The strength of his hand was also in the firm line of his vigorous, well-knit frame.

And his rather large head, Dan observed, rested solidly on broad shoulders.
Harwood's thoughts were, however, given another turn at once.

Morton Bassett had said all he cared to say about politics and he now asked Dan whether he was a college man, to which prompting the reporter recited succinctly the annals of his life.
"You're a Harrison County boy, are you?
So you didn't like the farm, and found a way out?
That's good.

You may be interested in some of my books." Dan was immediately on guard against being bored; the library of even an intelligent local statesman like Morton Bassett was hardly likely to prove interesting.

One of his earlier subjects had asked him particularly to mention his library, which consisted mainly of government reports.
"I've been a collector of Americana," Bassett remarked, throwing open several cases.