As I reached the top of the hill, I saw that two automobiles had
stopped at the bottom, and, noticing that their lights blinked as
people passed back and forth in front of them, I was convinced that a
small crowd had gathered, probably out of curiosity. I slowed up as I
neared the spot and came to a stop at the side of the road. A
motorcycle cop walked up to my car.
"Inspector Robinson, sir?"
"No," I answered, "I am Warren Thompson, brother-in-law of Mr.
Felderson, who had the accident. How did it happen, do you know,
Sergeant?"
"It was the fault of the bridge again, sir. I've told the chief that
something ought to be done. This is the third accident in six months.
We've been trying to find the other car."
"What other car?" I asked.
"The car that made Mr. Felderson take the ditch," he explained. "He
must have been driving fast--he usually did; many's the time I've had
to warn him--and must have seen that the other car would meet him at
the bridge. He stopped too quick, skidded off the road and turned over
into the creek."
I shuddered as I pictured the scene. One of the automobiles turned
around and the lights picked out the upturned wheels of Jim's car. It
looked like some monster whose back had been broken. It was a large
Peckwith-Pierce touring car, and the force of the crash had twisted and
smashed the huge chassis. Several men were gathered around the car,
examining it with the aid of a barn-lantern.
"Where were the bodies found?" I asked, my voice trembling.
"Mrs. Felderson was over there on the bank. She was thrown out likely
when the car left the road. Mr. Felderson's body was under the
machine."
While the thought of the heavy weight crushing the life out of Jim
sickened me, I thanked God that death must have been instantaneous.
"Do you know who found them, Sergeant?"
He pointed to a man standing by the wreck. "That man over there. He
found them and took them to the hospital after sending one of his
friends to notify the police."
The man evidently heard our voices, and came over to us.
"Is this the inspector?" he asked.
"No," I replied, "I am Mr. Felderson's brother-in-law."
"Oh, I'm sorry!" he said quickly. "May I express my deep, deep
sympathy?"
"Thank you. Will you tell me how you discovered the accident?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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