Argosy All-Story Weekly — "The Purple Limited" — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

58e: saw Micky, the call-bey, regarding him with a. bread, teoth-broken grin. ‘““ Whe is that girl?” asked Lark. “ Th’ one you was flirtin’ with?” “ Yes,” admitted Lark. “Aw, gee—she’s some homeless Kate! Lives down th’ line. I see her often. She’s always snoopin’ round: bere.”’ “ Don’t you knew her name, Mieky?” ‘“‘ Sure, I de. Gimme a2 nickel, an’ I'll tell you. D’you want to date ber up? It can be done!”’ The prececieus call-boy took the nickel Lark handed to him, eyed it, turned it over, and pushed it to one side of his mouth. “ Her natne is Nan,” he said: ‘ That’s what th’ roundhouse boys call her. That’s all I know, unless you gimme: another nickel.”’ . “Lark decided that the second nickel weuld be wasted. He had the girl in mind ‘when he went past the despatcher’s door and: waited in line before J. J. D.’s office. Nan, or whatever her name: was, had in- quired about the Purple Limited. She ‘had hurried along the track and toward the water-tank before the Limited arrived. ‘The clue of the mask, the homeless girt, - the matches arid the newspaper, all should form a link in the chain, thought Lark. Then again, they might. not help much. in the investigation. going on: in J. J. D:’s office. The closed door, beliind which men’s voices were raised, held a fascination for Lark. He realized that. J. J. D. was fight- ing for his railroad pesition. It wasn't every day that a group of news-hungry re- porters and’ swivel-chair railroad: directors got the chance to blame a superintendent for lésing a train. They were going it goed and strong in J. J. 1D:’s office: Lark saw two well-dressed men come out with flushed faces. Then the old bridge-tender at Broad River went in and gave his testimony. He came into the despatcher’s office fuming and tapping his erooked cane. . “T told ’em what I know—that’s what I did!” he blurted to the line-in-waéting. “ Forty-three wernt over th’ draw like a comet. I wuz lookin’ through my window. sie didn’t even whistle—which was expect- -ceuldn’t exactly remember the: preci we we 2 ee — ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ‘. ed: of her. She just streaked through th’ snow.” ‘Was the draw open at all during the night?’ asked. a ‘“No, it wasn’t! It ain’t been open in days. There’s nothin’ coming up an’ dewn river this weather.”’ The old man, who was called ‘“ Pop,” stamped out to the platform. The next to be called into J. J. D.’s office was the telegraph-operator at Butte Tunnel. Lariz tried to hear what he said by. bending far- ward. The door was slightly ajar. Tobac- co-smoke drifted out. . “You know me!” exclaimed J: J. D.. ‘“‘ Are you’ sure you heard: 43 go by?’ — ‘“‘] heard a train ge by,” was the answer. “Then fF rolled over, an’ dropped off to. The traek-walker at Butte Tunnel was summened after the operator. This man had no recollection of having seen 43. He admitted under J. J. D.’s questions that he: had gone to the section-house between twelve and one, for coffee and a-rest. ._He time he was away from the tunnel. “Get your pay!”’ reared Ji J. Ds “You had your orders net to leave the track.” o . The track-walker came from the office with a2 surly grin on his face. He was: the first to be fired during the investigation. Lark cherished a. good glimpse of the man in case he wanted to. question him. in the: future. ‘‘ Larkins!” called J. J. D.’s chief clerk. through the door. | Lark stepped into the office. Besides J. J. D and the chief clerk, there wee - two eastern detectives, a stenographer, the traffic manager, and a representative of am Insurance company This representative was the most worried. man of the His company. had insured the contents of the safes aboard the Purple Limited. J. J. D. sat at his desk with his coat off. He glanced at Lark, snapped the silk arm~ band on his left sleeve, and said: ‘“T’ve called you, Larkins, so that these gentlemen can hear about the light yeu. saw under the water-tank—the mask you. picked up in the snow—and any other itewn \ Cc COMICL@O S CO