Argosy All-Story Weekly — "The Purple Limited" — page 172: what you’re looking at

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

738 stopped and looked about him. He had come:thus far not without misgivings. He could not entirely throw aside his suspi- cions of the unusual station-master; he could not rid himself of the uneasy thought that this was but another sample of David’s so-called humor, and that David was even now chuckling merrily over this foolish, fu- tile errand. All about him the fallen leaves, brown and crisp and curled, made a crackling car- pet for the unplanted forest-floor. Twigs ‘and broken branches lay strewn about. To the -right of him the branches were piled high—stacked with a studied carelessness that impressed him. David had mentioned that. He-tistened in the solemn forest-stillness, for he re- membered that David had said that he used to lie there “ listenin’ to the water bubblin’ jest to the right 0’ me.” The sound that came to him was unmistakable, despite its faintness. He heard if, too: the soft mur- mur of bubbling water, like the gentle drib- bling of a leaky faucet. With eager hands he tore away the stack of twigs and branches; then he stood back, gazing with wide eyes into the small ex- cavation that he laid bare. It was like a great, cracked cup, hewn out from solid rock, And through its crevices the water bubbled, trickling down its sides to form a clear pool at its bottom—a pool that must have seeped out at the bottom as mys- teriously as it bubbled into the top, for it rose no higher deepite its constant accre- tion. With -a low cry Bert dropped to his knees, made a dipper of his palm, and brought some of the clear water to his lips. Its pungent taste screwed his face into a grimace. For a moment he knelt there, staring into the poof, the sudden, overwhelming joy that rose within him threatening to dissolve itself into tears of sheer happiness. Now he knew why David had spoken of springs! He recailed his every word. Springs tor dyspepsia! Springs for rheumatism! most every ailment to which man is sub- jected! What property had _ this spring—/its Springs for gout! cried Bert. Springs for al-' ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. spring? He did not know; he did not care. It was a spring, and that was quite enough. With a frantic haste that verged upon hysteria, throwing back his head to let his tremulous laughter ring through the canopy of boughs above him, stumbling, scattering the complaining leaves and snapping twigs beneath his boutiding feet, he made his joy- ful way to the front of the Majestic, where he had left his horse and buggy. He drove madly, shouting and slapping the reins until the horse was quite as ex- cited as his master. When they reached Main Street the animal was galloping, splashing through the puddles that last night’s rain had left, coating its legs and belly with wet mud. People on the sidewalks stared after the shouting young man, shaking their heads solemnly. “There goes that Bing, Bang, Boom,” they said portentously; and found no need to supplement this statement. . Bert drove directly to the station. David was standing in the doorway, gazing out into the gathering dusk. In a moment Bert was out of his buggy, across the platform, and had caught the man in his arms, hug- ging him to his breast. . “David!” he cried, releasing him and drawing back a pace. “ David, you old son-of-a-gun! I’ve found it! I’ve found the spring!” David rubbed his chin and regarded the excited young man seriously. “Looks like somethin’ might ’a’ bit you out there, too,” he replied. “ What did you do—roll home? Youw’re full o’ mud.” ““ Splashed up,” said Bert. “ David, dog- gone you, I found the spring!” “T thought you might,” David remarked. ‘“‘ Springs don’t usually walk away. Now that you found it, what’re you goin’ to do with it?” “T’m going to make a million dollars!” “ That’s what I’m going te do! It’s a mineral spring. I tasted it. It’s just like those you were telling me about, What does this one cure, David?” David shook his head sadly. ‘“ You're as thick-headed as a marble stachoo, son. I told you, and now youedon’t know.’* (C(O) nn) A OO) KS (C(O)