Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter IX
He’sactingforsomeIndianFamineReliefCommittee—lotofwomenpeopleupinthecity—andwantedawholecargo.Imadeadealwithhim.There’saboutfiftythousandtonsofdisengagedshippinginSanFranciscoBayrightnow,andshipsarefightingforcharters.IwiredMcKissickandgotalongdistancetelephonefromhimthismorning.Hegotmeabarque,the’Swanhilda.’She’lldockdayafterto-morrow,andbeginloading.”
“Hadn’tIbettertakearunup,”observedthesuperintendent,“andkeepaneyeonthings?”
“No,”answeredS.Behrman,“Iwantyoutostopdownhere,andseethatthosecarpentershustletheworkintheranchhouse.Derrickwillbeoutbythen.Youseethisdealispeculiar.I’mnotsellingtoanymiddle-man—nottoFallon’sbuyer.Heonlyputmeontothething.I’mactingdirectwiththesewomenpeople,andI’vegottohavesomehandinshippingthisstuffmyself.ButImademysellingfigurecoverthepriceofacharter.It’saqueer,mixed-updeal,andIdon’tfancyitmuch,butthere’sboodleinit.I’llgotoPortCostamyself.”
Alittlelateronintheday,whenS.Behrmanhadsatisfiedhimselfthathisharvestingwasgoingforwardfavourably,hereenteredhisbuggyanddrivingtotheCountyRoadturnedsouthwardtowardstheLosMuertosranchhouse.Hehadnotgonefar,however,beforehebecameawareofafamiliarfigureonhorse-back,joggingslowlyalongaheadofhim.HerecognisedPresley;heshookthereinsoverhishorse’sbackandverysoonrangingupbythesideoftheyoungmanpassedthetimeofdaywithhim.
