The "Advertiser" had neatly divided its first page between the Honorable Roger B.Ridgefield, dead in a far country, and the Honorable Morton Bassett, who, it seemed, was very much alive at the Hoosier capital.

A double column headline conveyed this intelligence:-- BASSETT IS HIMSELF AGAIN Harwood, nibbled his toast and winnowed the chaff of speculation from the grains of truth in this article.

He had checked off the names of all the Bassett men in both houses of the assembly, and listed Thatcher's supporters and the doubtful members.

Bassett would undoubtedly make a strong showing in a caucus, but whether he would be able to command a majority remained to be seen.

There were men among the doubtful who would be disposed to favor Thatcher because he had driven a wedge into the old Bassett stone wall.