in malice. The Honorable Isaac Pettit undoubtedly
believed in himself as the savior of Fraser. He had personally led the
fight in the Fraser County primaries and had vanquished Bassett!
"Bassett had fought gamely," the Republican organ averred, to make more
glorious the Honorable Isaac's victory. It was almost inconceivable,
they said, that Bassett, who had dominated his party for years, should
not be able to elect himself a delegate to a state convention.

In a statement printed in the "Courier," Bassett had accepted defeat in
a commendable spirit of resignation. He and Atwill had framed that
statement a week before the primaries, and Miss Rose Farrell had copied
at least a dozen drafts before Bassett's critical sense was satisfied.
Harwood was increasingly amused by the manifestations of Bassett's
ironic humor. "I have never yet," ran the statement, "placed my own
ambitions before the wishes of my party; and if, when the Democrats of
Fraser County meet to choose a candidate for state senator, they are
not disposed to renominate me for a seat which I have held for twelve
years, I shall gladly resign to another and give my loyal support to the
candidate of their choice." It was whispered that the Honorable Isaac
Pettit would himself be a candidate for the nomination. The chattel
mortgage scrolls in the office of the recorder of Fraser County
indicated that his printing-press no longer owed allegiance to the
Honorable Morton Bassett. Thatcher had treated Pettit generously, taking
his unsecured note for the amount advanced to cleanse the "Fraser County
Democrat" of the taint of Bassettism.

As they gathered in the convention hall many of the delegates were
unable to adjust themselves to the fact that Bassett had not only failed
of election as delegate from his own county, but that he was not even
present as a spectator of the convention. The scene was set, the curtain
had risen, but Hamlet came not to the platform before the castle. Many
men sought Harwood and inquired in awed whispers as to Bassett's
whereabouts, but he gave evasive answers. He knew, however, that Bassett
had taken an early morning train for Waupegan, accompanied by Fitch,
their purpose being to discuss in peace and quiet the legal proceeding
begun to gain control of the "Courier." The few tried and trusted
Bassett men who knew exactly Bassett's plans for the convention listened
in silence to the hubbub occasioned by their chief's absence; silence
was a