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- Фрэнк Норрис
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- Спрут: Калифорнийская история
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- Стр. 159/416
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“
We
can
’
t
wait
,
”
declared
Osterman
.
“
Many
of
us
cannot
attend
a
meeting
to
-
morrow
.
Our
business
affairs
would
prevent
it
.
Now
we
are
all
together
.
I
propose
a
temporary
chairman
and
secretary
be
named
and
a
ballot
be
taken
.
But
first
the
League
.
Let
us
draw
up
a
set
of
resolutions
to
stand
together
,
for
the
defence
of
our
homes
,
to
death
,
if
needs
be
,
and
each
man
present
affix
his
signature
thereto
.
”
He
subsided
amidst
vigorous
applause
.
The
next
quarter
of
an
hour
was
a
vague
confusion
,
every
one
talking
at
once
,
conversations
going
on
in
low
tones
in
various
corners
of
the
room
.
Ink
,
pens
,
and
a
sheaf
of
foolscap
were
brought
from
the
ranch
house
.
A
set
of
resolutions
was
draughted
,
having
the
force
of
a
pledge
,
organising
the
League
of
Defence
.
Annixter
was
the
first
to
sign
.
Others
followed
,
only
a
few
holding
back
,
refusing
to
join
till
they
had
thought
the
matter
over
.
The
roll
grew
;
the
paper
circulated
about
the
table
;
each
signature
was
welcomed
by
a
salvo
of
cheers
.
At
length
,
it
reached
Harran
Derrick
,
who
signed
amid
tremendous
uproar
.
He
released
the
pen
only
to
shake
a
score
of
hands
.
“
Now
,
Magnus
Derrick
.
”
“
Gentlemen
,
”
began
the
Governor
,
once
more
rising
,
“
I
beg
of
you
to
allow
me
further
consideration
.
Gentlemen
—
”
He
was
interrupted
by
renewed
shouting
.
“
No
,
no
,
now
or
never
.
Sign
,
join
the
League
.
”
“
Don
’
t
leave
us
.
We
look
to
you
to
help
.
”
But
presently
the
excited
throng
that
turned
their
faces
towards
the
Governor
were
aware
of
a
new
face
at
his
elbow
.
The
door
of
the
harness
room
had
been
left
unbolted
and
Mrs
.
Derrick
,
unable
to
endure
the
heart
-
breaking
suspense
of
waiting
outside
,
had
gathered
up
all
her
courage
and
had
come
into
the
room
.
Trembling
,
she
clung
to
Magnus
’
s
arm
,
her
pretty
light
-
brown
hair
in
disarray
,
her
large
young
girl
’
s
eyes
wide
with
terror
and
distrust
.
What
was
about
to
happen
she
did
not
understand
,
but
these
men
were
clamouring
for
Magnus
to
pledge
himself
to
something
,
to
some
terrible
course
of
action
,
some
ruthless
,
unscrupulous
battle
to
the
death
with
the
iron
-
hearted
monster
of
steel
and
steam
.
Nerved
with
a
coward
’
s
intrepidity
,
she
,
who
so
easily
obliterated
herself
,
had
found
her
way
into
the
midst
of
this
frantic
crowd
,
into
this
hot
,
close
room
,
reeking
of
alcohol
and
tobacco
smoke
,
into
this
atmosphere
surcharged
with
hatred
and
curses
.
She
seized
her
husband
’
s
arm
imploring
,
distraught
with
terror
.
“
No
,
no
,
”
she
murmured
;
“
no
,
don
’
t
sign
.
”
She
was
the
feather
caught
in
the
whirlwind
.
En
masse
,
the
crowd
surged
toward
the
erect
figure
of
the
Governor
,
the
pen
in
one
hand
,
his
wife
’
s
fingers
in
the
other
,
the
roll
of
signatures
before
him
.
The
clamour
was
deafening
;
the
excitement
culminated
brusquely
.
