“I hadn’t thought of buying any new clothes,” said Kendall. But the idea, once presented, had attractions. He looked at the neat gray suit Ned was displaying and thought that he would like to see himself in it. Besides, he had never before really shopped for himself and the sudden realization of his independence was oddly exhilarating. He looked longingly at the clothes. Then he tentatively held a coat up to the light, Ned observing him out of the corners of his shrewd eyes. “That one you’ve got there would look fine on you, Curt,” he said. “Why don’t you just slip it on?” “Oh, no!” exclaimed Kendall. “Go ahead! There’s a room right back of you. Where are the trousers?” “Those would be a little large for the gentleman,” said the clerk. “Just a moment, please.” In a jiffy he was back again and Kendall, almost before he realized it, was behind a curtain in a little closet-like apartment with the gray suit on his arm. When he emerged Ned exhibited the utmost enthusiasm: “My word, Curt, but that suit was made for you! And fit! Why, it couldn’t be better, could it?” He appealed to the salesman. “It would require almost no alteration,” replied the latter. “Perhaps the least bit off the sleeves. And the buttons might be set over a trifle.” “It――it doesn’t look badly, does it?” murmured Kendall, turning and twisting in front of a long mirror. “Bad! My dear misguided youth, it becomes you horribly! Don’t hesitate a minute; take it along!” “Oh, but――but――I hadn’t thought of buying!” explained Kendall. “Think now, then. You don’t want to lose that suit, Curt. If you put off getting it someone will take it.” “There are probably more of them,” answered Kendall, torn between his desire for the suit and the promptings of economy. “That’s the only one of your size, sir,” said the clerk. “If you really think of getting it, sir, I’d advise you to do it to-day.” “We-ell――” began Kendall. “You can make the alterations and deliver it to-morrow, can’t you?” Ned asked. The clerk agreed that he could. Then a man whom the clerk referred to as a bushelman appeared with a tape measure and a square of chalk and the die was cast. “But I haven’t enough money with me,” whispered Kendall to Ned. “That’s all right. They’ll charge it to you if you like, or you can pay them when they deliver it.” “I’d rather do that,” said Kendall. “It’s twelve dollars, isn’t it?” “Twelve-fifty. Want anything else to-day?” “Oh, no!” “Then we’d better be hitting the trail. We’ve only got twenty minutes to get back in.” “It’s funny about that suit,” mused Kendall after they were across the bridge. “I hadn’t any sort of idea of buying anything when I went in with you. You were the one who was looking for clothes, Ned, and you didn’t buy a thing!”