Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter VIII
Shewalkedawaytothenextstreet-crossing.Then,inafewmomentsreturned,takingupherplaceonthecornerneartheboarding-house,spyingupontheapproachingcablecars,peepinganxiouslydownthelengthofthesidewalks.
Oncemore,theofficerorderedheraway,andoncemore,unprotesting,shecomplied.Butwhenforthethirdtimethepolicemanfoundherontheforbiddenspot,hehadlosthistemper.ThistimewhenMrs.Hoovendeparted,hehadfollowedher,andwhen,bewildered,persistent,shehadattemptedtoturnback,hecaughtherbytheshoulder.
“Doyouwanttogetarrested,hey?”hedemanded.“Doyouwantmetolockyouup?Say,doyou,speakup?”
TheominouswordsatlengthreachedMrs.Hooven’scomprehension.Arrested!Shewastobearrested.Thecountrywoman’sfearoftheJailnippedandbiteagerlyatherunwillingheels.Shehurriedoff,thinkingtoreturntoherpostafterthepolicemanshouldhavegoneaway.Butwhen,atlength,turningback,shetriedtofindtheboarding-house,shesuddenlydiscoveredthatshewasonanunfamiliarstreet.Unwittingly,nodoubt,shehadturnedacorner.Shecouldnotretracehersteps.SheandHildawerelost.
“Mammy,I’mtired,”Hildacomplained.
Hermotherpickedherup.
“Mammy,where’rewegowun,mammy?”
Where,indeed?Stupefied,Mrs.Hoovenlookedaboutherattheendlessblocksofbuildings,theendlessprocessionofvehiclesinthestreets,theendlessmarchofpedestriansonthesidewalks.WherewasMinna;wherewassheandherbabytosleepthatnight?HowwasHildatobefed?
Shecouldnotstandstill.
