West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-07-24
Somewhere
CLAIMING HIS SKELETON,
& Weird Story of the Michigan
University.

When John Wentworth put his last
touches TO his work he stood back and
regarded it with admiration. He stood
with his hands in his pockets and his
cap well back on his head. and he felt
that glow of sclf-sat' sfaction which n
man feels who has just finished q long
and arduous task.
Well" he said, as he turned his
head, now this way and then that, IL
call that iirst-class job, by Georger'
1t was certainly most complete
piece of mechanism, every joint perfect
ly fitted, yet perfection is never alto.
gcther appreciated, and when Mrs.
Jones, the landlady, deceived by the si-
lence into supposing that Wentworth
had gone out, and thinking the present
good time to fix up the room, came
in. she gave a scream of terror. and on
catching her breath. cried:
Laws, Mr.. Wentworth. what a start
that horrid thing did give me. You're
not going to keep that in the house.
Mr.. Wentworth?'
Mrs. Jones, let me present Won 70
our distingu shed fellow-lodger, j. w.
Stodgcrs. venture to saw that more
complete or a handsomer skeleton can
not be found in Ann Arbor. Mrs. Jones.
II l did wire him myself John w. will
give you little trouble, Mrs Jones. and
If; when we're out. YOU give him a little
touch up with the duster. he will not
only appreciate it. but YOU will also
obl'ge Mr. Smile and myself, for we are
partners IN j. w. Stodgers."
Mercy sakes, III never come into
this room if that skeleton is to be here /"
''Oh, John w. is harmless Besides.
he has been in that box here for some
weeks. I've only helped him to collect
himself. as it were
AT this moment the lower Jaw of the
skull dropped with click to an angle
of torty-hve, and Mrs. Jones gave an
other little shrek as she looked with
avcrted gaze at the sort of dry. bopy.
silent, fixed laugh of the skeleton.
That" said Wentworth. with par
dOnable pride, lis a little device of nv
own That jaw stays in place about
half an hour and then drops. By the
way, just notice what a lovely set of
teeth John w. has. That's the fault |
find with most Of our American skele-
tons They have poor teeth. 1t seemed
10 Smile and me that this fellow must
have been an Englshman, he had such
good grinders, so we christened him
htodgers, an aristocratic name over
there / am told. -
1t gives me the chills to look at II. Sc
said Mrs. Jones The fading afternoon
light threw deep shadows in the eyeles.
sockets that gave Mrs. Jones an uneasy
feeling that the skeleton was looking AT
her.
That's because you always had
Lifts TO board here instead Of Medic,
You u get used o. John w. He's An
unobtrusive cuss. Ifevcrybody minded
his own business with the exclusivcpes-
>. w. does there wouldn't be much
trouble i'm this world "
Wentworth bitterly remembered this
remark later on.
At this moment young Smile came
in
by Jove said Smile, i'm admira-
ton. you've done that mp tiptop. John.
Thunder, ] call that a triumph " and
hc walked around and took a side Wow
NJ IT, That what I call n deuced
good jO1 for first attempt Did Won
ever see anything handsomcr, Mrs
JOno p
Mr.. Jones thinks she has. said
Wentworth
'It awful" ,huddcrsI Mrs Jones.
'Io think that Hut was alive and
walled around like TIC rest Of u.r'
And thou hast walked about how
strange story quoted Smile
That SO. lbs rough oB j. W. isn't
Mr. Jones went down stairs and the
medical students closed the door
"ii iaw drOop = little. John. said
Smile
That nj. right. shows the action.
you know and Wentworth with a
ruler touched John vs. under tho chm.
and 'ha two cleaning rows of teeth
came together and remained in ha,
iN.J grin -0 rhara.t cristic Of oil skcIe.
TONS
Wentworth had placed narrow
table Hgan -t the wan. and ON 10 John
w ,a' With hi- skull fastened 20 The
wal. sJ 9- 'o keep him upright wh.lr
JOS puI.v white LEGS daugIcd down and
sway cd gently TO and fro. when tbo
door opened or breeze came through
tac window
The medical students Sat down. and
Wcn'"or'h w .oIIug Smile how b.,
lid overcome certain dGiculuos iu Or