It's my temperament: I can't help it.
Did you say you were from the 'Courier'?
Well, you better give Mort a good send-off.

He appreciates a good job; he's a sort o' literary cuss himself." As another mirthful spasm seemed imminent Dan retired, wondering just what in himself or in his errand had so moved the fat editor's risibilities.

He learned at the Bassett Bank that Mr.Bassett was spending the day in a neighboring town, but would be home at six o'clock, so he surveyed Fraserville and killed time until evening, eating luncheon and supper with sundry commercial travelers at the Grand Hotel.
Harwood's instructions were in every case to take the subjects of his sketches at their own valuation and to set them forth sympathetically.
The ambitions of most of the gentlemen he had interviewed had been obvious--obvious and futile.

Nearly every man who reached the legislature felt a higher call to Congress or the governor's chair.
Harwood had already described in the "Courier" the attainments of several statesmen who were willing to sacrifice their private interests for the high seat at the state capitol.

The pettiness and sordidness of most of the politicians he met struck him humorously, but the tone of his articles was uniformly laudatory.
When the iron gate clicked behind him at the Bassett residence, his notebook was still barren of such anecdotes of his subject as he had usually gathered in like cases in an afternoon spent at the court-house.
Stories of generosity, of the kindly care of widows and orphans, gifts to indigent pastors, boys helped through college, and similar benefactions had proved altogether elusive.