Argosy All-Story Weekly — "The Purple Limited" — page 178: what you’re looking at

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

144 Read it over carefully, Mrs. Maguire. It’s a scientific analysis of the water, and it gives complete instructions for its use so as to get the best results. You will see how enthusiastically the doctor speaks of it.” He turned to Amos, who, resplendent in his new uniform, had responded to the call of “ Front!” ‘“ Room 25,” he said, handing over a key. Mrs. Maguire waddled away in the wake of Amos, and a man took his place before the register. “A widow,” he said to Fred, nodding his head backward in the direction of the departing Mrs. Maguire. “ I’m from Kal- amazoo, too, but we never met till we got on the train together. Fine woman. Splen- did!” He turned his head to regard the object of his sincerely spoken compliment, who was laboriously and ponderously mounting the stairs. ‘“ Yes; really a fine “voman. And pretty, too—minys a_ hundred pounds.’”’ And he signed the register with a flourish. ~— “¢ All things come to him who waits,” re- plied Fred, with a slight smile. “ Let’s see. .What is the name? Oh, yes—Mr. Jibbers. Well, Mr. Jibbers, you don’t seem to be so very corpulent yourself.” “Oh, no,” Mr. Jibbers replied, running his palms over his: slightly protuberant waistcoat. ‘I really wouldn’t care to lose more than twenty pounds. One-eighty is my best weight. To tell you the truth, I had no idea of coming here when I got on the train. I’m a traveling man, and I was bound for St. Louis. But, as I ‘said, I met Mrs. Maguire on the train, and—well, I have a great eye for possibilities, young man. A great eye for possibilities. Al- ways did have. That’s why I telegraphed for reservations when we changed trains at St. Louis. I can stand to lose twenty pounds. One eighty is my best weight.” Fred tapped the bell. “Front!” he called; and when a boy responded: “ Show the gentleman to Room ” 26.” When the other two men had registered “ and had been sent off to their rooms, Bert ’ and Fred looked at each other and winked, simultaneously. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ‘“T’ll be sorry when the clerks come and I have to give up this job,” laughed Fred. — “* This is great!” “It’s a scream,” Bert agreed. ‘ Some- thing tells me it would be worth while op- erating this hotel even if we didn’t get twelve dollars a day per head. It’s worth a fortune just to stay here and watch the transformations.” “That reminds me of what that Wilber woman told. me when she came in this morning. Were you here then?” ‘“‘T don’t believe so. What was it?” ““She said she had brought along four sizes of clothes. now, which she had made to order, a me- dium size stylish stouts, forties, and thirty- sixes. And she told me she’s going to stay here till she can wear the thirty-sixes!” Since nine o’clock that Thanksgiving | morning, when the Majestic had thrown open its doors'to its guests, there had been a steady stream of men and. women, come to take possession of the rooms they had reserved. Many had arrived at Selma the day before, lodging for the night whereso- ever they could procure rooms until the Majestic was ready to receive them; others had arrived on the early morning train. Now, at eleven o’clock, three-fourths of the number of expected guests had already claimed their reservations; and these were now in the lobby and on the loggia, out- side, talking together or sitting about, wait- ing to inspect the new arrivals; each, prob- ably, in the inevitable hope of the portly, that he would discover some one stouter than himself. Bert let his eyes rove about the crowded . room, and then returned his gaze to Fred. “ I wonder why dad hasn’t shown up?” he said anxiously. “ I’ve been looking for- ward to his surprise for weeks.” ‘Don’t worry about it,” Fred replied hopefully. “ He’s probably on the train that just came in at eleven two.” Indeed, the object of their discourse was even at that moment stepping down from the platform of the train that had just come to a groaning stop at Selfma. Mr. Jasper Boom would have resented the assertion that he was fat; but he was, unquestionably, generously stout. His in- The size she’s wearing. nn) (C 6)(0)©) (C(O) S (C(O) nn