A Deal in Wheat and Other Stories of the New and Old West

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Frank Norris. A Deal in Wheat and Other Stories of the New and Old West

A DEAL IN WHEAT

I. THE BEAR—WHEAT AT SIXTY-TWO

II. THE BULL—WHEAT AT A DOLLAR-TEN

III. THE PIT

IV. THE BELT LINE

V. THE BREAD LINE

THE WIFE OF CHINO

I. CHINO'S WIFE

II. MADNESS

III. CHINO GOES TO TOWN

IV. A DESPATCH FROM THE EXPRESS MESSENGER

V. THE TRAIL

VI. THE DISCOVERY OF FELICE

A BARGAIN WITH PEG-LEG

THE PASSING OF COCK-EYE BLACKLOCK

A MEMORANDUM OF SUDDEN DEATH

TWO HEARTS THAT BEAT AS ONE

THE DUAL PERSONALITY OF SLICK DICK NICKERSON

I

II

III

THE SHIP THAT SAW A GHOST

THE GHOST IN THE CROSSTREES

I

II

III

IV

THE RIDING OF FELIPE

I. FELIPE

II. UNZAR

III. RUBIA

IV. BELUNA

Отрывок из книги

As Sam Lewiston backed the horse into the shafts of his backboard and began hitching the tugs to the whiffletree, his wife came out from the kitchen door of the house and drew near, and stood for some time at the horse's head, her arms folded and her apron rolled around them. For a long moment neither spoke. They had talked over the situation so long and so comprehensively the night before that there seemed to be nothing more to say.

The time was late in the summer, the place a ranch in southwestern Kansas, and Lewiston and his wife were two of a vast population of farmers, wheat growers, who at that moment were passing through a crisis—a crisis that at any moment might culminate in tragedy. Wheat was down to sixty-six.

.....

Lockwood, who had a passable knowledge of telegraphy, had wired to the Hill for the doctor. About suppertime one appeared, and Lockwood bore the pain of the setting with such fortitude as he could command. He had his supper served in the office. The doctor shared it with him and kept him company.

During the early hours of the evening Lockwood lay on the sofa trying to forget the pain. There was no easier way of doing this than by thinking of Felice. Inevitably his thoughts reverted to her. Now that he was helpless, he could secure no diversion by plunging into the tunnel, giving up his mind to his work. He could not now take down his gun and tramp the ditch. Now he was supine, and the longing to break through the mesh, wrestle free from the complication, gripped him and racked him with all its old-time force.

.....