Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1912-08-16
THE SIGN AT SIX.


BY Stewart Edward White, Author of
The Blazed Trail, The Conjuror's
Leone Bracker. $1.25 net. The
Bobbs-Merrill Company, Indian
apolis.
From the prolific pc of that ex-
ccl!ent storyteller, Stewart Edward
White, comes a new novel called
The Sign at Six A glance at the
contents proves that it is Mr.. White
at his best, and yet the book contains
| big surprise, for it discloses the au-
| thor in a new vein, but one which is
altogether as charming as that in
| the secrets of which he knows so
we'll.
THE Sign at Six is novel of
New York City. But what a New
York it is! Imagine, if you can, that
| this great, hurrying metropolis, so
| utterly dependent upon modern sci
entific luXuries, should suddenly find
itself in the grasp of scientist who
has discovered the startling secret of
suspending the operation of natural
| forces; but, alas, scientist whose
and who, instead of being a great
creator, has become a destroyer,
seeking vengeance on one man, and
unmindful of the fact that millions
must suffer likewise.
Hidden away, no one knows where,
this madman ruthlessly pursues Nc
Carthy, the all-powerful political
boss, the enemy of the people, whose
destruction the lunatic-scientist feels
4 divinely commissioned to effect. By
wireless he keeps in touch with the
outside world, warning Mccarthy
and promising to send him signs at
six o'clock every evening. He keeps
his promise to the letter, and there
ensues such a reign of terror as no
modern city has ever known.
First of ALL electrical currents are
stopped. Telephones are silent, cleo
trio bells refuse to ring, trolley cars
stand still in their tracks, automo-
biles are unable to run, the subway
trains stop in their tunnels and the
city is plunged in darkness. Then
comes the second sign, and the pail
of a night that cannot be lighted
| wraps itself around the building in
which McCarthy's Office is located.
The third sign brings silence, and the
fourth, and most terrible of all, cuts
off the heat waves at a given spot,
and the mayor and other city officials
freeze to death in their Offices.
Such is the situation chosen by
Mr.. White around which to weave a
story of mystery, adventure and love
The opportunity for adventure is linn
itless and the result is such as q
writer of Mr.. Whites ability would
be expected to achieve. 1t is the at.
tempt at solution that lends greatest
interest, for while every scientist il
speculating, and recognized authority
is leading in the search for the un
known but all-powerful force, it re
mains for young man of attainment
and keen wit to solve the riddle an(
to set things to rights again. This
man, fascinating figure in whose
life the elements of scientific learn
ing and romance are we'll fixed, re
mains apparently inactive. But thu
reader knows he is working and hi
methods are as interesting as thos,
of any detective who has ever en-
livened the pages of fiction. The.
are scientific methods, it is true, bu
not so profound as not to be easil.
grasped by the layman.
Through the story there runs
current of love, and the heroine
equally as charming as the hero. Sh
gives her asst istance when it is need
ed, and her sprightly conversation
always appreciated All in all, 9Th
Sign at Six" is the kind of fiction tina
makes a broad appeal. 1t is pri
marily intended for entertainment
and it serves this purpose admirably
The book is we'll illustrated by N
Leone Bracker.