Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           Onhisheadwasaround-toppedhatofstiffbrownstraw,highlyvarnished.Alight-brownlinenvest,stampedwithinnumerableinterlockedhorseshoes,coveredhisprotuberantstomach,uponwhichaheavywatchchainofhollowlinksroseandfellwithhisdifficultbreathing,clinkingagainstthevestbuttonsofimitationmother-of-pearl.

           S.BehrmanwasthebankerofBonneville.Butbesidesthishewasmanyotherthings.Hewasarealestateagent.Heboughtgrain;hedealtinmortgages.Hewasoneofthelocalpoliticalbosses,butmoreimportantthanallthis,hewastherepresentativeofthePacificandSouthwesternRailroadinthatsectionofTulareCounty.TherailroaddidlittlebusinessinthatpartofthecountrythatS.Behrmandidnotsupervise,fromtheconsignmentofashipmentofwheattothemanagementofadamagesuit,oreventotherepairandmaintenanceoftherightofway.Duringthetimewhentheranchersofthecountywerefightingthegrain-ratecase,S.BehrmanhadbeenmuchinevidenceinandabouttheSanFranciscocourtroomsandthelobbyofthelegislatureinSacramento.HehadreturnedtoBonnevilleonlyrecently,adecisionadversetotheranchersbeingforeseen.ThepositionheoccupiedonthesalarylistofthePacificandSouthwesterncouldnotreadilybedefined,forhewasneitherfreightagent,passengeragent,attorney,real-estatebroker,norpoliticalservant,thoughhisinfluenceinalltheseofficeswasundoubtedandenormous.Butforallthat,theranchersaboutBonnevilleknewwhomtolooktoasasourceoftrouble.