the fortunes of oliver horn-第67节
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ready for instant use； was Amos Cobb's letter； introducing 〃the distinguished inventor； Mr。 Richard Horn； of Kennedy Square；〃 etc。； etc。； to the group of capitalists who were impatiently waiting his arrival； and who were to furnish the unlimited sums of money necessary in its developmentunlimited sums being ready for any scheme； no matter how chimerical； in the flush times through which the country was then passing。
〃I have succeeded at last； my boy； as I wrote you；〃 continued Richard； with glowing eyes。 〃Even that small motor at homethe one you knowthat one has a lifting power of a hundred pounds。 All that is necessary now is to increase the size of the batteries and the final result is assured。 Let me show you this〃and； oblivious of the many eyes fastened on him； he drew toward him the black carpet…bag and took out a sheet of paper covered with red and blue lines。 〃You see where the differences are。 And you see here〃and he pointed out the details with his thin white finger〃what I have done since I explained to you the new additions。 This drawing； when carried out； will result in a motor with a lifting capacity of ten tons。 Ah； Oliver； I cannot tell you what a great relief has come to me now that I know my life's work is crowned with success。〃
Nathan was quite as happy。 Richard was his sun… god。 When the light of hope and success flashed in the inventor's quiet； thoughtful face； Nathan basked in its warmth and was radiant in its glow。 He needed all the warmth he could get； poor old man。 The cold chill of the days of fear and pain and sorrow had well… nigh shrivelled him up； he showed it in every line of his body。 His shoulders were much more bent； his timid； pipe…stem legs the more shaky； the furrows about his face deeper； the thin nose more transparent。 All during the war he had literally lived in Richard。 The cry of the 〃extras〃 and the dull tramp of marching troops； and the rumbling of cars laden with army supplies had jarred on his sensitive ear as would discordant notes in a quartette。 Days at a time he would hide himself away in Richard's workshop； helping him with his bellows or glue…pot； or piling the coals on the fire of his forge。 The war； while it lasted； paralyzed some men to inactionNathan was one of them。
〃At last； Oliver； at last！〃 Nathan whispered to Oliver when Richard's head was turned for a moment。 〃Nothing now but plain sailing。 Ah！ it's a great day for dear Richard！ I couldn't sleep last night on the train for thinking of him。〃
As Oliver looked down into Nathan's eyes； glistening with hope and happiness； he wondered whether； after all these long years of waiting； his father's genius was really to be rewarded？ Was it the same old story of successone so often ending in defeat and gloom； he thought； or had the problem really been solved？ He knew that the machine had stood its initial test and had developed a certain lifting power； his father's word assured him of that； but would it continue to develop in proportion to its size？
He turned again toward Richard。 The dear face was a…light with a new certainty； the eyes brilliant； the smiles about the lips coming and going like summer clouds across the sun。 Such enthusiasm was not to be resisted。 A fresh hope rose in the son's heart。 Could this now almost assured success of his father's help him with Madge？ Would their long waiting come any nearer to being ended？ Would the sum of money realized be large enough to pay off the dreaded mortgage； and there still be enough for the dear home and its inmates？
He knew how large this hoped…for sum must be； and how closely his own and his mother's honor were involved in its cancellation。 Her letter had indeed stated the factsthis motor was now their only hope outside the work of his own brush。
Perhaps； after all； his lucky day had come。 The first gleam of light had been this order of Peter Fish's to paint his daughter； and now here； sitting beside him； was his father with a letter in his pocket addressed to Amos Cobb from one of the richest men in New York； who stood ready to pay a small fortune for the motor。 Then he thought of his mother。 What a delight it would be when she could be freed from the millstone that had hung around her neck for years。
He must go and tell Margaret and take his father and Nathan with him。 Yes； his lucky day HAD come。
