A Hoosier Chronicle

, and as readily extinguished, as part of the day's business. No other employment offers so many excitements; in nothing else does the laborer live so truly behind the scenes. The s

only flatter his self-importance. He becomes cynical as he sees how easily the spot light is made to flash upon the unworthiest figures by the flimsiest m

ncient conservatism and became aggressively radical. About the time of Harwood's return to his native state the newspaper had changed hands. At least the corporation which had owned it for a number of years had apparently disposed of it, though the transaction had been effected so quietly that the public received no outward hint beyond the deletion of "P

and labored with a consciousness that an unknown being walked among the desks, and hung over the forms to the very last moment before they were hurled to the stereotypers. The editorial writers-those astute counselors of the public who are half-revered and half-despised by their associates on the news side of every American newspaper-wrote uneasily under a mysterious, hidden censorship. It was possible that even the young woman who gleaned society news might, by some unfortunate slip, offend the invisible proprietor. But as time passed nothing happened. The imaginable opaque pane that separated the owner from the desks of the "Courier's" reporters and philosophers h

nkly to aid the circulation manager's efforts to build up subscription lists in the rural districts, and personal sketches of local celebrities had proved potent in this endeavor. Most of the subjects that had fallen to Harwood's lot had been of a familiar type-country lawyers who sat in the l

he reasoned that there was a compensating advantage in the knowledg

that appealed to the eye frequently. The Bassett Block and Bassett's Bank spoke not merely for a material prosperity, rare among the local statesmen he had described in the "Courier," but, judging from the prominence of the name in Fraserville nomenclature, he assumed that it had long been established in the community. Harw

at ease in a battered swivel chair, with his slippered feet thrown across a desk littered with newspapers, clippings, letters, and manuscript. A file hook was suspended on the wall over his shoulder, and on this it was his habit to impale, by a remarkable twist of body and arm, gems for his hebdomadal journal. He wrote on a pad held in his ample lap, the paste brush was within easy reach, and once planted on his throne the editor was established for the day.

your managing editor for me that if he doesn't print mo

restored, Dan broached the nature of his errand. As he mentioned Morton Bassett's name the huge editor's face grew blank for a moment; then he was shaken with mirth that passed from faint quivers until his whole frame was convulsed. His rickety c

your pilgrimages. You certainly did give Bill Ragsdale a clean bill o' health. That must have tickled the folks in Tecumseh County. Know Ragsdale? I've set with Bill in the lower house three sessions, and I come pretty near knowin' him. I don't sa

as though some profound utterance had diverted his thoughts to remot

tion of his name. To be sure, Mr. Pettit had said nothing to disturb this belief; but neither had the editor manifested that meek submission for which the reporter had been prepared. The editor's Gargantuan girth trembled again. The spectacle he pre

. Mort's one of the best fellows on earth; you won't find anybody out her

man's curious small eyes, and Harwood witnessed another seismic disturb

uess a few facts don't hurt in this business,

then went on, as though su

n; Blackford rolled up a couple of hundred thousand and capped it with a United States senatorship. Mort's not forty yet; married only child of Blackford F. Singleton-Jerry made the match, I guess; it was the only way he could get Blackford's money. Mort prepared for

arwood, encouragingly-"the governorship, the

e had it without turning a hand; but he put in his man and stayed in the state senate. I reckon he cuts some ice there, but he's mighty quiet. Bassett doesn't beat the tom-tom to call

ing citizen in every sense-" Dan m

but the undertaker's and the jail as you came up from the station. The elevator and t

od, with an attempt at faceti

anufacture of malt liquor was the most stupendous joke possible. The editor's face did not change expression; the internal disturbances were n

iquor, within the meaning of the statutes in such cases made and provided. He and Ed Thatcher make a strong team. Ed star

hearts of his fellow-citizens, popu

hink you're chasin' one of these blue jeans politicians you read about in comic papers you're hitting the wrong trail, son. Mort can eat with a fork without appearin' self-conscious.

ketch of Mr. Bassett," remarked Dan dryl

m to turn. The Honorable Isaac Pettit was in the throes of another convulsion. The attack seemed more severe than its pr

d you say you were from the 'Courier'? Well, you better give Mort a good s

ibilities. He learned at the Bassett Bank that Mr. Bassett was spending the day in a neighboring town, but would be home at six o'clock,

vious and futile. Nearly every man who reached the legislature felt a higher call to Congress or the governor's chair. Harwood had already described in the "Courier" the attainments of several statesmen who were willin

y care of widows and orphans, gifts to indigent pastors, boys helped through college, and similar benefactions had proved altogether elusive. Either Harwood had sought in the wrong places or Morton Bassett was of tougher fibre than the other gen

e right in, sir,"

r Harwood to enter. A lady, carrying a small workbasket in her hand, bade the reporter good-evening as she passed out. On a table in the middle of the room a checkerboard's white an

