Margaret Cameron

“ Finally she spoke frankly of Oakley himself, and of Mr. Haslett's interest in him.
"He tells me," she said, "that you have three of the four qualifications which he thinks essential for a successful business man. You have imagination, which stands for originality and resource and initiative; you have dignity—perhaps poise is the better word; and you are absolutely truthful. If you prove also to have good judgment, there is no reason why your future should not be very bright."
Oakley flushed slightly as he replied: "I can't tell you how highly I value Mr. Haslett's good opinion." ”

“ Then it occurred to him that possibly the chambermaid, in an excess of zeal, had taken them out and hung them in the wardrobe. He flung open the doors, to be confronted by rows of empty hooks, save where his pajamas drooped in the center. Springing back to the suit-case, he dug into its contents, tossing shirts, socks, collars, and underwear recklessly in all directions, until he reached the clean leather bottom.
He rang for the chambermaid, and when she tapped at his door, furiously demanded through a crack: "Where are my trousers?" ”

“ A brilliant electric sign lighted the scene perfectly; and as Oakley sat up and dragged the coat again over his blue and white pajamas he was conscious of but one thing—that was the frozen horror in Mrs. Haslett's face as she watched him from the vestibule. The next instant the policeman twisted a hand in his collar and jerked him roughly to his feet.
"You're a nice one, you are!" exclaimed that functionary, severely. "Making an exhibition of yourself in the public streets! You come along with me." ”

“ I saw ye!"
"Since when has it been a crime for a man to lose his balance?"
"That's all right. Disorderly conduct for yours! I tell ye I saw ye! You come along without any back-talk, now." Then, as his glance caught Mrs. Haslett, he added: "That woman with you?"
"No," said Oakley.
"Humph! You were calling a cab. I'll be bound there's a pair of ye!" Keeping his hold on his prisoner, he imperatively beckoned to Mrs. Haslett, who reluctantly approached, assisted by the porter. She was very pale, and the kindly glow was gone from her eyes, leaving them cold and steely. ”

“ Haslett remained in the cab, while he sent her telegram, engaged her berth, and left her bag to be called for, pocketing the check. He looked over the great waiting-room, with some vague idea of assaulting any big man he might see and demanding his trousers or his life; but a monotonous average in the size of the men left the thought still embryonic. ”

“ The sergeant's tone warmed with the appreciation he always gave to physical perfection.
"But his pants ain't real," continued his subordinate. "They're only shams. They don't go much above his knees, Doyle says. He sent him in."
"Well, what of it?" boldly demanded Oakley. "If a man wears a—what you call a 'dicky,' and it gets ripped off him in an accident, you don't arrest him for not wearing a shirt, do you?"
"But pants is different," urged the policeman.
"No, they're not. They just seem different. You say yourself I look all right." ”

“ Really, the clerk and the valet didn't know. They recognized that the situation was awkward; and while they were in no sense responsible for it, they would cheerfully do anything in their power to be of service.
"Thank you. That's very nice—but it isn't trousers," said Oakley. "How far is it to the nearest clothier's? Can't you send—"
"No use. Every shop is closed at this hour."
"Borrow a pair for me."
"Impossible, sir!"
"Nothing's impossible! Man alive, I can't go this way! There must be somebody in this hotel who has extra trousers about. Borrow some. ”

“ I have some trousers down in the pressing-room, and while it would be as much as my position is worth to let you have any of them, I—I went to see, sir. But it was no use. The gentlemen all seem to be small. These are the best I could get."
Oakley was looking fixedly at his long ulster, hanging on the rack, and fantastic schemes were forming in his brain. After all, it would be only to cross town in a cab, and perhaps to spend a few minutes in the waiting-rooms at the stations.
"You're sure these belong to the clerk?" he questioned. "I don't want to get you into trouble." ”

“ While I'm whistlin' for a cab for ye, Casey here 'll take ye up-stairs and give ye a pair o' my pants, lest ye fall again, sir. We're about of a size, I think!"
Oakley impulsively pulled a bill from the roll already in his hand, and then slowly returned it. A moment later he handed his open cigar-case to the sergeant.
"Thank ye, sir, I don't mind if I do. 'Tis a good one, by the smell. Ye can return the pants at yer leisure, sir. Sure, that's all right. 'Tis a pleasure, sir!" ”

“ EARLIER in the day, when the accidental overturning of an ink-well in King's office had resulted in a liberal bespattering of Oakley's trousers, King had insisted that his own tailor should repair the damage.
"Fiddlesticks!" he had replied to his friend's arguments in favor of the hotel valet. "My man's absolutely reliable. He'll get your things back to you on time, he won't rot the cloth with acids, and he won't rob you, which is more than can be said for any hotel tailor that I ever heard of. James," to a boy, "telephone to—oh, what's-his-name! You know ”

“ With his knife Oakley cut off the legs of the clerk's trousers well above the knee, and when the valet returned he found his patron completely dressed in the coat and waistcoat of his business suit and the nether garments of his pajamas.
"Here we are," said Oakley, pulling on one of the severed cheviot legs. "Just you pin that good and tight where it ought to go to look right from the bottom, will you? That's all right. Long enough? Got it fastened firmly? Good! Now the other one.... So! Now give me that ulster. ”

“ I left them there in my suit-case, and they're gone."
"Yes, sir. Perhaps the chambermaid—"
"Now, look here; I've had about enough of this! I don't know who took them, and I don't care. I know there was a pair of trousers in that suit-case, and they're not in the room now. I want them. Great Scott! I've got to have them! I'm to meet a lady at seven-fifty-three in Jersey City, and I've no time to lose. Now, you hustle!"
"Yes, sir. I'll ask the chambermaid—"
"I asked the chambermaid! ”

“ Oakley bade the cabman wait, and was given the customary carriage-check. In the restaurant he chose a corner table, and himself took the corner chair, where he attempted for the first time a feat that he had often seen women perform. Seating himself in his ulster, he unfastened all but the two lower buttons, and, with the waiter's help, wriggled out of the shoulders, keeping the skirts about his legs the while. When the man would have taken the coat away, he objected; and then, unable entirely to ignore the surprise in Mrs. Haslett's glance, he added, rather lamely:
"With your permission. ”

“ He particularly admires your truthfulness. He told me recently that he had seen you in some embarrassing crisis, where the average man would have sought refuge at least in evasion, and that, to his delight, you were absolutely frank and open. ”

“ You're a smooth one!" commented the skeptical policeman, who had been watching Mrs. Haslett's face. "Did they come together?" he asked the porter.
As yet uncertain of the denomination of a bill slipped into his fingers while the policeman studied Mrs. ”