the fortunes of oliver horn-第58节

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met　somebody　in　New　York　she　likes；　but　she　won't　acknowledge　it。〃

Oliver　drank　in　every　word；　drawing　out　the　brother　with　skilful　questions　and　little　exclamatory　remarks　that　filled　Grant　with　enthusiasm　and　induced　　him　to　talk　on。　They　were　young　men　again　nowbrothers　once　more；　as　they　had　been　that　first　afternoon　in　the　library　at　Brookfield。　In　the　joy　of　hearing　from　her　he　entirely　forgot　his　surroundings；　　and　the　dangers　that　still　beset　them　both；　a　joy　intensified　because　it　was　the　first　and　only　time　he　had　heard　someone　who　knew　her　talk　to　him　of　the　woman　he　loved。　This　went　on　until　night　fell　and　Malachi　again　crawled　in　through　the　same　low　window　and　helped　John　into　Oliver's　clothes。

When　all　was　ready　the　main　door　of　the　warehouse　　above　was　opened　carefully　and　the　three　men　walked　outMalachi　ahead；　John　and　Oliver　following。　　The　moonlit　street　was　deserted；　only　the　barricades　　of　timber　and　the　litter　of　stones　and　bricks　marked　the　events　of　the　morning。　Dodging　into　a　side　alley　and　keeping　on　its　shadow　side　they　made　their　way　toward　Oliver's　home。

When　the　three　reached　the　Square；　the　white　light　of　the　moon　lay　full　on　the　bleached　columns　of　the　Clayton　house。　Outside　on　the　porch；　resting　against　the　wall；　stood　a　row　of　long…barrelled　guns　glinting　in　the　moon's　rays。　Through　the　open　doorway　could　be　seen　the　glow　of　the　hall　lantern；　the　hall　itself　crowded　with　men。　The　Horn　house　was　dark；　except　for　a　light　in　Mrs。　Horn's　bedroom。　The　old　servant's　visit　had　calmed　their　fears；　and　they　had　only　to　wait　now　until　Oliver's　return。

Malachi　stationed　Oliver　and　John　Grant　in　the　shadow　of　the　big　sycamore　that　overhung　the　house；　mounted　the　marble　steps　and　knocked　twice。　Aunt　Hannah　opened　the　door。　She　seemed　to　be　expecting　　someone；　for　the　knock　was　instantly　followed　by　the　turning　of　the　knob。

Malachi　spoke　a　few　words　in　an　undertone　to　Hannah；　　and　stepped　back　to　where　the　two　young　men　were　standing。

〃You　go　in；　Marse　Oliver。　Leabe　de　gemman　here　wid　me　under　de　tree。　Everybody's　got　dere　eye　wide　open　nowcan't　fool　MalachiI　knows　de　signs。

Oliver　walked　leisurely　to　the　door；　closed　it　softly　behind　him；　and　ran　upstairs　into　his　mother's　arms。

Malachi　whispered　to　Grant；　and　the　two　disappeared　　in　the　shadows。　At　the　same　moment　a　bolt　shot　back　in　a　gate　in　the　rear　of　the　yarda　gate　rarely　unbolted。　Old　Hannah　stood　behind　it　shading　　a　candle　with　her　hand。　Malachi　led　the　way　across　the　yard；　through　the　green　door　of　Richard's　shop；　mounted　the　work…bench；　felt　carefully　along　the　edge　of　a　trap…door　in　the　ceiling；　unhooked　a　latch；　pushed　it　up　with　his　two　hands；　the　dust　sifting　down　in　showers　on　his　head；　and　disclosed　a　large；　empty　loft；　once　used　by　the　slaves　as　a　　sleeping…room；　and　which　had　not　been　opened　for　years。

Assisted　by　the　negro's　arms；　Grant　climbed　to　the　floor　above；　where　a　dim　skylight　gave　him　light　and　air。　A　cup　of　hot　coffee　was　then　handed　up　and　the　door　of　the　trap　carefully　fastened；　Malachi　rumpling　the　shavings　on　the　work…bench　to　conceal　the　dust；　No　trace　of　the　hiding…place　of　the　fugitive　was　visible。

