Argosy All-Story Weekly — "The Purple Limited" — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

THE PURPLE LIMITED. é ‘IT saw it. I was standing on the steps there when it went by.” Lark glanced at himself in a silver-bor- dered mirror. His eyes were bright. There was a spot of soot on the tip of his nose.. Perhaps his cheeks had sunk in slightly. Otherwise, he appeared normally healthy. * Well, ““You remember that girl asked if it was on time. I’ve been out on the road all night. We’ve searched every foot of the track from here to Cotopaxi. one Limited went right up in smoke.” ** So they say,” drawled the waiter. “I guess it looks bad for J. J. D. We'll have - @ new super soon.” Lark indignantly clutched his fists. J. J. D. was the best friend he had. He paid the check, added a dime for the waiter, and slushed through the thawing snow in the direction of the division superintend- ent’s office. The wrecking train Stood on a siding awaiting orders. The station-platform was crowded with railroad men and reporters from near-by towns. Lark saw Micky, the call-boy, strutting around and looking important. Burke and O’Connor, the engineer and fire- man of the Limited, rested against a bag- gage truck. Burke’s head was bandaged. O’Connor had his broken arm in a sling. Telegraph-operators, who had seen the Limited go by their stations, called to divi- sion headquarters to give their testimony. A track-walker, whose duty it was to walk through Butte Tunnel every two hours, was telling a group of newspaper men that he did not see the Limited, but had heard it. Micky the call boy ran up to Lark. _“ Wouldn’t it curl your hair?” he said. “A regular wild West train-robbery right on our line! 9” Lark smiled. Micky was generally seen reading a dime novel when on duty. er’s office. Lark turned to follow him, but stepped aside when a handsome, healthy woman came out, clad in expensive furs. He heard a switchman say: ‘““ There goes J. J. D.’s wife. She would keep two men broke at th’ present price of things. Look at her furs. They’re the real thing!” I saw it,_too,” he admitted. -tive’s face. ‘throng and walked in the direction of the partly opened door. _ lunch-wagon. The call-boy entered the train-despatch-— 587 Lark changed color. Mrs. Darrah had been kind to him. She had invited him on several occasions to her home, when the railroad boys were royally entertained with music and cake and ice-cream. J. J. D. was known as a spender in New- house. It was said that he could not keep money in his. pocket. He owed almost every merchant—but then a railroad super- intendent’s credit was good for almost any amount. in merchandise. - | Lark was one of a hundred admirers of the overworked division superintendent. He had not yet had an opportunity to fight the matter out with any man. He was willing to lay down his life for J. J. D. Darrah knew his uncle, and Darrah had given him the job at car-checking when there were - others .seeking the place. A second figure strode out from J. J. D.’s office while Lark hesitated on the platform. This man, stately and severe in a penetrat- ing manner, was Converse, the chief detec- tive. He had once made the boast, in print, that no train-robber would ever get away with a hold-up on the C., M. and W. There was a worried look on the detec- He moved onward in the roundhouse. Lark again attempted to go through the He caught, as his hand touched the knob, the unmistakable feel- ing that he was being stared at. He turned around. A slender and poorly dressed girl, with @ torn shawl over her brown hair, was hud- died against the side of the station. She shivered in the slush. The dripping eaves had soaked her shoulders. Lark was con- scious of the piteous appeal of an unusually | large pair of hazel eyes. She was the girl he had seen in the She it was who had asked concerning the Purple Limited. Lark advanced a step toward her. cringed away, pressed her hands together, and fled. As she ran she darted at him a frightened back glance. She was gone through the crowd of railroad men and re- porters. Her shawl bobbed where she crossed the west-bound track. Lark crammed his fists into his pockets. He CONMUC She DOOK CO