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ROM retailing justice we jumped to the pier to meet the circus boss, just returned from England, and before the cab had landed us at the Broadway office we had consented to engineer a brand-new deal, twofold in its incentive. First, we were to escort a slap-bang animal-show around the Southwestern circuit, penetrating the home of the frijoles and tortillas, and wrench from the childish grasp of the Aztecs enough crude silver to pay expenses. We were to go to Chihuahua, and possibly farther. Secondly, we were to pick up a troupe of bull-fighters and Mazeppa-like dons for a big Wild-West show. The latter was the real object, only we wished to invade the firesides of the Montezumas in an off-handed manner, with our mission slightly disguised.

"Well, everything went along in the rut of dull routine until after we left El Paso. Then the curiosity of the mestizos, who form one-half of the population of old Mexico, and who, by-the-way, are in