Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           WasitMinnaHooven?Thefigureturnedthestreetcornerandwaslosttosight;butithadbeenstrangelylike.Onthemoment,Presleyhadrisenfromthetableand,clappingonhishat,hadhurriedintothestreets,wherethelampswerealreadybeginningtoshine.

           Butsearchthoughhewould,Presleycouldnotagaincomeupontheyoungwoman,inwhomhefanciedhehadseenthedaughteroftheunfortunateGerman.Atlast,hegaveupthehunt,andreturningtohisclub—atthishouralmostdeserted—smokedafewcigarettes,vainlyattemptedtoreadfromavolumeofessaysinthelibrary,andatlast,nervous,distraught,exhausted,retiredtohisbed.

           Butnonetheless,Presleyhadnotbeenmistaken.ThegirlwhomhehadtriedtofollowhadbeenindeedMinnaHooven.

           WhenMinna,aweekbeforethistime,hadreturnedtothelodginghouseonCastroStreet,afteraday’sunsuccessfulefforttofindemployment,andwastoldthathermotherandHildahadgone,shewasstruckspeechlesswithsurpriseanddismay.ShehadneverbeforebeeninanytownlargerthanBonneville,andnowknewnotwhichwaytoturnnorhowtoaccountforthedisappearanceofhermotherandlittleHilda.Thatthelandladywasonthepointofturningthemout,sheunderstood,butithadbeenagreedthatthefamilyshouldbeallowedtostayyetonemoreday,inthehopethatMinnawouldfindwork.Ofthissheremindedtheland-lady.Butthislatteratoncelauncheduponhersuchatorrentofvituperation,thatthegirlwasfrightenedtospeechlesssubmission.

           “Oh,oh,”shefaltered,“Iknow.Iamsorry.