horizons. It would
mean much to Marian and Blackford if their father, like their
Grandfather Singleton, should attain a seat in the Senate. And she was
aware that without such party service as Bassett was rendering, with
its resulting antagonisms, the virulent newspaper attacks, the social
estrangements that she had not escaped in Fraserville, a man could not
hope for party preferment.

Bassett had recently visited Blackford at the military school where his
son was established, and talk fell upon the boy.

"Black likes to have a good time, but he will come out all right. The
curriculum doesn't altogether fit him--that's his only trouble."

Bassett glanced at Harwood for approval and Dan promptly supported the
father's position. Blackford had, as a matter of fact, been threatened
with expulsion lately for insubordination. Bassett had confessed to Dan
several times his anxiety touching the boy. To-day, when the lad's
mother had just returned after a long sojourn in a rest cure, was not a
fit occasion for discussing such matters.

"What's Allen doing?" asked Marian. "I suppose now that papa is having a
rumpus with Mr. Thatcher I shall never see him any more."

"You shouldn't speak so, Marian. A hotel parlor is no place to discuss
your father's affairs," admonished Mrs. Bassett.

"Oh, Allen's ever so much fun. He's a Socialist or something. Aunt Sally
likes him ever so much. Aunt Sally likes Mr. Thatcher, too, for that
matter," she concluded boldly.

"Mr. Thatcher is an old friend of mine," said Bassett soberly.

"You can be awfully funny when you want to, papa," replied Marian. "As
we came through Pittsburg this morning I bought a paper that told about
'Stop, Look, Listen.' But Allen won't mind if you do whistle to his
father to keep off the track."

"Mr. Thatcher's name was never mentioned by me in any such connection,"
replied Bassett; but he laughed when Marian leaned over and patted his
cheek to express her satisfaction in her father's cleverness.

"I think it unfortunate that you have gone to war with that man,"
remarked Mrs. Bassett wearily.

"You dignify it too much by calling it a war," Harwood interjected. "We
don't want such men in politics in this state and somebody has to deal
with them."

"I guess it will be a lively scrap all right enough," said Marian,
delighted at the prospect. "We're going to move to the city this fall,
Mr. Harwood. Hasn't papa told you?"

Mrs. Bassett glanced at her husban