Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter III
Disbrow,youmanagethepoliticsfortheMojaverailroad,andwhatyousaygoeswithyourBoardofDirectors.WewantyoutoadoptourcandidateforRailroadCommissionerforthethirddistrict.Howmuchdoyouwantfordoingit?’IKNOWwecanbuyDisbrow.ThatgivesusoneCommissioner.Weneednotbotheraboutthatanymore.Inthefirstdistrictwedon’tmakeanymoveatall.WeletthepoliticalmanagersoftheP.andS.W.nominatewhoevertheylike.Thenweconcentratealloureffortstoputtinginourmanintheseconddistrict.Thereiswherethebigfightwillcome.”
“Iseeperfectlywellwhatyoumean,Mr.Osterman,”observedMagnus,“butmakenomistake,sir,astomyattitudeinthisbusiness.Youmaycountmeasoutofitentirely.”
“Well,supposewewin,”putinAnnixtertruculently,alreadyacknowledginghimselfasinvolvedintheproposedundertaking;“supposewewinandgetlowratesforhaulinggrain.Howaboutyou,then?YoucountyourselfINthen,don’tyou?Yougetallthebenefitoflowerrateswithoutsharinganyoftheriskswetaketosecurethem.No,noranyoftheexpense,either.No,youwon’tdirtyyourfingerswithhelpingusputthisdealthrough,butyouwon’tbesocursedparticularwhenitcomestosharingtheprofits,willyou?”
Magnusroseabruptlytohisfullheight,thenostrilsofhisthin,hawk-likenosevibrating,hissmooth-shavenfacepalerthanever.
“Stoprightwhereyouare,sir,”heexclaimed.“Youforgetyourself,Mr.Annixter.
