The San Francisco call., 1905-08-27


young author. Eugene P. Lyle Jr.. 10 his
brand new and stirringly good story, The
AIissourian. Those parents and two best
friends Of his should appreciate the dedi-
cation and be proud OF the book and its
author. for il is thing Of worth. August
is a dull literary season and few good
books are born in il, but this tale OF the
daring Missouri soldier boy breaks the
monOtony Of slow coming and mediocre
output like a thunder storm breaks a
drought II is terrible in the danger II
surrounds US with, but il is deliciously
refreshing. The young soldier was dub
bed The Storm Center by his comrades
N arms during the Civil ). ar. because In
battle wherever the thickest of the fight
Centered there was he. The author
makes good in picturing to us a youth
who could win such a title He is con-
vincing. The MiSsOurian had a soldier
soul in mis- bosom Of the natural born
kind. and his describer makes his imag-
fnation martial and writes OF him vitally
vervefully-as il he loved him, and was
linked 10 him in kindred Of daredeviltry-
The scene Of the story is in Mexico at
the time Macmillan was playing Emperor
there The hero is John D Driscol, IA
miliarly shortened TO Din Driscoll. who
al the close Of the war finds himself
lieutenant colonel in General Joe SheIby's
brigade Of Confederates. He was little
fighting had toughened him into strong
manhood and veteran courage. The time
OF the novels beginning is so close to the
end Of the Civil War that the officers Of
rhe Trans Mississippi department foresaw
Lees surrender and acting on the sug-
gestion Of General Shelby proposed TO re-
fuse 70 lay down their arms, but TO go
instead with a remnant of their armies,
fifty thousand strong, into Mexico and
offer their services TO Macmillan. Young
Driscol is sent on the mission OF max
ing this arrangement at the court Of
Mexico. In that oisordered country he
meets with many adventures and goes
through them with a headlong dash OF
courage and wits that makes the Ameri-
can trooper very attractive 70 US, and
We wonder not a bit that the MarqUise
Jeanne d Aumerle, beautiful, well-born,
and talented, ''on mission OF high poll
tics from Napoleon III 10 the court of
Mexico. falls in love with him.
This lady is called Jacqueline
through the story. IL was a pet name
given her when she was q child be-
cause she was naturally such a little
rebel the title suited her and stuck.
She loves adventure almost as much
the MissoUrian. and is with him in
many OF his dangers. II is some little
time before the patrician and pedigreed
French woman fully recognized of what
quality was the plainly dressed soldier.
distinctive, inbred. unconscious and
unregistered in any studbook OF Burke
or GOtha-but quality. II was a long
time, too. before the American trooper
took in the fact that the French girl
was naturally thoroughbred as well as
being nOminally so. Through many
chapters he thinks she is a frivolous
court beauty, clever, intriguing, and
the mistress OF Macmillan. The story
represents that as being the estimate OF
hG- AZ he F.rrr II
only bandit chief that dared say ii in
words.
The haunting Of that suspicion after
il had been almost dismissed from the
mind OF the MissOurian makes material
for the dramatic ending Of a love scene
between the two mutually attracted
young ardents in the chapter called IF
a Kiss Were All" The final sentences
bring a sudden surprise because of
playful thing the lady said, ill-calcu-
lating its effect on amoroUs masculin-
tty- That effect was 10 greatly extend
q love story that in the midst Of the
chapter promised a sudden consumma-
ton When the reader reaches that in
teresting point he viii be grateful for
this tip that the thing wasn't COM
pletely spoiled, although IL seemed so.
He can read on hopefully.
The story starts with the willful
landing OF Jacqueline at Tampico from
the French ship Imperatrice Eugenie.
Just for a lark While on shore she
meets Mexican bandit chief and sud
IDENTIFY decides 10 accept his offered es-
cort for an overland trip 70 the Mexi-
can capital The French officer guard
ing her. Michel Ney, grandson of the
bravest Of the brave" strongly objects
and tries TO take his fair charge back
20 the ship but she outwits and out
commands him, and goes on her ad-
ventures across country with her maid
and such chivalric protection of ac-
companying men as fate chose to send
1t came out all right, but she took des-
perate chances. She is represented as
pfning for experiences. It panied her
70 be no more than a spectator of life
she wished even its dangers 10 touch
her.
The entrance Of DriscoH into his ad-
ventures starts the story with a scud
He boards a Mexican blockade runner
at Mobile, the swift schooner La Luz
and by power of passports signed by
Jen Davis virtually takes command.
They dash out, daringly hugging the
surfy shore to avoid detection; but the
Yankee ships guarding the port give
chase and there is an exciting race
By throwing the cargo overheard the
Ia Luz is lightened 10 escaping speed.
so you are brought into the rush of
dangers, and the author never lets you
OIL III NnE GiDSluB [IdPltfs ne
schooner reaches Tampico just in time
Tor Driscou 10 join JacQueline on her
overland trip through the brigand and
guerrilla infested empire of Maximilian-
An extract from the description of one
Of the lights which took place on that
trip viii give q good idea of the ad-
rnirable adaptation of the authors
style TO the telling of a stirring story.
II relates a charge led by Colonel Du-
pin, the tiger OF the tropics" chief
Of the Contra Guerrillas, against some
Mexican marauders:
Then there beat into Driscolls ears
the furious clatter Of hoofs. 1t deaf
ened him, the familiar. glorious din
Of it, The blood ragged in his veins
like fiery needle points. To see them
the cavalry. the cavalry Then they
were gone-a flashing streak of Cen
taurs, a streamer Of red IN a blur of
dust, maniac oaths and pistol shots
and sweeping sabers- Hacked bodies
were swept beneath the swarm as sap
linEs under an avalanche. Driscoll
s-,rsnp No and Zazed Through eddvfne