Part 8 (1/2)
”If you do what's right,” said Tom, ”I'll recommend all my friends on Fifth avenoo to come here.”
”Is that the Fifth avenue style of coat?” asked the barber, pointing to several large holes in Tom's most prominent article of dress.
”It's a dress I wore to a masquerade ball last evenin',” said Tom. ”I went in the character of a bootblack.”
”You made a pretty good imitation,” said the knight of the scissors, who had already commenced operations on Tom's head.
”That's what all the ladies told me,” said Tom. ”They said they wouldn't have knowed me from the genooine article.”
In about twenty minutes the task was completed.
”How's that?” said the barber.
Tom looked in the mirror, and hardly recognized his image, so much was it altered by the careful arrangement of his hair.
”If it wasn't for the clo'es,” he said, ”I would think it was another boy.”
He paid his bill and left the hotel.
”The next thing must be some new clo'es,” he said to himself; ”then I'll begin to feel respectable.”
CHAPTER VIII.
THE EFFECT OF A NEW SUIT.
Tom bent his steps in the direction of a large and popular clothing establishment, and, entering, looked about for an unoccupied salesman.
”Well, boy, what's wanted?” asked a young man behind the counter.
”I want some clo'es.”
”Then you've come to the right place. Did you buy them you have on here?” asked the salesman, with a grin.
”Young feller,” said Tom, ”these clo'es were bought before you were born.”
”So I should think, from the looks.”
”I'd make 'em do for a few years longer, only I'm goin' to be married next week. Have you got any bridal suits?”
”Step this way. I suppose you have got money to pay for them?” remarked the clerk, doubtfully.
”You suppose right. Just lead the way, and I'll see what you've got.”
”How high are you willing to go?”
”Anywhere from twenty-five cents to twenty-five dollars.”
”Our twenty-five cent suits are all out; but we can give you some for fifteen dollars, and as much more as you like.”