The editor's Gargantuan girth trembled again.

The spectacle he presented as he shook thus with inexplicable mirth was so funny that Harwood grinned; whereupon Pettit rubbed one of his great hands across his three-days' growth of beard, evoking a harsh rasping sound in which he seemed to find relief and satisfaction.
"You don't know Mort?
Well, he's all right; he will he mighty nice to you.

Mort's one of the best fellows on earth; you won't find anybody out here in Fraser County to say anything against Mort Bassett.

No, sir; by God!" Again the ponderous frame shook; again the mysterious look came into the man's curious small eyes, and Harwood witnessed another seismic disturbance in the bulk before him; then the Honorable Isaac Pettit grew serious.
"You want some facts for a starter.

Well, I guess a few facts don't hurt in this business, providin' you don't push in too many of 'em." He pondered for a moment, then went on, as though summarizing from a biography:-- "Only child of the late Jeremiah Bassett, founder of Bassett's Bank.