Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter V.
Itisapackageofpapers,buttheyinvolveaconsiderablesumofmoney,andyoumustbecarefulofthem.Afewyearsago,whenourenmitywasnotsostrong,Mr.GenslingerandIhadsomebusinessdealingswitheachother.Ithoughtitaswelljustnow,consideringthatwearesoopenlyopposed,toterminatethewholeaffair,andbreakoffrelations.Wecametoasettlementafewdaysago.Thesearethefinalpapers.Theymustbegiventohiminperson,Presley.Youunderstand.”
Presleycanteredon,turningintothecountyroadandholdingnorthwardbythemammothwateringtankandBroderson’spopularwindbreak.AshepassedCaraher’s,hesawthesaloon-keeperinthedoorwayofhisplace,andwavedhimasalutationwhichtheotherreturned.
Bydegrees,PresleyhadcometoconsiderCaraherinamorefavourablelight.Hefound,tohisimmenseastonishment,thatCaraherknewsomethingofMillandBakounin,not,however,fromtheirbooks,butfromextractsandquotationsfromtheirwritings,reprintedintheanarchisticjournalstowhichhesubscribed.Morethanonce,thetwohadheldlongconversations,andfromCaraher’sownlips,Presleyheardtheterriblestoryofthedeathofhiswife,whohadbeenaccidentallykilledbyPinkertonsduringa“demonstration”ofstrikers.Itinvestedthesaloon-keeper,inPresley’simagination,withallthedignityofthetragedy.HecouldnotblameCaraherforbeinga“red.”Heevenwonderedhowitwasthesaloon-keeperhadnotputhistheoriesintopractice,andadjustedhisancientwrongwithhis“sixinchesofpluggedgas-pipe.
