The San Francisco call., 1906-09-30
San Francisco Author
Writes Good Story.
BIZ Edward F. CobiH.

folded" by Earle Ashby Walcott
does not prove very shortly one
Of the best sellers" The story
holds YOU with a grip that viii not let
so. It is a tale Of astounding and
enthralling mystery, and the scene is
laid in san Francisco
The story begins with murder in
a dark alley OF montgomery street.
one enjoys that In the old prosper
Gus DAYS Of Morosco's there was one
man on the job think IT was Harry
.Benrimo-who never survived the first
act. not matter what the play was
called. Regularly by o'clock every
might he lay weltering in his gore He
has died thousand deaths and is
ready. I hope, TO die a thousand more
at the same rate.
This good old way and simple plan
IS followed with eminent success by
N-r. Walcott II is a story OF the Com
stock DAYS. when the street" doomed
and thundered-
There is a very noble and satisfac-
tory rascal, a sort Of cross between a
captain OF Industry and a king Of
finance. who really ought TO be in Jail.
and he has a retinue OF assorted black
guards in his employ who persecute
the young hero through many trials
and tribuIations and are triumphantly
discounted after numerous fights and
combats with lethal weapons in va
rietv by the conquering hero. II is
not very clear WAY the blameless
protaFonist OF all the virtues should
be prosecuted, but we put it down to
the natural cussedness of kings Of
finance. That is as good a reason as
there is for any other form Of perse-
cution that history tells US of and
seeks to explain.
In fact there is great deal doing
in Mr. Wslcotts delightful book, deals
in mining stocks. the roar ana thun-
der Of the exchanges. private detec-
tives on every page. a battle with high
binders in dark. unfathOmed cave.
a waterfront witch modelled on Nanny
Pleasant. and many other agreeable
rnarvels. The inexorable conclusion
following from Mr.. Walcott's predicate
is that anything may happen in San
Francisco
Mr.. Waleott writes well and with a
sure touch Read his description Of
a first impression Of san francisco for
example:
A city OF hills with fringe Of houses
crowning the lower heights half
mountains rising bare in the back
ground and becoming real mountains
rs they stretched away in the distance
10 right and left. a confused mass of
buildings coming to the waters edge
on a fat, a forest OF masts. ships
swinging in the stream, and the streak K
ed. yellow, gray green water OF the
baY taking a cold light from the set
ting sun as ii struggled through the
wisps Of fog that huttered above the
serrated skyline Of the city-these
were my first Impressions OF San Fran
cisco
8Ir Wslcott is valued member Of
the local newspaper fraternity and a
many-sided man. From internal evil
denee supplied by his book one might
conclude that his work had lain some-
where between night police and the
commercial page, but this in fact Is
only proof OF his versatility that IS
capable Of making a romance Of mu-
nicipsI ownership entertaining
This stirring story Of the roaring
70s. when the tumult Of the heady
C0mstock cker made san Francisco the
most turbulent center in America, in
spires hope that Mr. Walcott will
write another tale freighted with the
marvels in our midst" but which go
unnoticed by the eye OF genius.
(Blindfolded- BY Earle Ashley Wal
cott- The Bobbs-Merrill Company