Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           WhenAnnixterreturnedtotheharnessroom,helethimselfintoaclamourofmasculinehilarity.Ostermanhad,indeed,madeamarvellous“fertiliser,”whiskeyforthemostpart,dilutedwithchampagneandlemonjuice.Thefirstroundofthisdrinkhadbeenwelcomedwithasalvoofcheers.Hooven,recoveringhisspiritsunderitsviolentstimulation,spokeof“hevingutoudtmitCudder,beiGott,”whileOsterman,standingonachairattheendoftheroom,shoutedfora“fewmomentsquiet,gentlemen,”sothathemighttellacertainstoryheknew.But,abruptly,Annixterdiscoveredthattheliquors—thechampagne,whiskey,brandy,andthelike—wererunninglow.Thiswouldneverdo.Hefeltthathewouldstanddisgracedifitcouldbesaidafterwardthathehadnotprovidedsufficientdrinkathisentertainment.Heslippedout,unobserved,and,findingtwoofhisranchhandsnearthedoorway,sentthemdowntotheranchhousetobringupallthecasesof“stuff”theyfoundthere.

           However,whenthismatterhadbeenattendedto,Annixterdidnotimmediatelyreturntotheharnessroom.Onthefloorofthebarnasquaredancewasunderway,theleaderoftheCityBandcallingthefigures.YoungVaccaindefatigablycontinuedtheroundsofthebarn,paringcandleaftercandle,possessedwiththissingleideaofduty,pushingthedancersoutofhisway,refusingtoadmitthatthefloorwasyetsufficientlyslippery.Thedruggisthadreturnedindoors,andleaneddejectedandmelancholyagainstthewallnearthedoorway,unabletodance,hisevening’senjoymentspoiled.