Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter II
Iamsorry,butIshallhavetoprotest——”Annixterreturnedtothehammockandstretchedhimselfoutinittohisfulllength,remarkingtranquilly:
“Gotothedevil!”
“Itisasmuchtoyourinterestastooursthatthesafetyofthepublic——”
“YouheardwhatIsaid.Gotothedevil!”
“Thatallmayshowobstinacy,Mr.Annixter,but——”
SuddenlyAnnixterjumpedupagainandcametotheedgeoftheporch;hisfaceflamedscarlettotherootsofhisstiffyellowhair.Hethrustouthisjawaggressively,clenchinghisteeth.
“You,”hevociferated,“I’lltellyouwhatyouare.You’rea—a—aPIP!”
Tohisminditwasthelastinsult,themostoutrageouscalumny.Hehadnoworseepithetathiscommand.
“——mayshowobstinacy,”pursuedS.Behrman,bentuponfinishingthephrase,“butitdon’tshowcommonsense.”
“I’llmendmyfence,andthen,again,maybeIwon’tmendmyfence,”shoutedAnnixter.“Iknowwhatyoumean—thatwildenginelastnight.Well,you’venorighttorunatthatspeedinthetownlimits.”
“Howthetownlimits?ThesheepwerethissidetheLongTrestle.”
“Well,that’sinthetownlimitsofGuadalajara.”“Why,Mr.Annixter,theLongTrestleisagoodtwomilesoutofGuadalajara.”
Annixtersquaredhimself,leapingtothechanceofanargument.
“Twomiles!It’snotamileandaquarter.No,it’snotamile.I’llleaveittoMagnushere.”
“Oh,Iknownothingaboutit,”declaredMagnus,refusingtobeinvolved.
“Yes,youdo.Yes,youdo,too.AnyfoolknowshowfaritisfromGuadalajaratotheLongTrestle.