The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-13

], said this man, whose name was Re
 monencq, "Pons has treasures that make him immensely rich. I know enough
 about it to know that his collection Is
 worth a fortune"
 Mime. Cibot looked at the old dealer, whom she had admitted into Pons' mu- scum once to have look at her lodger trash" The revelation that the trash
 was precious startled her.
 For twenty-six years she and her hus-
 band had lived life of unimpeachable
 integrity; but in the last few years they had begun to lament the fact that they
 had lived too well and had not a penny laid by for a rainy day. Believing the pair of nut-crackers to be poor, Mme Cibot had not only refrained from prey ing upon them as Is the privilege of DOT teresses. but she had even shielded them
 from the impositions of others. Their belongings were kept in incompar- able neatness. The milk they drak came
 unwatered from the can. She set more l store on being appreciated by them than on being paid.
 But now she learned that Pons was rich and Pons was dying. At once cupidity took possession of her. The dream of every porteress, to be remembered in rich lodger's will, took possession of her mind
 and became fixed determination as soon as 1t was dreamed.
 The curse of the very name of money began its work at once and on more than Mime. Cibot pr. PoufAln, who was
 neither a particularly good man nor a
 particularly bad one, might have attend ed Pons poor with some kindness, even though he expected no pay. But Pons rich as patient gave him different value in his eyes. He became pros- pective source of income.
 pr. Poulain had descended, or ascend ed, from common working people. He
 knew medicine. Indeed, he was as good
 a doctor as certain ones who were illus trious in Paris, and he was fully aware of the fact But he was fixed in an ob-
 scure position as by hand of iron. His
 richest patients were small tradesmen, who were poor enough themselves, and vet despised him for his greater pow erty.
 Now he stumbled suddenly on a poor patient like the rest, who turned out
 unexpectedly to be an enormously rich one-and as if by a sneering fate there was hardly a chance to save him. The worn-out, hopeless, despairing slave of penury tried to be majestically reprov- ing when Mme. Cibot begged him next day to advise Pons to make will and to say something in her favor; but he ended by referring her to a friend. M. Frasier, who was an advocate. Frasier was poorer than even Poulain.
 He had come from the provinces under a cloud that made him only too glad to be allowed to remain in the meanest ranks of the law in Paris, instead of having his advocates robe stripped from his back and. perhaps, serving In tho galleys as well.
 Afflicted with disease that made him loathsome to the sight, cursed by vice and poverty combined he joined the group of avarcicious beings that gathered around the bedside of the dying col- lector.
 told him to bring in man who could value the treasures. The old dealer brought in the famous Ellie Magnus, who lived in soualor, but owned a magnifi- cent collection of his own and could smell out masterpiece under a coating of dirt
 100 years old.
 Magnus whispered to Mme Cibot that he would give her great bonus if she
 could bring it about that he might ob-
 tain the four great paintings. the gems