Now, what class of persons could be
after the effect of a wreck, exclusive of a loss of life?"
I saw where her relentless deductions would presently lead. This
was precisely the result that a discharged foreign workman would
seek in his reprisal. This man would have hot blood, the
southern Europe instinct for revenge, but with such a mother, no
mere lust to kill. I tried to divert her from the fugitive.
"Train robbers," I said. "I wonder what was in the express-car?"
She very nearly laughed. "This is New York," she said, "not
Arizona. And besides there was no express-car. This thing was
done by somebody who wanted the effect of a wreck, and nothing
else, and it was done by some one who knew about railroads.
"Now, what class of persons who know about railroads could be
moved by that motive?"
She was driving straight now at the boy I stood to cover. At
another step she would name the class. Discharged workmen would
know about railroads; they would be interested to show how less
efficient the road was without them; and a desperate one might
plan such a wreck as a demonstration. If so, he would wish only
the effect of the wreck, and not loss of life.
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