ed missing
link.

The next day was Sunday and in the morning, dressed becomingly in his
part as the naturalist and teacher, Professor Thunder called upon the
Widow Spink at "The Nook," and held a long consultation with her. As a
result of the Professor's arguments, the lady was persuaded to visit the
Museum of Marvels and have a private audience with the Missing Link.

The widow said she was going to town to see a lawyer on Monday morning,
but agreed to Professor Thunder's proposal, and called on the Missing
Link in his cage.

"I think, madam, you will admit that you are mistaken," said the
Professor, at the door of the cage, "and will see that you have cast a
serious aspersion on the character of an innocent animal and the
genuineness of a reputable museum." He stirred up the huge, hairy body
lying in the straw in the Missing Link's cage. "If you come inside the
creature may attack you, but you are welcome to do so."

Mrs. Spink, after looking closer at the hideous head the Professor lifted
out of the straw, and brought close to her own at the back bars, decided
not to enter the cage. She had a painful impression that perhaps she was
mistaken after all.

"I admit, madam, that we build the animal up to some extent to make him
look large. That is a mere showman's trick, and innocent enough in
itself, but I am determined to convince you that this is a genuine
man-monkey, as your story has done me much mischief in my profession.
Pray look closely at the beast."

Mrs. Spink did look closely. There was not the slightest doubt that the
animal she beheld, although somewhat faked, was one of the monkey tribe.
She confessed her error, she became contrite and tearful, and promised an
apology if the Professor would not persist in his threatened action for
defamation of character.

"I was told the wretch was seen with your company," said the tearful Mrs.
Spink.

When the widow was well out of range, Nickie crept from the tent of the
Egyptian Mystic, and breathed a great sigh of relief.

"I shall probably never make love to a widow again," he said, sadly;
"they are so ungrateful."

He was dressed in his ordinary clothes, and the creature in the Missing
Link's cage sprang towards him spitting and clawing spitefully. It was
Ammonia, the Gorilla, in the Missing Link's skin, padded and faked to
twice his size to deceive a poor, weak woman.

"I believe after all we ought to frighten something in the way of
compensation out