He knew
what Marion was after, but he was confused by the unfamiliar
terms in which the idea was stated.
"It's mighty hard to figure out," he said. "Of course, when you
find an obstruction on the track or a crowbar under a rail, or
some plain thing, you know."
Then he added:
"You've got to figure out a wreck from what seems likely."
"There you have it exactly," said Marion. "You must begin your
investigation from what your common experience indicates is
likely to happen. Now, your experience indicates that the rails
of a track sometimes spread under these heavy engines."
"Yes, Miss Warfield."
"And your experience indicates that this is more likely to happen
at the first rise of the synclinal on a grade than anywhere on a
straight track."
"Yes, Miss Warfield."
"Good!" said Marion, "so far. But does not your experience also
indicate that such an accident usually happens when the train is
running at a high rate of speed?"
"Yes, Miss Warfield," said the man. "It's far more likely to
happen then, because the engine strikes the rails at the first
rise of the grade with more force. Naturally a thing hits harder
when it's going .
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