Argosy All-Story Weekly — "The Purple Limited" — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

CZESAR’S ‘So you’re the judge here!” exclaimed Summers jovially. “‘ Guess we’re in luck, eh, Denton?” The managing vice-presi- dent was enjoying a boisterous laugh to which Denton joined a pleasant one. “ Fact is, Purdy,” admitted Summers confidentially, “‘ we were hitting it up a bit coming into town, and I don’t particularly blame the officer here for stopping us, es- pecially as two children have been killed lately.”’ | That was the cue for the three council- men and even the bewildered Purdy to look in surprise at Pruitt. The special offi- cer kept his face straight, but it was plain Luke had been using poetic license to jug- gle Shep’s death and the station hack col- lision into infant fatalities. ‘‘T’ll give you my word we won’t do it again,” agreed Summers bluffly. At about that time it must have occurred to him that Purdy was strangely quiet—not exactly re- sponsive. | Bomeisler, Cunningham, and Jordan ex- pected him to do his bounden duty by Boynton. And Summers and Mr. Denton doubtless supposed, and under the circum- stances not without warrant, that Purdy would wink at their arrest and call it quits. Purdy temporized. ‘These gentlemen,” he explained falter- ingly to the three councilmen, “are the: president and vice-president of my con- cern.”’ It wasn’t particularly relevant and there were no replies. In reality Purdy had merely uttered one of the conditions that was running through his head. And as that thought thudded— thudded—thudded, conscience kept inces- santly whispering the other condition, the words of his oath: ‘‘ Without fear or fa- vor.” All personal ill-will toward Sum- mers was forgotten. This was a big issue. He reflected wretchedly that the crisis might have come as a judgment for his petty grudge. But there was nothing petty about this business: it was his job or his honor. Denton drew out his watch and looked at it suggestively. ‘‘Mr. Summers,” began Purdy with a breathless muster of speech, ‘you are CHOICE. 685 charged with having exceeded the speed | limit.” | ‘““He was traveling better than twenty- five,” put in Pruitt. ‘‘ How do you plead?” continued Purdy. Summers stared in astonishment. “ You’re—you’re not in earnest,” he began, then exclaimed jovially: ‘‘Oh, come on, Purdy, a joke’s a joke.” Summers himself was growing red now —tred and angry. Denton intervened. ‘“T understand, Purdy, that you intend to fine us,” he said crisply, but not un- pleasantly as he thrust a hand into the pocket of his knickerbockers. Purdy gulped and nodded. ‘“How much?” asked Denton. His hand, withdrawn, held a roll of bank- notes. Purdy looked around desperately. Sum- mers was glaring as if he would have found cannibalism a convenience. “Fifty dol- lars,’”’ said Purdy, and moistened his lips. It was Cesar’s choice, and Henry Purdy had chosen to be first in his suburban Iberia. But in the instant of decision he felt the tremors of the Roman doom. There was a blur where Denton had been standing, but beyond loomed the ominous bulk of Summers. Dimly he heard Denton saying ‘“ and ten is fifty,” as the last bill was laid on top of two twenties already paid into Purdy’s hand. Summers seemed about to blow up, but the president of the Cataract company caught his arms and started him toward the door. : ‘“ The damned nerve of him!” muttered - Summers. “ Forget it,” said Denton under his breath. ‘“ It’s worth fifty dollars any time to find that a man is honest.” Denton turned at the door with a nod and wave of farewell, then they were gone. Luke-Pruitt let out a whoop, while the councilmen fell to congratulating each other. But all Purdy could do was nervously to ease the collar at his throat. And the col- lar couldn’t have been so big for him after _all or he wouldn’t have felt that it was choking him. Conn C 6)(0)©) S (CCO)INN)