第24章

"By the way, Governor," he demanded suddenly, "how is Lyman getting on?"Lyman, Magnus's eldest son, had never taken kindly toward ranch life.He resembled his mother more than he did Magnus, and had inherited from her a distaste for agriculture and a tendency toward a profession.At a time when Harran was learning the rudiments of farming, Lyman was entering the State University, and, graduating thence, had spent three years in the study of law.But later on, traits that were particularly his father's developed.Politics interested him.He told himself he was a born politician, was diplomatic, approachable, had a talent for intrigue, a gift of making friends easily and, most indispensable of all, a veritable genius for putting influential men under obligations to himself.Already he had succeeded in gaining for himself two important offices in the municipal administration of San Francisco--where he had his home--sheriff's attorney, and, later on, assistant district attorney.But with these small achievements he was by no means satisfied.The largeness of his father's character, modified in Lyman by a counter-influence of selfishness, had produced in him an inordinate ambition.Where his father during his political career had considered himself only as an exponent of principles he strove to apply, Lyman saw but the office, his own personal aggrandisement.He belonged to the new school, wherein objects were attained not by orations before senates and assemblies, but by sessions of committees, caucuses, compromises and expedients.His goal was to be in fact what Magnus was only in name--governor.Lyman, with shut teeth, had resolved that some day he would sit in the gubernatorial chair in Sacramento.

"Lyman is doing well," answered Magnus."I could wish he was more pronounced in his convictions, less willing to compromise, but I believe him to be earnest and to have a talent for government and civics.His ambition does him credit, and if he occupied himself a little more with means and a little less with ends, he would, I am sure, be the ideal servant of the people.

But I am not afraid.The time will come when the State will be proud of him."As Harran turned the team into the driveway that led up to Annixter's house, Magnus remarked:

"Harran, isn't that young Annixter himself on the porch?"Harran nodded and remarked:

"By the way, Governor, I wouldn't seem too cordial in your invitation to Annixter.He will be glad to come, I know, but if you seem to want him too much, it is just like his confounded obstinacy to make objections.""There is something in that," observed Magnus, as Harran drew up at the porch of the house."He is a queer, cross-grained fellow, but in many ways sterling."Annixter was lying in the hammock on the porch, precisely as Presley had found him the day before, reading "David Copperfield"and stuffing himself with dried prunes.When he recognised Magnus, however, he got up, though careful to give evidence of the most poignant discomfort.He explained his difficulty at great length, protesting that his stomach was no better than a spongebag.Would Magnus and Harran get down and have a drink?

There was whiskey somewhere about.

Magnus, however, declined.He stated his errand, asking Annixter to come over to Los Muertos that evening for seven o'clock dinner.Osterman and Broderson would be there.

At once Annixter, even to Harran's surprise, put his chin in the air, making excuses, fearing to compromise himself if he accepted too readily.No, he did not think he could get around--was sure of it, in fact.There were certain businesses he had on hand that evening.He had practically made an appointment with a man at Bonneville; then, too, he was thinking of going up to San Francisco to-morrow and needed his sleep; would go to bed early;and besides all that, he was a very sick man; his stomach was out of whack; if he moved about it brought the gripes back.No, they must get along without him.

Magnus, knowing with whom he had to deal, did not urge the point, being convinced that Annixter would argue over the affair the rest of the morning.He re-settled himself in the buggy and Harran gathered up the reins.

"Well," he observed, "you know your business best.Come if you can.We dine at seven.""I hear you are going to farm the whole of Los Muertos this season," remarked Annixter, with a certain note of challenge in his voice.

"We are thinking of it," replied Magnus.

Annixter grunted scornfully.

"Did you get the message I sent you by Presley?" he began.

Tactless, blunt, and direct, Annixter was quite capable of calling even Magnus a fool to his face.But before he could proceed, S.Behrman in his single buggy turned into the gate, and driving leisurely up to the porch halted on the other side of Magnus's team.

"Good-morning, gentlemen," he remarked, nodding to the two Derricks as though he had not seen them earlier in the day."Mr.

Annixter, how do you do?"

"What in hell do YOU want?" demanded Annixter with a stare.

S.Behrman hiccoughed slightly and passed a fat hand over his waistcoat.

"Why, not very much, Mr.Annixter," he replied, ignoring the belligerency in the young ranchman's voice, "but I will have to lodge a protest against you, Mr.Annixter, in the matter of keeping your line fence in repair.The sheep were all over the track last night, this side the Long Trestle, and I am afraid they have seriously disturbed our ballast along there.We--the railroad--can't fence along our right of way.The farmers have the prescriptive right of that, so we have to look to you to keep your fence in repair.I am sorry, but I shall have to protest----"Annixter returned to the hammock and stretched himself out in it to his full length, remarking tranquilly:

"Go to the devil!"