When　Malachi　again　reached　the　front　hall；　it　was　in　response　to　someone　who　was　hammering　at　the　door　as　if　to　break　it　down。　The　old　man　peered　cautiously　out　through　the　small　panes　of　glass。　The　sidewalk　was　crowded　with　men　led　by　Colonel　Clayton；　　most　of　them　carrying　guns。　They　had　marched　over　from　Clayton's　house。　Among　them　was　a　posse　of　detectives　from　the　Police　Department。

In　answer　to　their　summons　Richard　had　thrown　up　the　window　of　his　bedroom　and　was　talking　to　Clayton；　whose　voice　Malachi　recognized　above　the　murmurs　and　threats　of　the　small　mob。

〃Come　down；　Horn。　Oliver　has　proved　traitor；　just　as　I　knew　he　would。　He's　been　hiding　one　of　these　damned　Yankees　all　day。　We　want　that　man；　I　tell　you；　dead　or　alive；　and　we　are　going　to　have　him。〃

When　the　door　was　flung　wide　Clayton　confronted；　not　Richard；　but　Oliver。

〃Where's　that　Yankee？〃　cried　Clayton。　He　had　not　expected　to　see　Oliver。　〃We　are　in　no　mood　for　nonsensewhere　have　you　hidden　him？〃

Malachi　stepped　forward　before　Oliver　could　answer。

〃Marse　Oliver　ain't　hid　him。　If　you　want　him　go　hunt　him！〃

〃You　speak　like　that　to　me；　you　black　scoundrel；〃　burst　out　the　Colonel；　and　he　raised　his　arm　as　if　to　strike　him。

〃Yesme！　Ain't　nobody　gwine　ter　tech　Marse　Oliver　while　I　lib。　I's　as　free　as　you　is；　Marse　Clayton。　　Ain't　no　man　can　lay　a　han'　on　me！〃

The　Colonel　wheeled　angrily　and　gave　an　order　to　one　of　the　detectives　in　a　low　voice。　Oliver　stood　irresolute。　He　knew　nothing　of　Grant's　whereabouts。

The　detective　moved　from　the　Colonel's　side　and　pushed　his　way　closer　to　where　Oliver　stood。

〃There's　no　use　your　denying　it；　young　feller；　we've　heard　the　whole　story　from　one　of　our　men　who　saw　you　jump　in　front　of　him。　You　bring　him　out　or　we'll　go　through　the　place　from　cellar　to　garret。〃

Oliver　gazed　straight　at　the　speaker　and　still　held　his　peace。　He　was　wondering　where　Grant　had　hidden　　himself　and　what　John's　chances　were　if　the　crowd　searched　the　house。　Malachi's　outburst　had　left　him　in　the　dark。

Mrs。　Horn　and　Richard；　who　had　followed　Oliver　and　were　standing　half　way　down　the　stairs；　looked　on　in　astonishment。　Would　Clayton　dare　to　break　all　the　rules　of　good　manners；　and　search　the　house；　she　whispered　to　Richard。

Another　of　the　detectives　now　stepped　forward　a　dark；　ugly…looking　man；　with　the　face　of　a　bulldog。

〃Look　here！　I'll　settle　this。　You　and　two　men　crossed　the　Square　ten　minutes　ago。　This　nigger　one　of　'em；　where's　the　other？〃

Malachi　turned　and　smiled　significantly　at　Oliver　a　smile　he　knew。　It　was　the　smile　which　the　old　man's　face　always　wore　whenever　some　tortuous　lie　of　the　darky's　own　concoction　had　helped　his　young　master　out　of　one　of　his　scrapes。

〃I　am　not　here　to　answer　your　questions；〃　Oliver　replied　quietly；　a　feeling　of　relief　in　his　heart。

The　officer　turned　quickly　and　said　with　an　oath　to　one　of　the　detectives；　〃Send　one　man　to　the　alley　in　the　rear；　and　place　another　at　this　door。　I'll　search　the　yard　and　the　house。　Let　no　one　of　the　family　leave　this　hall。　If　that　nigger　moves　put　the　irons　on　him。〃

