Part 8 (1/2)
The murder in Briggs's Building had stirred up a tremendous sensation, but as yet no one had thought of a.s.sociating either the Rev. Andrew Rowbottom or the tall, fas.h.i.+onably-dressed lady with the crime.
The show was not yet open for the evening, and Mahdi, the Missing Link, was permitted the privilege of free speech, denial of which was one of the most painful disadvantages of his public career.
”Well, how're yeh likin' th' grip, Nickie?” asked Matty Cann, otherwise Bonypart the living skeleton.
”It is not exacting.” said the Missing Link, dreamily, ”but it has its drawbacks to a man accustomed to finding favour with the ladies.”
”Drawbacks,” exclaimed Bonypart. ”What price living skelingtons? You wouldn't believe it, but I'm considered rather a fine man in flesh. It almost breaks my poor wife's 'eart t' see me in such redooced circ.u.mstances. I tell yeh I never thought I'd come down t' this.”
Nickie peered at the living skeleton from his cage. ”I believe being a missing link has its advantages.” he said. ”After all, a missing link does have time off, but a living skeleton has no relaxations.”
”Dry up, Mahdi, an' get on your perch,” cried Madame Thunder, ”The Professor's openin' up.”
The door was opened, and the Marvels heard Professor Thunder declaiming on the astonis.h.i.+ng quality of his exhibits.
”Roll up! Roll up! Roll up!” exclaimed the professor in his deep, steam-organ tones. ”Roll up, and see Mahdi and Marve--Mahdi the Missing Link, the great man-monkey, captured in the gloom junge of Darkest Africa, the Connectin' link 'tween man an' the beasts; Marve, the Mystic, the prophetess, enchantess and Egyptian seer, who will read your future in your palm, exhibit her educated pig, and display the occult science of the Oriental wonder-workers!'
”Here they come,” said Madame, arranging her rich Egyptian costume, made by sewing a design of spangles on a curiously-patterned bed quilt.
The Missing Link hooked himself to the crossbar with one hand, drew up his hairy legs, and remained suspended in a limp att.i.tude, as two women, with frightened children clinging to their skirts, entered the show.
Madame took charge of the audience, and lucidly explained the Darwinian theory, beginning with Spider, the tiny ape, and tracing the descent of man through Ammonia, the gorilla, to Mahdi the Missing Link, and Mahdi romped about the cage, growled and gibbered, poking his amazingly human face through the bars for fleeting moments.
When not engaged telling fortunes, performing a few primitive illusions, or putting Ephraim, the Educated Hog, through his manoeuvres, Madame was anything the occasion required. The Professor had great faith in her. She had once carried the show through successfully when the Living Skeleton, the Missing Link, Ammonia the Gorilla, and Ephraim were all incapacitated through an influenza epidemic.
They had a big evening, the holiday-makers flocked in so freely that Professor Thunder abandoned his position as ”spruicher,” or public speaker, and took charge of the interior, acting as explainer and interpreter, leaving his little daughter Let.i.tia to take the sixpences at the door.
The night was warm, and as the stream of patrons was incessant, Nickie the Kid found his duties most oppressive, and had serious thoughts of shedding his skin.
Professor Thunder greatly excited the interest of the crowd by announcing that a sum of one pound and a silver medal valued at one guinea would be given to any person courageous enough to follow Madame Marve's example and enter the cage containing Mahdi, the Missing Link.
Nickie was resentful, as this meant a most energetic demonstration of savagery on his part, following a fawning and submissive manner, while madame, wearing a large sombrero and a man's coat, moved about in the cage, cracking a whip.
The people gathered before the cage gazed upon madame with stupid awe, while the strange monster capered, or prostrated himself in great humility at her bidding. When she had withdrawn, and after the Professor had made his prodigal offer, it was Mahdi's duty to stimulate ungovernable ferocity, in order to deter any too-venturesome spirits.
Nickie did his best. He bounded madly round the cage, he tore at the straw, tooth and nail, he roared terribly, and s.n.a.t.c.hed furiously at the people near the bars. The crowd retreated in terror; all save one woman, a grim-looking female with the indurated face of an old-established lodginghouse-keeper.
This woman came forward, and jabbed at Mahdi the Missing Link with her umbrella. ”Gerrout, yeh brute!” she said. Mahdi backed into shades carefully provided at the back of the cage, and the old woman reached her umbrella through the bars, and made a hit at him. Mahdi seemed to cower.
”A prize of one pound and a silver medal to any person daring enough to enter the cage of Mahdi, the man-monkey!” repeated Professor Thunder, with great hardihood.
”Wha's that?” gasped the woman.
Professor Thunder repeated his intrepid words; aside he hissed ”Bellow, d.a.m.n you--bellow!”
Nickie bellowed; he jumped with desperate energy, he clawed up the straw, but he remained in the shadow.
”A pound!” cried the woman. ”A pound jist fer goin' in with that ape?
Done! I'm yer man.”
The Professor was thunderstruck, so also was Mahdi the Missing Link.
Never since Thunder invested in his famous fake of the man-monkey had man or woman been found courageous enough to beard the monster in his den for a pound. Never had any been expected to. Professor Thunder stood non-plussed.