Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter III
Butthelandoncesettledupon,theP.andS.W.seemedtobeinnohurryastofixingexactlythevalueofitssectionsincludedinthevariousranchesandofferingthemforsale.Thematterdraggedalongfromyeartoyear,wasforgottenformonthstogether,beingonlybroughttomindonsuchoccasionsasthis,whentherumourspreadthattheGeneralOfficewasabouttotakedefiniteactionintheaffair.
“Assoonastherailroadwantstotalkbusinesswithme,”observedAnnixter,“aboutsellingmetheirinterestinQuienSabe,I’mready.Thelandhasmorethanquadrupledinvalue.I’llbetIcouldsellitto-morrowforfifteendollarsanacre,andifIbuyoftherailroadfortwoandahalfanacre,there’sboodleinthegame.”
“Fortwoandahalf!”exclaimedGenslinger.“Youdon’tsupposetherailroadwilllettheirlandgoforanysuchfigureasthat,doyou?Whereverdidyougetthatidea?”
“Fromthecircularsandpamphlets,”answeredHarran,“thattherailroadissuedtouswhentheyopenedtheselands.Theyarepledgedtothat.EventheP.andS.W.couldn’tbreaksuchapledgeasthat.Youarenewinthecountry,Mr.Genslinger.Youdon’tremembertheconditionsuponwhichwetookupthisland.”
“Andourimprovements,”exclaimedAnnixter.“Why,MagnusandIhaveputaboutfivethousanddollarsbetweenusintothatirrigatingditchalready.Iguesswearenotimprovingthelandjusttomakeitvaluablefortherailroadpeople.
