Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 23, 1924 — page 35: what you’re looking at

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

THE COLLISION. not recall the name. “I came tc see Miss Averill, but come to think of it, you will do.” “ That’s flattering. It’s so nice to know Ill do.” “ Ves, I thought you’d like it.” “Well, what’s it all about?” “ Perhaps if you could take a message to Miss Averill?” “ She isn’t accustomed to talking business matters over with the workmen. Tell me what you want, and [’ll take it up with Mr. Averill by phone.” She intended that to impress him; but he was not impressed. “All right,” he assented. that accident.” “What accident?” “Surely you haven’t forgotten? I’m the man who was hit by your car on Mon- day.” “Oh, yes, I do seem to recall a man run- ning into our car. You needn’t feel fright- ened. We have no intention of prosecuting the case.” ‘““That’s what I wanted to speak about. I made a slight error, I believe, that after- noon. I have remembered since that it was not my fault at all. Your man was on the wrong side of the road.” ma Oh?” “Yes, Suppose we step inside and talk about it.” : He pushed past her into the hallway, _ and she noticed that he limped heavily upon one foot as he headed to a carved oak set- tle and made room for her beside him. Cowper, feeling himself dismissed, slipped disapprovingly down the corridor, and Ma- rion, with a danger signal flying in her eyes, ignored the proffered seat and took a chair. ‘““T can’t see anything to talk about,” she said. “It seems to me we’ve done enough of that. You have admitted that the fault was all your own, and we have the doctor as a witness.” “The doctor will also witness that at the time I was suffering from a slight concus- sion. A man with concussion of the brain is not responsible before the law.” Marion bit her lip. Then she expe- rienced the sensation commonly described as having a bright idea. 3A “It’s about 193 “Of course,” she said. “ And your poor head was so badly hit, too. Now just you go home, and we'll see that it’s all arranged satisfactorily.” She rose and placed a friendly hand on his shoulder, urging him toward the door. But he remained firm in his seat. = “ It’s unfortunate,” he remarked. “ But the matter seems to have gone farther than my head. As a matter of fact, my left—- I mean my right leg is rather badly wrenched. It may never be the same again,” She gazed upon him solicitously, but her eyes had a mischievous sparkle. ‘“ Does your head hurt you now?” “Not as badly as my leg.” “Do you find it hard to think clearly? Does it ache?” ‘““My leg? You bet it does. As a mat- ter of fact the doctor tells me it may lay me up for some time. So I want to talk over damages, and since Mr. Averill is away, I’d better see Miss Averill about it.” That made Marion so angry that she laughed, and as she laughed, Alicia entered. She recognized the invalid immediately. ‘Marion, why didn’t you tell me Mr. Drayton was here!” she exclaimed, and he rose to his feet with a bound. Alicia came into the dim hallway like sunlight, her hair in- golden loops about her head, and her sapphire eyes full of friendliness. “ How are you, Mr. Drayton? I had almost de- cided to go into the village and inquire after you.” , “That was kind of you,” he said. “As a matter of fact, I’m not too fit. My right —left—tight leg seems to have been badly wrenched.” “And his head was very severely in- jured,” put in Marion, telegraphing sug- gestively with her eyes from behind him. “You should have told me he was here,” Alicia reproved her. ‘““ He just came to have a chat with Cow- per,” explained Marion, mischievously. “You de Cowper a wrong,” reproved Drayton. “1’m sure he would never think of chatting with a man to whom he has been so slightly introduced.” “He thinks he wants damages,” Marion explained. “Tt’s his poor head.” (€(0) DOOKS ANU (E@)