"Build a house here? What do you--Of course. Well, I like the place first
rate. I must come again some day. I think we'll go back now. By the way,
I must pay you," and he handed Bart the five-dollar bill.
"I'm much obliged," Bart said. "I'm afraid it was hardly worth so much.
It was a regular picnic for us."
"So much the better," replied Mr. Hardman with a smile. "Now we'll go
back."
They started to retrace their steps along the corduroy road, the boys
wondering somewhat over the whim of Mr. Hardman. He had not acted like a
man who had come to look for a place to erect a dwelling, and, though
they expected some oddity in a man who preferred to live in the solitude
of the forest, they could not account for his questions about whether or
not a person could get from the farther side of the woods to the road.
For about an hour they tramped back over the way they had come. Mr.
Hardman said little, and walked just ahead of the boys, who conversed
among themselves. Just as they were nearing the end of the road he turned
and asked:
"You are sure now there is no other way of going through the forest but
this road?"
"Positive," replied Bart.
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