"He's got the whole bunch buffaloed, except the chicken. She hands it back to him when it comes too strong.
"'Pixley,' he says to her once, 'your directions call for a quick exit. The audience will be able to stand it if you get off stage inside of ten minutes. Try and remember you are not stalling a Johnny with a fond farewell in this scene.'
"'That's a real cute crack,' says the chicken. 'But you've got your dates mixed. I can shoo a Johnny, even if he's in the profession,' she says, lookin' at him, 'quicker than a bum stage manager can fire a little chorus girl.'
"The pale guy's name is De Mott. He looks at her hard fur a minute, then he swallers the dose.
"'Proceed with the act,' he says.
"The show goes great the first night, far as I can see, but De Mott ain't satisfied.
"'It's dragging! It's dragging!' he keeps sayin' to everybody.
"A minute before I has to walk out on the stage, leadin' Edwin Booth, I can't think of nothin' but what I has to say. I gets one look at all them blurry faces, 'n' I goes into a trance.
"'More than life depends on this race!' I hears a voice say, about a mile off. That's my cue, but all I can remember is to tell him it's a cinch, 'n' say it loud.
"'The dog cops sure as hell!' I hollers.