“True, a certain factor of difference in conditions must be allowed, as I have said, but an excessive factor cannot be allowed. We have got to find it, or discard human reason as an implement for getting at the truth.”
Again the big track boss smashed through the niceties of logic.
“These things happen all the time, Miss Warfield. You can't figure it out.”
“One ought to be able to determine it,”' replied the girl.
The track boss shook his head.
“We can't tell what made that rail give.”
“Of course, we can tell,” said Marion. “It gave because it was weakened.”
“But what weakened it?” replied the man. “You can't tell that? The rail's sound.”
“There could be only two causes,” said Marion. “It was either weakened by a natural agency or a human agency.”
The track boss made an annoyed gesture, like a practical person vexed with the refinements of a theorist.