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Now that Hughes has been vindicated, and TWA's case against him in a mismanagement suit in Delaware weakened, he may devote his attention to investing the $150 million from last year's sale of Hughes Tool Co. stock. The sale allowed him to retain the company's helicopter and heavy-machinery businesses but dispose of its division that makes oil-drilling equipment. Hughes had never much cared for that operation, which he acquired at the age of 18 after his father died. A number of the firm's key drilling-equipment patents were about to expire, so Hughes found it an opportune time to divest. The remaining Hughes empire embraces airlines, electronics, gambling and real estate interests valued at more than $1 billion. If Hughes acts according to now-familiar tastes, he could well use the cash from the Hughes Tool stock sale to buy some ailing but important company in oil, transportation or entertainment. And now that he need not face harassment and interrogation in court, it is even possible that he may decide to show his face in public again.