ebrated man-monkey, Mahdi,
the Missing Link."

"Is he a man or a monkey?" asked the court, drowsily, opening one eye.

"He's a bit of both, but mainly monkey, Your Worship."

"It's a lie, he's a man," cried Hobbs.

"Silence in the Court!" said His Worship, with portentous hauteur, "or
I'll give you ten days for contempt. The defendant must be brought before
us."

"But, Your Worship," exclaimed the Professor, "it would not be safe, I
assure you, The animal is wild. He was irritated by this man, it would
not be safe to take him from his cage. He might attack the court."

"Eh, what's that?" ejaculated the magistrate. "Attack the court? We don't
allow that kind of thing here. I'd give the beggar twelve months."

Constable Dunne whispered to the court, and Professor Thunder enlarged
upon the shocking temper of the Missing Link when roused.

"Very well," said the Magistrate, "if he cannot be brought to this court,
the court will go to him. Justice must be done. This court stands
adjourned to Professor Thunder's Museum of Marvels."

Very gravely John Lidlow, J.P., led the court to Professor Thunder's
tents, and sedately he established himself behind a table before the cage
of the Missing Link, and again the case was called on.

"The Missing Link pleads guilty, Your Worship," said Constable Dunne.
Professor Thunder whispered to him. "Through his next iv kin, Yer
Worship," continued Dunne.

"With extenuating circumstances. Your Worship," said the Professor. "This
man attacked my Missing Link with a stick."

The Missing Link at this moment bounded against the front of the cage
with a blood-curdling growl, making seemingly frantic efforts to get at
Ivo Hobbs. One of the bars broke before his terrific onslaught, and
through the apperture Mahdi snatched and snapped at his adversary of
yesterday, growling horribly the while.

With a 'ell of terror Hobbs fled into a cement barrel.

The Missing Link flopped from his cage, and advanced upon the J.P.

The sight so upset the court in the person of John Lidlow that it sat for
a moment, staring in blank horror across the table set for its
convenience, then slowly tilted over in its chair, and fell heavily on
the back of its neck, picked itself up, and made a bolt for the open. At
the tent door the court turned for a moment, and cried breathlessly:

"Fined five shillings or two days," and then it dashed out and away.

Professor Thunder paid the fine with the greatest goodw