Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter IV
Hesatdowninthesmoking-room,lightingacigarette,andAnnixterandthedrummerspressedaroundhimtoknowthestoryofthewholeaffair.
“Themanisdead,”hedeclared,“thebrakeman.Hewasshotthroughthelungstwice.Theythinkthefellowgotawaywithaboutfivethousandingoldcoin.”
“Thefellow?Wasn’ttherefourofthem?”
“No;onlyone.Andsay,letmetellyou,hehadhisnervewithhim.Itseemshewasontheroofoftheexpresscarallthetime,andgoingasfastaswewere,hejumpedfromtheroofofthecardownontothecoalontheengine’stender,andcrawledoverthatandheldupthemeninthecabwithhisgun,tooktheirgunsfrom’emandmade’emstopthetrain.Evenordered’emtousetheemergencygear,seemsheknewallaboutit.Thenhewentbackanduncoupledtheexpresscarhimself.
“Whilehewasdoingthis,abrakeman—yourememberthatbrakemanthatcamethroughhereonceortwice—hadaredmustache.”
“THATchap?”“Sure.Well,assoonasthetrainstopped,thisbrakemanguessedsomethingwaswrongandranup,sawthefellowcuttingofftheexpresscarandtookacoupleofshotsathim,andthefiremansaysthefellowdidn’teventakehishandoffthecoupling-pin;justturnedaroundascoolashow-do-you-doandNAILEDthebrakemanrightthere.Theyweren’tfivefeetapartwhentheybeganshooting.Thebrakemanhadcomeonhimunexpected,hadnoideahewassoclose.”
“Andtheexpressmessenger,allthistime?”
“Well,hedidhisbest.Jumpedoutwithhisrepeatingshot-gun,butthefellowhadhimcoveredbeforehecouldturnround.
