Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           Afteramoment,rubbingtheroughenedsurfaceofhischinthewrongway,hemutteredtohisimageintheglass:

           “Thatamug!GoodLord!whatalookingmug!”Then,afteramoment’ssilence,“Wonderifthatfoolfeemalewillbeuphereto-day.”

           Hecrossedoverintohisbedroomandpeepedaroundtheedgeoftheloweredcurtain.Thewindowlookedoutupontheskeleton-liketoweroftheartesianwellandthecook-houseanddairy-houseclosebesideit.Ashewatched,hesawHilmacomeoutfromthecook-houseandhurryacrosstowardthekitchen.Evidently,shewasgoingtoseeabouthisdinner.Butasshepassedbytheartesianwell,shemetyoungDelaney,oneofAnnixter’shands,comingupthetrailbytheirrigatingditch,leadinghishorsetowardthestables,agreatcoilofbarbedwireinhisglovedhandsandapairofnippersthrustintohisbelt.Nodoubt,hehadbeenmendingthebreakinthelinefencebytheLongTrestle.Annixtersawhimtakeoffhiswide-brimmedhatashemetHilma,andthetwostoodthereforsomemomentstalkingtogether.AnnixterevenheardHilmalaughingverygaylyatsomethingDelaneywassaying.Shepattedhishorse’sneckaffectionately,andDelaney,drawingthenippersfromhisbelt,madeasiftopinchherarmwiththem.Shecaughtathiswristandpushedhimaway,laughingagain.ToAnnixter’smindthepairseemedastonishinglyintimate.Brusquelyhisangerflamedup.

           Ah,thatwasit,wasit?DelaneyandHilmahadanunderstandingbetweenthemselves.Theycarriedontheiraffairrightoutthereintheopen,underhisveryeyes.Itwasabsolutelydisgusting.