Frank showed by the expression of his face that the balloonist had struck a theme of great interest to him.
"I had a partner," went on Gregson. "We advertised and sold sets of rubber finger tips to protect the hands of housewives when working about the house."
"Was it a success?" inquired Frank.
"It was great—famous. The orders just rolled in. We made money hand over fist and spent it like water. One day, though, there came a stop to it all. A lawyer served an injunction on us. It seemed that the device was a French invention patented in this country. My partner sloped with most of the funds, leaving me stranded. All the same, it's a great business—the mail order line."
For over an hour Frank kept their guest busy answering a hundred earnest questions as to all the details of the mail order business.
When Gregson had retired for the night Frank sat silent and thoughtful in the company of his mother. Finally he said.
"Mother, Mr. Gregson's talk has done me a lot of good."
"I saw you were very much interested," remarked Mrs. Ismond.
