The young man came forth from this experience more the slave of doubt and distrust than ever.

But the worst feature of all was that this infidelity in “Dodd’s” soul was poisoning his whole life.  Honor was to him now only an empty name, but policy was a quality to be held in high esteem.  Truth was to be used if convenient, but if a lie would serve a better purpose for the moment, it would be brought into service without hesitation or scruple.  Fortune was his goddess, if he did deference to any unseen power; tricks and chicanery were to him helps to rapid and boundless wealth.  “Let the sharpest win, and may the devil take the hindermost,” these were the tenets in his creed, if he had a creed.

Armed with such ideas of life, “Dodd”
Weaver set out to battle with the world.  He
had also his diploma!

CHAPTER XX.

In the course of a few weeks “Dodd” secured a clerkship that was much to his mind.  It was, however, one greatly in advance of his ability to manage, with his present attainments.  If he had believed that fidelity, honesty, and attention to business were the prime factors of success, he might have mastered the situation, perhaps.  He did not so believe.  On the contrary, he held that the more he could shirk and get out of, and still draw his salary, the sharper he was.  He acted in accordance with his belief.  People usually do!

But business is business.  “Dodd” found his employer an exact man—­one who required service by the card.  This the young man could not, or rather would not render.  He blundered in his work on more than one occasion, and resorted to tricks to bolster up his carelessness or inefficiency.  The result was that after a few weeks’ service he was discharged.  He was chagrined, mortified, angry.  But he “cheeked it through,” as the young men of his class would say.  It is bad business, this “cheeking.”

He loafed about once more, as formerly.  He took a “deal” on the curbstone occasionally, or now and then ventured a few pieces of silver upon the black or red.  He was back in the old notch.

For more than two years “Dodd” led this reckless, wasteful existence.  He was of age now, and his father had felt it his duty to tell him that he must shift for himself.  Mrs. Weaver mildly protested, but the Weaver family was large, and though the Elder commanded a fair salary, it cost money to live, and every mouth to be fed counted one.

So “Dodd” took a room down town, and then if the devil went to sleep, sure of his victim, you do not wonder, do you?

Yet the great majority of young men in large cities room down town.

Details of degradation are always revolting.  I will not trouble you with what happened during these years of exile of this young man.  His story is like that of thousands in like case.  His evil habits grew upon him, and held him tighter and tighter in their thrall.  Still, he dressed well, went much into fashionable society, and saw much of life.  He was one of the boys, and he held his place among them by hook or by crook.  He was never brought to face a court on criminal charges.  He may never have been guilty of such acts.  If not, is it not remarkable?