Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter VII
CrowdingthroughthethrongofLeaguers,Keastgotfromoffthestageintothewings.Herethecrowdwasnolessdense.Nearlyeveryonehadacopyofthe“Mercury.”Itwasbeingreadaloudtogroupshereandthere,andonceKeastoverheardthewords,“Say,Iwonderifthisistrue,afterall?”
“Well,andevenifitwas,”criedKeast,turninguponthespeaker,“weshouldbethelastonestokick.Inanycase,itwasdoneforourbenefit.ItelectedtheRanchers’Commission.”
“AlotofbenefitwegotoutoftheRanchers’Commission,”retortedtheother.
“Andthen,”protestedathirdspeaker,“thatain’tthewaytodo—ifheDIDdoit—bribinglegislatures.Why,wewerebuckingagainstcorruptpolitics.Wecouldn’taffordtobecorrupt.”
Keastturnedawaywithagestureofimpatience.Hepushedhiswayfartheron.Atlast,openingasmalldoorinahallwaybackofthestage,hecameuponMagnus.
Theroomwastiny.Itwasadressing-room.OnlytwonightsbeforeithadbeenusedbytheleadingactressofacomicoperatroupewhichhadplayedforthreenightsatBonneville.Atatteredsofaandlimpingtoilettableoccupiedathirdofthespace.Theairwasheavywiththesmellofstalegreasepaint,ointments,andsachet.Fadedphotographsofyoungwomenintightsandgauzesornamentedthemirrorandthewalls.Underneaththesofawasanoldpairofcorsets.Thespangledskirtofapinkdress,turnedinsideout,hungagainstthewall.
