investigation of the whole business showed it to be so crippled that
little less than a miracle would enable him to conduct it to a safe
issue. Nevertheless, still unsuspicious to the real truth, he
resolved to struggle manfully for a triumph over the difficulties
that lay before him, and overcome them, if there was any virtue in
energy and perseverance.

The first point at which the business suffered was in the loss of
consignments. Inability to make the required advances turned from
the warehouse of Eldridge large lots of goods almost weekly, the
profits on the sales of which would have been a handsome addition to
his income. At the end of three months, the first note of a thousand
dollars held by Dalton fell due, and was paid. This was so much more
taken from his capital. Another month brought a payment of a like
amount, and at the end of six months a thousand dollars more were
paid. Thus Dalton had been able to get eleven thousand dollars out
of the concern, although three years before he was not really worth
a dollar; and there were still due him seven thousand dollars.

By this time, the eyes of Eldridge were beginning to open to the
truth. Suspicion being once finally awakened, he entered upon a
careful examination of the business from the time of forming the
copartnership. This occupied him for some weeks before he was able
to bring out a clear and comprehensive exhibit of affairs. Then he
saw that he had been the victim of a specious and cunning scoundrel,
and that, so far from being worth a dollar, he had obligations
falling due for over ten thousand dollars more than he had the means
to pay.

A sad and disheartening result! And what added to the pain of