ts of the people, Hugo Galland? I should like to have seen. It
was a memorable spectacle."

"You are laughing at it," exclaimed the girl. "Why?"

"You certainly are taking the news very queer, Victor," said Colman.
Then to Selma, "When I told him he got white and I thought I'd have to
send for Doctor Charlton."

"Well--joy never kills," said Victor mockingly. "I don't want to keep
you, Tom--Selma'll sit with me."

When they were alone, Victor again closed his eyes and resumed that
silent drumming upon the counterpane. Selma watched the restless
fingers as if she hoped they would disclose to her the puzzling secret
of Victor's thoughts. But she did not interrupt.

That was one lesson in restraint that Victor had succeeded in teaching
her--never to interrupt. At last he heaved a great sigh and said:

"Well, Selma, old girl--we've probably lost again. I was glad you came
because I wanted to talk--and I can't say what's in my mind before dear
old Tom--or any of them but my sister and you."

"You didn't want those injunctions and indictments out of the way?"
said Selma.

"If they had stood, we'd have won--in a walk," replied Victor. "As the
cards lie now, David Hull will win. And he'll make a pretty good show
mayor, probably--good enough to fool a large majority of our fellow
citizens, who are politically as shallow and credulous as nursery
children. And so--our work of educating them will be the harder and
slower. Oh, these David Hulls!--these good men who keep their mantles
spotless in order to make them the more useful as covers for the dirty
work of others!" Suddenly his merry smile burst out. "And they carried
Hugo Galland on their shoulders?"

"Then you don't think Hull's motives were honorable?" inquired Selma,
perplexed and anxious.

"How could I know his motives?--any man's motives?" replied Victor.
"No one can read men's hearts. All I ever consider is actions. And
the result of his actions is probably the defeat of the League and the
election of Dick Kelly."

"I begin to understand," said Selma thoughtfully. "But--I do believe
his motive was altogether good."

"My dear girl," said Victor, "the primer lesson in the life of action
is: 'Never--NEVER look at motives. Action--only actions--always
actions.' The chief reason the human race is led patiently round by
the nose is its fondness for fussing about motives. We are interested
only in men's actions and the results to our cause. Dav