ant to you to be a spectator at the banquet?"

"Art he blowed!" said the Living Skeleton. "Give we a yard o' tripe an' a
scoopful iv mashed potatoos."

"You aren't cut out for a public career. Matty you ought to abandon
Living Skeletons and get a good eating part."

"Wish t' 'eaven I could, but there's ther missus an' ther kids t' think
of."

"Well, you can turn your head away when the banquet scene's on."

"What if I do; can't I smell it?"

There was no escape--poor Matty Cann had to be sacrificed to the
requirements of art.

Professor Thunder spread himself to make the new act a success; he
procured a clean tablecloth, and napkin, a crush hat and black opera coat
(both second-hand) were purchased for the Missing Link. A table, a chair,
crockery, edibles, a bottle of beer, a walking stick, and an eyeglass
were the rest of the properties.

When the Professor had explained to his patrons his gallant capture of
the only living Missing Link in the jungles of Darkest Africa, and had
put Mahdi through his paces, to the great amazement of the bucolic
audience, he said:

"And now, ladies and gents. I have the pleasure of introducing to your
notice an entire change of programme, exhihiting Mahdi, the Missing Link,
in his wonderful act, called 'Civilisation.' You have, seen, ladies and
gents, this here astonishing animal showing the natural qualities of the
brute creation; you will now be privileged to see that side of his nature
which approaches more nearly to humanity. This act, I may tell you,
ladies and gents, though a miracle of training, would not have been
possible if wasn't that the Missing Link has a good deal of human nature
in his composition."

After this the opera cloak was handed in to the Missing Link, and he put
it on with awkward, monkey movements; he donned the crush hat, put the
eyeglass in his eye, and with the walking' stick promenaded the cage with
some uncouth affectations of humanity. Meanwhile, Madame Marve had
carried the small table into the cage. She spread a cloth, put on a few
articles, and offered Mahdi a chair.

The Missing Link sat down, took off his hat, and closed it. Then he
examined the bill of fare, and pointed to an item. While Madame was
fulfilling the order Mahdi lounged in his chair, playing with the
serviette, which he took from the ring, and spread on his lap.

After this Nickie went through the process of ordering and eating a
dinner, the aim being to do the thing not t