Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter II
Behrmanisascrew,”admittedtheengineer,“andheis’railroad’tohisboots;butbusinessisbusiness,andhewouldhavetostandbyacontractinblackandwhite,andthischanceinhopsistoogoodtoletslide.Iguesswe’lltryiton,Harran.Icangetagoodforemanthatknowsallabouthopsjustnow,andifthedealpays—well,IwanttosendSidtoaseminaryupinSanFrancisco.”
“Well,mortgagethecrops,butdon’tmortgagethehomestead,Dyke,”saidHarran.“And,bytheway,haveyoulookedupthefreightratesonhops?”
“No,Ihaven’tyet,”answeredDyke,“andIhadbetterbesureofthat,hadn’tI?Ihearthattherateisreasonable,though.”
“Youbesuretohaveaclearunderstandingwiththerailroadfirstabouttherate,”Harranwarnedhim.
WhenMagnuscameoutofthegrocerystoreandoncemoreseatedhimselfinthebuggy,hesaidtoHarran,“Boy,driveoverheretoAnnixter’sbeforewestarthome.Iwanttoaskhimtodinewithusto-night.OstermanandBrodersonaretodropin,Ibelieve,andIshouldliketohaveAnnixteraswell.”
Magnuswaslavishlyhospitable.LosMuertos’sdoorsinvariablystoodopentoalltheDerricks’neighbours,andonceinsooftenMagnushadafewofhisintimatestodinner.
AsHarranandhisfatherdrovealongtheroadtowardAnnixter’sranchhouse,Magnusaskedaboutwhathadhappenedduringhisabsence.
Heinquiredafterhiswifeandtheranch,commentingupontheworkontheirrigatingditch.
