Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter IV
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“Hoh!Wife!BuckAnnixtermarry!Notmuch.He’sgonea-girlingatlast,oldBuck!It’sasfunnyastwins.HavetojoshhimaboutitwhenIseehim,sure.”
ButwhenOstermanandMagnusatlastfellinwithAnnixterinthevestibuleoftheLickHouse,onMontgomeryStreet,nothingcouldbegotoutofhim.Hewasinanexecrablehumour.WhenMagnushadbroachedthesubjectofbusiness,hehaddeclaredthatallbusinesscouldgotopot,andwhenOsterman,histongueinhischeek,hadpermittedhimselfamostdistantallusiontoafeemalegirl,Annixterhadcursedhimfora“busy-face”sovociferouslyandtersely,thatevenOstermanwascowed.
“Well,”insinuatedOsterman,“whatareyoudallying’round’Friscosomuchfor?”
“Catfur,tomakekitten-breeches,”retortedAnnixterwithoracularvagueness.
Twoweeksbeforethistime,AnnixterhadcomeuptothecityandhadgoneatoncetoacertainhotelonBushStreet,behindtheFirstNationalBank,thatheknewwaskeptbyafamilyconnectionoftheTrees.InhisconjecturethatHilmaandherparentswouldstophere,hewasright.Theirnameswereontheregister.Ignoringcustom,Annixtermarchedstraightuptotheirrooms,andbeforehewaswellawareofit,was“eatingcrow”beforeoldmanTree.
Hilmaandhermotherwereoutatthetime.Lateron,Mrs.Treereturnedalone,leavingHilmatospendthedaywithoneofhercousinswholivedfaroutonStanyanStreetinalittlehousefacingthepark.
