"I am not certain. Dalton is a most plausible man; and I am pretty
sure that, in the mind of a person like Eldridge, he can inspire the
fullest confidence. To suggest any thing wrong, now, would not put
him on his guard, and might lead the suggester into trouble."

Much more was said on both sides, but no good result flowed from the
conversation. Mr. Hueston did not hesitate to declare that he knew
how it would all be in the end; but at the same time said that it
was none of his business, and that "every man must look out for
himself."

The character of Dalton was by no means harshly judged by Mr.
Hueston. He was, at heart, a knave; yet a most cunning and specious
one. Eldridge, on the contrary, was the very soul of integrity; and,
being thoroughly honest in all his intentions, it was hard for him
to believe that any man who spoke fair to him, and professed to be
governed by right principles, could be a scoundrel. With a few
thousand dollars, his share of his father's estate, he had come to
Boston for the purpose of commencing some kind of business. With
creditable prudence, he entered the store of a merchant and remained
there for a year, in order to obtain a practical familiarity with
trade. During this period he fell in with Dalton, who was in a small
commission way that barely yielded him enough to meet his expenses.
Dalton was not long in discovering that Eldridge had some cash, and
that his ultimate intention was to engage in business for himself.
From that time he evinced towards the young man a very friendly
spirit, and soon found a good reason for changing his
boarding-place, and making his home under the same roof with
Eldridge. To win upon the young man's confidence was no hard matter.
Before six months, Dalton was looked upon as a generous-minded