Luke followed the man that had sought him and found Nelson standing at the farthest corner of the stage. The wholesale druggist was in evident distress. He was an honorable man and a practical, and these qualities spoke in the lines of his troubled face. As soon as they were left together, Nelson came to the point. "Huber," he said, "I’ve got to get out." "Out? What of?" "The League. I’ve got to leave it." Nelson was almost the last man that Luke would have expected to desert. Moreover, he had so long been prominent in the reform movement that his defection would be a serious blow to the League. Luke had to call loudly on his lethargic manner to conceal his anxiety and surprise. "Why?" he inquired. "What’s wrong?" "This speech of yours to-night," explained Nelson. "You’ve been getting nearer and nearer that fellow all along, but I’d no idea you meant to go right at him." "What was the matter with the speech? I didn’t tell anything but the truth." "No, I dare say you didn’t, but I can’t honorably stand by you, Huber, now that you’ve openly taken this line." Nelson swallowed hard. It was plain that he did not like the dish prepared for him. "I don’t understand," said Luke. "If it was true, and if we’re to make a real fight for real reform, we’ve got to begin at the cause of corruption." "I know. I admit it was the truth, but it wasn’t the whole truth. He does lots of good." "Good and bad are relative. Relatively he doesn’t do any good." "I’m not so sure of that." "I am." "Yes, but there’s the League to think of." "The League nominated me," "Of course it did, but you’re not the whole ticket nor the whole movement." This was a detail that Luke in his triumph had forgotten. "Still," he said, "we can’t dodge the facts. I won’t dodge them, Nelson." "I understand," Nelson said. "Perhaps you’re right. Anyhow, right or wrong, you’ve done what you’ve done, and so I’ve got to go." "But why?" Nelson fidgeted. "I may as well tell you," he at last said. "You know my business has always been one that didn’t cross these fellows’ trail. But lately they’ve been coming toward us. I think I mentioned that?" Luke nodded. "Well, I’ve been hard up. The other day I needed money badly. I had to have money or I’d have failed. I have a wife and family to think of, Huber. I tried everywhere to raise the wind, and there was only one place where I could raise it." "You mean—" Luke wet his lips. "You mean that crowd?" "Yes." "It came from _him_?" "It came direct from L. Bergen Rivington. But, of course, it really came from _him_." Luke put out his hand. Nelson wrung it. "I wasn’t bought, Huber," he said. "You don’t think that?" "I know," said Luke kindly. "I wish I’d told you sooner, Huber. I didn’t expect you’d go so far." "I’d have gone just as far, Nelson. I’m sorry." "I’m sorry, too, Huber. Good-night."