idate," said Davy.

"He is a corporation owner, a corporation lawyer--and a fool," said
Victor. "As I've told you, all Dick Kelly's interest in this fall's
local election is that judgeship."

"Galland is my man. I want to see him elected. If Kelly's for
Galland, so much the better. Then we're sure of electing him--of
getting the right sort of a man on the bench."

"I'm not here to argue with you about politics, Davy," said Victor. "I
brought you here because I like you--believe in your honesty--and don't
want to see you humiliated. I'm giving you a chance to save yourself ."

"From what?" inquired Hull, not so valiant as he pretended to be.

"From the ridicule and disgrace that will cover this reform movement,
if you persist in it."

Hull burst out laughing. "Of all the damned impudence!" he exclaimed.
"Dorn, I think you've gone crazy ."

"You can't irritate me, Hull. I've been giving you the benefit of the
doubt. I think you are falling into the commonest kind of error--doing
evil and winking at evil in order that a good end may be gained. Now,
listen. What are the things you reformers are counting on to get you
votes this fall."

Davy maintained a haughty silence.

"The traction scandals, the gas scandals and the paving scandals--isn't
that it?"

"Of course," said Davy.

"Then--why have the gas crowd, the traction crowd and the paving crowd
each contributed twenty-five thousand dollars to your campaign fund?"

Hull stared at Victor Dorn in amazement. "Who told you that lie?" he
blustered.

Dorn looked at him sadly. "Then you knew? I hoped you didn't, Hull.
But--now that you're facing the situation squarely, don't you see that
you're being made a fool of? Would those people put up for your
election if they weren't SURE you and your crowd were THEIR crowd?"

"They'll find out!" cried Hull.

"You'll find out, you mean," replied Victor. "I see your whole
programme, Davy. They'll put you in, and they'll say, 'Let us alone
and we'll make you governor of the State. Annoy us, and you'll have no
political future.' And you'll say to yourself, 'The wise thing for me
to do is to wait until I'm governor before I begin to serve the people.
THEN I can really do something.' And so, you'll be THEIR mayor--and
afterward THEIR governor--because they'll hold out another inducement.
Anyhow, by that time you'll be so completely theirs that you'll have no
hope of a career except through them."

After