I am Mr. Basset

estic. The father had evidently been playing checkers with his son; the m

isted upon. Dan made mental note at once of the figure before him. Bassett's jaw was square and firm-power was manifest there, unmistakably, and his bristling mustache suggested combativeness. His

epted a cigar, which he found excellent. A moment later a maid placed on the table

Bassett, nodding toward th

s all I need

an ceased, after a time, to follow the narrative in his absorption in the man himself. Harwood took his politics seriously and the petty politicians with whom he had thus far become acquainted in his newspaper work had impressed him chiefly by their bigotry or venality. It was not for nothing that he had worshiped at Sumner's feet at Yale and he held views that were not readily reconcilable with parochial boss-ships and the meek swallow

and shut quietly on a small paperweight were supple. It was a hand that would deal few blows, but hard ones. Harwood was aw

when we lose occasionally; defeat disciplines and strengthens a party. I have made a point in our little local affairs of not fighting independents when they break with us for any reason. Believing as I do that parties are essential

Evening Post" at college, and Bassett's frank statement of his political opinions struck Dan as medi?val. He was, however, instinc

ar as to say that in certain circumstances I'd let them win. They help drive home my idea that the old parties, like old, established business houses, have got to maintain a standard or they will lose the business to which they are rightfully entitled. When you see your customers passing your front door to try a new shop farther up t

om the pitcher and drank it slowly, with an air of preoccupation. He moved easily, with a quicker step than might have been expected in one of his figure. Th

aid all he cared to say about politics and he now asked Dan whether he was a colle

idn't like the farm, and found a way out? That's

esman like Morton Bassett was hardly likely to prove interesting. One of his earlier subjects h

owing open several cases. "I've gone in for colonial histor

ed a ladder that he might hand down a few of the m

t thing I have. The author was an English sailor who joined the colonists in the Revolution and published a little memoir of his adventures in America. The only other copy of that known to exist is in the British Museum. I fished mine out of a pile of

n't the family silver, but a few little things that are more valuable. These are first editions of American authors. Here's Lowell's 'Fable for Critics,

f the binder's art was unfeigned and to his que

n couldn't be finer. I believe this olive-green shade is the best of all. This Whittier-a first e

more closely at the owner of these lovely baubles. The iron hand could be very gentle! Bassett touched the volume caressingly as he called attention to its perfection. His face, in the lamp's full light, softened, but there was in

an, as Bassett carefully collected th

tracings of gold on brown and scarlet and olive could so delight him. His rather jaunty attitude toward the "Home Life of Hoosier Statesmen" experienced a change. Morton Bassett was not a man who could be hit off in a few hundred words, but a complex character he did not pretend to understand.

o children appeared at

aid the politician;

his wife and to Marian, the da

ave an hour added to their evening. I think I heard Mr. Bassett talking of boo

ed. Then Bassett recurred to the fact, already elicited, tha

ence between large and small colleges by saying that in the large one the boy goes through more college, but in the s

. Some of the smaller colleges stand for the best things; there's Madison College, here in our own state-its standards are

ather always admired Madison. Strange to say, I have

rward slightly

n a hurry. I didn't even take time to run into my frate

you many interesting adventur

Montgomery was on an errand for the office where I'm allowed to use the books in return for slight services of one

rd the master of the house, that Bassett was observing him intently. His gaze was so direct

training for the law. It drills facult

for Marian and young Blackford t

Annapolis," an

said his father, with a smile.

military career, "In the Navy you get to see the world, and in the Army you're likely to be stuck away a

Mrs. Bassett remarked, "and I suppose girls should be prepared to ea

as though to express her full apprecia

and Dan saw that she was an independent spirit, given

d," replied Mrs. Bassett, with emphasis. "It woul

r's rebuke and addressed

and I go there to Miss Waring's

ave heard of her, Mr. Harwood; s

d of her; and I knew that she was Senator Single

ife from the countryside, but had married a woman with important connections. Blackford Singleton had been one of the leading men of the state, and Mrs. Owen, his sister, was not a negligible figure in the background

t was clear that Bassett enjoyed his family. He fell into a chaffing way with his children and laughed heartily at Marian's fo

ng suggestions, but Bassett did not refer to Harwood's errand at all. When Dan asked for photographs of Mrs. Bassett and the children with which to embellish his article, Bassett decline

ay from the law office two days the better to concentrate himself upon his task, and the result was a careful, straightforward article, into which he threw shadings of analysis an

too damned solemn. Can't you s

who hands you chestnuts out of patent medicine almanacs. I've tried to m

ng the green shade away from his

tell me a lot of highfalutin rot they wanted put into the article. Bassett didn't seem to care about it one way or anoth

, and you needn't be afraid to pin ribbons on him. You college fellows are all alike. Try to remember

ait of Bassett that was vivid and truthful. The editor-in-chief inquired who had written it, and took occasion to commend Harwood for his good workmanship. A little later a clerk in the counting-room told him that Bassett had ordered a hundred copies of the issue containing the sketch, and this was conso