Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter III
”
“Oh,astopledges,”murmuredBroderson,“therailroadisnotalwaysTOOmuchhinderedbythose.”
“Where’sOsterman?”demandedAnnixter,abruptlychangingthesubjectasifitwerenotworthdiscussion.“Isn’tthatgoatOstermancomingdownhereto-night?”
“Youtelephonedhim,didn’tyou,Presley?”inquiredMagnus.
PresleyhadtakenPrincessNathalieuponhiskneestrokingherlong,sleekhair,andthecat,stupefiedwithbeatitude,hadclosedhereyestotwofinelines,clawingsoftlyatthecorduroyofPresley’strouserswithalternatepaws.
“Yes,sir,”returnedPresley.“Hesaidhewouldbehere.”
Andashespoke,youngOstermanarrived.
Hewasayoungfellow,butsingularlyinclinedtobaldness.Hisears,veryredandlarge,stuckoutatrightanglesfromeithersideofhishead,andhismouth,too,waslarge—agreathorizontalslitbeneathhisnose.Hischeekswereofabrownishred,thecheekbonesalittlesalient.Hisfacewasthatofacomicactor,asingerofsongs,amanneveratalossforananswer,continuallystrivingtomakealaugh.Buthetooknogreatinterestinranchingandleftthemanagementofhislandtohissuperintendentsandforemen,he,himself,livinginBonneville.Hewasaposer,awearerofclothes,foreveractingapart,strivingtocreateanimpression,todrawattentiontohimself.Hewasnotwithoutacertainenergy,buthedevotedittosmallends,toperfectinghimselfinlittleaccomplishments,continuallyrunningaftersomenewthing,incapableofpersistinglonginanyonecourse.
