She had courage. "Father," she called out. "Pa! Come here--at once!"
Rawn rose suddenly up from his chair at the startling quality in her voice. "What's that, Grace?" he called across the long gallery.
"Come here, I want you! We've got something to say to you."
Rawn approached slowly, obviously annoyed. "If it's important--" he began. He had found love-making to his young wife especially delicious this evening, although he mistook her strange silence and preoccupation merely for wifely coyness.
"It is important!" Grace exclaimed; and rising, clutched at his arm.
"Well, then, what's it all about, what's it about? Come, come!"
"Charley's _done_ it, he's _got_ it--he's got the machines _finished_--over there--!" Her voice was almost a scream, hoarse, croaking. She stood bent, tense.
"What's that?" demanded Rawn. "What do you mean? Is that the truth, boy?"
"He came over in his own car, under International overhead--he told me so, right now," she went on, half hysterically. "You owe him money--a lot, a pile of money--he told me so right now--it's worth more than any fifty thousand. Oh, we're going to have money too. You see!"
Rawn shook off her arm and half flung her back in her chair. "What's this about, Halsey?" he said. "Is it true?"
Rawn half-assailed him, his large hand on his shoulder. "_Did you get the current?_" he demanded. "Did you really come over under power out of one of our overheads?"
"Yes, to-night," said Halsey calmly. "Often before."
"Why, my boy, my boy!" began John Rawn. At once he stood back, large, complaisant, jubilant. "My boy!" was all he could say. Not even his soul could at once figure out in full acceptance all the future which these quiet words implied.
"Come!" he explained after a moment, excitedly. "Let's get to the telephone! I want the wires right away! I'll make a million out of this before morning!"
"And write me a check for my fifty thousand to-night?" smiled Halsey.
"Surely I will--I've told you I would--I'll do more than that--I'll make it a twenty-five thousand extra for good measure. I'll have the check taken care of to-morrow at my bank, as soon as I can get down-town! Oh, things'll begin to _happen_ now, I promise you!"
"I wouldn't be in too big a hurry to use the wire, Mr. Rawn," said Charles Halsey quietly. "And never mind about your check."