ssian serf," and black, white, and gray, red, yellow,
and blue dominoes, he suddenly exclaimed:

"Good Lord deliver us! What's _that_?"

Miss Tabby, who, to her infinite disgust, had been receiving and passing
any number of "fairies," "fisher girls," "soubrettes," "sultanas,"
et caetera, turned around, and in a quavering voice, inquired:

"What's _what_?"

"Why, _that_!" shuddered Joe, pointing to a ghastly figure that was
standing quite still, a few paces from where they stood, trembling.

"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.

"I am neither. I am Death," curtly replied the stranger.

"Lord save us!" ejaculated Miss Tabby.

"Are you going to direct me to a dressing-room?"

"Yes, sure, as soon as I know what sort of a one you want. Are you a
gentleman's death, or a lady's?" faltered Joe, who could by no means
command his nerves.

"I am a lady's death!" replied the stranger, in a tone so grim that Miss
Tabby ejaculated:

"Heaven have mercy on us!"

Joe was about to direct the stranger to the ladies' dressing-rooms, when
his attention was suddenly diverted by the arrival of a crowd of
"knights," "Indians," "Welsh bards," "grisettes," "Greek slaves,"
et caetera, who demanded immediate service. The usher divided them according
to their sexes, and then noticed that the ghastly figure of "Death"
joined the gentlemen's party and accompanied them to their
dressing-room.

CHAPTER XVI.

ON THE WATCH.

False--from the head's crown to the foot's sole--false!
To think I ne