Soon the two delighted and astonished old gentlemen； under Oliver's guidance； were making their way up Broadway ostensibly to see his picture at Snedecor's； but really to call upon the distinguished painter； Margaret Grant； whom everyone was talking about； both in New York and in Kennedy Square； for one of her pictures graced Miss Clendenning's boudoir at that very moment。 Our young Romeo had waited too many months for someone from Kennedy Square to see the woman he loved； and now that the arms of his father and Nathan were linked in his own； and their legs subject to his orders； he did not intend to let many precious minutes pass before he rang Margaret's studio bell。
When Snedecor's window was reached Richard stopped short in amazement。
〃Yours； Oliver！ Marvellous！ Marvellous！〃 Richard exclaimed； when the three had wedged their way into the crowd to see the better。 〃A fine strong picture； and a most superb looking woman。 Why； I had no idea！ Really！ Really〃and his voice trembled。 He was deeply touched。 The strength of the coloring； the masterly drawing； the admiring crowd about the window； greatly surprised him。 While he had been closeted with his invention； thinking only of its success and bending every energy for its completion； this boy of his had become a master。
〃I didn't do my full duty to you； my son；〃 he said； with a tone of sadness in his voice； when they had resumed their walk up Broadway。 〃You lost much time in finding your life's work。 I should have insisted years ago that you follow the trend of your genius。 Your dear mother was not willing and I let it go； but it was wrong。 From something she said to me the other night I feel sure she sees her mistake now； but I never mention it to her； and do you never let her know I told you。 Yes！ You started too late in life； my boy。〃
〃No； dear old daddy； I started just in the nick of time and in the right way。〃
How could he have thought anything else on this lovely spring morning； with the brightest of skies overhead； his first important order within his grasp； his dear old father and Nathan beside him； and the loveliest girl in the world or on the planets beyond waiting for him at the top of her studio stairs！
〃It's most kind of you to say so；〃 continued Richard； dodging the people as he talked； 〃but couldn't you have learned to work by following your own tastes？〃
〃No dad。 I was too confounded lazy and too fond of fun。 And then the dear mother wanted me to go to work； and that was always enough for me。〃
〃Oh； my son； it does me good to hear you say so〃 and a light shone on the old gentleman's face。 〃Yes！ you ALWAYS considered your mother。 You can't think how she has suffered during these terrible years。 But for the good offices of Mr。 Cobb whose kindness I shall never forget； I do not see how she could have gone through them as she has。 Isn't it fine； my son； to think it is all over？ She will never have to worry againnevernever。 The motor will end all her troubles。 She did not believe in it once； but she does now。
They continued on up Broadway； Oliver in the middle； Richard's arm in his； he hurrying them both along； steering them across the streets； avoiding the trucks and dragging them past the windows they wanted to look into； with promises of plenty of time for that to…morrow or next week。 Only once did he allow them to catch their breath； and that was when they passed the big bronze statue overlooking Union Square； and then only long enough for the two to take in its outlines； and from its pedestal to fix their eyes on the little windows of Miss Teetum's boarding… house； where he' had spent so many happy and unhappy days。
Soon the two breathless old gentlemen and equally breathless young guidethe first condition due to the state of the two old gentlemen's lungs and the second due entirely to the state of this particular young gentleman's heartstood in a doorway just off Madison Square； before a small bell…pull bearing above it a tiny sign reading： 〃Margaret Grant。 Top Floor。〃
〃Miss Grant has been at home only a few months；〃 Oliver burst out as he rang the bell and climbed the stairs。 〃Since her father's death she has been in Paris with her mother； her cousin； Higbee Shaw the sculptor； and her brother John。 A shell injured the drum of John's ear； and while she painted he was under the care of a French specialist。 He is still there with his mother。 If you think I can paint just wait until you see Miss Grant's work。 Think； dad！ she has taken two medals in Munich； and last year had honorable mention at the Salon。 You remember her brother； of course； don't you； Uncle Nat； the one Malachi hid over father's shop？〃
Uncle Nat nodded his head as he toiled up the steps。 He remembered every hour of the hideous nightmare。 He had been the one other man besides Richard and the Chief of Police to shake Oliver's hand that fatal night when he was exiled from Kennedy Square。
