hat he'll let stick on
big back for sixty seconds. I'm telling you this in fair warning, before
I make my proposition. Looks easy, doesn't it?--one minute, the sixtieth
part of an hour, to be precise, sixty seconds, to stick on the back of an
affectionate josher mule like Barney. Well, come on you boys and broncho
riders. To anybody who sticks on for one minute I shall immediately pay
the sum of fifty dollars; for two whole, entire minutes, the sum of five
hundred dollars."

This was the cue for Samuel Bacon, who advanced across the sawdust,
awkward and grinning and embarrassed, and apparently was helped up to the
stage by the extended hand of Collins.

"Is your life insured?" Collins demanded.

Sam shook his head and grinned.

"Then what are you tackling this for?"

"For the money," said Sam. "I jes' naturally needs it in my business."

"What is your business?"

"None of your business, mister." Here Sam grinned ingratiating apology
for his impertinence and shuffled on his legs. "I might be investin' in
lottery tickets, only I ain't. Do I get the money?--that's _our_
business."

"Sure you do," Collins replied. "When you earn it. Stand over there to
one side and wait a moment.--Ladies and gentlemen, if you will forgive
the delay, I must ask for more volunteers.--Any more takers? Fifty
dollars for sixty seconds. Almost a dollar a second . . . if you win.
Better! I'll make it a dollar a second. Sixty dollars to the boy, man,
woman, or girl who sticks on Barney's back for one minute. Come on,
ladies. Remember this is the day of equal suffrage. Here's where you
put it over on your husbands, brothers, sons, fathers, and grandfathers.
Age is no limit.--Grandma, do I get you?" he uttered directly to what
must have been a very elderly lady in a near front row.--"You see," (to
the prospective buyer), "I've got the entire patter for you. You could
do it with two rehearsals, and you can do them right here, free of
charge, part of the purchase."

The next two tumblers crossed the sawdust and were helped by Collins up
to the imaginary stage.

"You can change the patter according to the cities you're in," he
explained to the Frenchman. "It's easy to find out the names of the most
despised and toughest neighbourhoods or villages, and have the boys hail
from them."

Continuing the patter, Collins put the performance on. Sam's first
attempt was brief. He was not half on when he was flung to the ground.