Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           Idon’tknowhisname,andIdon’tknowhisgame,buthe’smovingroundoffandon,justoutofsight.Ifyouthinkyou’venettedhim,IDON’T,that’sallI’vegottosay.”

           Buthewasjeereddownasacroaker.TherewastheCommission.Hecouldn’tgetaroundthat,couldhe?TherewasDarrellandLymanDerrick,bothpledgedtotheranches.GoodLord,hewasneversatisfied.He’dbeobstinatetilltheverylastgunwasfired.Why,ifhegotdrownedinariverhe’dfloatupstreamjusttobecontrary.

           Inthecourseoftime,thenewboardwasseated.Forthefirstfewmonthsofitsterm,itwasoccupiedinclearingupthebusinessleftoverbytheoldboardandinthecompletionoftherailwaymap.Butnow,thedeckswerecleared.ItwasabouttoaddressitselftotheconsiderationofarevisionofthetariffforthecarriageofgrainbetweentheSanJoaquinValleyandtide-water.

           BothLymanandDarrellwerepledgedtoanaveragetenpercent.cutofthegrainratesthroughouttheentireState.

           ThetypewriterreturnedwiththelettersforLymantosign,andheputawaythemapandtookuphismorning’sroutineofbusiness,wondering,thewhile,whatwouldbecomeofhispracticeduringthetimehewasinvolvedinthebusinessoftheRanchers’RailroadCommission.

           Buttowardsnoon,atthemomentwhenLymanwasdrawingoffaglassofmineralwaterfromthesiphonthatstoodathiselbow,therewasaninterruption.Someonerappedvigorouslyuponthedoor,whichwasimmediatelyafteropened,andMagnusandHarrancamein,followedbyPresley.