distinguishing trait of Bassett's lieutenants. Among the
uninitiated there were those who fondly believed that Bassett was
killed, not scotched, and they said among themselves that the party and
the state were well rid of him. Thatcher was to be reckoned with, but he
was no worse than Bassett: with such cogitations they comforted
themselves amid the noise and confusion. The old Bassett superstition
held, however, with many: this was only another of the Boss's deep-laid
schemes, and he would show his hand in due season and prove himself, as
usual, master of the situation. Others imagined that Bassett was
sulking, and these were not anxious to be the target of his wrath when
he chose to emerge from his tent in full armor.

A young woman reporter, traversing the galleries to note the names and
gowns of the ladies present, sought Mrs. Bassett for information as to
her husband's whereabouts. When Mrs. Bassett hesitated discreetly,
Marian rose promptly to the occasion:--

"Papa's gone fishing," she replied suavely.

This was not slow to reach the floor. "Papa's gone fishing" gained wide
currency as the answer to the most interesting question of the day.

The Honorable Isaac Pettit, seated majestically with the Fraser County
delegation, tested the acoustics of the hall at the first opportunity.
While the chairman of the state central committee was endeavoring to
present as the temporary chairman of the convention a patriot known as
the "War Eagle of the Wabash," the gentleman from Fraser insisted upon
recognition.

"Who is that preposterous fat man?" demanded Mrs. Owen, plying her
palm-leaf fan vigorously.

"That's Mr. Pettit, from our town," said Mrs. Bassett. "He's an editor
and lecturer."

"He's the man that defeated papa in our primaries," added Marian
cheerfully. "He's awfully funny, everybody says, and I suppose his
defeating papa was a joke. He's going to say something funny now."

"He doesn't need to," said Sylvia, not the least interested of the
spectators. "They are laughing before he begins."

The chairman of the state committee feigned not to hear or see the
delegate from Fraser, but Mr. Pettit continued to importune the chair
amid much laughter and confusion. The chairman had hardened his heart,
but the voice of the gentleman from Fraser alone rose above the tumult,
and in a moment of comparative calm he addressed the chair unrecognized
and unpermitted.

"I beg to call your attention, sir, to the pres