Sentence:  I had occasion […] to <WSD>make</WSD> a somewhat long business trip to Chicago, and on my return […] I found Farrar awaiting me in the railway station. He smiled his wonted fraction by way of greeting, […], and finally leading me to his buggy, turned and drove out of town. I was completely mystified at such an unusual proceeding. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To cover (a given distance) by travelling. (from 16thc.)