Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter II
TheconferenceatLosMuertoswouldbeanadmirableexcuseforthis,anduponthespotheresolvedtogoovertotheDerrickranchhouse,afterall.
AshepassedtheTrees’cottage,heobservedwithsatisfactionthatHilmawasgoingtoandfrointhefrontroom.Ifhebustedthebuckskinintheyardbeforethestableshecouldnothelpbutsee.Annixterfoundthestablemaninthebackofthebarngreasingtheaxlesofthebuggy,andorderedhimtoputthesaddleonthebuckskin.
“Why,Idon’tthinkshe’shere,sir,”answeredthestableman,glancingintothestalls.“No,Iremembernow.Delaneytookheroutjustafterdinner.HisotherhorsewentlameandhewantedtogodownbytheLongTrestletomendthefence.Hestartedout,buthadtocomeback.”
“Oh,Delaneygother,didhe?”
“Yes,sir.Hehadacircuswithher,buthebustedherrightenough.Whenitcomestohorse,Delaneycanwipetheeyeofanycow-puncherinthecounty,Iguess.”
“Hecan,canhe?”observedAnnixter.Thenafterasilence,“Well,allright,Billy;putmysaddleonwhateveryou’vegothere.I’mgoingovertoLosMuertosthisafternoon.”
“Wanttolookoutfortherain,Mr.Annixter,”remarkedBilly.“Guesswe’llhaverainbeforenight.”
“I’lltakearubbercoat,”answeredAnnixter.“Bringthehorseuptotheranchhousewhenyou’reready.”
Annixterreturnedtothehousetolookforhisrubbercoatindeepdisgust,notpermittinghimselftoglancetowardthedairy-houseandtheTrees’cottage.Butashereachedtheporchheheardthetelephoneringinghiscall.
