me to bring the hosses over at three o'clock the next day.
I'm there to the minute, but nobody shows up 'n' I stands out in front
with the dogs fur what seems like a week. All of a sudden a tall pale
guy, who ain't got no coat on, comes bustin' out of the entrance.

"'Where in hell and damnation have you been with these skates?' he
says. His hair is stickin' up on end 'n' he's got a wild look in his
eye.

"'Batty as a barn,' I says to myself, 'n' gets behind Edwin Booth.

"'Speak up!' says the pale guy. 'Before I do murder!' I looks up 'n'
down the street--not a cop in sight.

"'I'm a gone fawn skin,' I says to myself, but I thinks I'll try to
soothe him till help comes.

"'That's all right, pal, that's all right,' I says to him. 'These
pretty hosses are in a show. Did you ever see a show? I seen a show
once that--'

"'My poor boy,' he says, breakin' in. 'I didn't know! What got into
Banks?' he says, sort-a to hisself. 'Try and remember,' he says to me,
'weren't you told to bring these pretty horses here at three o'clock?'

"That puts me jerry, 'n' I sure am sore when I thinks how he gets my
goat.

"'Why, you big stiff!' I says. 'Ain't I been standin' here with these
plugs fur a week? If you wants 'em, why don't you come 'n' tell me to
lead 'em in? Do you think I'm a mind-reader?'

"His voice gets wild again.

"'Lead 'em in where?' he says. 'Through the lobby? Do you want to buy
'em tickets at the box-office? Will you have orchestra chairs for 'em
or will front-row balcony do? Now beat it up that alley to the stage
entrance, you doddering idiot!' he says. 'You've held up this
rehearsal two hours!'

"Say, I've made some fierce breaks in my time, but that was the limit.
It goes to show what a sucker anybody is at a new game. But at that, a
child would have knowed those dogs didn't go in the front way.

"When I gets on to the stage with the hosses, there's guys 'n' dames
standin' around all over it. The chicken comes 'n' shakes my mitt.

"'Say, kid,' she says, 'you'll hit the street for this sure. Where
_have_ you been?'

"Before I can tell her, here comes the pale guy down the aisle.

"'Everybody off stage!' he hollers. The bunch beats it to the sides.
'Now,' says the pale guy. 'We'll start the third act. Pixley,' he
says to the chicken, 'I'll read your lines. You explain to Daniel
Webster his cue, lines and business for your scene. Charlie, hold
those horses.'

"The chicken