Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           We’vegotDisbrowyouknow;andthenextthingistogetholdofsomeofthoserottenSanFranciscobosses.Ostermanwill——”ButHarraninterruptedhim,makingaquickgesturewithhishand.

           “Don’ttellmeaboutit,”hesaid.“Idon’twanttoknowwhatyouandOstermanaregoingtodo.IfIdid,Ishouldn’tcomein.”

           Yet,forallthis,beforetheysaidgood-byeAnnixterhadobtainedHarran’spromisethathewouldattendthenextmeetingoftheCommittee,whenOstermanshouldreturnfromLosAngelesandmakehisreport.HarranwentontowardLosMuertos.AnnixtermountedandrodeintoBonneville.

           Bonnevillewasverylivelyatalltimes.Itwasalittlecityofsometwentyorthirtythousandinhabitants,where,asyet,thecityhall,thehighschoolbuilding,andtheoperahousewereobjectsofcivicpride.Itwaswellgoverned,beautifullyclean,fulloftheenergyandstrenuousyounglifeofanewcity.Anairofthebriskestactivitypervadeditsstreetsandsidewalks.Thebusinessportionofthetown,centringaboutMainStreet,wasalwayscrowded.Annixter,arrivingatthePostOffice,foundhimselfinvolvedinasceneofswiftlyshiftingsightsandsounds.Saddlehorses,farmwagons—theinevitableStudebakers—buggiesgreywiththedustofcountryroads,buckboardswithsquashesandgrocerypackagesstowedundertheseat,two-wheeledsulkiesandtrainingcarts,werehitchedtothegnawedrailingsandzinc-sheathedtelegraphpolesalongthecurb.Hereandthere,ontheedgeofthesidewalk,werebicycles,wedgedintobicyclerackspaintedwithcigaradvertisements.