"They’re too expensive," Forbes said. "Besides," he added, "that sort of thing’s un-American. We won’t need detectives to protect the right of the worker to work. If we need any help, we’ll call in the police. I thought you understood that. I’m afraid you will never learn the art of handling men, Huber." Luke was anxious for a fight. The corruption that he had discovered in the League fired his primitive instincts. He was angry, and it was of small consequence to him upon whom he visited his anger. Here his own fortune, honestly come by, was threatened; his mother’s support, Forbes’s and Betty’s. It was an excellent opportunity. "I’m with you," he said. "When do you expect the first contingent of Breil’s men?" "When I said: in half an hour." "Have you ’phoned police headquarters?" "No. What’s the use? I don’t want to court a fight. The presence of the police before there was a fight might only start one. Headquarters sent me down two extra men this morning when I asked for them, and that’s enough for the present." Luke bent to the telephone. "I don’t agree with you," he said. Forbes’s protest was mild. Luke called police headquarters and stated his case. When he mentioned his name, he was told that the Police Commissioner was not to be found. "Then find him," said Luke. "I think he’s gone out," came the answer. "If you don’t find him after what I’ve told you, I’ll show up your action at the next meeting I speak at," said Luke. The Commissioner was found. "But what trouble have you had so far?" he demanded. "We haven’t had any so far," said Luke. "What we want is to avoid trouble." "I think you’re easy scared," laughed the Commissioner. "Have there been any threats?" "No." "Well, what’s itching you, anyhow? My department’s got three campaign parades and a dozen meetings on its hands to-day besides its regular business. I can’t spare my men unless I know they’re needed." He rang off. §4. Luke wanted to stay for the arrival of Breil’s men; but there was something else that he had to do and could not postpone. He left the factory a few minutes before the hour at which the strike-breakers were to arrive. He passed into a street slowly filling with strikers, but he reassured himself by the reflection that what he had to do would be brief and that he would soon be free to return. He hurried to the League’s headquarters, where he knew that the Committee would soon be in session. For, under all his absorption in the affairs of the factory, and in spite of his desire to abjure thought for action, his brain had been busy. It was telling him something new about politics. It was receiving the truth about parties as, from his vantage-ground, he had seen it.