Page:Strange Interlude (1928).djvu/143

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STRANGE INTERLUDE
137


Darrell

[With satisfaction—unruffledly]

People who are afraid to face unpleasant possibilities until it’s too late commit more murders and suicides than—

[Holds out card]

Doctor Schultz is your man. Take her to see him—tomorrow!


Marsden

[Bursting out in anger and misery]

Damn it, you’re condemning her without—!

[He breaks down chokingly]

You’ve no damn right!—

[He bends down, trembling all over, to pick up another piece of paper]


Darrell

[Genuinely astonished and contrite]

And I thought he was so ingrown he didn’t care a damn about anyone! . . . his mother . . . now I begin to see him . . .

[He jumps from his chair and going to Marsden puts a hand on his shoulder—kindly]

I beg your pardon, Marsden. I only wanted to drive it in that all delay is dangerous. Your mother’s pain may be due to any number of harmless causes, but you owe it to her to make sure. Here.

[He hands out the card]


Marsden

[Straightens up and takes it, his eyes grateful now—humbly]

Thank you. I’ll take her to see him tomorrow.

[Evans comes in]