The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1892-06-17

MIN. but Oh 1nac particular day che
could not GO. There was some big,
charity function OIL hand. AMI one
necessary part of the affair WAS The.
wheealing OF money out OF The eo-
pies pockets. and the rice girl had
undertaken to do part OF the wheed.
ling. On the evening OF the
day there was to be a ball at the
principal hotel in the place. also
in connection with this very desirable
charity. Robbins had roll ctan!ty
gone to Toulon alone. and yon may
depend upon it he was back in time
for the ball.
well" he said to tho nico girl
when he met her. what luck collect
ing to-day"
'.Oh, the greatest luck" she re-
piled enthusiastically. land who do
YOU think l got the most mo.ey
frounp"
II am sure l haven't the 81 9Th est
idea THAT old English duke. lie cor
tainly has money enough"
mo. not from him at all; tho very
ltSD tC SOu yNu Jul CAlISSV Ioll
your friend the Living Skeleton
WHAT cried Robbins, in ala M.
'Oll, l found him on the bench
where he usually sits. in the avenue
of palms. l told him all about the
charity, and how use.ul it was. and
how necessary, and how we all ought
to give as much as we could toward
it, and he smiled aud smiled at me in
that curious way of lis. es.' he
said, in Il whisper. / believe the
charity should be supported by every
one; l will give you eighty francs. ;
Now, wasn't that very generous Of
him? Eighty francs that was ten
times what the duke gave. and as he
handed me the money he looked up
at me and said in that awful whisper
of his Count that YER carefully
when you get home and sec if YOU
can find out what else l have given
you. There is more than eighty
francs tEslc.' Then. alter | got
home. l."
But here the nice girl paused. when
she looked at the face of Robbins. TO
whom she was talking. The face
was CHASTITY pale. and his eyes were
staring at her but not seeing her.
Eighty francs" ho was whispering
to himself. and he seemed to be maxi
ing a mental calculation in subtrac-
tion. Then noticing the girls amazed
look at him. he said:
did you take the money!"
of course l took it." she said.
why shouldn't II"
Great heavens:" gasped Robbins,
and then he turned and fled, leaving
the nice girl transfxed with astonish.
ment and staring after him with a
frown on her pretty brow.
What does he mean by such con.
duct:o" she asked herself. But Robbins
disappeared from the gathering throng
in the large room of the hotel. dashed
down the steps, and hurried along the
narrow pavement toward the Golden
Dragon. The proprietor was standing
in the hallway with his hands behind
him. n usual attitude with Dragon.
''Where.' gasred Robbins. lis Mr..
Mr.. -" and then he remembered he
didn't know the name. Where is
the Living Skeleton"
He has gone to his room"
answered the Dragon. The went
early to-night-he wasn't feeling we'll,
l think"
What is the number of his room?"
mo. 10" and the proprietor rang
a loud. jangling bell, ~whereupon one
If the chambermaids appeared.
SHOW this gentleman to No. 4O.".
The girl preceded Robbins up the
stairs. Once she looked over her
shoulder. and said in q whisper. 't1s
he worse?"
II don't know" answered Robbins
that's what I have come to see."
At No. 40 the girl paused ant
raped lightly on the door panel
There was no response. She rappet
again. this time louder. There wa!
still no response.
TRY the door," said Robbins.
Il am afraid to-" said the girl.
''Why?"
because he said if he were aslee]
the door would be locked. and if h
were dead the door would be open"
when did he say that?"
He said it several times, sir. an
about q week ago the last time"
Robbins turned the handle of til,
door; it was not locked. A dim high
was in the room. but a screen befor
the door hid it from sight. When Ii
passed around the screen. he saw. up
On the square handicapped arrange
mcnt at the head Of the bed. q candl
burning; and its light shone on tn
dead face of the Skeleton. which ha
o grim smile on its thin lips. while i
it's clinched hand was a letter I'D
dressed to the proprietor of the hotel
The Living Skeleton had give
more than the eighty FRANCS to tina
deserving charity. - Detroit Free
, Press.