Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 23, 1924 — page 31: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE COLLISION, “Oh, you’re conscious,” she remarked. “In a way, yes,” responded the invalid. ‘““ That’s fine!”’ said Marion crisply. She sparkled down upon him with her cool, practical eyes, and, surprisingly, every oc- cupant of the room felt that a situation was developing. There was a certain constraint in the atmosphere, a certain effort on the part of Marion, and a certain defiance in the voice of the intruder. It was one of those things. You can’t explain them or describe them. You just feel them. ‘“You know we'd better take care of the business side of this affair,’ Marion in- formed Alicia. ‘‘ This man’s rights have got to be protected.” She grinned crisply at the subject of her remarks, who studied her without a smile. “Of course,” admitted Alicia vaguely. “ But let us wait till he’s better.” ‘““No time like the present,” breezed on Marion. ‘‘ Besides, the doctor’s here now, and a witness is always best. There are the widow and children you know. We’ve got to think of his family, dear.” She sparkled upon the invalid. “Tell us your story of the accident, please, Mr. Drayton,” she ordered. “ And remember we have witnesses present.” ‘““Why, Marion!” cried Alicia. ‘“ I never heard of such a thing. We mustn’t worry him now.” “ How about it, doctor?” asked the eff- cient Marion. ‘“ Can he stand a few simple words?”’ “JT think so.” Dr. Finch was grinning appreciatively. This is how the man should have been treated from the first. Crawling into private houses! “All right.” Marion turned with the most businesslike geniality upon the invalid. ‘‘ Now tell us all about it,” she urged him. Her eyes, however, added very plainly to her remark the warning: “ And we want the truth, you know.” Alicia would have protested again, but she caught the eye of Marion’s victim, and saw that it contained no hint of helpless- ness. Mr. George Drayton was regarding his inquisitor with an enigmatical smile. “You mean about the accident?” he asked. “Yes,” encouraged Marion. ‘“ About 189 the accident. There was a smash, you know.” “J seem to remember something about it. I ought to. My car is a complete wreck, and I’ve lost at least a week’s work, you know.” “We can discuss that later. want are the facts.” “TI was just giving them to you.” ‘I mean about the smash. We all know that your car was wrecked, and that you are injured. But it remains to prove who was to blame for it?” What we “You mean my car remains to prove who was to blame for it.” Marion permitted her smile to vanish. ‘Young man,” she said, “ I suppose you want to play this thing for all it’s worth. Heavy damages, and all that. Very well. Suppose you give us your account of the whole affair.” She smiled significantly. ‘You may be sure we won’t believe it,” said that smile. “Well,” began the young man, “I was motoring down the road at a reasonable rate—”’ “You're sure you weren’t speeding?” snapped Marion deftly. A remarkable girl, Marion. ‘* Marion, | think this is utterly absurd!” interrupted Alicia, then. ‘Of course he wasn’t speeding! I saw him coming down the road myself!” ‘Please let me handle this, Alicia,” begged Marion with her sparkling smile. ‘“ Really, Mr. Drayton can understand that it is quite necessary. Can’t you, Mr. Dray- ton?” “Quite,” assented the victim. plain as the nose on your face—” “| beg your pardon?” “T didn’t mean that personally—just a figure of speech. What I mean to say is, that it’s quite plain you are taking advan- tage of my position. You want to flurry me into foregoing all claim to damages for this accident.”’ ‘* Please recollect to whom you are speak- ing, Mr. Drayton,” interrupted Dr. Finch, coldly. ‘I cannot let you insult these young ladies.” Drayton smiled at the doctor apprecia- tively. “It’s as COPIC KOOL < co