The San Francisco call., 1909-04-11
Loaded Dice

BY Elery II. Clark. Published hy the
Bobhs- Merrill company, Indianapolis Price
Sl-50.
Euery H. Clark is a new name to
novel readers. but is we'll known IN
the athletic history OF the country.
There doesn't seem to be much con-
nectfon between the two. but the aU-
thor uses some OF his athletic expert
ences TO help out IN his book and they
are well done. too. He can write, this
athlete. and viii be heard from again,
one can be sure after reading this sue
cessful story. For here is a book full
q the rankest improbabilities, but so
wei done is the authors part that one
never calls ii melodrama until it is
finished It is so much easier to knock
than to praise. and critical and blase
humans are happiest when they are
able 10 pick flaws in things. In this
case the flaws are so evident that IL &c
no Offense TO point them out. The
hero. who IS as cold bloOded a villain
as one can imagine has TO commit four
dreadful murders in order TO attain
MS ambition. and any or all could
have been run TO earth by a fl st clsss
detective. but he is nev4 discovered.
The story concerns one Richard Cor
don. splendid example OF the strcnu
Gus lie. lie is a fend for work and
seemingly untirable In one of fha
Ginning at his club with a number Of
his friends, and yeligion comes UP for
discussion. The men voice their be
Iefs as 10 q future state. and Gordon
tells them the belief Of a mythical
friend OF his:
Every man. n lie knew for a GER
tainty that there wasn't any God,
would do exactly as he wished; that
Is. he'd live a pretty free sort OF life,
behave about as he pleased. and in
general have a mighty good time On
the other hand. If he knew there Was
God, he'd probably live IS straight as
he could for the pleasure of enjoying
eternal bliss. and .tll that sort OF thing
afterwsrd. and keeping clear Of the
sulphur and birthstone. So. there's
your gamble, ana it's really a very
pretty one Proceed IN the assumption
that there is a G5J, and get along
without any fun here. IL the hope OF
making up for It later when you get
your harp and crown; or else choose
The other end Of Il, 90 the pace and
when you die, if you've guessed right
and there isn't any heaven, you're
away ahead Of the poor devils who've
played close 10 their chests here On
the other hand. If you've been un-
lucky enough 10 hit IL wrong. you're
down and our and boInd straight fer
he'll and eternal damnation.'
On hls way home that night Gordon
IS thinking over the talk hey have all
had at the club. and the mythical
friend who OF course is himself,
decides TO take the sporting end" Of
The proposition.
lie plays the game 10 the very end.
and not until the rather exaggerated
and very melodramatic climax does
tho reader know whether he or fate
holds the loaded dice.
The parts OF the story which take in
inc athletic Incidents and tile sports
are well done, and the authors de-
scriptions are so vivid that one sees
them and cheers with the crowd-an
exciting horse race, a real duck hunt
ing expedition, a hammer throwing
contest, keenly humorous. said to be
based on actual experience. and q fst
hght as real as any we viii ever Zee
outside Of a prize ring.
The story, for all that it has some
cheap spots, is well worth noticing.