"A Quaker. Can you make me a good broad-brim?"
"Yea, verily," answered the old man, laughing, "I can suit thee to a T."
From out a pile of costumes of various styles and fashions the old man drew a suit of drab and a broad-brimmed hat.
"Capital!" answered Rudolph, with satisfaction, "that is, if it will fit."
"I'll answer for that. It's made for a man of your size. Will you try it on?"
"Thirty dollars!" exclaimed the tramp, aghast. "Do you think I am made of money?"
"Look at the quality, my good friend. Look at the cloth."
"Why, I may not want the things for more than a week."
"Then, I'll tell you what I'll do. If you only use them a week, you shall bring them back, and I will pay you back twenty-five dollars; that is," added the old man cautiously, "if you don't hurt 'em too much."
"That's better," said Rudolph. "I'll try them on."
He went into an inner room, provided for the purpose, and soon came out entirely transformed. In addition to the drab suit, a gray wig had been supplied, which gave him the appearance of a highly respectable old Quaker.
The old man laughed heartily, for he had a merry vein.
"Capital," said Rudolph; "would you know me?"
"I wouldn't dream it was you. But, Mr. Rugg, there's one thing you mustn't forget."
"To use the Quaker lingo. Just now you said, 'Would you know me?' That isn't right."
"All right. I'll get it after a while. There's your money."
"There you are again. You must say thy money."
"I see you know all about it. You've been a Quaker yourself, haven't you?"
"Not I; but I was brought up in Philadelphia, and I have seen plenty of the old fellows. That's right. Now, don't forget how to talk. Where are you going?"
"Into the country on a little expedition," said Rudolph.
"I wish thee good luck, too," said the tramp.
The tramp emerged into the street, a very fair representative of a sedate Quaker. At first he forgot his gray hair, and walked with a briskness that was hardly in character with his years. He soon attracted the attention of some street boys, who, not suspecting his genuineness, thought him fair game.
Rudolph didn't resent this. He felt rather pleased at this compliment to his get up.
"You'd make a good scarecrow, old buffer," said another.
A third boy picked up a half-eaten apple and fired it at him.