Drawn by F. R. Gruger
“A MAN WILL FOLLOW HALF A MILLION DOLLARS A LONG, LONG WAY, AND OVER ALL SORTS OF OBSTRUCTIONS”
At Toronto, however, he began again to take some interest in life and insisted upon staying there a day, saying that he couldn’t stand so much continuous traveling. On their first morning there, he again asked Connorton whether he had any new proposition to make.
“No-o, I think not,” replied Connorton; “but, as you have brought up the subject, I would suggest that we might go ahead along the line already proposed. We can get a notary here, and if you will execute the assignment of patent, just as a precaution—”
Hartley, saying nothing, got up and in a very businesslike way walked out of the lobby, where this conversation had taken place.
“Follow him!” urged Connorton, turning to Paulson. “You’re more active than I am. Follow the fool, and see what he does.”
Paulson followed, and Connorton spent an unhappy two hours awaiting his return. The vagaries of the inventor, apparently, were again dominating his actions, and no one could tell what crazy thing he might do.
He was the more troubled when Paulson returned alone. His report was at first mystifying, then startling, and finally perplexing.
“He hunted up a cooper and bought a barrel,” said Paulson.