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ving a joke； could not help laughing at the ludicrous incident。
The party took passage to Cairo； Illinois； in the beautiful river steamer 〃Magnolia。〃 They had made arrangements with the captain to delay in Natchez and in Memphis where concerts were given。
The time on board the steamer was pleasantly spent in reading and watching the scenery。 One day they had a musicale in the ladies' cabin for the gratification of the passengers； at which Miss Lind volunteered to sing。 Barnum amused the passengers with his inexhaustible fund of anecdotes and stories； and the tricks of legerdemain； which he had learned and used in the South under rather different circumstances。 Among other tricks； he made a silver piece disappear so mysteriously that the negro barber who witnessed the feat； came to the conclusion that the great man must be in league with the devil。 〃The next morning；〃 says Mr。 Barnum； 〃I seated myself in the barber's chair and the darkey began to talk：
〃 'Beg pardon； Mr。 Barnum； but I have heard a great deal about you； and I saw more than I wanted to see last night。 Is it true that you have sold yourself to the devil； so that you can do what you've a mind to？'
〃 'Oh； yes；〃 was my reply； 'that is the bargain between us。'
〃 'How long did you agree for？' was the question next in order。
〃 'Only nine years；' said I。 'I have had three of them already。 Before the other six are out； I shall find a way to nonplus the old gentleman； and I have told him so to his face。'
〃At this avowal； a larger space of white than usual was seen in the darkey's eyes； and he inquired； 'Is it by this bargain that you get so much money？'
〃 'Certainly。 No matter who has money； nor where he keeps it； in his box or till； or anywhere about him； I have only to speak the words and it comes。'
〃The shaving was completed in silence； but thought had been busy in the barber's mind； and he embraced the speediest opportunity to transfer his bag of coin to the iron safe in charge of the clerk。
The movement did not escape me； and immediately a joke was afoot。 I had barely time to make two or three details of arrangement with the clerk； and resume my seat in the cabin； ere the barber sought a second interview； bent on testing the alleged powers of Beelzebub's colleague。
〃 'Beg pardon； Mr。 Barnum； but where is my money？ Can you get it？'
〃 'I do not want your money；' was the quiet answer。 'It is safe。'
〃 'Yes； I know it is safeha！ ha！it is in the iron safe in the clerk's officesafe enough from you？'
〃 'It is not in the iron safe！' said I。 This was said so quietly； yet positively； that the colored gentleman ran to the office； and inquired if all was safe。 'All right；' said the clerk。 'Open； and let me see；' replied the barber。 The safe was unlocked and lo！ the money was gone！
〃In mystified terror the loser applied to me for relief。 'You will find the bag in your drawer；' said I； and there it was found！
〃His curiosity was still great。 'Please do another trick；' said he。
〃 'Very well；' I replied； 'stand perfectly still。'
〃He did so； and I commenced muttering some mysterious words； as if performing an incantation。
〃 'What are you doing？' said the barber。
〃 'I am changing you into a black cat；' I replied； 'but don't be afraid； I will change you back again； if I don't forget the words to do it with。'
〃This was too much for the terrified darkey； with an awful screech he rushed to the side of the boat resolved to drown rather than undergo such a transformation。
〃He was captured and brought back to me； when I dispelled his fright by explaining the way in which I had tricked him。 Relieved and reassured； he clapped his hands and executed an impromtu jig； exclaiming； 'Ha！ ha！ when I get back to New Orleans won't I come de Barnum ober dem niggers！' 〃
CHAPTER XX。 THE TRIALS OF AN IMPRESSARIO。
ST。 LOUISTHE SECRETARY'S LITTLE GAMELEGAL ADVICESMOOTH WATERS AGAINBARNUM'S EFFORTS APPRECIATEDAN EXTRAVAGANT ENCONIUM。
The concerts at Natchez and Memphis were extremely successful。 The sixty…first concert was given in St。 Louis； and on the morning of their arrival in the city Miss Lind's secretary came to Mr。 Barnum； commissioned； as he claimed； by the singer； and told the Manager that as sixty concerts had already been given； Miss Lind proposed to avail herself of one of the conditions of the contract and cancel the engagement next morning。 Much startled by this sudden complication； but outwardly undisturbed； Barnum asked if Miss Lind had authorized the notice。 〃I so understand it；〃 was the secretary's reply。 Thinking that it might be another scheme of her advisers and that Miss Lind herself might possibly know nothing of it； Barnum told the secretary that he would see him again in an hour。 He then proceeded to his old friend Sol Smith for legal advice。 They went over the contract together； Barnum telling his friend of the annoyances he had suffered from Miss Lind's advisers； and they both agreed that if she broke the contract thus suddenly； she was bound to pay back all that she had received over the stipulated 1000； for each concert。 As she had been paid 137；000； for sixty concerts； this extra money amounted to something like 77；000。
Barnum then went back to the secretary and told him that he was ready to settle with Miss Lind and to close the engagement。
〃But；〃 said he； evidently much surprised； 〃you have already advertised concerts in Louisville and Cincinnati； have you not？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Barnum calmly； 〃but you may take the contracts for halls and printing off my hands at cost。〃 He further offered the assistance of his agent and his own personal services to give Miss Lind a good start on her own account。
The secretary emboldened by this liberality then made a proposition so extraordinary that Barnum at once saw that Miss Lind could have had nothing to do with the scheme。
〃Now suppose；〃 he asked； 〃Miss Lind should wish to give some fifty concerts in this country； what would you charge as manager？〃
〃A million dollars a concert；〃 answered Barnum promptly； then he added； 〃Now see here； I don't believe Miss Lind has authorized you to make this proposition。 If she has； just bring me a line to that effect； over her own signature； and her check for the amount due me by the terms of our contract； some 77；000； and we will close our business connection at once。〃
〃But why not make a new arrangement；〃 persisted the secretary； 〃for fifty more concerts； by which Miss Lind will pay you liberally； say 1；000 a concert？〃
〃For the simple reason that I hired Miss Lind； and not she me；〃 replied Barnum； 〃and because I ought never to take a farthing less for my risk and trouble than the contract gives me。 I have voluntarily given Miss Lind more than twice as much as I originally contracted to give her； or as she expected to receive when she engaged with me。 Now if she is not satisfied I wish to settle instantly and finally。 If you do not bring me her decision to…day； I shall ask her for it in the morning。〃
The next morning Barnum asked him again for the written communication from Miss Lind； the secretary replied that it was all a 〃joke；〃 and that he merely wanted to see what the manager would say to the pro