Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           ThatsliceofQuienSabe,accordingtotheRailroad’sgrading,isworthabouttenthousanddollars;yes,evenfifteen,andIdon’tbelieveDelaneyisworththepriceofagoodhorse.Why,thosepeopledon’teventrytopreserveappearances.WherewouldChristianfindthemoneytobuyLosMuertos?There’snoonemaninallBonnevillerichenoughtodoit.Damnedrascals!asifwedidn’tseethatChristianandDelaneyareS.Behrman’srightandlefthands.Well,he’llget’emcutoff,”hecriedwithsuddenfierceness,“ifhecomestoonearthemachine.”

           “Howisit,Harran,”askedPresleyasthetwoyoungmenrodeoutofthestableyard,“howisittheRailroadgangcandoanythingbeforetheSupremeCourthandsdownadecision?”

           “Well,youknowhowtheytalk,”growledHarran.“TheyhaveclaimedthatthecasestakenuptotheSupremeCourtwerenottestcasesasWEclaimtheyARE,andthatbecauseneitherAnnixternortheGovernorappealed,they’velosttheircasesbydefault.It’stherottenestkindofsharppractice,butitwon’tdoanygood.TheLeagueistoostrong.Theywon’tdaremoveonusyetawhile.Why,Pres,themomentthey’dtrytojumpanyoftheseranchesaroundhere,theywouldhavesixhundredriflescrackingatthemasquickashow-do-you-do.Why,itwouldtakearegimentofU.S.soldierstoputanyoneofusoffourland.No,sir;theyknowtheLeaguemeansbusinessthistime.