Indianapolis Times, Volume 35, Number 199, Indianapolis, Marion County, 29 December 1922 — Page 13

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Hoosier Chronicle Bij MEREDITH NICHOLSON ■st Novel in thè Times of Fiction Stories by Indiana i TVriters. (Copyright, 1913. by Meredith Nieholson)

jy?* il, you’ve gotto listen, and 93 jp gotto teli me what to do. Da already investigated Bassett |Pa ~ in New York, when he was man studying in thè law schei. H 93 there. But they could ge. Hit so far and no farther. It's i 9 time ago and all thè people Bas kr.ew at that time had scatterei! ■nthe far corners of thè earth. Bu si: hook sruck dad all of a heap. Il •& T into what he had heard about -ett as a deiettante hook collector. IBln then Bass'tt was interested in Iki things. And you know in thal Hour.t of him you wrote in thè Hgtrier that I told you I had read on Sfe other side that first time \ve met? Hl'ell. when dad and I went to thè Hdirondacks it was only partly on my X -ount; he met a man up tlire who H.d been working up Bassett’s post, Hid dad went over all thè ground Hmself. It was most amazing that it Biould all come out that way, but he Vmnd thè place, and thè sanie man Is stili living at thè housd where thè [strange woman stayed that Ware told 'about. I know it's just as rotten as it ean be, but dad’s sure Bassett was thè man who took that woman there and deserted her. It fits into a period when Bassett wasn’t in New York and he wasn’t at Fraserville. They’ve sound an old file of thè Fraserville paper at thè State Library that menfdons thè faet that Bassett’s father was "very 111 —had a stroke —and they had hard work loeating Bassett, who was thè only child. There’s only one missing link in thè chain of evidence, and that’s thè woman lierself, and her child that was born up there. Ware told us that night how he failed to get track of them later, and dad lost thè trail right there too. But that's all I need teli you about it. That's what I’ve got hanging over me. And dad won’t promise not to use it on Bassett if he has to.” Harwood’s face had gone white. but he smiled and knit his fingers together behir.d his head with an air of nonchalance that he did not feel. He knew that Thatcher meant to drive Bassett out of politics, but he had little faith in Thacher’s abilitv to do so. He discredited wholly thè story Alien had so glibly recited. By Allen's owr. admission thè tale was deficient in what Harwood's lawyer's instinct told him were essentials. The idea that Bas sett could ever have been so stupid as to leave traces of any imaginable iniquities plain enough for Thatcher to find them aster many years was preposterous. The spectacle of thè pot calling thè kettle black. never edifying, aroused Dan’s ire agalnst Thatcher. And Bassett was not that sorti his old liking for thè man stirred Co lise again. Even thè Rose Farrell incident did not support this wretched tissue of fabrication. He had hated Bassett for that; but it was not for thè peccable Thatcher to point a mocking finger at Achilles’s heel. l “Well,” said Alien Impatiently. F “Well,” Dan blurted contemptouslv, “I think your father’s stooped pretty low, that's aIL You can teli him for me that if he’s digging in thè muckpile for that sort of thing. I m Jone with him: I’m not only done with him, but if he attempts to use any stufi as that, ITI fight him: I will raise a war on him that won’t be forgotten in this State through all eternity. You teli him that; teli him you told me your story and that’s what I said about it.” “But, Dan, old man—" began Alien pleadingly. Harwood shook his head until his eowlick bobbed and danced. “You'd better get out of here. Alien. If you think you can ntarry Mortori Bassett’s daughter with that kind of a scandal in your pocket. I teli you you’re mari—you’ve plutnb gone insane! Great God, boy. you don’t know thè meaning of thè -words you use. You handle that think like a child with a loaded pistol. you see what that would mean—to Marian, to Blackford. to Mrs. Bassett—to Aunt Sally! Xow, you want my advlce, or you said you did, and I'm geIng to give you some. You go right down to that bank over there on thè correr and buy a steamer ticket and a long letter of credit. Then take thè first train for New York and go back to your mother and stay there till I send for you to eome home. I mean that—every word of it. If you don t reett and teli him this whole rotten story." Alien, thè tears glistening in his frightened eyes, turned toward thè door. “Good-by, Dan, old man; I’m sorry it had to end this way. Ini disappointed, that’s all.” He paused aster opening thè door, hoping to be called back, but Harwood had walked to thè window and stood with his hands in his pockets staring into thè Street. Chapter XXVIII This was on Friday, and Harwood took thè afternoon train for Waupegan. He had sound that when he was tired or lonely or troubled he craved thè sight of Sylvia. Sylvia alone could restore his equanimity; Sylvia who wc-rked hard but never complained of weariness; Sylvia who saw lise steadily and saw it whole, where he caught only fiftful, distorted glimpses. Yes; he must see Sylvia. Not only must he see her but there were things he meant to say to her. Dan reached Waupegan at 6 o'clock and went to one of thè little lnns at rhe lakeside near thè village. He got intc his fiannels, ate supper. and set off for Mrs. Owen’s with his ofterings on thè 7 o’clock boat. Jumplng aboard thè steamer jusi as It was pulling out, he at once saw Bassett sitting alone in thè bow. There were only a few other passengers, and hearing Dan’s step on thè deck behind him, Bassett turned kslightly, nodded, and then resumed "his inspection of thè farther shore lines. A light overcoat lay across his knees, and thè protruding newspapers exp .ined his visit to thè village. Dan sound a seat on thè opposite side of thè deck, resolved to accept Bassett’s r.wn deflnition of their relations — markefely expressed in Bassett’s back and shoulders that were stolidly presented to him. Dan. searching out thè lights that were just beginning to blink on thè darkling shores, sound thè glimmering lanterna of Mrs. Owen’s landing. Sylvia was there! It

