Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter III
Hadn’tthatpipturneduponhisranchthatverydaytobullyhimabouthisownlinefence?Nexthewouldbetellinghimwhatkindofclothesheoughttowear.Harranhadtherightidea.Somebodyhadgottobebustedmightysoonnowandhedidn’tproposethatitshouldbehe.
“Nowyouaretalkingsomethinglikesense,”observedOsterman.“Ithoughtyouwouldseeitlikethatwhenyougotmyidea.”
“Youridea,YOURidea!”criedAnnixter.“Why,I’vehadthisideamyselfforoverthreeyears.”
“WhataboutDisbrow?”askedHarran,hasteningtointerrupt.“WhydowewanttoseeDisbrow?”
“DisbrowisthepoliticalmanfortheDenver,Pueblo,andMojave,”answeredOsterman,“andyouseeit’slikethis:theMojaveroaddon’trunupintothevalleyatall.Theirterminusiswaytothesouthofus,andtheydon’tcareanythingaboutgrainratesthroughtheSanJoaquin.Theydon’tcarehowanti-railroadtheCommissionis,becausetheCommission’srulingscan’taffectthem.ButtheydividetrafficwiththeP.andS.W.inthesouthernpartoftheStateandtheyhaveagooddealofinfluencewiththatroad.IwanttogettheMojaveroad,throughDisbrow,torecommendaCommissionerofourchoosingtotheP.andS.W.andhavetheP.andS.W.adopthimastheirown.”
“Who,forinstance?”
“Darrell,thatLosAngelesman—remember?”
“Well,DarrellisnoparticularfriendofDisbrow,”saidAnnixter.“WhyshouldDisbrowtakehimup?”
“PREE-cisely,”criedOsterman.“WemakeitworthDisbrow’swhiletodoit.Wegotohimandsay,’Mr.
