Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter VIII
Hooven,askingnoone’saidoradvice,andtakingwithherMinnaandlittleHilda,hadgonetoSanFrancisco—hadgonetofindwork,abandoningLosMuertosandherhomeforever.Presleyonlylearnedofthedepartureofthefamilyafterfifteendayshadelapsed.
Atonce,however,thesuspicionforceditselfuponhimthatMrs.Hooven—andMinna,tooforthematterofthat—country-bred,ignorantofcityways,mighteasilycometogriefinthehard,hugestruggleofcitylife.Thissuspicionhadswiftlyhardenedtoaconviction,actingatlastuponwhichPresleyhadfollowedthemtoSanFrancisco,bentuponfindingandassistingthem.
ThehousetowhichPresleywasledbytheaddressinhismemorandumbookwasacheapbutfairlydecenthotelnearthepowerhouseoftheCastroStreetcable.HeinquiredforMrs.Hooven.
ThelandladyrecollectedtheHoovensperfectly.
“Germanwoman,withalittlegirl-baby,andanolderdaughter,sure.Theolderdaughterwasmainpretty.SureIrememberthem,buttheyain’therenomore.Theyleftaweekago.Ihadtoaskthemfortheirroom.Asitwas,theyowedaweek’sroom-rent.Mister,Ican’tafford——”
“Well,doyouknowwheretheywent?Didyouhearwhataddresstheyhadtheirtrunkexpressedto?”
“Ah,yes,theirtrunk,”vociferatedthewoman,clappingherhandstoherhips,herfacepurpling.“Theirtrunk,ah,sure.Igottheirtrunk,andwhatareyougoingtodoaboutit?I’mholdingittillIgetmymoney.Whathaveyougottosayaboutit?Let’shearit.”
Presleyturnedawaywithagestureofdiscouragement,hisheartsinking.
