Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter III
Itsaysinsomanywordsthatanyimprovementswemakewillnotbeconsideredwhenthelandisappraisedandthat’sthesamething,isn’tit?Theunimprovedlandisworthtwo-fiftyanacre;onlytimberlandisworthmoreandthere’snonetoomuchtimberabouthere.”
“Well,onethingatatime,”saidHarran.“ThethingforusnowistogetintothisprimaryelectionandtheconventionandseeifwecanpushourmenforRailroadCommissioners.”
“Right,”declaredAnnixter.Herose,stretchinghisarmsabovehishead.“I’veabouttalkedallthewindoutofme,”hesaid.“ThinkI’llbemovingalong.It’sprettynearmidnight.”
ButwhenMagnus’sgueststurnedtheirattentiontothematterofreturningtotheirdifferentranches,theyabruptlyrealisedthatthedownpourhaddoubledandtrebledinitsvolumesinceearlierintheevening.Thefieldsandroadswereveritableseasofviscidmud,thenightabsolutelyblack-dark;assuredlynotanightinwhichtoventureout.MagnusinsistedthatthethreeranchersshouldputupatLosMuertos.Ostermanacceptedatonce,Annixter,afteraninterminablediscussion,allowedhimselftobepersuaded,intheendacceptingasthoughgrantingafavour.Brodersonprotestedthathiswife,whowasnotwell,wouldexpecthimtoreturnthatnightandwould,nodoubt,fretifhedidnotappear.Furthermore,helivedcloseby,atthejunctionoftheCountyandLowerRoad.
