Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter II
Annixter,”saidhe,pullingup.“Kindofsortofwet,isn’tit?”
Annixter,hisfacesuddenlyscarlet,satbackinhisplaceabruptly,exclaiming:
“Oh—oh,thereyouare,areyou?”
“I’vebeendownthere,”explainedDelaney,withamotionofhisheadtowardtherailroad,“tomendthatbreakinthefencebytheLongTrestleandIthoughtwhileIwasaboutitI’dfollowdownalongthefencetowardGuadalajaratoseeiftherewereanymorebreaks.ButIguessit’sallright.”
“Oh,youguessit’sallright,doyou?”observedAnnixterthroughhisteeth.
“Why—why—yes,”returnedtheother,bewilderedatthetruculentringinAnnixter’svoice.“ImendedthatbreakbytheLongTrestlejustnowand——
“Well,whydidn’tyoumenditaweekago?”shoutedAnnixterwrathfully.“I’vebeenlookingforyouallthemorning,Ihave,andwhotoldyouyoucouldtakethatbuckskin?Andthesheepwereallovertherightofwaylastnightbecauseofthatbreak,andherethatfilthypip,S.Behrman,comesdownherethismorningandwantstomaketroubleforme.”Suddenlyhecriedout,“WhatdoIFEEDyoufor?WhatdoIkeepyouaroundherefor?Thinkit’sjusttofattenupyourcarcass,hey?”
“Why,Mr.Annixter——”beganDelaney.
“Anddon’tTALKtome,”vociferatedtheother,excitinghimselfwithhisownnoise.“Don’tyousayawordtomeeventoapologise.IfI’vespokentoyouonceaboutthatbreak,I’vespokenfiftytimes.”
“Why,sir,”declaredDelaney,beginningtogetindignant,“thesheepdiditthemselveslastnight.
