the fortunes of oliver horn-第25章
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mething else in the great city besides cruelty and misery； money…getting and money… spendingsomething of unselfishness； sympathy and love。
The two sat on the steps of Fred's boarding…house that house where Oliver was to spend so many happy days of his after…lifeuntil there was only time enough to catch the barge。 Reluctantly he bade his new…found comrade good…by and； waving his hand； turned the corner in the direction of the dock。
The edge of Oliver's cloud had at last caught the light！
CHAPTER VIII
AN OLD SONG
Not only had the sunshine of a new friendship illumined the edge of Oliver's clouds； but before the week was out a big breeze laden with success had swept them so far out to sea； that none but the clearest of skies radiant with hope now arched above his happy face。
A paste…board sign had wrought this miracle。
One day he had been tramping the lower parts of the city； down among the docks； near Coenties Slip； looking up the people who on former visits had said： 〃Some other time； perhaps；〃 or 〃If we should have room for another man we will be glad to remember you；〃 or 〃We know Mr。 Cobb； and shall be pleased；〃 etc。； etc。； when he chanced to espy a strange sign tacked outside a warehouse door； a sign which bore the unheard…of…announcementunheard of to Oliver； especially the last word； 〃Shipping Clerk WANTED。〃
No one； for weeks； had WANTED anything that Oliver could furnish。 Strangely enough too； as he afterward discovered； the bullet…headed Dutch porter had driven the last tack into the clean； white； welcome face of the sign only five minutes before Oliver stopped in front of it。 Still more out of the common； and still more incomprehensible； was the reply made to him by the head salesman； whom he found just inside the doora wiry； restless little man with two keen black eyes； and a perfectly bald head。
〃Yes； if you can mark boxes decently； can show any references； don't want too much pay； and can come NOW。 We're short of a boy； and it's our busy season。〃
Oh！ blessed be Mr。 Crocker； thought Oliver； as he picked up a marking…brush； stirred it round and round in the tin pot filled with lamp…black and turpentine； and to his own and the clerk's delight； painted； on a clean board； rapidly and clearly； and in new letters toonew to the clerkthe full address of the bald…headed man's employers：
MORTON； SLADE & CO。； 121 PEARL STREET； NEW YORK。
More amazing still were the announcements made by the same bald…headed man after Oliver had shown him Amos Cobb's recommendations： Oliver was to come to work in the morning； the situation to be permanent provided Cobb confirmed by letter the good wishes he had previously expressed； and provided Mr。 Morton； the senior partner； approved of the bald… head's action； of which the animated billiard…ball said there was not the slightest doubt as he； the ball； had charge of the shipping department； and was responsible for its efficiency。
All of these astounding； incomprehensible and amazing occurrences Oliver had written to his mother； ending his letter by declaring in his enthusiasm that it was his art； after all； which had pulled him through； and that but for his readiness with the brush； he would still be a tramp； instead of 〃rolling in luxury on the huge sum of eight dollars a week； with every probability of becoming a partner in the house； and later on a millionnaire。〃 To which the dear lady had replied； that she was delighted to know he had pleased his employers； but that what had pleased her most was his never having lost heart while trying to win his first fight； adding： 〃The second victory will come more easily； my darling boy； and so will each one hereafter。〃 Poor lady； she never knew how sore that boy's feet had been； nor how many times he had gone with half a meal or none at all； for fear of depleting too much the small store she had given him when he left home。
With his success still upon him； he had sallied forth to call upon young Fred Stone who had grasped his hand so warmly the night he had rescued the dog from the street…boys； and whose sympathy had gone out to him so freely。 He had written him of his good fortune； and Fred had replied； begging him to call upon him； and had appointed this same Friday night as the night of all others when he could entertain him best。
But Oliver is not the same boy who said good…by to Fred that moonlight night the week before。 His eyes are brighter； his face is a…glow with ill…concealed pleasure。 Even his step shows the old…time spring and lightness of the days at homeon his toes part of the time； as if restraining an almost uncontrollable impulse to stop and throw one or two hand… springs just to relieve the pressure on his nerves。
When he reached the bench in the Square where he had sat so many nights with his head in his hands； one of those quick outbursts of enthusiasm took possession of him； the kind that sets young hearts singing with joy when some sudden shift of hope's kaleidoscope opens a wide horizon brilliant with the light of future success。 With an exclamation of boyish glee he plumped himself down upon the hard planks of the bench； and jumped up again； pirouetting on his toe and slanting his hat over one eye as if in a spirit of sheer bravado against fate。 Then he sauntered out of the iron gate to Fred's house。
Even as he waited on the stone steps of Miss Teeturn's boarding…house for the dowdy servant…girl's returnsuch dirty； unkempt steps as they were； and such a dingy door…plate； spotted with rain and dust； not like Malachi's； he thoughthe could hardly restrain himself from beating Juba with his foot； a plantation trick Malachi had taught him； keeping time the while with the palms of his hands on his shapely legs。
Meanwhile another young enthusiast is coming downstairs three steps at a time； this one bare… headed； all out of breath； and without a coat； who pours out his heart to the first Juba…beating enthusiast as the two climb the stairs together to the second enthusiast's room on the very top floor。 He tells him of his delight at seeing him again and of the lot of fellows waiting to welcome him under the skylight； and of what a jolly lot the 〃Skylarkers〃 really are； and of Mr。 Slade； Oliver's employer； whom Fred knows and who comes from Fred's own town； and of how much Mr。 Slade likes a certain new clerk； one Oliver Horn； of Kennedy Square； he having said so the night before； this same Horn being the precise individual whose arm at that very moment was locked in Fred's own and which was now getting an extra squeeze merely for the purposes of identification。
All of this Fred poured into Oliver's willing ear without stopping to take breath； as they mounted the four long flights of stairs that led to the top floor； where； under the roof； there lived a group of Bohemians as unique in their personalities as could be found the great city over。
When the two pairs of feet had at last reached the last flight of steps under the flat roof of the house； the 〃Skylarkers〃 were singing 〃Old Dog Tray〃 at the top of their voices； to the accompaniment of a piano； and of some other instruments； the character of which our young hero failed to recognize； although the strains had grown louder and louder as the young men mounted the stairs。
As Oliver stood in the open doorway and looked in through the haze of tobacco…smoke upon the group； he instantly became conscious that a new world had opened before him； a world； as he had always pictured it； full of mystery and charm； peopled by a race as fascinating to him as any Mr。 Crocker had ever described； and as new and strange as if its members had been the denizens of another planet。
The interior was not a room； but a square low…ceiled hall into which opened some six or more small bedrooms； slept in； whenever sleep was possible； by an equal number of Miss Teetum's boarders。 The construction and appointments of this open garret； with two exceptions； were similar to those of all other garrets of its class： it had walls and ceiling； once whitewashed； and now discolored by roof… leaks from a weather…beaten skylight； its floor was bare of carpet； and its well…worn woodwork was stained with time and use。 Chairs； however； were s