as Sylvia he had come to see, and he coldness with which Morton issett turned his back upon him did ot matter In thè least. It was his iability in Bassett’s hands, manl’ested at thè convention where he ad appeared as thè boss’s spokeslan, that had earned him Sylvia’s ìrst rebuke. He was thinking of this and of '.ylvia when Bassett left his chalr >nd crossed thè deck. Dan barely turned his head, thinking he was ■nerely changing his seat for a better view; but as Bassett stopped in front of him. Dan rose and pushed forward a chair. “No, thank you: I suppose you carne up on thè evening train. I just wondered whether you saw Fitch today.” “No. sir: I didn’t see him: I didn’t know he wanted to see me.” “He was here yesterday and prob ably hadn’t had time to see you before you left town. He had a proposition to make in that Car.neries case.” +• “I didn’t know that. of course. or I should have waited. I’ve never had any talk with him about thè Canneries business.” “So he said.’’ Bassett clapped his hand savagely upon his hat sudéenly to save it froni thè breeze that had been roused by thè increasing speed of thè hoat. He clearly disliked having to hold his hat on his head. Dan maYked his old chief’s irritatlon. There were deep lines in Bassett’s face had only lately been written there. \ “ITI see him Monday. I only ran up for a day or two. It’s frightfully hot at home.” Neither thè heat. nor Harwood’s enterprise in escaping fro mit, interested Bassett, who lifted his voice above thè thumplng of thè machinery to say: “T told Fitch to talk to you about that suit of yours and fix it up ir we can come to terms. I told him what I’d stand for. I’m not afraid of thè suit, and neither is Fitch, and I want >ou to understand that., My reasons for getting rid of it are quite apart from thè lega! questiona.” “It will save time. Mr. Bassett. if you teli Fitch that thè suit won’t be dropped uAtil all thè claims I represent are paid in full. Several of your associates in thè reorganization have already sounded me on that. and l’ve said no to all of them.” “Oh. you have. have you7“ There was a hard glitter in Bassett’s eyes and his jaws tightened. "Ah right. then: go ahead.” he added. and walked grimly back to his chair. When thè steamer stopped at his landing, Bassett jumped off and b*> gan thè ascfcnt to his house without looking at Harwood again. Dan felt that it had been worth" thè joumey to hear direct from Bassett thè Inti mations of a wish tc Canneries And yet, while thè boat was backing off. it was without exultation that he watehed Bassett’s sturdy figure slowly climbing thè The signs of wear, ihe loss of thè politician’s old elasticity. touched a chord of plty in Harwood’s hreast. In thè earlv days of their aequaint-

