Argosy All-Story Weekly — "The Purple Limited" — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

THE PURPLE in’ all about it. -Reminds me of old days on th’ C., M. and W. when it was called the Short Line. It ain’t very short now, - since they built the road to Cotopaxi.” Lark took off his cap and coat, and sat down. He watched the old man for a min- ute or so. Uncle Add’s eyes were gray- thatched and nearsighted. ‘Suppose you want some supper,” he chuckled. ‘“ Well, I’m gettin’ it. Was. kinda delayed on ac- count of losin’ my spectacles. I had to read all about that robbery before I coyld peel th’ spuds.” , Lark told his uncle what he knew about the stick-up and the missing Purple Lim- ited. He dwelt on the treatment J. J. D. had received from. the western directors. The old man poised his potato-knife and clicked his gold-filled teeth. ‘‘ They don’t make railroad men like J. J. D. nowadays. Why, he’s been with th’ road thirty years! - He was chief clerk to th’ division superin- tendent of th’ first division which I was switchin’ in th’ yard at Anamosa.” Anamosa was the eastern terminal of the C., M. and W. Lark queried: “ Uncle, what is your idea concerning the robbery? I’ve told you everything I saw that night. I don’t understand how a whole train could be missing.”’ “Neither do I, Lark. I guess it ain’t missin’ for them that go an’ look for it, proper. They haven’t looked at th’ right place, that’s all.” “ Where is the right place, uncle?” Uncle Add closed his eyes. His lips | parted in slow thought. He opened both eyes and stared at Lark. ‘“‘ Years ago,” he said, ‘“‘ there was a stick-up on th’ line. _I was at Cotopaxi when it happened. Th’ robbers, there’: was two of them, climbed aboard a passenger train, cut off an express car, and took it down th’ road a piece. They forced the messenger to open th’ safe. They got. away with thirty thousand dol- lars. They were caught and sent to the penitentiary.” “ Who were the men?” asked Lark, very much interested. Uncle Add knitted his brows. Arnold was one. I forgot th’ name of th’ other. They were sent up for a considel able stretch, I recollects.” “ Black LIMITED. 591 “Where did they rob the train, uncle?” “At Mile-Post 243—just t’other side of Butte Tunnel.”’ Lark repeated the mile-post number to himself. He intended never to forget it. ‘“Do you think Black Arnold is still in the penitentiary ?‘” he asked. ‘“Don’t know. Likely he is. Or else he’s dead.” Lark climbed the stairs and changed his shoes. He washed his face and hands in a tin basin, brushed his hair, and joined Uncle Add at supper. “I didn’t sleep a wink last night,” he yawned, “and I guess I won’t sleep any. to-night. I’m going to watch around the lower end of the yard. J. J. D. is in trouble. It’s up to me to help him.” The old man nodded. “Stick by them what stick by you!” he said. “It ll turn out th’ best in th’ long run. J. J. D. got you the job at checkin’.” Lark rose from the table, and glanced at an eight-day clock on a kitchen shelf. He put on his cap, wrapped his muffler _around his neck, and turned to the old man > “ There’s a reward for the one who runs down the train-robbers, uncle.” ‘* Sure as shootin’!”’ declared Uncle Add. “ There’s always.a-big reward. How much was in them safes, Lark? Th’ paper says two million.” “It was a little over a million. The safes—there were three of them—were locked, and the combination-knobs taken away by the express agent at Anamosa. They always do that with the money ship- ments on the Purple Limited.” | Uncle Add bent across the kitchen table and fastened upon Lark a shrewd scrutiny. ‘Th’ robbers knew it would take scads ; of time to open th’ safes on that express car, Lark. That’s why th’ Purple Limited is missin’. They took the whole train, be- ‘cause it was easier that: way.” “What do you mean, uncle?” -““Find th’ robbers an’ you'll find th’ train. They’re stickin’ close to her, some- wheres!” Lark asked the old engunet many ques- tions. “Lark, it was a big job—an’ it was comfichoo S CO