Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter III
“Hesaysthere’ssometalkoftherailroadsellingustheirsectionsthiswinter.”
“Oh,hedid,didhe?”exclaimedOsterman,interestedatonce.“Wheredidhehearthat?”
“Wheredoesarailroadpapergetitsnews?FromtheGeneralOffice,Isuppose.”
“Ihopehedidn’tgetitstraightfromheadquartersthatthelandwastobegradedattwentydollarsanacre,”murmuredBroderson.
“What’sthat?”demandedOsterman.“Twentydollars!Here,putmeon,somebody.What’sallup?WhatdidGenslingersay?”
“Oh,youneedn’tgetscared,”saidAnnixter.“Genslingerdon’tknow,that’sall.HethinkstherewasnounderstandingthatthepriceofthelandshouldnotbeadvancedwhentheP.andS.W.cametoselltous.”
“Oh,”mutteredOstermanrelieved.Magnus,whohadgoneoutintotheofficeontheothersideoftheglass-roofedhallway,returnedwithalong,yellowenvelopeinhishand,stuffedwithnewspaperclippingsandthin,closelyprintedpamphlets.
“Hereisthecircular,”heremarked,drawingoutoneofthepamphlets.“Theconditionsofsettlementtowhichtherailroadobligateditselfareveryexplicit.”
Heranoverthepagesofthecircular,thenreadaloud:
“’TheCompanyinvitessettlerstogouponitslandsbeforepatentsareissuedortheroadiscompleted,andintendsinsuchcasestoselltotheminpreferencetoanyotherapplicantsandatapricebaseduponthevalueofthelandwithoutimprovements,’andontheotherpagehere,”heremarked,“theyrefertothisagain.
