Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           ”

           Hewasobdurate,andlateoneafternoonthecoupleboardedtheTranscontinental(thecrackOverlandFlyerofthePacificandSouthwestern)attheOaklandmole.OnlyHilma’sparentsweretheretosaygood-bye.AnnixterknewthatMagnusandOstermanwereinthecity,buthehadlaidhisplanstoeludethem.Magnus,hecouldtrusttobedignified,butthatgoatOsterman,onecouldnevertellwhathewoulddonext.Hedidnotproposetostarthisjourneyhomeinashowerofrice.Annixtermarcheddownthelineofcars,hishandsencumberedwithwickertelescopebaskets,satchels,andvalises,histicketsinhismouth,hishatonwrongsideforemost,Hilmaandherparentshurryingonbehindhim,tryingtokeepup.Annixterwasinaturmoilofnerveslestsomethingshouldgowrong;catchingatrainwasalwaysforhimalittlecrisis.HerushedaheadsofuriouslythatwhenhehadfoundhisPullmanhehadlosthisparty.Hesetdownhisvalisestomarktheplaceandchargedbackalongtheplatform,wavinghisarms.

           “Comeon,”hecried,when,atlength,heespiedtheothers.“We’venomoretime.”

           Heshoulderedandurgedthemforwardtowherehehadsethisvalises,onlytofindoneofthemgone.Instantlyheraisedanoutcry.Aha,afinewaytotreatpassengers!TherewasP.andS.W.managementforyou.Hewould,bytheLord,hewould—buttheporterappearedinthevestibuleofthecartoplacatehim.Hehadalreadytakenhisvalisesinside.

           AnnixterwouldnotpermitHilma’sparentstoboardthecar,declaringthatthetrainmightpulloutanymoment.