Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter VI
Theycanshootmedown,butI’lldie—diefightingformyhome—beforeI’llgiveintothis.”
AtlengthAnnixtermadehimselfheard:
“Alloutoftheroombuttheranchowners,”heshouted.“Hooven,Caraher,Dyke,you’llhavetoclearout.Thisisafamilyaffair.Presley,youandyourfriendcanremain.”
Reluctantlytheothersfiledthroughthedoor.Thereremainedintheharnessroom—besidesVanameeandPresley—MagnusDerrick,Annixter,oldBrodersonHarran,GarnettfromtheRubyrancho,Keastfromtheranchofthesamename,GethingsoftheSanPablo,ChatternoftheBonanza,aboutascoreofothers,ranchersfromvariouspartsofthecounty,and,lastofall,Dabney,ignored,silent,towhomnobodyspokeandwho,asyet,hadnotutteredaword.Butthemenwhohadbeenaskedtoleavetheharnessroomspreadthenewsthroughoutthebarn.Itwasrepeatedfromliptolip.Onebyonetheguestsdroppedoutofthedance.Groupswereformed.Byswiftdegreesthegayetylapsedaway.TheVirginiareelbrokeup.Themusiciansceasedplaying,andintheplaceofthenoisy,effervescentrevelryoftheprevioushalfhour,asubduedmurmurfilledallthebarn,aminglingofwhispers,loweredvoices,thecomingandgoingoflightfootsteps,theuneasyshiftingofpositions,whilefrombehindthecloseddoorsoftheharnessroomcameaprolonged,sullenhumofangerandstrenuousdebate.Thedancecametoanabruptend.Theguests,unwillingtogoasyet,stunned,distressed,stoodclumsilyabout,theireyesvague,theirhandsswingingattheirsides,lookingstupidlyintoeachothers’faces.
