outward view
were virtuously loyal, managed to run with both hounds and hare. Bassett
believed that his party would regain its lost prestige and come into
power again; meanwhile he prospered in business, and wielded the
Democratic minority at the state house effectively.

Dan presented himself punctually at the Whitcomb House where Bassett,
with his bag packed, sat reading a magazine. He wore a becoming gray
suit without a waistcoat, and a blue neglige shirt, with a turnover
collar and a blue tie. He pulled up his creased trousers when he sat
down, and the socks thus disclosed above his tan Oxfords proved to be
blue also. His manner was cordial without effusiveness; when they shook
hands his eyes met Dan's with a moment's keen, searching gaze, as though
he sought to affirm at once his earlier judgment of the young man
before him.

"I'm glad to see you again, Mr. Harwood. I was to be in town for the day
and named this hour knowing I should be free."

"I supposed you were taking it easy at Lake Waupegan. I remember you
told me you had a place there."

Bassett's eyes met Dan's quickly; then he answered:--

"Oh, I ought to be there, but I've only had a day of it all summer. I
had to spend a lot of time in Colorado on some business; and when I
struck Waupegan I found that matters had been accumulating at home and I
only spent one night at the lake. But I feel better when I'm at work.
I'm holding Waupegan in reserve for my old age."

"You don't look as though you needed a vacation," remarked Dan. "In fact
you look as though you'd had one."

"The Colorado sun did that. How are things going with you?"

"Well, I've kept busy since I saw you in Fraserville. But I seem doomed
to be a newspaper man in spite of myself. I like it well enough, but I
think I told you I started out with some hope of landing in the law."

"Yes, I remember. I'm afraid the trouble with you is that you're too
good a reporter. That sketch you wrote of me proved that. If I had not
been the subject of it I should be tempted to say that it showed what I
believe they call the literary touch. Mrs. Bassett liked it; maybe
because there was so little of her in it. We both appreciated your nice
feeling and consideration in the whole article. Well, just how are you
coming on in the law?"

"Some of my work at college was preliminary to a law course, and I have
done all the reading possible in Wright and Fitch's office. But I have
to eat and the 'Courier'