Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter V
“Three-fourthspaymentforthesectionsofrailroadlandincludedinmyranch,basedonavaluationoftwodollarsandahalfperacre.Youcanhavethebalanceinsixty-daynotes.”
Rugglesshookhishead,drawinghastilybackfromthecheckasthoughitcarriedcontamination.
“Ican’ttouchit,”hedeclared.“I’venoauthoritytoselltoyouyet.”
“Idon’tunderstandyoupeople,”exclaimedAnnixter.“Iofferedtobuyofyouthesamewayfouryearsagoandyousangthesamesong.Why,itisn’tbusiness.Youlosetheinterestonyourmoney.Sevenpercent.ofthatcapitalforfouryears—youcanfigureitout.It’sbigmoney.”
“Well,then,Idon’tseewhyyou’resokeenonpartingwithit.Youcangetsevenpercent.thesameasus.”
“Iwanttoownmyownland,”returnedAnnixter.“Iwanttofeelthateverylumpofdirtinsidemyfenceismypersonalproperty.Why,theveryhouseIliveinnow—theranchhouse—standsonrailroadground.”
“But,you’veanoption”
“ItellyouIdon’twantyourcursedoption.Iwantownership;andit’sthesamewithMagnusDerrickandoldBrodersonandOstermanandalltheranchersofthecounty.Wewanttoownourland,wanttofeelwecandoasweblamepleasewithit.SupposeIshouldwanttosellQuienSabe.Ican’tsellitasawholetillI’veboughtofyou.Ican’tgiveanybodyacleartitle.ThelandhasdoubledinvaluetentimesoveragainsinceIcameinonitandimprovedit.It’swortheasilytwentyanacrenow.
