Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           BeforethetrainhadcometoastandstillunderthearchedroofoftheBonnevilledepot,itwasallbuttakenbyassault.Annixter,withHilmaonhisarm,hadalmosttofighthiswayoutofthecar.Thedepotwasblackwithpeople.S.Behrmanwasthere,Delaney,CyrusRuggles,thetownmarshal,themayor.Genslinger,hishatonthebackofhishead,rangedthetrainfromcabtorear-lights,note-bookinhand,interviewing,questioning,collectingfactsforhisextra.AsAnnixterdescendedfinallytotheplatform,theeditor,alertasablack-and-tanterrier,histhin,osseoushandsquiveringwitheagerness,hisbrown,dryfaceworkingwithexcitement,caughthiselbow.

           “CanIhaveyourversionoftheaffair,Mr.Annixter?”

           Annixterturnedonhimabruptly.

           “Yes!”heexclaimedfiercely.“YouandyourgangdroveDykefromhisjobbecausehewouldn’tworkforstarvationwages.Thenyouraisedfreightratesonhimandrobbedhimofallhehad.YouruinedhimanddrovehimtofillhimselfupwithCaraher’swhiskey.He’sonlytakenbackwhatyouplunderedhimof,andnowyou’regoingtohoundhimovertheState,hunthimdownlikeawildanimal,andbringhimtothegallowsatSanQuentin.That’smyversionoftheaffair,MisterGenslinger,butit’sworthyoursubsidyfromtheP.andS.W.toprintit.”

           Therewasamurmurofapprovalfromthecrowdthatstoodaround,andGenslinger,withanangryshrugofoneshoulder,tookhimselfaway.

           Atlength,AnnixterbroughtHilmathroughthecrowdtowhereyoungVaccawaswaitingwiththeteam.