Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           Icanlettheforemango,nowthatI’velearnedthegamemyself,andIthinkI’llbuyapieceoflandoffQuienSabeandgetabiggercrop,andbuildacouplemorebarns,and,byGeorge,inaboutfiveyearstimeI’llhavethingshumming.I’mgoingtomakeMONEY,Jim.”

           Heemergedoncemoreintothestreetandwentuptheblockleisurely,plantinghisfeetsquarely.Hefanciedthathecouldfeelhewasconsideredofmoreimportancenowadays.Hewasnolongerasubordinate,anemployee.Hewashisownman,aproprietor,anownerofland,furtheringasuccessfulenterprise.Noonehadhelpedhim;hehadfollowednoone’slead.Hehadstruckoutunaidedforhimself,andhissuccesswasduesolelytohisownintelligence,industry,andforesight.Hesquaredhisgreatshoulderstilltheblueginghamofhisjumperallbutcracked.Oflate,hisgreatblondbeardhadgrownandtheworkinthesunhadmadehisfaceveryred.Underthevisorofhiscap—relicofhisengineeringdays—hisblueeyestwinkledwithvastgood-nature.HefeltthathemadeafinefigureashewentbyagroupofyounggirlsinlawnsandmuslinsandgardenhatsontheirwaytothePostOffice.Hewonderediftheylookedafterhim,wonderediftheyhadheardthathewasinafairwaytobecomearichman.

           Butthechronometerinthewindowofthejewelrystorewarnedhimthattimewaspassing.Heturnedabout,and,crossingthestreet,tookhiswaytoRuggles’soffice,whichwasthefreightaswellasthelandofficeoftheP.andS.W.Railroad.