He had learnt it after a fashion, mostly by watching the charlatan operate.

He had read many of the necessary books, but he was too hopelessly stupid to get much benefit from them.
Then one day at San Francisco had come the news of his mother's death; she had left him some money--not much, but enough to set him up in business; so he had cut loose from the charlatan and had opened his "Dental Parlors" on Polk Street, an "accommodation street" of small shops in the residence quarter of the town.

Here he had slowly collected a clientele of butcher boys, shop girls, drug clerks, and car conductors.

He made but few acquaintances.

Polk Street called him the "Doctor" and spoke of his enormous strength.