But not that one would very readily give
way before the other. For some reason this particular rail did
give way, much more readily than it ought to have done."
The trackman was listening with the greatest interest.
"Just how do you know that, Miss Warfield?" he said.
"Why," replied Marion, "don't you see, from the mark on the ties,
that the engine wheels left the rail almost at the moment they
struck it. The marks of the wheels commence on the second tie
ahead of the beginning of the rail. Therefore, this rail, for
some reason, was more easily pushed out of alignment than it
should have been. What was the reason?"
The track boss reflected.
"You see, Miss Warfield, this place is the beginning of an
up-grade, the engine was coming down a long grade toward it, so
when this train struck the first rails of the up-grade it struck
it just like you'd drive in a wedge, and the hundred-ton brute of
an engine jammed this rail out of alignment. That's all there is
to it. When the rail sprung the wheels went down on the ties on
that side and the train was ditched."
"It was a clean accident, then, you think?" said Marion.
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