The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-06-20


 piled only: "Do. what you please!'
 Whenever he could steal away from those around him he ran to Pon's room and embraced the dead man. The gentle creature, whose only strength was love, had begun to enter into Death with his friend. All outward things were as nothing to him. He neither ate nor drank. He heard noth- l ing that was said. He dried his tears mechanically only to cry anew. Around this pathetic and noble sor- row there gathered the black raven of greed Frasier installed spies about him to prevent all disinteFested per- sons from coming to his aid. Mme. Cibot tried to break through the cor poses. Thief and cheat fought thief and cheat over Pon's corpse
 Of course Frasier learned immedi- ately of the will that blasted all chance of succession to the estate by the Camusots. But the cunning petti- logger was not daunted. The notary who had drawn the will was too reput- able to be approached. Frasier wasted no time in trying. He simply -harassed Schmucke so cruelty that the helpless old man gave a power of attorney to a notary Tabareau to act for him; and Tabareau was. under Frasier's thumb. The ravens hurried the funeral 90 successfully that only one friend at- tended. This was a humble man. Topt- nard. who had been employed as help- CT in the theatre orchestra, to whom Pons had been accustomed to present 1 five francs every month because he know that the poor fellow was trying to support family on a meagre in- come.
 gratefully. T will share my bread with you now that Pons Is gone" said he simply. Topinard went with him to the grave and on the way learned enough from the conversation | of the lawyer and his accomplices to | fear that they meant to wrong the old German He determined to stay with him. and fought on the monument | touts, swindlers of all kinds and other men of prey who beset him. so that Schmucke felt that he had one friend at least.
 Topinard did himself an i'll turn when he did the German a good one. The theatre in which he was employed was managed by a gentleman who owned everything to Count Popinot. This manager the Illustrious Gaudiss- 1 art, had been a commercial traveller before the patronage of the President fo Court had elevated him into the realm of dramatic art.
 He learned soon enough how Schmucke had inherited an estate that should have belonged to the family of his patrons, and he threatened to dis charge Topinard if he meddled with affairs that did not concern him. pefying his employers decree, Topi- nard took Schmucke home to his own narrow lodgings where the heart- l broken German was attended lovingly l by this poor family-the only human beings who had not been corrupted by a desire for gain at sight of wealth
 The magistrate had sealed up all the dead mans effects and the German, | ignorant of the fact that as sole leg atee he had the right to an allowance till the will was proved. was quite penniIess. If this had affected him a. | lone he might have starved without | trying to get money, but he would not | be a burden on others, and he gather ed his wits enough to remember that the theatre owned him a months sal- ary.
 He'll called on the nlustrious Gaudis- ] sart for 1t. That clever man had an inspiration when he saw the state to which the German had been reduced by his friends death. ''Schmucke," [" said he. there will be a lawsuit over | this estate. Why do you not enter into compromise with the familyH'
 q only want to live in peace." re- piled Schmucke sadly.
 Gaudissart followed his advantage, and Schmueke agreed unresistingly to accept as annuity of twenty five | francs a year from the Camusots. in return for which he would recognize them as the legal heirs.
 | But I want a large sum of money down to pay a sacred debt" said Schmucke, suddenly rousing himself
 "Oh, these Germans!" thought Gau- dissart to himself. ''They pretend to be so simple"
 "There is only one man who shared my grief for poor Pons ," said Schmucke. He is Topinard :Topinard
 who lights the lamps for the orchestra | Pons liked him and used to help him, He has a nice little. girl, with light hair that looks like a girl from my dear Germany. which ought never to