In Missouri: A Beastly Display

Dave Hale is just a touch worn down, maybe about nine-tenths beaten to a frazzle. But he hangs in there, functioning on pride and coffee. He sells a porcupine for $100, which is about $98.75 more than any porcupine that can't play God Bless America on the musical goose-horns is worth. He sells an ostrich egg for $17, a slink of ferrets for $21 apiece, two ducks for $4 each, and a pregnant monkey named Bonnie for $575. A female African lion cub, not more than 6 in. high, 30 in. long including tail,...

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