Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter IV
AsAnnixter’steamtrottedthroughthecentralportionofthetown,youngVaccapointedtoadenserandlargercrowdaroundtherearentranceoftheCityHall.Fullytwentysaddlehorsesweretiedtotheironrailunderneaththescant,half-growntreesnearby,andasAnnixterandHilmadroveby,thecrowdpartedandadozenmenwithrevolversontheirhipspushedtheirwaytothecurbstone,and,mountingtheirhorses,rodeawayatagallop.
“It’stheposse,”saidyoungVacca.
Outsidethetownlimitsthegroundwaslevel.Therewasnothingtoobstructtheview,andtothenorth,inthedirectionofOsterman’sranch,Vaccamadeoutanotherpartyofhorsemen,gallopingeastward,andbeyondthesestillanother.
“There’retheotherposses,”heannounced.“ThatfurtheroneisArchieMoore’s.He’sthesheriff.HecamedownfromVisaliaonaspecialenginethismorning.”
Whentheteamturnedintothedrivewaytotheranchhouse,Hilmautteredalittlecry,claspingherhandsjoyfully.Thehousewasoneglitterofnewwhitepaint,thedrivewayhadbeenfreshlygravelled,theflower-bedsreplenished.Mrs.Vaccaandherdaughter,whohadbeenbusyputtingonthefinishingtouches,cametothedoortowelcomethem.
“What’sthiscasehere?”askedAnnixter,when,afterhelpinghiswifefromthecarry-all,hiseyefelluponawoodenboxofsomethreebyfivefeetthatstoodontheporchandboretheredWells-Fargolabel.
“Itcameherelastnight,addressedtoyou,sir,”exclaimedMrs.Vacca.“Weweresureitwasn’tanyofyourfurniture,sowedidn’topenit.
