The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-09
THEBOOK SHELF
Ny THE nIBLroPHiLn

.IoPHILn
 Ashton Kirk. Investigator that Is gripping. spellbinding and extremely iiis terestng. F
 It deals with the mystery of i7s Christie Place. the first of those intricate cases by Ashton-Kirk. unique specialist in crime problems.
 The conditions and environment are con- ducive to a very subtle and clever series of results and the author has used his brain and pen to good advantage in the telling.
 The love story of a very beautiful and highly spirited girl Is strangely woven Into the mystery. which for sheer adven- ture and novelty is well worth reading on a summers day,
 THE VOW"
 By Paul Trent Frederick A Stokes Ss
 Company. New York.
 If a brainy. hard-headed capitalist should suddenly devote all his keenness, energy and money to living as a Christian without real change of heart, what would be the result2 fN
 John Gaunt, ruthless captain of finance. in a moment of extreme emotion makes a VOW to live according to the teachings of Christ if his wife is spared to him. and reminds the Lord that he, John Gaunt. always keeps his word.
 His wife recovers. and Gaunt stands by his bargain. but In no weak or senti- mental way. He. Is still man of blood and iron and carries into his new life the same tremendous power, practical sense and ruthless determination that had previously distinguished him.
 The story is thrilling from first to last
 "oLD BEN" # By James Otis. Harper Brothers. New
 York.
 A new book by the author of Toby Tyler' is certain of a warm welcome This tale of the 1O-year-old boy who ran away to join circus deals engagingly with a subject that every boy delights in-for what boy has not at one time or another wanted 10 be a circus perform CT? Subsequently the author, James Otis wrote a sequel, MT. Stubbs' Brother,'' which was almost as popular as the ia nous "Toby Tyler" Now comes a third book about Toby and his friends, en- titled "Old Ben" It has just been pub lished by the Harpers. The pictures by Sarah Noble Ives are excellent and the original Toby will be recognized Ben, the old circus driver, comes to live in Tobys home town and brings with him the living skeleton and the fat lady-Mr and Mrs Treat. Of course this creates great excitement among the boys in ths village, who are all anxious to join the circus, despite Tobys experiences. and hope that Ben has come to engage them. Their efforts to attract his attention by showing off on every occasion and the dongs of the monkey, eAfr. Stuhhs' Brother" supply an abundance of fun. Mir. Treat and his wife. Lily, are as anus Ing as ever. and they with old Ben, give a distinct flavor of character to the tale Moreover, there is plenty of real boy life in it. One boy has a passion for turn ing handsprings, and regards himself as a promising acrobat. Another has an opinion of himself as a musician, based upon a rudimentary knowledge of the &C., eordion, which is not shared by his fam ils and friends. So one turns handsprngs and the other produces doleful strains in season and out, in the hope of being mo- ticed by Old Ben, who nearly expires in his spasms of silent laughter
 The climax comes when at the barn warming given by Ben for .Mr and Mrs Treat the amateur acrobat is given q chance to distinguish himself fin full cir GUS regala, and succeeds in suspending himself helplessly from peg in the wall while the musician ions in with tho hired fiddlers much to their just indignation.
 Toby Tyler" was taken so seriously when it appeared in Harper's Young Peo- pie that the editor received money sent bY children Tn all good faith to buy Toby something to eat The young folks in the present story are just as real The same lesson that was taught in Toby Tyler" the hardships that offset the glamour of circus life-is again quietly empha- sized. since old Ben desires nothing so much as to settle down and lead an even humdrum life. However. if must be al- lowed that it Is a privilege to know Ben and the Treats and MT. stubbs Brother. even if "circusn' itself Is deluson and a snare.
 "Old Ben has that home1y, old-fash- toned pleasantness and enduring charm which has kept Toby Tyler" a favor ite.