"Oh, I dare say they bought them! He asked me if I didn't want to go into the glass business. He talks to me a lot about things. Dad's thinking about going to the Senate. Dad's a Democrat, like Jefferson and Jackson. If he goes to the Senate I'll have a chance to see the wheels go round at Washington. Perfectly bully for me!" Harwood grinned at the youth's naive references to Edward Thatcher's political ambitions. Thatcher was known as a wealthy "sport," and Dan had resented his meddling in politics. But this was startling news--that Thatcher was measuring himself for a senatorial toga. "You'd better be careful! There's a good story in that!" "But you wouldn't! You see, I'm not supposed to know!" "Bassett and your father will probably pull it off, if they try hard enough. They've pulled off worse things. If you're interested in American types you should know Bassett. Ever see him?" Allen laughed. His way of laughing was pleasant; there was a real bubbling mirth in him. "No; but I read about him in the 'Courier,' which they always have follow them about--I don't know why. It must be that it helps them to rejoice that they are so far away from home; but I always used to read it over there, I suppose to see how much fun I missed! And at a queer little place in Switzerland where we were staying--I remember, because our landlord had the drollest wart on his chin--a copy of the 'Courier' turned up on a rainy day and I read it through. A sketch of Bassett tickled me because he seemed so real. I felt that I'd like to be Morton Bassett myself,--the man who does things,--the masterful American,--a real type, by George! And that safe filled with beautiful bindings; it's fine to know there are such fellows." "Your words affect me strangely; I wrote the piece!" "Now that is funny!" Allen glanced at Dan with frank admiration. "You write well--praise from Sir Hubert--I scribble verses myself! So our acquaintance really began a long time ago. It must have been last October that we were at that place." "Yes; it was in the fall sometime. It's pleasant to know that anything printed in a newspaper is ever remembered so long. Bassett is an interesting man all right enough." "It must be bully to meet men like that--the men who have a hand in the big things. I must get dad to introduce me. I suppose you know everybody!" he ended admiringly. They retraced their steps through the silent house and down to the front door, continuing their talk. As Dan turned for their last words on the veranda steps he acted on an impulse and said:-- "Have supper with me to-morrow night--we won't call it dinner--at the Whitcomb House. I'll meet you in the lobby at six o'clock. The honorable state committee is in town and I'll point out some of the moulders of our political destiny. They're a joy to the eye, I can tell you!" Allen's eager acquiescence, his stumbling, murmured thanks, emphasized Dan's sense of the forlorn life young Thatcher had described.