Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter IV
“Whathaveyoutosay,then?”criedHarran,who,untilnow,hadnotspoken.
“Ihavethistosay,”answeredLyman,makingheadasbesthemight,“thatthisisnoproperspiritinwhichtodiscussbusiness.TheCommissionhasfulfilleditsobligations.Ithasadjustedratestothebestofitsability.Wehavebeenatworkfortwomonthsonthepreparationofthisschedule——”
“That’salie,”shoutedAnnixter,hisfacescarlet;“that’salie.ThatschedulewasdrawnintheofficesofthePacificandSouthwesternandyouknowit.It’saschemeofratesmadefortheRailroadandbytheRailroadandyouwereboughtovertoputyournametoit.”
Therewasaconcertedoutburstatthewords.Allthemenintheroomwereontheirfeet,gesticulatingandvociferating.
“Gentlemen,gentlemen,”criedMagnus,“areweschoolboys,areweruffiansofthestreet?”
“We’reasetoffoolfarmersandwe’vebeenbetrayed,”criedOsterman.
“Well,whathaveyoutosay?Whathaveyoutosay?”persistedHarran,leaningacrossthetabletowardhisbrother.“ForGod’ssake,Lyman,you’vegotSOMEexplanation.”
“You’vemisunderstood,”protestedLyman,whiteandtrembling.“You’vemisunderstood.You’veexpectedtoomuch.Nextyear,—nextyear,—soonnow,theCommissionwilltakeupthe—theCommissionwillconsidertheSanJoaquinrate.We’vedoneourbest,thatisall.”
“Haveyou,sir?”demandedMagnus.
TheGovernor’sheadwasinawhirl;asensation,almostoffaintness,hadseizeduponhim.
