“Um,” said Harwood, whose gaze was upon the frame of a new building that was rising across the street.  He was thinking of Allen.  If Marian and Allen were subjects of gossip in connection with the break between their fathers he foresaw trouble; and he was sorry, for he was sincerely devoted to the boy; and Marian he liked also, in spite of her vagaries.  A great many people were likely to be affected by the personal difficulties of Thatcher and Bassett.  Even quiet Montgomery was teeming, and on the way from the station he had met half a dozen acquaintances who had paused to shake hands and say something about the political situation.  His ignorance of Bassett’s real intentions, which presumably the defiance of the “Courier” merely cloaked, was not without its embarrassment.  He had been known as a Bassett man; he had received and talked to innumerable politicians of Bassett’s party in the Boordman Building; and during the four years of his identification with Bassett he had visited most of the county seats on political and business errands.  The closeness of their association made all the more surprising this sudden exclusion.

“I said ‘say,’” repeated Miss Farrell, lightly touching the smooth cliff of yellow hair above her brow with the back of her hand.  “I was about to give you a message from his majesty our king, but if you’re on a pipe dream don’t let me call you home.”

“Oh, yes; pardon me.  What were you about to say?”

“Mr. Bassett said that if you came in before I quit to ask you to come over to the Whitcomb.  Mrs. Bassett blew in to-day from that sanatorium in Connecticut where they’ve been working on her nerves.  Miss Marian brought her back, and they’ve stopped in town to rest.  And say,”—­here Miss Farrell lowered her voice,—­“the Missis must try his soul a good deal!  I wonder how he ever picked her out of the bunch?”

“That will do!” said Harwood sharply.  “I’ll find Mr. Bassett at the Whitcomb and I shan’t have anything for you to-day.”

There had been a meeting of the central committee preliminary to the approaching state convention.  A number of candidates had already opened headquarters at the Whitcomb; members of Congress, aspirants for the governor’s seat, to be filled two years hence, and petty satraps from far and near were visible at the hotel.  If Bassett’s star was declining there was nothing to indicate it in the conduct of the advance guard.  If any change was apparent it pointed to an increase of personal popularity.  Bassett was not greatly given to loafing in public places; he usually received visitors at such times in an upper room of the hotel; but Harwood found him established on a settee in the lobby in plain view of all seekers, and from the fixed appearance of the men clustered about him he had held this position for some time.  Harwood drew into the outer edge of the crowd unnoticed for a moment.  Bassett was at his usual ease; a little cheerfuler of countenance