ance it had seenied to him that Bas sett could never be beaten; and yet Dan had tonight read defeat in his face and manner. The old Morton Bassett would never have vielded an ineh, never have made overtures of compromise. He would have omerged tnumphant from any disaster. Harwood experienced something of thè sensations of a sculptor, who, having hegun a heroic figure in thè grand mnnner of a Michael- Angelo, finds model shrinking to a pitiful pygm.v. As Bassett passed from sight he turned with a sigh toward thè red, white and blue lanterna thal advertised Mrs. Owen’s dock to thè marlner. “Well, well, lf it isn’t Daniel,” ex claimed Mrs. Owen, as Harwood greeted her and Sylvia on her veranda. “One of thè farm hands quit today and you can go to work in thè morning, Daniel.” “Not if I’m strong enough to run, Aunt Sally. I’m going to have fortyeight hours’ vaeation if I starve to death thè rest of my lise.” Rose Farrell had told him that Mrs. Owen was entertaining thè Klizabeth House girls in installments, and he was not surprised to find thè veranda filled with young women. Some of them he knew and Sylvia introduced him to thè others. “When’s Rose coming up?” asked Sylvia, balancing herself on thè veranda rail. “You know she’s expected.” “Do I know she’s expecteil? Didn’t I have a note from you, Aunt Sally, ordering me to semi her up? She’s coming just as soon as I gt back, but I think of staying forever.” “A man has come and he’s come to stay forever,” murmured one of thè young women. "Oh, you’re an eventi” laughed Sylvia. “But don’t expect usto spoil you. The sport for tomorrow is tornato pickies, and thè man who skipped today left becauSe Aunt Sally wanted him to help scald and peel thè tomatoes. Y'our job is cut out for you.” “All right,” he replied humbly. "FU do anything you say but plow or cut wood. My enchanted youth on thè farm was filled with those delights, and before I go back to that a swift Marathon runner must trip me.” He was aware presently that one by one thè girls were slipping away; he saw them through thè Windows settling themselves at thè round table of thè living-room, %vhere Mrs. Owen was reading a newspaper. Not more than a quarter of an hour had passed w’hen he and Sylvia sound themselves alone. “I haven’t scarlet fever or anything,” he remarked, noting thè flight with satisfaction. “I suppose we might go inside, too,” suggested Sylvia obtusely. "Oh, I carne up for thè fresh air! Most of my nights lately have been spent in a hot office with not even a June bug for company. How are thè neighbors?” “The Rassetta? Oh. Mrs. Bassett is r.ot at all well; Marion is at home now: Blackford is tutoring and getting ready to take thè Annapolis examinations thè first chance he gets.’ 1“I saw Alien today, he remarked cErelessly. She said nothing. He rjjoved his chair nearer. “He told me tp ngs that scared me to death—

DOTNGS OF THE DUFFS—

HOW DOYOU OO.bTF? I C \ WAMT TOC ALL YOUR ATTEWTIohN f THE FORM AC E NEEDS FIXIWg'Ì ì f WELL.YOI) CAM HAVE YOUR. 16TOPPEC IH TO TEILVOD "" TO THE WALL PAPER IH THESE AND THE RADIATORS ALL ) OLD HOUSE WITH IT’S LEAKY THAT VoUR REHTWHtBE jr " TWO FROMT ROOMS - THEV’RE J LEAK - BUT IF VOO WON’T ) ROOFj )T‘S DIRTV WALLS, IT’S Y . lilli ■■■ RAISED TEN DOLLARSA /OH, 15 THAT IH VERY BAD SHAPE ANO NEED j HAVE THESETHI MG S PONE M BOhì FORNACE AMD ITS HIGH < MOHTH STARTING ON THE / S °’ WELL > COME NEW PAPER - THE PAPER IH WHV \T WILL BE ALLRIGHT RENT- |’VE JUST BOILT A /— , ( FIRST OF THE VEAR.- /RIGHT IH, MR THE FROMT BED ROOM UP I |*LL DO NO ANV WAV - JUST LET ’EM J 50RE \ r NEW HOME OF MV OWM - ) \ i-ANPLORP! STAI RS IS ALL SHOT FROM Ari i GO- AiJ'T N WE’RE <SOIMG TO MOVE IHTO ) A * Iffncztr 1 f *i — ■—f™^. T ) —~ - j

r ; —' / -SAV BOSS, DAT \ \ y (vA/HAre-TH’ IDEA OF V / MOLE KNOW JES' S Wy B I US'MCt SO MUCH CMUTE.j l WMUT OEM CHJTesItT': yy ) ’WASM ? WHV DON IS FO AN HE -—i / you BACK YOUR \ T GolN'To DO NO WWm //M M MULE UP CLOSER )\ Il MO ■ ■ ■ THE NUMBER OF CHUTES WASH PUNK MAS TO USE DEPENPS QM TM£ FtRAME CF MINO HIS MULE IS IN WLt ” VCT J

