THE TALE OF BRAZOS DICK
saying they see I was strange; and I put 'em off, for I reckoned to hev heard of bunco-steerers before then, and I got along up to a Circus—the Circus of Piccadilly. This was gay as a festival, and the number of buggies and omnibuses was tremenjus. I tried to cross the street three times, and each time went back agin; and then at last a big police officer led me across like a little child, and he said, 'You're an American?' I said, 'Howdy know? but I am. Kin you come and hev a drink?' But he said he couldn't, but he'd no objection to drink my health later. So I said I'd do the same to him later, and went away. And from what I learnt afterwards I reckon he reckoned to be donated two bits to do it with, but I didn't know. And then I see a place where they says 'Amer'can drinks.' I hez one, and I tells the bar-keep that they wuz doubtless drinks, but I warn't sure they wuz Amer'can. He surprised me some by sayin', 'They cayn't be as Amer'can ez you, my son, for I own what I mix cayn't be known to kem from Arizona a mile off.' And I owned that he hed me thar, though it
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