The Substitute Millionaire — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The Substitute Millionaire
John Stuart Mill · en
"Oh, we've only just begun!" said Mr. Evers. "Next comes the question
of clothes. Its importance cannot be exaggerated. Taste in clothes is
of slow growth. The clothes of a youth tell you nothing, but a mature
man's attire betrays him unerringly. Let me see! This requires study.
We shall probably not hit it exactly at the first trial. I should say
first a derby hat of very conservative shape, slightly old-fashioned,
and a suit stiffly cut, of good material but ugly pattern of cloth.
Shirt and necktie are very significant. They should be of common
design and coloring, such as might be picked up at a sale. I have all
such things here. The suit may not fit you perfectly, but it will take
you as far as a clothing store where you can buy another."
In due course Jack was ready to brave the sunshine in his new guise.
The charge was steep, but he could not deny that the work was worth it.
He left his other clothes with Mr. Evers since he would have to return
to the shop to change. The wig-maker stood off and examined him with
satisfaction. Mrs. Evers was called on to admire her husband's work.
"What name would you suggest for my new character?" asked Jack, smiling.
Mr. Evers took the matter with entire seriousness. "Let me see--you
look to me as if your name might be----" His face cleared--"I have it!
Your name is certainly Mr. Pitman."
"Mr. Pitman it shall be!"
"Mr. Fred Pitman," added Evers.
As Jack left the shop it was a few minutes before twelve, that is to
say, just about the time he had designed to try out his new character
for the first. He made his way up to Forty-Second street, and took up
his station before the building that housed the offices of the Eureka
Protective Association.
Here he walked slowly up and down well lost in the crowd hurrying east
and west. He found his disguise effective in that the passers-by no
longer noticed him. Only when people stopped looking at him did Jack
become aware that in his proper person he attracted friendly glances
wherever he went. That started a curious speculation in his mind: "How
do people know whether they want to look at you or not, if they don't
look at you first to see what you are like?"
It was half-past twelve before the man he was waiting for appeared.
Mr. Dave Anderson turned east on Forty-Second street at a brisk pace.
The pseudo-Pitman followed close at his heels. The chase led across
Fifth and Madison and in front of the Grand Central station. Jack
began to fear that Anderson lived in the neighborhood, and was bound
home.
But at a modest saloon on Lexington avenue, a place with a
long-established air, he turned in. After loitering a moment or two
outside Jack followed. Behind the saloon was a small glass-roofed
"garden" set with tables. The settled familiar style of the waiters
and diners suggested that this was a real eating-place. Jack commended
Mr. Anderson's discrimination.