luable, and he is the rarest
animal in the world. Professor Thunder has been offered thousands of
pounds for Mahdi, but refuses to part with him, preferring to take the
marvellous monkey-man through the world for the education and edification
of his fellow-creatures."

Mahdi swung on his bar again, flopped, and then ran up the back wall
several times, after which he sat in a corner and scratched himself
industriously, grinning at the people every now and then, or uttering a
growl that gave the women delicious cold shivers.

The attention of the patrons was next drawn to the educated pig, and
presently the show-room was empty again for a minute or two. Madame Marve
addressed Mahdi the Missing Link.

"You must growl more, my boy," she said. "The people like the growling,
it terrifies them, and they talk to their friends about it. You really
must keep on growling. I don't care if you don't scratch quite so much,
but you must growl."

The Missing Link pushed his drab muzzle through the bars.

"Keep on growling," he protested. "Excuse me, madame, but I'm damned if I
do unless you give me more beer. I've got a throat like a hot-box."

Old friend of Mr. Nicholas Crips would have recognised those crisp tones
instantly. Nickie the Kid had found his vocation.

CHAPTER VII.

AN UNFORTUNATE MEETING.

NICHOLAS CRIPS entered into formal agreement with Professor Thunder, sole
organiser, director and owner of Thunder's Celebrated Museum of Marvels,
to impersonate Mahdi, the Missing Link, at a salary of thirty-seven and
sixpence a week and keep, Nickie undertaking to observe the Sabbath, to
behave becomingly and in no circumstances to disclose his identity to
persons outside the show.

The clause entailing strict observance of the Sabbath was a wise one from
the Professor's point of view, as a previous Missing Link had taken
advantage of Sunday being an off-day to get unreasonably drunk, in which
state he betrayed the confidence of his employer, and disclosed the most
sacred secrets of the profession.

Nickie was assured that the job would be a permanency if he proved
himself a zealous, efficient Missing Link, and as he understood that even
when on show Mahdi was expected to do little more than curl up on the
straw in his cage and growl, he gratefully accepted. The contract was
signed.

So far Nicholas had discovered the new skin he was compelled to don to be
the only serious disadvantage attached to his office. It wa