Martin. "What
would he want with an office anyway? The governorship would bore him to
death."
"It might tickle him to go to the senate, particularly if he had a score
to clean up in connection with it," remarked Ware.
"Just what do you mean by that?" asked the admiral.
"Well," Ware replied, "he and Bassett are as thick as thieves just now
in business operations. If some day it came about that they didn't get
on so well,--if Bassett tried to drop him as they say he has sometimes
dropped men when he didn't have any more use for them,--then Thatcher's
sporting blood might assert itself. I should be sorry for Bassett if
that time came."
"Edward Thatcher knows a horse," interposed Mrs. Owen. "I like Edward
Thatcher."
"I've fished with Bassett," said the minister. "A good fisherman ought
to make a good politician; there's a lot, I guess, in knowing just how
to bait the hook, or where to drop the fly, and how to play your fish.
And Bassett is a man of surprising tastes. He's a book collector,--rare
editions and fine bindings and that sort of thing."
"Is it possible! The newspapers that abuse him never mention those
things, of course," said Mrs. Martin.
A brief restraint fell upon the company, as they realized suddenly that
they were discussing the husband of their hostess's niece, whom the
opposition press declared to be the most vicious character that had ever
appeared in the public life of the state.
Pages:
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71