Argosy All-Story Weekly — "The Purple Limited" — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

COM. knew+—net: evert. when: I told: bien” The greasy: leather cushion’ from: Rag inesu’s rocking-chair lay by. one of: the _ table legs, with a: sht in: one’ side and the stuffing spilling’ out. Bill Stark: let: out: his- breath: with: a groast; ‘What did you'de it for;.girt?” he whtis- peredi. | “ Qhy. iti ll: give me a: start: toward! some thing!” She°kept her gaze fixed: uper the open stairway that led down into the kiteHen:. ‘“ T?ve always beert-hungry for—” That serftenve: was not’ finished, for upen the stainvay whieh: they were beth. watoh- ing, appeared: a pair of: bare’ feet, walking: slowly backwerd. Daddy Papiteau, with: one suspetider’ hanging and: his: face raised: to’ something’ above him; groped: his. wey. down. Another pair of: feet, wetl-shod; ap- peared. Ther.came the tall form of Rivh> ard: Hurtey, timing'his steps to those of the old: man: ant: holding: a: pistol: leveled at lis head. “ Now get it!”’ comntanded Hurley; in’ a voice that. shook with the tremor of intense emotion: “ Arid’ be damned. quiclt about it! Ive fosled: long: enough!” ‘“ Aw right;” agreed’ Papineau, as stead- ily. as though he were agreeing’ to: play: an- other tune: for a: roomful: of dancers: “ IT: guess I- better be alive den. not. and: have: it, Hey?” He backed across the room, his hand: reached’ behind: hint for the’ roeking-chatr, and: at‘ the same instant: his foot struck ag@inst: the cushion om: the floor. He. be- came rigid. His head bent astd: he looked: down. “ By dam’!” he chuckled. Bad: Bill: or de girl. got: dere first!” “What do you mean?” Hurley: bourd- ed. actoss the room and‘ jammed the muzzle of his pistol against Papineau’s breasts. With: his free hand: he snatched. out his wateh: dnd: held it: in: trembling’ fingers:. “ Tl: give you a minute, you old: fool; and- then: 1’l]. blow. your heart: out if I: don’t get that money.!”’ Bill Sturk,. held: as: in a vise until: then by what he had: seen; took’ swift thought as: to: what He could de. to: prevent! that murdér. For Richard Hurley would. sheeti. ' pressed against’ her side. ARGOSY: MWISTORS. WEBKLY. He was: toe, nesety’ insane: withh desire: fort the money which he believed would: wim hinr Janet}. toe scared! at. his. first: crime:. to like that: before The movement: of a finger, a quick breath ftonr Pa&piseau,. woukt: bring: death. There: was- one chanoe;. ant Bill’ drew back his arm to: take’ it. He would! plunge a: fist through one of the panes of: glass and it- might be that he could draw the nervous fire of. Hurley. If: he: coul® do: thizt; pere haps the amateur crimiral weulth break aml run. He raised’ up, with: fist: clenched glinpsing; out of the corner of: his eye that: Jastet was no longer beside itn: Se:she'd gone; and left three men. ttc play passin the-corner with death! | He struck; and a. otras: of splinterexh glass, a. pistol shot, and: a: wornant!s: cry af" pain: filled His cars together. That. ory. wast Janet’s, and it had come fronr withir tie room. He hurted'Nimself around the cor- ner: of: the house’ and: cleared: the: steps: witip a° stride: The. door was swinghtg. open. The: smet}: of' burnt. powder: met: bim,;. the: Staring white face of Hurley; amd: the: pis: tol: hetd: in a limp hand. Old Papineau stood. by: the table; exantly: where he had been, and’ unhatrred: Hur Jaset’ was: down: on the floor, holding: he self up: witlr one Hand. while the otherr Her eyes were upon: Hurley, with. the surprise of‘ a. chiltt that’ meets: an. unexpected: blow, but. they: turned to: Stark. as he leaped: through the doersvay: “ Bill,” she said, in at very small. voles, “T) guess; ?’m: hurt?” Stark dropped to his kstees;. heertless of: the other men. But there was ne: resto . fear the: unnerved Hurley now; asd no need: to fear’ Daddy Papineawa; for he: wae a canny person: “My girl!” Bill. cradled ler close to» his sheepsitin: jacket, and. did: something that he had: not: done at least’ withim his memory. Not even whiten. they: lashed: hinm with: a cat: o’ nine: tails- in. seHiool: had! He wept; but’ now he was. shaken by the strangeness of! seis, and: the faos: of: Jestet- became: dim: through: his: tears: “Tt get a doctor!” croaked Hurtey, COMiiCclooo S CO