Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           However,theycouldnotatoncestartfortheranch,Annixterwishingtoasksomequestionsatthefreightofficeaboutafinalconsignmentofchairs.Itwasnearlyeleveno’clockbeforetheycouldstarthome.ButtogaintheUpperRoadtoQuienSabe,itwasnecessarytotraverseallofMainStreet,runningthroughtheheartofBonneville.

           Theentiretownseemedtobeuponthesidewalks.Bynowtherainwasoverandthesunshining.Thestoryofthehold-up—theworkofamanwhomeveryoneknewandliked—wasineverymouth.HowhadDykecometodoit?Whowouldhavebelieveditofhim?Thinkofhispoormotherandthelittletad.Well,afterall,hewasnotsomuchtoblame;therailroadpeoplehadbroughtitonthemselves.Buthehadshotamantodeath.Ah,thatwasaseriousbusiness.Good-natured,big,broad-shouldered,jovialDyke,themantheyknew,withwhomtheyhadshakenhandsonlyyesterday,yes,anddrankwithhim.Hehadshotaman,killedhim,hadstoodthereinthedarkandintherainwhiletheywereasleepintheirbeds,andhadkilledaman.Nowwherewashe?Instinctivelyeyeswereturnedeastward,overthetopsofthehouses,ordownvistasofsidestreetstowherethefoot-hillsofthemountainsrosedimandvastovertheedgeofthevalley.Hewasinamongstthem;somewhere,inallthatpileofbluecrestsandpurplecanyonshewashiddenaway.Nowforweeksofsearching,falsealarms,clews,trailings,watchings,allthethrillandheart-burstingexcitementofaman-hunt.Wouldhegetaway?Hardlyamanonthesidewalksofthetownthatdaywhodidnothopeforit.