The Missing Link

gn his arduous role as the Missing Link, but despite his occasional eccentric departures from the manners and customs of Missing Links, Nickie had so

ce to continue his splendid impersonation. Besides, the easy Bohemian life was taking hol

the museum, but his melancholy was not native to him, it sprang from the

of the latter cage, "knowing the missus and the kids has plenty. You noticed 'ow fat Jane was when she brought the fam'ly t' see the

anguish of Jane and the kiddies at parting with Matty when the show was on the eve of starting on a provincial tour

veyed in a two-horse caravan, and was displayed in a small circus tent, Mahdi's c

exacting as in the metropolis. The Museum of Marvels was opened to the public of Bunkers in the afternoon,

do his share of the camp work, cooking, &c. The quick changes prevented outsiders from noticing that the absence of Nicholas Crips was always co

ad so worked his "splendid living realisation of the Darwinian theory, the descent of man," as to

unkers and the surrounding district. Miss Arnott, their teacher, was a tall, bony s

authority on the wonders of creation. A long black coat, a somewhat dingy belltopper, and a pair of smoked spectacles went with the part. So equipped, the boss conducted the seminary through his Muse

g us all how wise and wonderlul are the workings of Providence," said

ordingly. The effort so worked on the feelings of one of the younger pup

ger, but the Profess

n. Living Skeletons are very delicately organised, madame," he continued, addressing the teacher. "A

smile, but failed, and sighed hungrily, whereat the younger pupil brok

st, and Professor Thunder proudly arrayed his company before the cages containing the tiny apes, the

s, which he took from their hands and ate with a certain genteel decorum. His manner of cracking the nuts was m

quaint creature was indeed entertaining and instructive-most instructive. She had never met a more instructive creature. And meanwhile Ammonia the

beginning with Spider, and ranging up to the wondrous Missing Link. "Captured by my own hand in the jun

winging on the bar, racing round the cage, roaring, &c.). "He is very human in his appearance, as you will observe, and is much more upright in his carriage than the gorilla, while his mild and benevolent expression in repose"-(mild and benevolent expression artfully simulated by the Missing Link)-"gives his countenance a certain manly beauty and

diversion by squealing

ng for him in a paroxys

r objection to acknowledging relationship with the monkeys should have no reluctance to admit some distant connection with this noble an

s, and unsportsmanlike conduct of Ammonia the gorilla, who had succeeded

the Missing Link, forgetting everyt

pupils screamed, the monkeys all rattled at their cages and jabbered excited

ragged Nickie down, and pulling him close to the bars, and pushing his short nose between the rods, bit at him with gleaming teeth, a

ring with round, horrified eyes, and as they stared a truly horrible thing happened. The skin was torn cle

us the school turned and fled; it broke pell-mell from the tent, headed by Miss Arnott, who exec

a squirt charged with ammonia; but Professor Thunder was not thankful, he hadn't time, his magnificent mind was already

go round the place like wildfire. There might be a raid of indigna

fessor Thunder met them at the entrance, with his studious manner and his solemn black hat. The raid was going to express itself forcibly; it did re

more seriously injured than I imagined, and I may lose him, which would be a heavy blow, indeed

ky imposition!" crie

in a low state, but Madame Marve has done all that surgical skill could do. The murderous attacks of the gorilla scalped the poor creature,

ying moaning on his straw, his wounds-artfully bloodstained-all stitc

was a man gasped the

Strip the poor creature of its hairy hide and its resemblance

said the lo

n, regretfully, "I have half a moind t

ght all Bunkers flocked to see the Missing Link that had been f