Part 44 (1/2)
”She said she didn't know; that n.o.body ever paid any attention to speed laws.”
”What about her license?”
”I asked her and she said it was none of my business.”
”Quite right,” approved Mr. Pierce curtly.
”Tell the desk to run the interview _verbatim_, under a separate head.
Will the nurse die?”
Mr. Pierce snorted contemptuously. ”Die! She's hardly hurt.”
”Dislocated shoulder, two ribs broken, and scalp wounds. She'll get well,” said the reporter.
”Now, see here, Surtaine,” said Douglas smoothly, ”be reasonable. It won't do the 'Clarion' any good to print a lot of yellow sensationalism about this. There are half a dozen witnesses who say it was the nurse's fault.”
”We have evidence on the other side.”
”From whom?”
”Max Veltman, of our composing-room.”
”Veltman? Veltman?” repeated Elias M. Pierce, who possessed a wonderful memory for men and events. ”He's that anarchist fellow. Hates every man with a dollar. Stirred up the labor troubles two years ago. I told my men to smash his head if they ever caught him within two blocks of our place.”
”Speaking of anarchy,” said McGuire Ellis softly.
”A prejudiced witness; one of your own employees,” pointed out the lawyer.
”I wouldn't believe him under oath,” said Pierce.
”Perhaps you wouldn't believe me, either. I saw the whole thing myself,”
said Hal quietly.
”And you intend to print it?” demanded Pierce.
”It's news. The 'Clarion's' business is to print the news.”
”Then there remains only to warn you,” said Douglas, ”that you will be held to full liability for anything you may publish, civil _and_ criminal.”
”Take that down, Mr. Denton,” said Hal.
”I've got it,” said the reporter.
”That isn't all.” Elias M. Pierce rose and his eyes were wells of somber fury. ”You print that story--one word of it--and I'll smash your paper.”
”Take that down, Mr. Denton.” Hal's voice was even.
”I've got it,” said Denton in the same tone.