Argosy All-Story Weekly — "The Purple Limited" — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

THE PURPLE LIMITED. “ You know me!” shouted Darrah. “ Are you sure about that train?” “Sure! I ain’t got much else to do up here but watch ’em go by. What’ s th’ matter?” -Darrah’s reply was to wheel toward the ‘ engineer of the wrecking train. “Go on. Hump‘her up! Butte Tunnel next.” Butte Tunnel was a day telegraph-office on the C., M. and W. The station, a tiny affair, was east of the mouth of the tunnel. We'll try Lark sprang off the engine when it slowed fer the station, and at J. J. D.’s orders, began pounding on a pine door. He kicked a panel with his heel. There sounded the sleepy stirring of the day operator. A shade went up. <A window lifted to make room for a shock of yellow hair and a thin-faced operator, who stared first at Lark and then at the wrecking train on the main line. “Did you see anything of the Purple Limited?” called Darrah from the engine. “ No. 4 3?” *“N-o. I’ve been sleepin’, super. off trick at eight o’clock.” ‘“Didn’t you hear it go by?” ‘Seems to me I heard something around one o’clock. Must have been 43,” Darrah looked at Ragan. ‘ You better get off here,” he said. ‘ Get out the sec- tion-gang and go through the tunnel. See if you can find anything. Tell that opera- tor to stay up. Report to the despatchers if you find any trace of the Limited.” Lark avoided Ragan’s leaping form, and _ climbed on the engine. The engineer opened the throttle. J. J. D. pulled out a black cigar, bit off the end savagely, and started chewing. Between bites, he said: “The Limited couldn’t jump the track without marking the ties. She passed Broad River. She was heard at Butte Tun- nel. Now watch the tunnel when we go through. Lean ’way out, Lark.” Lark felt the damp air of the tunnel! I went He grasped a handle on the tender and al- — most touched his face to the rocky walls. He glanced back. Hard, straight-browed wrecking men were searching the stones. Their forms showed angular in the light from the two lanterns... Smoke began to 585 choke Lark. He coughed—doubled up, and found, J. J. D. grasping him round the waist. ‘We're through the tunnel,” said Dar- rah. “Nothing yet. Now get ready to drop off at the coal-mines.”’ The coal-mines beyond Butte Tunnel were worked by the C., M. and W. The coal was obtained in alrnost any quantity desired. The tipples loomed through the snow. Coal-cars appeared on long sidings. Lark swung, jumped, and picked himself up when the engine slowed at a switch- light set for a clear main line. He ex- aminéd the lock. He went up the siding a hundred yards or more. Three or four filled cars stood with their wheels blocked with wedges. Beyond these cars were many empty gandolas. He returned to the main line, swung aboard the engine, and rode to the next switch. This siding was an abandoned grade leading to a worked-out mine. The track was torn up in a score of places. A huge timber lay across the road-bed. It had not been moved in days. Lark exam- ined the snow and cinders. ‘“‘ Nothing went up there,” he told Dar- rah when he went back to the engine. “ Are ‘there any more sidings?” . ‘“‘ One more, at the station. The operator ought to. know if 43 was shunted from the main line.” The day operator shook his head sleep- ily when questioned by J. J. D. “I’ve been right here,” he said. ‘‘ The switch is locked. There is a string of empties above the tipple. Nothing went up there, boss. I’ll swear to it.” | J. J. D.’s orders to the operator were to remain awake and report to the despatchers at Newhouse “ There'll be a railroad de- tective and a section gang along soon!”’ he called when the wrecking train started mov- ing. ‘ Send their report to Newhouse.” ‘“‘ Now,” added J. J. D. to Lark—“ now, we'll try Tie Siding.” Lark managed between swings of the lo- comotive to tell J. J. D. all about the matches and newspaper he had found under the water-tank at Newhouse. The super- intendent was keenly interested. “Keep .them for clues!” CO he — said. ANUC NOOK CO