Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter V
OverthisdeskwasavastmapoftherailroadholdingsinthecountryaboutBonnevilleandGuadalajara,thealternatesectionsbelongingtotheCorporationaccuratelyplotted.RuggleswascordialinhiswelcomeofAnnixter.Hehadawayoffiddlingwithhispencilcontinuallywhilehetalked,scribblingvaguelinesandfragmentsofwordsandnamesonstraybitsofpaper,andnosoonerhadAnnixtersatdownthanhehadbeguntowrite,infull-belliedscript,ANNANNalloverhisblottingpad.
“Iwanttoseeaboutthoselandsofmine—Imeanofyours—oftherailroad’s,”Annixtercommencedatonce.“IwanttoknowwhenIcanbuy.I’msickoffoolingalonglikethis.”
“Well,Mr.Annixter,”observedRuggles,writingagreatLbeforetheANN,andfinishingitoffwithaflourishingD.“Thelands”—hecrossedoutoneoftheN’sandnotedtheeffectwithahastyglance—“thelandsarepracticallyyours.Youhaveanoptiononthemindefinitely,and,asitis,youdon’thavetopaythetaxes.”
“Rotyouroption!Iwanttoownthem,”Annixterdeclared.“Whathaveyoupeoplegottogainbyputtingoffsellingthemtous.Herethisthinghasdraggedalongforovereightyears.WhenIcameinonQuienSabe,theunderstandingwasthatthelands—youralternatesections—weretobeconveyedtomewithinafewmonths.”
“Thelandhadnotbeenpatentedtousthen,”answeredRuggles.
“Well,ithasbeennow,Iguess,”retortedAnnixter.
“I’msureIcouldn’ttellyou,Mr.Annixter.”
Annixtercrossedhislegsweariedly.
