"'Proceed with the act,' he says.
"The show goes great the first night, far as I can see, but De Mott
ain't satisfied.
"'It's dragging! It's dragging!' he keeps sayin' to everybody.
"A minute before I has to walk out on the stage, leadin' Edwin Booth, I
can't think of nothin' but what I has to say. I gets one look at all
them blurry faces, 'n' I goes into a trance.
"'More than life depends on this race!' I hears a voice say, about a
mile off. That's my cue, but all I can remember is to tell him it's a
cinch, 'n' say it loud.
"'The dog cops sure as hell!' I hollers.
"After the act De Mott rushes over tearin' at his collar like it's
chokin' him.
"'Don't you even know the difference between a horse and a dog?' he
yells at me.
"'If you sees this hound cough it up in the stretch often as I have,
you calls him a dog yourself,' I says.
"I don't furget again after that, 'n' things go along smooth as silk
from then on.
"The show runs along fur a week, but it don't make good.
"'The waving corn for this outfit!' says the chicken to me, Saturday
night. 'The citizens of Peoria, Illinois, will have a chance to lamp
my art before long.'
"She's got it doped right. We hit the road in jig-time. Banks makes a
speech before we leaves.
"'Ladies and gentlemen,' he says, 'I thank you for your good work. Mr.
De Mott will represent me on the road. I hope you will be a happy
family, and I wish you success.'
"Outside of the chicken, I'm not stuck on the bunch.
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