Argosy All-Story Weekly — "The Purple Limited" — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

SKID SMITH, SCHEME SPECIALIST. “Vou’ve seen her,” he said. “ How about it? Do we make a deal?” ‘“‘T came here with you for that,” replied the prospect, and waited. Artie balanced a cube of sugar on the edge of aspoon. His hand shook a trifle as he allowed the water to fall drop by drop on the sugar and drip into his glass. Ab- sinthe making is an art; an unholy rite, and requires care and attention. Artie’s signs of agitation were not caused by any neryousness over what he was doing, or compunction concerning his thoughts. He suffered from an overweaning eagerness to get his price. When the sugar finally crum- bled and the glass was one-third full of thin sirup, Artie tilted a bottle labeled ox- egene, and the sweetened water took on a greenish yellow hue. Artie sipped, smacked his lips, and waited for the other to speak. “ Well,” he snapped at last. ‘‘ What’s the offer?” This story will be continued in next week’s The other shrugged his shoulders. ‘““T am the buyer, not the seller.” ~ “ Aw, make an offer,” urged Artie, but failed to make any impression on his client. So he talked; concocted more absinthe, and soon the screen that semiprivately shut off the corner where the pair sat, proved no barrier to Artie’s incautious voice. A young man who sat frowning over the entries he was making in his order book, presently looked up. He could see nothing of Artie or his companion; but he eyed the screen with sudden, awakened hostility. What was that he overheard? Was it pos- sible that such things could be said; cold bloodedly proposed? He closed the order- book and sat a little closer to the screen. The words of Artie were now slurred and lower in tone; but they could be heard. Beyond the shadow of a doubt, full cer- tainty was established in the listener’s “mind respecting what was being hatched. issue of the ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, the consolidated title under which beth magazines will appear hereafter as one. | ager of the Belgian Maids Com- pany, he shrugged indifferently, grinned with supreme good nature, and pledded from Willowdale by’ way of the railroad track. \ ™~ Digitized by (“Go gle a Dale M. Brown - EN Skid Smith received his un- © conditional release from the man- Skid persisted in being an actor in the face of managerial opposition, and many similar discouragements had not: disabused his mind of a fixed belief that true talent must some day win recognition. So, at each fresh discouragement he would pocket | what little he had coming to him and far- Original from(CO)[N 11) 0) OONKS GO) = THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY