“It’s a skeleton! Oh, my goodness! how did ever it get here?”
“Yes, it is a skeleton! Oh, this is too horrible!” gasped Joe, shrinking up against the wall. And his female companion clung close to him.
Meanwhile the “skeleton” stalked towards them.
We, reader, have seen the figure before. But so distinctly was the skeleton of the human body painted in white upon that tight-fitting black suit, that the illusion was perfect; and the wonder was not great that the two poor ignorant servants trembled and gasped, and shrank back.
“Why, if you were not afraid of the Devil, why should you shrink from Death?” demanded the stranger:
“Grinning horribly a ghastly smile.”
“I—was not—afraid; only it gives one such a turn!” replied Joe, with chattering teeth.
“Then direct me to a dressing-room,” ordered the stranger.
“But—are you—a gentleman’s skeleton, or a lady’s?” gasped Joe.