Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter III
Nomatterhowmuchweimprovetheland,orhowmuchitincreasesinvalue,theyhavegottostickbytheiragreementonthebasisoftwo-fiftyperacre.Here’sonecasewheretheP.andS.W.DON’Tgeteverythinginsight.”
Genslingerfrowned,perplexed.
“IAMnewinthecountry,asHarransays,”heanswered,“butitseemstomethatthere’snofairnessinthatproposition.Thepresenceoftherailroadhashelpedincreasethevalueofyourranchesquiteasmuchasyourimprovements.Whyshouldyougetallthebenefitoftheriseinvalueandtherailroadnothing?Thefairwaywouldbetoshareitbetweenyou.”
“Idon’tcareanythingaboutthat,”declaredAnnixter.“Theyagreedtochargebuttwo-fifty,andthey’vegottosticktoit.”
“Well,”murmuredGenslinger,“fromwhatIknowoftheaffair,Idon’tbelievetheP.andS.W.intendstosellfortwo-fiftyanacre,atall.Themanagersoftheroadwantthebestpricetheycangetforeverythinginthesehardtimes.”
“Timesaren’teververyhardfortherailroad,”hazardsoldBroderson.
Brodersonwastheoldestmanintheroom.Hewasaboutsixty-fiveyearsofage,venerable,withawhitebeard,hisfigurebentearthwardswithhardwork.
Hewasanarrow-mindedman,painfullyconscientiousinhisstatementslestheshouldbeunjusttosomebody;aslowthinker,unabletoletasubjectdropwhenoncehehadstarteduponit.Hehadnosoonerutteredhisremarkabouthardtimesthanhewasmovedtoqualifyit.
“Hardtimes,”herepeated,atroubled,perplexednoteinhisvoice;“well,yes—yes.
