Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Butlongafterthepriestsandaltarboyshaddepartedfromthechancel,Minnastillsatinthedim,echoinginterior,confrontingherdesperatesituationasbestshemight.

           Twoorthreehourslater,thesextonwokeher.Thechurchwasbeingclosed;shemustleave.Oncemore,chilledwiththesharpnightair,numbwithlongsittinginthesameattitude,stilloppressedwithdrowsiness,confused,frightened,Minnafoundherselfonthepavement.Shebegantobehungry,and,atlength,yieldingtothedemandthateverymomentgrewmoreimperious,boughtandeagerlydevouredafive-centbagoffruit.Then,oncemoreshetookuptheroundofwalking.

           Atlength,inanobscurestreetthatbranchedfromKearneyStreet,nearthecornerofthePlaza,shecameuponanilluminatedsign,bearingtheinscription,“BedsfortheNight,15and25cents.”

           Fifteencents!Couldsheaffordit?Itwouldleaveherwithonlythatmuchmore,thatmuchbetweenherselfandastateofprivationofwhichshedarednotthink;and,besides,theforbiddinglookofthebuildingfrightenedher.Itwasdark,gloomy,dirty,aplacesuggestiveofobscurecrimesandhiddenterrors.Fortwentyminutesorhalfanhour,shehesitated,walkingtwiceandthreetimesaroundtheblock.Atlast,shemadeuphermind.Exhaustionsuchasshehadneverknown,weighedlikeleaduponhershouldersanddraggedatherheels.Shemustsleep.Shecouldnotwalkthestreetsallnight.Sheenteredthedoor-wayunderthesign,andfoundherwayupafilthyflightofstairs.Atthetop,amaninabluechecked“jumper”wasfillingalampbehindahighdesk.