The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-12-09


Ills accustomed care. Bassett carried
an immense amount Of data in his
head. He understood bookkeeping and
r.as essentially thorough. Dan con
stantly found penciled calculations on
the margins Of the daily reports from
the paper mill. Indicating that Bias
sett scrutinized the figures carefully,
and he promptly questioned any devt
alton from the established average OF
less and gain. Bassett threw down
his pencil at the end of half an hour
nd told Dan n proceed with the writ
arg Of the report.
I'D like to file it personally so
can talk over the prospect OF getting
an order of sale before the judge
goes on his vacation. We've paid the
debts and stopped the flow Of red INK,
so we're about ready to let go"
While they were talking Miss Far
rell brought IN a telegram for Har-
wood; II was the summons from Mrs.
wen that he had been waiting for:
re babe him come to Montgomery
20 next day. He handed the message
Bassett.
YOU ike and find you the necessary
bondsmen. I know the judge Of the
Circuit Court at Montgomery very
we'll. You go in the morning? Very
well: I'll stay here till you get back.
Mrs. Bassett will be well enough 70
leave the sanatorium in a few days.
and I'm going up to Waupegan TO
get the house ready"
at VIII be pleasant for Mrs. Bassett
to have Mrs. Owen there this sum
mer. Anybody IS lucky to have a
woman Of her qualities for a neigh
Dor"
She's a noble woman" said Bassett
rmpressively, land a good friend 70
al of us
On the train the next morning Har-
wood unfolded the days Courier in
the languidly critical frame Of mind
that former employees Of newspapers
bring TO the reading of the journals
they have served. He scanned the
news columns and opened to the edi-
Jorial page. The leader at once
caught his eye. It was double1eaded,
an emphasis rarely employed at the
Courier Office, and was condensed
in a single brief paragraph that
stared ODDLY at the reader under the
raptiOn stop. Look, Listen" It
held Harwood's attention through "a
,;Ozen amazed and mystified readings
1t ran thus
It has long been Indiana's proud
coast that money unsupported by
-Ionest merit has never intruded in
Ter politics. a malign force threat
MS to mar this record. It Is in
-Umbent upon honest men Of all par
JAs who have the best interests OF
our State at heart 20 stop, look, listen.
The Courier gives notice that It is
Tully advised of the intentions. and
,erfectly aware OF the methods, by
which the fair name Of the Hcosier
state is menaced. The Courier, be
ng thoroughly informed of the begin
1ings Of this movement. whose pur-
pose is the seizure Of the Democratic
arty, and the manipulation Of It's
power for private ends, viii antag-
onize to the utmost the element that
has Initiated It. Honorable defeats
me party in Indiana has known, and
It will hardly at this late dav sur
ender tamely to the buccaneers and
'dventurers that seek TO capture its
Iattlefiag. This warning viii Lot be
epeated. Stop. Look. Listen!
From internal evidence, Harwood
laced the authorship readily enough:
he paragraph had been written by
The chief editorial writer, an old hand
at the game, who INDUCED frequently
in such terms as ''adventurer" and
'buccaneer." But not without special
authority would such an article have
been planted at the top Of the ed
itorial page, and beyond doubt these
lines were the residium Of Bassett' S
-ong Interview with Atwill. And its
aim was unmisrakable; Mr.. Bassett
was thus paying his compliments TO
Mr.. Thatcher. The encounter 1t the
Country Club might have rrecipltated
the crisis, but, knowing Bassett, Dan
did not believe that the Courier's bat
teries would have been fired on so
little provocation. So, at least, Har-
wood reasoned to himself. Several OF
his fellow passengers in the smoking
car were passing the Courier about
and pointing to the editorial All
over Indiana it would be the sub
jet Of discussion for a long time to
come: and Dams journalistic sense
told him that in the surrounding cap
itals it would not be ignored.
If Thatcher and Bassett get 20
lighting. the people may find a
chance to sneak in and get some
thing" man behind Dan was saying.
Nope" said another voice; there
won't be no core when those fellows
get through with the applen
II can hear the cheering in the
Republican camp this morning." re-
marked another voice gleefuIly.
oh, pshaw"' said still another
speaker; "Bassett will simply grind
Thatcher to powder. Thatcher hasn't
any business in politics anyhow and
doesn't know the game. BY George,
Bassett doesi And this is the first
line he's struck a full blow since he
got behind the Courier Something
must have made him pretty hot.
though, to have let of a scream ike
that"
Harwood was interested IN these re-
marks because they indicated a prev
ilent impression that Bassett domi-
mated the Courier, in spite of the
mystery with which the ownership of
The paper was enveloped. The only
doubt in Harwood's own mind had
been left there by Eassett himself. He
recalled now Bassett'S remark on the
day he had taken him into his con-
fidence in the Ranger County affair. "I
might have some trouble il proving
-