On the day that the Republican "Advertiser" screamed delightedly over the Democratic scandal in Ranger County, Bassett called Dan into his office.

Bassett's name had been linked to that of Miles, the erring treasurer, in the "Advertiser's" headlines; and its leading editorial had pointed to the defalcation as the sort of thing that inevitably follows the domination of a party by a spoilsman and corruptionist like the senator from Fraser.
Bassett indicated by a nod a copy of the "Advertiser" on his desk.
"The joke was on us this time.

They're pinning Miles on me, and I guess I'll have to wear him like a bouquet.

I've been in Louisville fixing this thing up and they won't have as much fun as they thought.

It's a simple case: Miles hadn't found out yet that corn margins are not legitimate investments for a county's money.