"Yeh--and cut down my act to half-pay. I'd be full of them tricks--wouldn't I? Show me another jaw act measures up to mine. Show me the strong-arm number that ever pulled down the coin a jaw act did. I'd be a, sweet boob, wouldn't I, to cut my pocket-book in two? I need money, Airy-Fairy. My God! how I got the capacity for needing money!" "What's money to health, Mr. Jastrow? It ain't human or freak nature to digest glass. Honest, every time I hear you crunching I get the chills!" Then Mr. Jastrow shot forward his lower jaw with a milling motion: "Gr-r-r-r-r!" "She's sweet on you, Jastrow, like all the rest of 'em." "Better to have loved a short man Than never to have loved atall." "Baron, I--I'll spank!" "Worth her weight in gold!" "Where you got all that money soaked, Big Tent?" "Aw, Mr. Jastrow, the Baron's only tormenting me." "She sleeps on a pillow stuffed with greenbacks." "Sure I got a few dollars saved, and I ain't ashamed of it. I've had steady work in this business eight years, now, ever since the circus came to my town out in Ohio and made me the offer, but that's no sign I can be in it eight years longer. Sure I got a few dollars saved." "Well, whatta you know--a big tent like you?" "Ain't a big tent like me human, Mr. Jastrow? Ain't I--ain't I just like any other--girl--twenty years old--ain't I just like--other--girls--underneath all this?" "Sure, sure!" said Mr. Jastrow. "How much you to the good, little one?" "I've about eleven hundred dollars with my bank-books and pig." "'Leven hundred! Well, whatta you know about that? Say, Big Tent, better lemme double your money for you!" "Aw, you go on, Mr. Jastrow! Ain't you the torment, too?" "Say, gal, next time I get the misery you can hold my hand as long as your little heart desires. 'Leven hundred to the good! Good night! Get down off my shoulder, you little flea, you. I got to turn in here and take a drink on the strength of that! 'Leven hundred to the good! Good night!" "Oh, Mr. Jastrow, in your state! In your state alcohol's poison. Mr. Jastrow--please--you mustn't!" "Blow me, too, Jas! Aw, say--have a heart; blow me to a bracer, too!" "No, no, Mr. Jastrow, don't take the Baron. The little fellow can't stand alcohol. His baroness don't want it. Anyways, it's against the rules--please--" "You stay and take the lady home, flea. See the lady home like a gentleman. 'Leven hundred to the good! Say, I'd see a lady as far as the devil on that. Good night!" * * * * *