Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Iamsorry,butIshallhavetoprotest——”Annixterreturnedtothehammockandstretchedhimselfoutinittohisfulllength,remarkingtranquilly:

           “Gotothedevil!”

           “Itisasmuchtoyourinterestastooursthatthesafetyofthepublic——”

           “YouheardwhatIsaid.Gotothedevil!”

           “Thatallmayshowobstinacy,Mr.Annixter,but——”

           SuddenlyAnnixterjumpedupagainandcametotheedgeoftheporch;hisfaceflamedscarlettotherootsofhisstiffyellowhair.Hethrustouthisjawaggressively,clenchinghisteeth.

           “You,”hevociferated,“I’lltellyouwhatyouare.You’rea—a—aPIP!”

           Tohisminditwasthelastinsult,themostoutrageouscalumny.Hehadnoworseepithetathiscommand.

           “——mayshowobstinacy,”pursuedS.Behrman,bentuponfinishingthephrase,“butitdon’tshowcommonsense.”

           “I’llmendmyfence,andthen,again,maybeIwon’tmendmyfence,”shoutedAnnixter.“Iknowwhatyoumean—thatwildenginelastnight.Well,you’venorighttorunatthatspeedinthetownlimits.”

           “Howthetownlimits?ThesheepwerethissidetheLongTrestle.”

           “Well,that’sinthetownlimitsofGuadalajara.”“Why,Mr.Annixter,theLongTrestleisagoodtwomilesoutofGuadalajara.”

           Annixtersquaredhimself,leapingtothechanceofanargument.

           “Twomiles!It’snotamileandaquarter.No,it’snotamile.I’llleaveittoMagnushere.”

           “Oh,Iknownothingaboutit,”declaredMagnus,refusingtobeinvolved.

           “Yes,youdo.Yes,youdo,too.AnyfoolknowshowfaritisfromGuadalajaratotheLongTrestle.