Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter VIII
Iknowweoweyoumoney,butwheredidmymothergo?Ionlywanttofindher.”
“Oh,Iain’tgoingtobebothered,”shrilledtheother.“HowdoIknow?”
ThetruthofthematterwasthatMrs.Hooven,afraidtostayinthevicinityofthehouse,afterhereviction,andthreatenedwitharrestbythelandladyifshepersistedinhangingaround,hadleftwiththewomananotescrawledonanoldblotter,tobegiventoMinnawhenshereturned.Thisthelandladyhadlost.Tocoverherconfusion,sheaffectedavastindignation,andaturbulent,irascibledemeanour.
“Iain’tgoingtobebotheredwithsuchcattleasyou,”shevociferatedinMinna’sface.“Idon’tknowwhereyourfolksis.Me,Ionlyhavedealingswithhonestpeople.Iain’tgotawordtosaysolongastherentispaid.ButwhenI’msoldieredoutofaweek’slodging,thenI’mdone.Yougetrightalongnow.Idon’tknowyou.Iain’tgoingtohavemyplacegetabadnamebyhavinganySouthofMarketStreetchippieshangingaround.Yougetalong,orI’llcallanofficer.”
Minnasoughtthestreet,herheadinawhirl.Itwasaboutfiveo’clock.Inherpocketwasthirty-fivecents,allshehadintheworld.Whatnow?
Allatonce,theTerroroftheCity,thatblind,unreasonedfearthatonlytheoutcastknows,swoopeduponher,andclutchedhervulture-wise,bythethroat.
Herfirstfewdays’experienceinthematteroffindingemployment,hadtaughtherjustwhatshemightexpectfromthisnewworlduponwhichshehadbeenthrown.
