The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-12-01


interesting and powerful character in
Indiana politics had made a COMPLIANT
Of him. Without attempting to exact
vows Of secrecy, or threatening
vengeance for infractions Of faith, but
in a spirit Of good-fellowship that ap-
pealed strongly to HARDWOOD, Bassett
had given him a pass-key to many
locked doors.
"As you probably gathered" Bassett
was saying, "Atwin represents me al
the Courier office"
'I had never suspected it, Dan.
replied
HAS anybody suspected it7' asked
Bassett quickly.
well; OF course It has been said
repeatedly that you own or control
the Courier"
''Let them keep on saying it; they
might have hard work to prove it.
And" Bassett's eyes turned toward
the window. His brows contracted
and he shut his lips tightly so that
his stiff mustache gave to his mouth
a sinister look that Dan had never
seen before. The disagreeable express
sion vanished and he was his usual
calm. unruffled self. and" he con-
cluded. smiling, 81 might have some
trouble in proving it myself"
The next morning Dan found that
his interview with Bassett was the
feature Of the first page of Ne
Courier" and the statement he had
sent to the ADVERTISE" was hardly
less prominently displayed. His
editorial was the "Courier's" leader,
and it appeared verbatim ct hteratim.
He viewed his work with pride and
satisfaction; even his ironical editorial
briefs had he fancied, something
Of the piquancy he admired in the
paragraphing of the New York Sun"
But his qualification at being able to
write must" matter for both sides
of a prominent journal was obscured
by the greater Joy Of being the chief
adjutant of the "Courier's" sagacious
concealed owner.
The advertiser replied to Bas-
sett's statement in a tone of hilarity.
Bassett's plea for a better account
ing system was funny, that was all.
Miles, the treasurer of Ranger
County, had been playing the bucket
shops with public moneys, and the
Honorable Morton Bassett of Fraser
Vile, with characteristic zeal in a
bad cause, had not only adjusted the
shortage, but was crafily trying to
turn the incident to the advantage
Of his party. The text for the 'Ad-
rertiser's" leader was the jingle
When the devil was sick, the devil
a monk would be;
When the devil got well, the devil
a monk was he"
Bassett had left town, but the
regular staff of the Courier" kept
up the fight along the lines Of the
articles Dan had contributed. The
Advertiser" finding that the Re
publican prosecuting attorney Of
Ranger County Joined with the local
bank in certifying to ATiles's probity,
dropped the matter after a few scat
tenng volleys.
However, within a week after the
Miles incident, the Advertiser" gave
Harwood the shock Of an unlocked
for plunge into ice-water by printing
a sensational story under a double
column headline. reading. THE Boss
IN the Boordman Building" The
honorable Morton Bassett, so the ar
ticle averfed, no longer satisfied to
rule his party amid the pastoral
calm Of Fraser County, had stolen
into the capital and secretly estab-
hshed headquarters, which meant,
beyond question, the manifestation Of
even a wider exercise of his malign
influence In Indiana politics. Har-
woods name enjoyed a fame that
day that many years OF laborious
achievement could not have won for
Il. The Advertisers photograph.
ers had stolen In at night and taken
nashlight picture Of the Office door,
bearing the legend
Harwood's personal history was set
forth In ford phrases, Il appeared
that he had been carefully chosen
and trained by Bassett to aid In his
evil work. His connection with the
Courier" which had seemed to Dan
at the time so humble, assumed a
dignity and importance that highly
amused him. 1t was quite like the
Fraserville boss to choose a young
man Of good antecedents, the grad.
uats Of great university, with no
previous experience in politics, the
better TO bend him to his viii. Dams
talents and his brilliant career at
college all helped to magnify the I'm
portance of Bassett's latest move.
Morton Bassett was dangerous, the
Advertiser conceded editorially, be-
cause he had brains; and he was even
more to be feared because he could
command the brains of other men.
Dan called Bassett at FraservilIe on
the long distance telephone and told
him Of the disclosure. Bassett re-
piled in a few sentences.
THAT won't hurt anything. I'd
been expecting something OF the kind.
Put you in, did they? I'll get my
paper tonight and read # carefully.
Better cut the stuff out and send it
IN an envelope, to make sure. Call
Atwill over and tell him we ignore the
whole business. I'm taking a little
rest, but I'll be In town in about a
week"
When Dan walked into the Whit
comb that evening the clerk made a
point Of calling his name and shak-
Ing hands with him. He was con-
sc1ous that a number of idlers in the
hotel lobby regarded him with a new
interest. Some one spoke his name
audibly, and he enjoyed in some de
r~2a the sarSofsov. oS hairo manson