Death of a Lifer

Percy Painton and a man named Cannon are involved in an unusual burial arrangement when they are tasked with transporting a coffin to West Ham Cemetery at midnight per the deceased's eccentric wishes. After completing the burial, Cannon and a companion later investigate the cemetery, only to discover that the grave is empty, indicating a grave robbery. They uncover that the coffin, believed to contain a body, was actually filled with banknotes, part of a heist orchestrated by a convict who died before being able to retrieve it. The scheme was masterminded by Harry Duckett, who had falsely set up a funeral parlor to cover their tracks, and now Percy and Cannon confront Percy about their plot as the police arrive. The story reveals themes of deception and eccentricity in the handling of death and burial customs.