Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter IV
Heldhimupandtookhisgunawayfromhim.Say,youknowIcallthatnerve,justthesame.Onemanstandingupawholetrain-load,likethat.Then,assoonashe’dcuttheexpresscaroff,hemadetheengineerrunherupthetrackabouthalfamiletoaroadcrossing,WHEREHEHADAHORSETIED.Whatdoyouthinkofthat?Didn’thehaveitallfiguredoutclose?Andwhenhegotthere,hedynamitedthesafeandgottheWells-Fargobox.Hetookfivethousandingoldcoin;themessengersaysitwasrailroadmoneythatthecompanyweresendingdowntoBakersfieldtopayoffwith.Itwasinabag.Henevertouchedtheregisteredmail,norawholewadofgreenbacksthatwereinthesafe,butjusttookthecoin,gotonhishorse,andlitout.Theengineersayshewenttotheeast’ard.”
“Hegotaway,didhe?”
“Yes,buttheythinkthey’llgethim.Heworeakindofmask,butthebrakemanrecognisedhimpositively.Wegothisante-mortemstatement.Thebrakemansaidthefellowhadagrudgeagainsttheroad.Hewasadischargedemployee,andlivesnearBonneville.”
“Dyke,bytheLord!”exclaimedAnnixter.
“That’sthename,”saidtheyoungdoctor.
WhenthetrainarrivedatBonneville,fortyminutesbehindtime,itlandedAnnixterandHilmainthemidstoftheverythingtheymostwishedtoavoid—anenormouscrowd.ThenewsthattheOverlandhadbeenheldupthirtymilessouthofFresno,abrakemankilledandthesafelooted,andthatDykealonewasresponsibleforthenight’swork,hadbeenwiredonaheadfromFowler,thetrainconductorthrowingthedespatchtothestationagentfromtheflyingtrain.
