Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           Hadtheynosenseofdecency,thosetwo?Well,thisendedit.Hewouldstopthatsortofthingshortoff;noneofthatonHISranchifheknewit.No,sir.Hewouldpackthatgirloffbeforehewasadayolder.Hewouldn’thavethatkindabouttheplace.Notmuch!She’dhavetogetout.HewouldtalktooldmanTreeaboutitthisafternoon.Whateverhappened,HEinsisteduponmorality.

           “Andmydinner!”hesuddenlyexclaimed.“I’vegottowaitandgohungry—andmaybegetsickagain—whiletheycarryontheirdisgustinglove-making.”

           Heturnedaboutontheinstant,andstridingovertotheelectricbell,rangitagainwithallhismight.

           “Whenthatfeemalegetsuphere,”hedeclared,“I’lljustfindoutwhyI’vegottowaitlikethis.I’lltakeherdown,totheQueen’staste.I’mlenientenough,Lordknows,butIdon’tproposetobeimposeduponALLthetime.”

           Afewmomentslater,whileAnnixterwaspretendingtoreadthecountynewspaperbythewindowinthedining-room,Hilmacameintosetthetable.AtthetimeAnnixterhadhisfeetcockedonthewindowledgeandwassmokingacigar,butassoonassheenteredtheroomhe—withoutpremeditation—broughthisfeetdowntothefloorandcrushedoutthelightedtipofhiscigarunderthewindowledge.Overthetopofthepaperheglancedathercovertlyfromtimetotime.

           ThoughHilmawasonlynineteenyearsold,shewasalargegirlwithallthedevelopmentofamucholderwoman.