TUE.M DAYS IS GOXE FOFE\ r ER—

I " OEM PAYS AM MC TOA)I6HT CJIF YO AK yo tS TALKUVJ’ UKC A MUT * UMtKi k)AS BUT , WIIH NMBW.

r '■ ' S \\l/Js l'J f\ - '<S . OLD LOAFERS ~ ’ ‘ (uf^ TEAR THE PAPER ) \OFF AND PEEK \ /HOLD Dn'X p si > VNTO THAT CPATF'’/ / YOU RE , I V J ( PINCH,N / MANY WILLiNG HANDS VOL UNTE EIEED To HELP LO AD THE BOX OF FREKSHT AUNT SARAH PEABoDY RECeiYEDE ACM HEL.PEIE HOPED BY SOME HOOK OR CRook —-a ' : : V TO DISCOVER WHAT THE BoX CpNTAINED.

anione others thut he and Marian are engaged.” “Yes, Marian told me that.” “Ah! She really takes it seriously, does she?” “Yes, she takes it seriously; why shoujdn’t she?” “Iris thè flrst time She ever took anything seriously; that’s all.” “I think better of it than that, Dan. She’s a fine, strong, loyal girl with a

ODT OUR WAY—By WILLIAMS

TIIE OLD HOME TOWX -By STANLEY

lot of hard common sense. But that doesn’t relievo thè situation of its immediate dangers. She’s promised me not* to speak to her father yet—not until she has my consent. When I see that it ean’t be helped, 1 arn going to speak to Mr. Bassett about it mysef.” ■* “You seem to be thè good angel of thè Bassett househod,” he remarked sullenly. A lover's jealousy stirred in

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I bis heart; he did not like to think of | Sylvia as preoccupaci with thè affairs ì of others. and he saw no peace or happiness ahead for Marion and Alien. “It's all more wretched than you Imagine. This war between Thatcher and Bassett has passed thè bounds of mere politicai rivalry. There’s an implacable | hatred there that’s gotto take Ita ] course. Alien told me of it this morn-

Tom’s Waited a Long Time for Tliis

‘•Wrtv Dmvn South li) Thp Land of Cottoli”

FRECKLES AND HIS FRIENDS—By BLOSSER

K 1 i N s - " / \IOUAT’S"TUT < m ì ' & ? ZZIZr 1. \ m ( mi.ocfircw-wtPFY y-T f cnu - *T J tene riao rr rt.se ■ i '--LOST A > 1 J * / -T®? / r ’ r y \ /-? tc* vU Y J

MRS. HOOPLE,I'K " y^\ÌW^OVll /MRG. BEMDER - 1 MISSED \ AYoU UKE“fO MY CAMEO BROOCM AUD \ ‘ r—A RoYAL j ߣ -p, 5D -f 0 A '< 1 SUSPECTED ROGER, /Yiav/ cmdppTA ' SULTAkiATUAT y nvnusßAiiDor-rAKiMG oiT 1 aster mucH you cmj Uaye \ <ò\\b\k om C ame-ToeiUg oiiFcz-TiAdidr HF rr BACK = AND ACCOUkìTOF I( j TK HuT AT Kl-TUF MYHUGBAUD \ PO OR ROGER = TuJO A IA-SME 1 ! R.LY AThAHTED IHTHE f i' LL BETSHE COWB VoUR / ME SOL-D T_CAME L w , rIS i cue v e r I IS 3 VOUR nasBADB ' 0 R A DOLLAR - / OEVJELb Oh V IH ACTIOKÌ( / l f ' cametoget y \RusstAL wwT / V ,

ing when he was trying to enlist me in his cause with Marian. It's hideous — a perfectly rotten mesa. Thatcher ia preparing a poisoned arrow for Bassett. He’s raked up an old scandal, an affair with a woman. It makes my blood run cold to think of its possibilities.” "But Mr. Thatcher wouldn’t do such a thing; he might but he

OUR BOARDJLNG HOUSE—By AHERN

wouldn't really use that sort of weapon!” "You don’t know thè man, Sylvia. He will risk anything to break Bassett down, yhere’s nothing respectable about Thatcher, but his love for Allea, and that doesn’t redcein everything.” "But you won't let it come to that. You have infìuence enough yourself

—By ALLMAN

—By AL POSE#

to stop it. Even if you hated him you would protect Mrs. Bassett and The children.” "I could do nothing of thè kind, Sylvia. Now that I’ve left Bassett my influence has vanished utterly. Besides, I'm out of politics. I hate thè game. It's rotten —rotten clean through.” To Be Continued

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