[TRICKED BY TWO.]
CONCLUSION.
Neatly ensconced under the bed clothes, and with its horrible fleshless head laid in ghastly mockery upon his pillow, was a human skeleton.
For a moment Guy Hereford stared at the hideous object. Then recovering himself with a strong effort, he shouted violently for his boy Rufus.
The negro came into the room, showing a double row of magnificent ivories in a grin that stretched almost from ear to ear.
"What does this mean, Rufe?" demanded Guy angrily, pointing to the skull on his pillow.
"Doan' you get excited, boss," said the nigger, still grinning. "I done dat. I been all day gettin' him. Nebber had such a job in all my bawn days."
"Have you gone clean crazy?" cried Guy in amazed perplexity.
"No, sah. Dat you!" was Rufe's amazing reply. "Doan' you be angry, boss," he went on hurriedly, as Guy stepped suddenly toward him. "I done discovered a splendiferous plan to obfuscate dat dar Deacon, and dat am part ob de invention. I tell you dat am you."
Guy was beyond speech. He could only gaze helplessly at the beaming face of the negro.