Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           Bytheroaditwaselevenmilesdistantfromtheoffice,andbythetrailtoHooven’sandtheLowerRoadallofnine.

           “Howaboutthatseed?”demandedHarranwhenhehadgotCutterontheline.

           Theothermadeexcusesforanunavoidabledelay,andwasaddingthathewasonthepointofstartingout,whenHarrancutinwith:

           “Youhadbettergothetrail.ItwillsavealittletimeandIaminahurry.Putyoursacksonthehorses’backs.And,Cutter,ifyouseeHoovenwhenyougobyhisplace,tellhimIwanthim,and,bytheway,takealookattheendoftheirrigatingditchwhenyougettoit.SeehowtheyaregettingalongthereandifBillywantsanything.Tellhimweareexpectingthosenewscoopsdownto-morrowornextdayandtogetalongwithwhathehasuntilthen....How’severythingonFour?...Allright,then.GiveyourseedtoPhelpswhenyougethereifIamnotabout.IamgoingtoGuadalajaratomeettheGovernor.He’scomingdownto-day.Andthatmakesmethink;welostthecase,youknow.IhadaletterfromtheGovernoryesterday....Yes,hardluck.S.Behrmandidusup.Well,good-bye,anddon’tloseanytimewiththatseed.Iwanttoblue-stoneto-day.”

           AftertelephoningCutter,Harranputonhishat,wentovertothebarns,andfoundPhelps.Phelpshadalreadycleanedoutthevatwhichwastocontainthesolutionofblue-stone,andwasnowatworkregradingtheseed.Againstthewallbehindhimrangedtherowofsacks.