"'I'd like to be around once when you talk to a bad one,' says the guy. 'Now look a-here,' he says. 'I'll buy this horse, but get over all thoughts of makin' a sucker out of me. What do you want for him? If you try to stick me up--I'm gone. The woods is full of this kind. Let's hear from you!' "'Fur a hundred I throws in a halter,' I says. "'You've sold one,' says the guy, 'n' peels off five yellow men from a big roll. "When I've got the kale safe in my clothes, I gets curious. "'What do you want with this hoss?' I says. "'He's to run on rollers in a racing scene,' he says. "'Well,' I says, 'some skates has rollers on 'em, maybe they'll help this one. God knows he ain't any good with just legs!' "'He's plenty good enough for his act,' says the guy. 'And say, I want another one like him, and a man to go on the road with 'em. Can you put me wise?' "'How much would be crowded towards the party you want, Saturday nights?' I says. "'Twenty dollars and expenses,' says he. "'Make it thirty,' I says. 'Travelin's hard on them that loves their home.' "'We'll split it,' he says. 'Twenty-five's the word.' "'My time's yours,' I says. "'How about the other horse?' says the fat guy. "'You'll own him in eight minutes,' I says. 'Stay here with Edwin Booth till I get back.' "I hustles down the line 'n' finds Peewee Simpson washin' out bandages--that's what he'd come to. "'You still got that sorrel hound?' I says to him. "'Nope,' says Peewee. 'He's got me. I'm takin' in washin' to support him.' "'Brace yourself fur a shock,' I says. 'I'll give you real money fur him.' "Peewee looks at me fur a minute like you done a while ago. "'Don't wake me up!' he says. 'I must--' then he stops 'n' takes another slant at me. 'Say!' he says, 'I'll bet you've got next! I ain't told you yet--who put you hep?' "'Hep to what?' I says. "'Why, this hoss works a mile in forty yesterday,' says Peewee. 'I'm goin' to cop with him next week.' "'Your work's coarse,' I says. 'The only way that dog goes a mile in forty is in the baggage coach ahead. I'm in a hurry! Here's a hundred fur the pup. Don't break a leg gettin' him out of the stall.' "I don't stop to answer Peewee's questions, but leads the hoss back to the fat guy. "'Here's Salvini,' I says. 'He cost you a hundred.' "'S. R. O. for you,' says he, 'n' slips me the hundred. 'Now, take him and Edwin Booth to the livery-stable round the corner from the Alhambra Theater. Come to the Gilsey House at six o'clock and ask for me. My name is Banks.' "'There's class to that name,' I says. 'It sure sounds good to me.' "'Keep on your toes like you've done so far and it'll be as good as it sounds,' says he. "That evenin' Banks tells me the dogs he's bought is fur a show called _A Blue Grass Belle_. A dame is to ride one of 'em in the show, 'n' I'm to ride the other.