Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter II
Hewouldputanendtothesituationthattroubledhim,andvexedhim,dayafterday,monthaftermonth.Beyondquestion,themomenthadcomeforsomethingdefinite,hecouldnotsaypreciselywhat.Readjustinghiscigarbetweenhisteeth,heresumedhisspeech.Itsuitedhishumourtotakethegirlintohisconfidence,followinganinstinctwhichwarnedhimthatthiswouldbringaboutacertainclosenessoftheirrelations,acertainintimacy.
“Whatdoyouthinkofthisrow,anyways,MissHilma,—thisrailroadfussingeneral?ThinkShelgrimandhisrushersaregoingtojumpQuienSabe—aregoingtorunusofftheranch?”
“Oh,no,sir,”protestedHilma,stillbreathless.“Oh,no,indeednot.”
“Well,whatthen?”
Hilmamadealittleuncertainmovementofignorance.
“Idon’tknowwhat.”
“Well,theLeagueagreedto-daythatifthetestcaseswerelostintheSupremeCourt—youknowwe’veappealedtotheSupremeCourt,atWashington—we’dfight.”
“Fight?”
“Yes,fight.”
“Fightlike—likeyouandMr.Delaneythattimewith—oh,dear—withguns?”
“Idon’tknow,”grumbledAnnixtervaguely.“WhatdoYOUthink?”
Hilma’slow-pitched,almosthuskyvoicetrembledalittleasshereplied,“Fighting—withguns—that’ssoterrible.Oh,thoserevolversinthebarn!Icanhearthemyet.Everyshotseemedliketheexplosionoftonsofpowder.”
“Shallweclearout,then?ShallweletDelaneyhavepossession,andS.Behrman,andallthatlot?Shallwegiveintothem?”
“Never,never,”sheexclaimed,hergreateyesflashing.
