``I'll do it for this once, if you mean to, but you needn't think I'm going to make a practice of it, for I'm not.I haven't worn a dress-suit,'' he continued, as though explaining his principles in the matter, ``since your spread when we opened the railroad--that's six months ago; and the time before that I wore one at MacGolderick's funeral.MacGolderick blew himself up at Puerto Truxillo, shooting rocks for the breakwater.We never found all of him, but we gave what we could get together as fine a funeral as those natives ever saw.The boys, they wanted to make him look respectable, so they asked me to lend them my dress-suit, but I told them I meant to wear it myself.That's how I came to wear a dress-suit at a funeral.It was either me or MacGolderick.''
``MacWilliams,'' said Clay, as he stuck the toe of one boot into the heel of the other, ``if I had your imagination I'd give up railroading and take to writing war clouds for the newspapers.''
``Do you mean you don't believe that story?'' MacWilliams demanded, sternly.
``I do,'' said Clay, ``I mean I don't.''
``Well, let it go,'' returned MacWilliams, gloomily; ``but there's been funerals for less than that, let me tell you.''
A half-hour later MacWilliams appeared in the door and stood gazing attentively at Clay arranging his tie before a hand-glass, and then at himself in his unusual apparel.
``No wonder you voted to dress up,'' he exclaimed finally, in a tone of personal injury.``That's not a dress-suit you've got on anyway.It hasn't any tails.And I hope for your sake, Mr.
Clay,'' he continued, his voice rising in plaintive indignation, ``that you are not going to play that scarf on us for a vest.
And you haven't got a high collar on, either.That's only a rough blue print of a dress-suit.Why, you look just as comfortable as though you were going to enjoy yourself--and you look cool, too.''
``Well, why not?'' laughed Clay.
``Well, but look at me,'' cried the other.``Do I look cool? Do I look happy or comfortable? No, I don't.I look just about the way I feel, like a fool undertaker.I'm going to take this thing right off.You and Ted Langham can wear your silk scarfs and bobtail coats, if you like, but if they don't want me in white duck they don't get me.''