Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-28
Recent work. OF Fiction.

1.-THE Carpetbagger" is the title or a new
novel by Opie Read and Frank Pixley. In
one way, at least, 1t is something decidedly
out Of the ordinary. Many plays have been
made from novels; this is a novel made
from a play. The Carpetbagger" origi-
nally was written as a four-act comedy.
1t was performed for thirty weeks during
the theatrical season of 1889, under the
management OF Mr.. Tim Murphy, and met
with a very favorable reception. Encour-
aged by the interest which the public
seemed to take in the play, the authors de-
termined to tell the story for the benefit
of the general reader. The authors say:
Don't search your histories for the carpet
Dagger herein introduced. He isn't there.
Our carpetbagger is not one who really was,
but one who might have been. We have not
written history; but we have told much
truth, a virtue which not all history pos
sesses. The character Of Melville GRANGE is
consistent with the times In which he lived,
consistent with the Yankee nature-with
that OF any man who, though gone astry,
knows the road that leads back to honesty
The story in its present form is even more
entertaining than it was in the form of d
play, and readers who admire Opie Reads
style will enjoy 1t thoroughly. Laird &
Lee, Chicago. Cloth, $1.O0.
-
Cy Warrants latest effort at storytelling
is in the form OF an attractive little volume
bearing the title of ''The White Mall" AS
its name would indicate, 1t is a story OF
railroading and railroad people. 1t is en-
pertaining in plot and the telling of it is
cleverly done. Tive little Irish boys are the
leading figures and the story concerns their
rise in railroading, the one from mule driver
at the water tank, the other from fagman.
One becomes a prominent railroad president,
while the other wears himself out working
for the good of organized labor. A faint
suspicion of a love story runs through the
ploh, but does not assume a leading role
until near the close. The story is given a
local coloring throughout by the mention
OF well known railroad lines, much OF the
action being located on the Vandalia, while
the Chicago & Alton, Union Pacific and other
lines are brought in, Chapter XII. begins:
Omaha hung out the first flag on young
McGuire as he hurried westward =
and the venerable president of the Gould
system in the west recalls with pride that
Tom cGuire was once an operator in his
office at Omaha" A little later, after Nc
CURE had learned telegraphy, he was APP
pointed station agent at Plainfeld, where he
experienced many adventures, terminating at
last in an attack on the station by Sioux
Indians. But Major North, with his famous
Pawnee scouts. arrived Just in time to save
the hero. 1t is a story that any one will
enjoy reading and especially railroad peo-
pie, who can appreciate more fully than the
general reader the "railroading" which fur
nishes the main features OF the plot. Charles
scribner's Sons. New York. Cloth, S1.25.
Fresh from the pen OF Evan Martin
m a new novel, The knight Of Kings
Guard" The tale Is one Of love and ad-
venture, laid in the romantic period Of the
fourteenth century. The hero is OF the very
humblest order, but distinguishes himself
for bravery and valiant deeds of daring.
From a page he rises step by step until he
finally becomes knight Of the Kings Guard,
q brave company OF soldiers. Those who