomfret had repeated
~ indicated as the one he wished the
claimant to have.
But Harry did not let the grass
grow under his feet. He went to see
his closest friend, Dick Lyons, who
was noted A. an expert In old porce-
lAiAs. He had done Dick q great
favor once. and Dick did not hesitate
Q moment. He managed to meet Mrs.
1sSok0 ~ ~ ONCuluk party.
4 don't want to see you get the
worst Of this row over that Washing
toa plate" he said when he had
aroused her curiosity suflciently.
I've often studied that collection Of
Jasoa Pomfret's, and other experts
AAA always agreed with me that his
WAshtngton plates were not genuine"
Don't tell me that" she command
- with snin. i've seen the plate a
hundred times and l know very we'll
that 1t IL . real Washington"
Look here" suggested Dick. You
can look the plate over closely SO long
~ you don't take 1t out of the execu-
tors once. You've seen 1t q hun
lreA times. but you never looked at
u with doubt because you took 1T for
erantsd that it was what Pomrret
sAtd 1t was. You look 1t over careful
II and you'll get the credit for drop
worth fighting over"
III this Il . trick" began Mrs.
Dourn. and she paused. She could
tAink Of NO threat terrifying enough
~ her silence was more eloquent.
tits not . trick" assured Lyons.
What Harry had not counted on
Was that his father and Nsttis's
Nothsf should arrive at tho ONCE OF
~ lawyer executor at the same time.
n b the same that l took from
~ cabinet" declared the lawyer tart
n. Aet retishing the suggestion that
vaS conveyed In their demands.
ITS not that" Mrs. Bourn hastsnsd
- explain. I've always had an idea
t1at The plate was not genuine and
1aAk to make osrtain that tho plate
y vostA fighting over"
Y -NnAy you never thought Of that
ksopee," commsntsA elias Warren sus.
1lcleasly. "rvs always had my
tssbts," he added, with the collectors
Saaay and pride in his knowledge.
sllassy told me the other night that
eas Of his friends, also. had expressed
tas doubts. I'm going to bring an
1eAss expert In"
II don't think that that will be
Aessssary." hastily said Mrs. Bou1n.
7 8As looked Soubtfully frst at the
plate, then at the lawyer. The latter
yo0 abovo suspicion even II the plate
Wa1 not. With = sigh she turned 1t
pv0r TO Silas who In turn laid It on
he desk.
Il doat want ever to see 1t again."
4e declared. ITO think that . cheap
esOy should have spoiled our friend
~ al these moaths! That's worse
SAaa tie less q the plate. We used
- b pxstty good friends, Martha"
We can b good friends, still,
oOss,O , she reminded.
Lists 20 out and have luncheon
a11 talk 1t over" suggested siIas:
and they talked 1t over with such
eoe1 erect that they went from there
- tAe jewelers. and when they came
eot . solitaire on the WIDOWS finger
ennouncsd that she expected shortly
- G>nD9A hAr state of Loneliness