Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           Hewastryingtosteeramiddlecourse.Hispositionwasdifficult,anomalous.Iffreightrateswerecutthroughtheeffortsofthemembersofthecommittee,hecouldnotverywellavoidtakingadvantageofthenewschedule.Hewouldbethegainer,thoughsharingneithertherisknortheexpense.But,meanwhile,thedayswerepassing;theprimaryelectionsweredrawingnearer.Thecommitteecouldnotaffordtowait,andbywayofabeginning,OstermanhadgonetoLosAngeles,fortifiedbyalargesumofmoney—apursetowhichAnnixter,Brodersonandhimselfhadcontributed.HehadputhimselfintouchwithDisbrow,thepoliticalmanoftheDenver,PuebloandMojaveroad,andhadhadtwointerviewswithhim.ThetelegramthatAnnixterreceivedthatmorningwastosaythatDisbrowhadbeenboughtover,andwouldadoptParrellastheD.,P.andM.candidateforRailroadCommissionerfromthethirddistrict.

           OneofthecooksbroughtupAnnixter’sbreakfastthatmorning,andhewentthroughithastily,readinghismailatthesametimeandglancingoverthepagesofthe“Mercury,”Genslinger’spaper.The“Mercury,”Annixterwaspersuaded,receivedasubsidyfromthePacificandSouthwesternRailroad,andwashardlybetterthanthemouthpiecebywhichShelgrimandtheGeneralOfficespoketoranchersaboutBonneville.

           Aneditorialinthatmorning’sissuesaid:

           “Itwouldnotbesurprisingtothewell-informed,ifthelong-deferredre-gradeofthevalueoftherailroadsectionsincludedintheLosMuertos,QuienSabe,OstermanandBrodersonpropertieswasmadebeforethefirstoftheyear.