Argosy All-Story Weekly — "The Purple Limited" — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

that has set blows thudding since the be- | the instant came toa drive Monk Grimes’s jaws together. Grimes must have felt semething of this, and the evening had not yet reached the fighting stage. “T dunno nething about this myself, Bill, but they say he wants to marry her. And Daddy Papineau, he made her all kinds of offers, one way and another. I dunno much about it, Bill. You ask Soz- zie Howard; he knows everybody’s busi- ness but his own.”’ “Come make me acquainted. with her, Monk, after they get through this dance.” said Stark> turning his attention now to. the slender form that wound in and out among the. others with such infinitely greater charm of movement; for Grimes had made amends. _ -.“ You den’t need no interduction,”’ growled. Monk, moving away, “and be- sides, I’ got to go get me a drink.” So Bill was left standing alone to gaze at her, and think. Hac Monk really been about: to speak or hint evil of her, or had he read. that intent ime- the words of the big maze Impossible. Stark knew every tone, every loek of Rip- ley Road faces and voices. Had. ten years made him anything less of a mountain man? as a stove grows hot when the fire is kin- dled within: he took off his heavy coat and hung it over his arm, —~ Monk Grimes Had. better look to his tongue. Now Bad Bill rememberetl, or fancied he remembered, that the bully of other days had been something of a gossip. He found a place near the fiddler’s chair, so that he could better watch the girl when she stood at ease during the intervals of the dance. . Fo Bilt she was perfect; and his wan- derings had made him no mean judge of _ wemen. Slender hands and feet that a princess might have owned with pride— coal-black hair and gray eyes that dark- ened or flashed according to her mood. Her mouth. was one to be kissed in the sweet- ness. of a summer night, to the music of gently stirring waters. .She was not beautiful as are beautiful the women whose pictures are printed for the world to admire: she was of the kind. Fre felt himself growing slowly hot SF ginning of the world. And: im her face. that turned with a quick, warm smile te- ward whoever spoke to her, Bill found netiting to seil the whiteness df his wer- ship. When,. at the end. of the danse, Janet McCullough sat down with Richard. Hur- ley ‘beside her, Bill Stark walked across the roem and halted in front of her chair. She had seen him coming. Se had Hurley, and Bill had marked the lock of the Jealous, watch-dog i in his eyes. ** Miss McCullough,” said Stark, stand. ing at attention, “ will you. dance the next time with me?” She looked at him curiously, net un- _ pleasantly, and he knew that the result of her findings would determine his present fate. But Hurley fidgeted. With a side- ~ wise glance Bill placed him as much more than a cub, although as yet untried: rather, perhaps, was he in the process of being tried now. “ Janet!’ expleded. Hurley... nan been intrdduced to you?’’ “No, sir,” answered Stark, befere she could speak. Now he swung his gase full upon the face of the younger man. “I asiked a fetler to introduce me, but he had to. go get a drink, so I introduced myself. My name is Bill Stark.” “‘ Bad Bill Stark!” exclaimed the girl; and her voice matched ‘the rest of her. ““ Tve heard of you!” “Yes, ma’am,” humbly enough; “ but I stopped being bad the minute I come in here and see you dancing.” She laughed, and a: sparkle-of admiration came into her eyes. ‘Hurley felded his arms furiously: it was quite plain that he was not and never would be at home on Ripley Road—that he neither understeed the code nor liked the people. “What made you stop being bad when you saw me?” Now Bill Stark lost sontething of his equanimity, and turned hot with a blush. She was boldly forcing his hand: and yet he liked that sort of taik, straight fxom the. shoulder. Not many girls talked that way. ‘““Because—” He swallowed, the dry- ness in his threat as he searched through CONNUG. “ Has this NOOLK CO