Argosy All-Story Weekly — "The Purple Limited" — page 179: what you’re looking at

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

‘“q . his secret fear for the boy’s welfare. Hill with these loads! BING, BANG, BOOM! creasing fleshiness had long given him some concern; and when he had found the Ma- jestic Hotel’s alluring booklet among his morning’s mail, he read it through, and came to a sudden decision. “I’m going up there for a week or two, Mary,” he told his wife, after she, too, had read the booklet. “I didn’t*realize how much weight I’ve taken on lately until yes- terday afternoon when I was taking my golf lesson. The instructor says to me: ‘Stand erect, don’t bend your knees, and keep your eye on the ball.’ | “Well, when I stood up straight and didn’t bend my knees, I couldn’t see the ~ ball! So I knew I must be getting stout. Anywédy,” he added, “even if this water won’t do what is claimed for it, the rest will do me good. Besides, this hotel is down in Arkansas, Mary, and—and I be- lieve that was where our boy was headed when he left here. While I’m down in that . part of the country I’d like to try to find a trace of him.” “YT wish you would, Jasper,” Mrs. Boom said; but the shadow that crossed her face told him that she shared Two lonely, dreary months had crept by since he had left them, and they had not heard a word of him. Mr. Jasper Boom was thinking of this as he stepped from the train and walked across the crowded platform toward the waiting line of buses: He made his way ¢hrough a babbling, shifting throng, paus- ing at length before the driver of one of the buses who was standing beside his equipage, ready to assist his portly fares up the step. “Ts this bus for the Majestic?” asked Mr. Boom. -“ Fer th’ Palace,” answered the driver. “T ain’t makin’ my hosses take Prospect Palace is fur enough.” Mr. Boom snorted. ‘ Any buses around here that are leaving for the Majestic?” “That one on t’other side o’ th’ plat- form,” the man replied, jerking his head indicatively to the left. ‘ Reckon Jeb Hill will start directly.” ‘ Thanks,” said Mr. Boom, pausing a was all . * Boom! ”’ 745 moment before entering again the jostling crowd on the platform. “Say, you seem to have a lively town here. What’s the population?” ‘“ Twenty-five hundred an’ Bing, Bang, Boom,” was the reply. “ That makes about ten thousand, all told!” “ Beg pardon?” said Mr. Boom; “ Phat makes ten thousand?” But several men, whose destination was the Palace, approached at that moment, and the driver turned away, leaving Mr. Boom’s question unanswered. Mr. Boom _ Started across the platform again, and al- most immediately a youth sprang out at him, reaching for his suit-case “ ‘Lemme carry yer satchel, mister!” Mr. Boom relinquished his suit-case to the outstretched hand. -. “ Boy,” he said wearily, “ lead me to a bus that 71l take me to the Majestic.” He regarded the little fellow before him. ‘You're pretty small to carry such a big load, aren’t you, sonny?” “Naw-w-w,” replied the boy in an ag- grieved tone. “I kin carry more’n this, I betcha! Why, purty soon I’m gonner try an’ git a job’ with that there Bing, Bang, And as if the «thought of this prospective attempt filled him with sudden power, he lifted the suit-case and started away, staggering under its weight. Mr. Boom. lifted his hat and scratched his head. -He wondered if Bing,;*Bang, Boom, which, the bus driver had given him to understand, was equivalent to a popula- tion of about eight thousand—was a near- by town or some large industrial plant. He’d never heard of it. from his thoughts with a start, for two men passed him at that moment, and a snatch of their conversation came to him. ‘So Josh he suggested gittin’ out a bond issue fer it, but that there Bing, Bang, Boom said ‘ no,’ an’ that ended—”’ Mr. Boom turned and gazed after the men, who were soon lost in the crowd. There was a strange, wondering look in his eyes. Three times in as many minutes he had heard his own-name. ‘* Better hurry up, mister,’ said the boy who held his suit-case; “ that there keer- age is goin’ ter start soon.” He was recalled (C(O) nn) (C 6)(0)©) S (C(O) nn