Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter V.
Earlierintheafternoon,theeditorhaddrivenuptotheporchandhadaskedMrs.Derrick,whomhefoundreadingabookofpoemsontheporch,ifhecouldseeMagnus.Atthetime,theGovernorhadgonewithPhelpstoinspecttheconditionoftheyoungwheatonHooven’sholding,butwithinhalfanhourhereturned,andGenslingerhadaskedhimfora“fewmoments’talkinprivate.”
Thetwowentintothe“office,”Magnuslockingthedoorbehindhim.“Verycompleteyouarehere,Governor,”observedtheeditorinhisalert,jerkymanner,hisblack,bead-likeeyestwinklingaroundtheroomfrombehindhisglasses.“Telephone,safe,ticker,account-books—well,that’sprogress,isn’tit?Onlywaytomanageabigranchthesedays.Butthedayofthebigranchisover.Asthelandappreciatesinvalue,thetemptationtoselloffsmallholdingswillbetoostrong.Andthenthesmallholdingcanbecultivatedtobetteradvantage.Ishallhaveaneditorialonthatsomeday.”
“Thecostofmaintaininganumberofsmallholdings,”saidMagnus,indifferently,“is,ofcourse,greaterthaniftheywereallunderonemanagement.”
“Thatmaybe,thatmaybe,”rejoinedtheother.
Therewasalongpause.Genslingerleanedbackinhischairandrubbedaknee.Magnus,standingerectinfrontofthesafe,waitedforhimtospeak.
“Thisisanunfortunatebusiness,Governor,”begantheeditor,“thismisunderstandingbetweentheranchersandtheRailroad.Iwishitcouldbeadjusted.HEREaretwoindustriesthatMUSTbeinharmonywithoneanother,orweallgotopot.
