Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-04-07
A PLATE"::
A STORY OF EASTER

en- the matter into the courts, each in
sisting that the remaining plate was
the one Jason Pomfret had repeated
ly 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 as an expert in old porce-
lains. He had done Dick a great
favor once, and Dick did not hesitate
moment He managed to meet Mrs.
Bourn at an evening party.
Il don't want to see you get the
worst of this row over that Washing
ton plate,' he said when he had
aroused her curiosity sufficiently
i've often studied that collection of
Jason Pomfret's, and other experts
had always agreed with me that his
Washington plates We're not genuine"
Don't tell me that she command
ed with a sniff. I've seen the plate a
hundred times and | know very well
that it is real Washington"
Look here" suggested Dick. You
can look the plate over closely so long
as you don't take it out of the execu-
tors office You've seen it a hun
dred times, but you never looked at
it with doubt because you took it for
granted that it was what Pomfret
ly and you'll get the credit for drop
ping the fight over plate that is not
worth fighting over"
IF this is a trick" began Mrs.
Bourn, and she paused. She could
think of no threat terrifying enough
and her silence was more eloquent
Its not a trick" assured Lyons.
What Harry had not counted on
was that his father and Nettie's
mother should arrive at the office of
the lawyer executor at the same time.
1T is the same that | took from
the cabinet" declared the lawyer tart
| ly, not relishing the suggestion that
was conveyed in their demands.
It's not that" Mrs. Bourn fastened
| to explain. I've always had an idea
that the plate was not genuine and 1
| want to make certain that the plate
is worth fighting over"
Funny you never thought of that
before" commented Sias Warren sus-
| piciously. I've always had my
| doubts" he added, with the collector s
vanity and pride in his knowledge.
Harry told me the other night that
one of his friends, also, had expressed
his doubts. I'm going to bring an
other expert in"
II don't think that that will be
necessary" hastily said Mrs Bourn.
| She looked doubtfully first at the
| plate, then at the lawyer. The latter
was above suspicion even II the plate
was not With a sigh she turned it
over to Silas who in turn laid it on
| the desk.
| 81 don't want ever to see it again,
he declared ITO think that cheap
| copy should have spoiled our friend
ship all these months! That's worse
than the loss of the plate. We used
to be pretty good friends, Martha
I'VE can be good friends, still
Silas," she reminded
Lets go out and have luncheon
and talk it over" suggested Silas
and they talked it over with such
good effect that they went from there
to the jewelers. and when they came
out a solitaire on the widows finger
announced that she expected shortly
to change her state of loneliness.
Nettie and Harry, watching across
the street smiled at each other.
THAT will simplify matters great
deal" declared Harry in tones of re
lief Wen give them the Washing
ton plate for a wedding present"
But that is not worth anything,
objected Nettie.
The real one is" explained Harry
"In a good cause the end jus;ties the
meane. got Benson's clerk to ex
change the plates"