The　men　outside　made　a　circle　about　the　house；　some　of　them　moving　up　the　alley　to　watch　the　rear。　Clayton　leaned　against　the　jamb　of　the　door。　He　addressed　no　word　to　Richard　or　Mrs。　Horn；　nor　did　be　look　their　way。　Oliver　stood　with　folded　arms　under　the　eight…sided　hall…lantern　which　an　officer　had　lighted。　Now　and　then　he　spoke　in　restrained　tones　to　his　mother；　who　had　taken　her　seat　on　the　stairs；　Richard　standing　beside　her。　It　was　not　the　fate　of　the　soldier　that　interested　herit　was　the　horror　of　the　search。　Richard　had　not　spoken　except　to　direct　Malachi　to　obey　the　officer's　orders。　The　horror　of　the　search　did　not　affect　the　inventorthat　only　violated　the　sanctity　of　the　home：　it　was　the　brute　force　behind　it　which　appalled　himthat　might　annihilate　the　Republic。

〃It　is　the　beginning　of　the　end；〃　he　said　to　himself。

The　tread　of　heavy　feet　was　again　heard　coming　through　the　hall。　Malachi　turned　quickly　and　a　subdued　　smile　lighted　his　wrinkled　face。

The　two　detectives　were　alone！

〃He　is　not　there；　Colonel　Clayton；〃　said　the　man　with　the　bull…dog　face；　slipping　his　pistol　into　his　hip　pocket。　〃We　went　through　the　yard　and　the　out…　houses　like　a　fine　tooth…comb　and　made　a　clean　sweep　of　the　cellar。　He　may　have　gotten　over　the　wall；　but　I　don't　think　it。　There's　a　lot　of　broken　bottles　on　top。　I'll　try　the　bedrooms　now。〃

As　the　words　fell　from　his　lips　Mrs。　Horn　rose　from　her　seat　on　the　stairs；　straight　as　a　soldier　on　guard。　The　light　from　the　lantern　illumined　her　gray　hair　and　threw　into　strong　relief　her　upraised　handthe　first　of　millions　raised　in　protest　against　the　invasion　of　the　homes　of　the　South。　The　detective　　saw　the　movement　and　a　grim　smile　came　into　his　face。

〃Unless　they'll　bring　him　out；〃　he　added；　slowly。　〃This　young　feller　knows　where　he　is。　Make　him　tell。〃

Colonel　Clayton　turned　to　Oliver。　〃Is　he　upstairs；　　Oliver？〃

〃No。〃

〃You　give　me　your　word　of　honor。　Oliver；　that　he　is　not　upstairs？〃

〃I　do。〃

〃Of　course　he'd　say　that。　Here；　I'll　know　pretty　d　quick；〃　muttered　the　detective　moving　toward　the　stairway。

The　Colonel　stepped　forward　and　barred　his　way　with　his　arm。

〃Stay　where　you　are！　You　don't　know　these　people。　　If　Oliver　says　he　is　not　upstairs　I　believe　him。　These　Horns　don't　know　how　to　lie。　Your　information　　is　wrong。　The　man　never　entered　the　house。　You　must　look　for　the　Yankee　somewhere　else。〃　Waiting　until　the　detectives　had　left　the　hall；　he　raised　his　hat；　and　with　some　show　of　feeling　said：

〃I　am　sorry；　Sallie；　that　we　had　to　upset　you　so。　When　you　and　Richard　see　this　matter　in　its　true　light　you'll　think　as　I　do。　If　these　scoundrels　are　to　be　permitted　to　come　here　and　burn　our　homes　we　want　to　know　which　side　our　friends　are　on。〃

〃You　are　the　judge　of　your　own　conduct；　John　Clayton；〃　she　answered；　calmly。　〃This　night's　work　will　follow　you　all　your　life。　Malachi；　show　Colonel　Clayton　to　the　door　and　close　it　behind　him。〃


Three　nights　later　Malachi　admitted　a