This leaning towards the lawful came not from any bias of probity; Storri simply wanted to be safe, having a horror of chains and bolts and cages and striped garments.
When Storri arrived in Washington, he came from Canada by way of New York.

The year before he had been in Paris, and was something--not for long--of a figure on the Bourse.

He had been in every capital of Asia and Europe, and all the while his restless eye sleepless in its search for money.
Gifted with an imagination, Storri evolved a scheme.

Starting in moderation, it grew with his wanderings until, link upon link, it became endless and belted the earth.

Storri's imagination was like a tar barrel; accident might set fire to it, but once in the least of flame it must burn on and on, with no power of self-extinguishment, until it burned itself out.