The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-10-22
Madame. Gregoire
BY J. II. ROSNY

Il have no relatives, and not a sim
gle friend in all the world, who cares
for me, even If it might we'll be to his
advantage to do So" Trocart often
used to say.
Whenever he said SO, Nine. Greg.
DIRE opened her eyes wide with an ex-
preston of mild reproach and cooked
one of his favorite dishes for supper.
Trocart enjoyed his meal and thanked
the good woman for her kindness.
Don't mention it," she always re-
piled. Il really could not care. more
for you than I do, even if you were
my own father"
Evidently he believed her, but to
have relatives was to him the great
est blessing in the world and he soon
began to complain that he did not
have even a second cousin to whom
he might leave his money when he
died, not a single Trocart, who would
enjoy reading his papers pertaining to
the interesting story of the family for
generations back.
lIOCdAt was always tdlhlu6 dUOuL
his papers, but he never showed
them to anybody. Everybody knew
that he had heaps of gold coins in
his big trunk with it's two immense
padlocks which were SO heavy that
the combined efforts of Nine Greg
DIRE and her son-in-law Hilette could
not move it an inch.
1t was strange that he who was so
rich should be SO stingy that Nine
Gregoire lost money boarding him but
the world is full of cranks and Tro-
cart loved his money. Not that he
denied himself anything. He bought
his wine and tobacco, rode in buses,
and whenever he had been to the the
alter he always came home in a bus.
He was very particular about his
laundry. his collars, cuffs and shirts
must be faultlessly ironed and snow
white, but he always owed Nine. Gerg-
DIRE for eight or nine months board
and lodging and made terrible fuss
whenever she mentioned her bill.
She stood it all. however, quite be-
witched by the trunk and the last
will. When she sometimes tried to
cut down her table expenses the old
fellow understood how to make her
cook anything he wished by merely
mentioning Nine. Tuile who had Of
fered him free board and lodging
Nine. Gregoire would rather have
her head cut of than turn him over to
that wretched woman, and she never
ceased telling him how Nine. Tuile
bought rancid butter and meat that
had been spoiled being too long on
exhibition IN the butchers window.
Trocart listened to her with smile
while he was munching deliciously
broiled chicken or a slice of her home
made peach pie, and after dinner he
always had coffee with brandy or cor
dial.
The day after such a treat Nine
Gregoire and her son-in-law went to
Trocart's room and tried to lift the
trunk and their faces beamed when
they could not make it bulge.
Several years passed and Trocart's
debt to his landlady grew larger ev-
cry month, while he showed no in
clination to die. At last he was at.
tackled by bronchitis and Nine. Greg.
DIRE nursed him as tenderly as if he
had been her own father, though in
her heart she hoped that this was the
beginning Of the end.
She wanted him to make a new will
however and at last he consented to
send for a notary public to whom he
in the presence of two witnesses
banded a last will and testament in
which he made the delighted woman
his sole heir.
At last she had reached the goal 1t
had cost her many struggles and
many hours of misery. but this was all
forgotten now.
A few days later her old boarder
died and she ordered a fine funeral.
At last the day came when Nine