e clapped the Living Skeleton gaily on
the back. "Laugh, you idiot!" he hissed, under his breath. The Living
Skeleton laughed, and Madame Marve joined in the seeming merriment. She
did not know why, but it seemed advisable.

"Well sir," snorted McKnight, "you've finished that idiotic cackle,
perhaps you will explain how a monkey comes to be acquainted with the
English language."

"Certainly," said the Professor, cordially, "I might prefer to kick you
off the premises, but I will explain. Mahdi!" he called imperiously.
"Forward, Sir."

The Missing Link turned from his argument with Ammonia, and lurched to
the bars.

"I have not been able to teach my Missing Link to talk, though I've tried
hard. He can do almost anything else, but not that. However, I dare say
we can get him to address this intelligent audience. Mahdi, you see this
nice gentleman here." Professor Thunder pointed to McKnight, "What do you
think of him?"

"I think he is an ass!" said the Missing Link, with emphasis.

At this there was a yell of delight from the crowd, and even McKnight and
his party were astonished.

"There," cried McKnight, "what did I tell you? What does that prove?"

"You hear, Mahdi?" said the Professor; "the gentleman wants to know what
that proves?"

"It proves I know an ass when I see one, answered the Missing Link.

"You daylight robber! You unblushing fraud!" yelled McKnight.

"Stay," cried the Professor, with dignity. "Is it possible, sir, you have
never heard of the art of ventriloquism? I am a ventriloquist. The voice
you heard was my voice thrown into the mouth of the Missing Link. In this
way we are teaching a magpie to speak to the man-monkey as a new feature
of my marvellous entertainment. As to your libellous accusations, sir,
you will probably hear further on that point from my solicitor, and now
good-day."

"Be me sowl, this bates cock-fightin', McKnight," said the constable.
"Th' monkey's right, Mack. Sure, it's an ass yiv made iv yersilf this
day."

When McKnight and his party had gone, and the museum was empty of
patrons, the Professor mopped his brow, and drew a great breath.

"It's lucky we were prepared for that emergency," he said.

"I dunno," said the man-monkey; "why shouldn't a Missing Link talk,
anyhow?"

"Look here, Nickie, you're wantin' to be too talented," said the
Professor. "Your overweening ambition will ruin everything. Why, bless my
soul, you be wanting to shave clean and have a vo