“I should say so,” ejaculated Creelton in great surprise. “But how in the world can you have any use for midshipmen’s clothes, Tom?”
“Oh, I just thought I’d have a little fun, that’s all. I’m going to walk around in the dark and imagine I’m a midshipman. Bill, suppose you try on this cit’s suit; I want to see how it will fit you.”
“What for?”
“Oh, just for fun. It won’t hurt you just to try it on.”
Creelton was very curious as to what Short was up to, but feeling no harm could result from his trying on this suit of clothes he threw off his uniform, and was soon in the suit Short had handed him.
“What a beautiful suit of clothes,” he exclaimed. “The cloth is grand. And, Short, it fits me just as if it had been made for me; it’s a perfect fit.” And Creelton turned round and round in front of the glass, casting delighted eyes at his own image in the mirror.
“It ought to be,” said Short. “I had your measure, you know, and ordered that suit made to fit you. I gave Wright and Duvel sixty dollars for it.”
“Short, this is lovely of you. I’ll have a lot of fun inside of this suit next September.”
“Try on this neck scarf,” said Short, handing Creelton a gorgeous four-in-hand tie. The latter eagerly put it on, spending some time in adjusting it. Then Short handed Creelton a hat which fitted him nicely, and then, to his great surprise, stood in front of him and working quickly, affixed to Creelton’s upper lip and chin a thick mustache and goatee. With a pair of heavy gold-rimmed spectacles, Creelton’s disguise was indeed complete.
The latter uttered exclamations of delight as he surveyed himself in the glass. “Why, Short,” he exclaimed, “I wouldn’t be afraid to walk right before the commandant in this get up; no one would ever know me. I’d just as lief go anywhere. What fun it would be!”