Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter II
”
Hervoicewaslowinpitchandofavelvetyhuskiness,seemingtocomemorefromherchestthanfromherthroat.
“Well,I’msomebetter,”growledAnnixter.Thensuddenlyhedemanded,“Where’sthatdog?”
AdecrepitIrishsettersometimesmadehisappearanceinandabouttheranchhouse,sleepingunderthebedandeatingwhenanyoneabouttheplacethoughttogivehimaplateofbread.
Annixterhadnoparticularinterestinthedog.Forweeksatatimeheignoreditsexistence.Itwasnothisdog.Butto-dayitseemedasifhecouldnotletthesubjectrest.Fornoreasonthathecouldexplaineventohimself,herecurredtoitcontinually.HequestionedHilmaminutelyallaboutthedog.Whoownedhim?Howolddidshethinkhewas?Didsheimaginethedogwassick?Wherehadhegotto?Maybehehadcrawledofftodiesomewhere.Herecurredtothesubjectallthroughthemeal;apparently,hecouldtalkofnothingelse,andasshefinallywentawayafterclearingoffthetable,hewentontotheporchandcalledafterher:
“Say,MissHilma.”
“Yes,sir.”
“Ifthatdogturnsupagainyouletmeknow.”
“Verywell,sir.”
Annixterreturnedtothedining-roomandsatdowninthechairhehadjustvacated.“Tohellwiththedog!”hemuttered,enraged,hecouldnottellwhy.
WhenatlengthheallowedhisattentiontowanderfromHilmaTree,hefoundthathehadbeenstaringfixedlyatathermometeruponthewallopposite,andthismadehimthinkthatithadlongbeenhisintentiontobuyafinebarometer,aninstrumentthatcouldbeaccuratelydependedon.
