Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-04-18
REVIEWS OF NEW BOOKS.

"lHE lHROWBACK." A thrilling story
OF the West. BY Alfred Henry Lewis
Frontispiece in color and three other
illustrations by n. G. Wyeth New
York City: The Outlook Publishing
Co. Price, Sl5O.
There is little doubt that in the iudg-
ment of its readers "The ThrowbaclI" will
be pronounced the best of Mr.. Lewis
stories, for il is full of life and interest from
start to finish. and presents an attractive
picture OF the various types of ranch life
in the Southwest
The story is of an Eastern Shoreman,
who, with his aunt and a beautiful young
woman relative, cmgrates from Somerset
county to Panhandle Texas. pending the
termination OF a time limit which is to
determine whether he shall inherit the
large estate of his uncle. This estate had
been left to him in the event that the
direct heir, his uncle's son, failed to make
appearance after the expiration of ten
years. This son. wayward, headstrong
youth as imperial in will as his father. had
fled from the parental roof in his early
boyhood and at the time the story opens
had not been heard of for years.
Brooding over what he deemed the in
justice of his uncle in not leaving The estate
to him outright, and yearning for it with
all the strength of his cOvetous nature, this
heir expectant determined to go west and
seek fortune in running a cattleranch in
Panhandle Texas, there to await the time
when his uncle's estate should be his And
there he encountered the real heir. his
cousin, who had drifted to the far frontier
after leaving the paternal home. and was
a captain of men among the cowpunchers,
greasers, ranchers and Indians. "Ihe
Throwback for this ancient Scotch
term, descriptive OF the degenerate in the
family had been applied to him by his
father-found congenial associations and
life suited to his adventurous nature
in the wild country and wilder people of
the Southwest. And he was one Of the
very first persons TO be encountered by the
scheming cousin whose great desire was to
keep him from his patrimony.
The story Of the events that rapidly
follow is Of continuous interest. II is full
of adventure and intrigue. The scheming
cousin speedily discerns the identity Of
"Ihe Throwback, and strives desperately
to get him out of the road. OF course he
fails, for this intrepid ranger of the plains
and mountains is one Of those who can
sweep danger aside with a wave of a hand
and emerge from the most desperate situa-
tions unscathed He gains a buried treas
ure, and, more than all he gains the love
of the beautiful young woman whom the
scheming cousin ardently desired to make
his bride. In the end, the schemer dies
miserably and "The Throwback" regains
his family name and fortunes as well as
wins his lovely bride and all ends as
'merry as a marriage bell as such stories
should.
The character Of "Tho Throwback" is
attractive, despite his inclination TO blood
thintipess, as is evidenced by the matter
oi-fact manner in which he kills an Indian
or slices off the ear of bloody Mexican
assassin. All the other characters are
also most enjoyable, particularly the
old rancher and miner and the eridite pro-
lessor, between whom, despite their incon-
gruity. a devoted attachment springs up.
The picture Of ranch life is painted in
pleasing colOrs. In fact, so Well-rounded
is the story that the charm of the reading
continues increasingly to the end.
The illustrations, by n. C.. Wyeth Of
this city, are such an effective adjunct of
the story as TO make It a matter of regret
that there are not more Of them. The
frontispiece in color is descriptive OF a
deadly combat between renegade Indians.
led by the greaser whose car had been
sliced off by "Ihe Throwback." " and the
latter and his two faithful allies. This
hair-raising fight followed am attack upon
1.-The Ihrowback ranch. a part Of the
scheming cousins attempt to put him out
of the way The ferocity and deadliness
of the encounter are most effectively
painted. The other illustrations arc also
stirring and lifelike.
Received Of the publishers.