Argosy All-Story Weekly — "The Purple Limited" — page 101: what you’re looking at

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

LYON ‘Charles Alden Seltzer. | if Charles Alden Seltzer. PRECEDING CHAPTERS BRIEFLY RETOLD AYLOR NELSON, known everywhere on the range as Shorty, although he is a giant in stature, cannot forget that in battle with outlaws some mont hs back, his pal, Larry Dillon, was slain treacherously from the rear by Brail Kelton, of Blondy Antrim’s band. Having bided his time for vengeance he finally decided this had arrived, and on Governor Kane Lawler’s horse, Red King, presented to him by the Governor whose service on the ranch he was leaving, Shorty set out to find Kelton and exact it. In the vicinity of Loma he came upon a girl, thrown from her horse and helpless through a sprained ankle, and was quite complimented because she chose him rather than Blandell, one of her father’s men, to carry her back home. She offered him a job on the Circle Star, but Shorty declined it, feeling that to accept just then would not be keeping faith with Larry. So he went on to Loma, where he befriended a stranger out’ of luck, who in turn befriended him when Shorty had for a second time made an enemy of Blandell by rescuing from his hands a boy’s dog that had bitten him after being wantonly teased by Blandell. Deciding that after all Larry would forgive him if he followed out his strong inclina- tion to accept service on the Circle Star ‘ranch, Shorty headed that way, but was winged in the arm by a bullet from the rear and fell to the ground, where he lay inert after a horseman had ridden up to look down on him and remark: “T reckon that settles you!” CHAPTER X. THE MOVING BLOT. HORTY’S guest at breakfast had S made a leisurely journey to the Circle Star. He came in sight of the build- ings shortly after noon and rode to the rear porch of the ranch-house, where he dis- mounted. A door opening upon the porch was ajar, ’ and through it floated appetizing odors that made the man crinkle his nose appre- ciatively. He called once, and then waited patiently until he heard a step inside the house. Then he stepped back and doffed his hat, for he had overheard Shorty speak- ing of a girl he had talked with at the ranch-house, and he expected she would appear at” the door. However it was a rfan who answered his This story began in the Argosy-Allstory Weekly for August 14. 667 | summons—and the visitor restored his hat to his head. “T reckon this is the Circle Star?” said Shorty’s guest. The other nodded. His jaws were work- ing; he was wiping his hands on a hand- kerchief. It was evident that he had been eating when interrupted. ‘“‘ Heard you was lookin’ for a cow- hand,’’ went on the visitor. “I’m reckon- in’ to be one. Me an’ work has been total strangers for more’n a month.” ‘“‘ Heard I was wantin’ men—eh? was tellin’ you?” “ A guy in Loma.” The other regarded the applicant sus- piciously. His gaze roved with frank cu- riosity over the tall, lithe frame. ‘“‘ Been in Loma long?” “Holed up there for three days. Who Loma cCoOmiclbook ‘CO