It was only in keeping with what he
conceived he had finally discovered the whole
world to be--a gigantic sham--and he
mentally remarked to himself "I told you so," and
drew an unusually large spread-eagle upon a
fresh sheet of foolscap.

He stayed three months in the school and
then graduated. His diploma was handed to
him by a venerable gentleman who delighted
in the appellation "president of the board,"
while an orchestra, composed of young ladies
of the school, all of whom were learning to
play the violin, by the "short method,"
discoursed most execrable music from an
improvised platform that had been built in the
church, for the occasion. Six other pupils
came through with "Dodd," and their going
out was used as an advertisement to lure still
another half dozen to fill the places left vacant.

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