The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-06-25
COMETH SOON OR LATE.

morning Mt 10 o'clock. II the sun wa,
shining. and to shuttle rather than Il
walk down the gravel street to tn,
avenue OF palms There, picking ou
a seat on which the sun shone tn.
Living Skeleton would sit down ant
seemed to wait patiently for some one
who never came He didn't seem to
have energy enough even to read ant
so II was that Robbins sat down one
day on the bench beside him and said
alphabetically. Il hope you are feel
ing better to-day"
The Skeleton turned toward him
and laughed low. noiseless and
mirthless laugh for q moment and
then said. in hollow. far-away voice
that had no lungs behind IT.: Il am
through with feeling either better or
worse"
oh / hope 1t 10 not as bad as that T"
said Robbins; 1.-The climate is doing
you good down here. Is It notp"
Il have no more interest In eli
mate" said the Skeleton. Il merely
seem to live because ! have been in
the habit OF living for some years; !
presume that is II because my lungs
are entirely gone. Why.I can talk or
why can breathe 10 a mystery to me.
You arc perfectly certain you can
hear me?"
Oh hear you quite distinctly. ("
SAID Robbins
TO tell the truth. / am dead
practically. You know the old Amer
lean story about a man who walked
around to save funeral expenses; we'll.
1t isn't quite that way with me. but l
can appreciate how the man felt Still.
] take keen interest In life although
you might not think So You see, l
haven't much time left; am going to
die at 8 o'clock on April 30-S o'clock
at night not in the morning just
after table d. hote is done with"
you are going to whatp" cried
Robbins In establishment
I'm going to die that day. You
see. have got things TO such u point
that can die any time want to. l
could die right here now II wished.
II you have any mortal interest In the
matter I'll do It and show you that
what say is true. / don't mind
much. you know. although have
fixed on April 80 us the limit 1t
wouldn't matter q bit for me to 60 Off
now II 1t would be OF any interest to
YOU"
Il beg you" said Robbins very
much alarmed. mot to try any ex-
periments on my account am
quite willing to believe anything you
say about the matter-of course you
ought to know"
Yes / do know" answered the
Living Skeleton. sadly. .Of course. 1
have had my struggle with hope and
fear. but that is all past now. as you
may we'll understand. The reason
that have fixed the date for 30th OF
April is this: You see have only n
certain amount OF money! do not
know why should make any secret
OF i'll have exactly 240 francs to-
day. over and above the 100 francs
which ] have set aside for another
purpose. l am paying 8 francs day
at the Golden Dragon; that you see
will keep me just thirty days. and
then Intend to die"
The Skeleton laughed again. with
out sound, and Robbins moved un-
easily on the seat
Il don't see" he said finally,
.'what there is to laugh about in that
condition OF affairs"
Don't your said the Skeleton.
well ] don't suppose there is very
much; but there 10 something else that
! consider very laughable and that l
will tell you II you will keep 1t a
secret You see the old Golden
Dragon himself-I always call our
inn. keeper the Golden Dragon. just
as you call me the Living Skeleton. {"
'Oh. l beg your pardon. " said Rob-
bins. stammerino. 81" .
oh II doesn matter ut all. You
are perfectly right and ! think it q
very apt term. Well. the Golden
Dragon makes great deal Of his
money by robbing the dead. You
didn't know that did youp You
thought II was the living who
supported him. and goodness knows
he robs them when he has chance.
When O man dies In the Golden
Dragon he or his friends rather
have to pay very sweetly for It. The
Dragon charges them for refurnishing
the room. Every stick OF furniture is
charged for. all the wall paper and
90 on. Isuppose it is right to charge
but the Dragon is not
content with what is right He knows
he has lost customer and so he
makes all he can out OF him. The
furniture so paid for is not replaced
and the walls are not papered again.
but the Dragon doesn't abate pc my
OF his bill on that account
Now have inquired OF the fur
man on the street back OF the
hotel and he has written on his carl
just the cost OF mattresses sheets. pill
lows and all that sort OF thing and
the amount comes up to about 80
francs. have put In an envelope n
60-franc note and with IL the card OF
the furniture man. have written
also In tho letter. telling the old Drag
on Just what the things will cost that