Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Atthemomenthewaswearingasilkskull-cap,pushedtoonesideandalittleawry,afrockcoatofbroadcloth,withlongsleeves,andawaistcoatfromthelowerbuttonsofwhichtheclothwaswornand,upontheedges,rubbedaway,showingthemetalunderneath.Atthetopthiswaistcoatwasunbuttonedandintheshirtfrontdisclosedweretwopearlstuds.

           Presley,uninvited,unnoticedapparently,satdown.Theassistantmanagerwasintheactofmakingareport.Hisvoicewasnotlowered,andPresleyheardeverywordthatwasspoken.

           Thereportprovedinteresting.Itconcernedabook-keeperintheofficeoftheauditorofdisbursements.Itseemshewasatmosttimesthoroughlyreliable,hard-working,industrious,ambitious.Butatlongintervalstheviceofdrunkennessseizeduponthemanandforthreedaysrodehimlikeahag.Notonlyduringtheperiodofthisintemperance,butforthefewdaysimmediatelyfollowing,themanwasuseless,hisworkuntrustworthy.Hewasafamilymanandearnestlystrovetoridhimselfofhishabit;hewas,whensober,valuable.Inconsiderationofthesefacts,hehadbeenpardonedagainandagain.

           “Youremember,Mr.Shelgrim,”observedthemanager,“thatyouhavemorethanonceinterferedinhisbehalf,whenweweredisposedtolethimgo.Idon’tthinkwecandoanythingwithhim,sir.Hepromisestoreformcontinually,butitisthesameoldstory.Thislasttimewesawnothingofhimforfourdays.Honestly,Mr.Shelgrim,IthinkweoughttoletTentellout.Wecan’taffordtokeephim.Heisreallylosingustoomuchmoney.