The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-09-24
The Treasure Of Hidden Valley
Story Willis George Emerson. neseW y
Mitchell English Author
scenes Of San Francisco's earthquake,
which are WILDLY and strikingly de-

scenes Of San F'rancisco's earthquake,
which are WILDLY and strikingly, de-
scribed.
Among the other characters Buell.
Hampton again energies from the
authors picture gallery, and by his
ennobling philosophy. his broad and
generous humanity, both irradiates
the story and helps to bring It to a
fitting climax. It is Buell. Hampton
who really handles the wealth Of the
lost mine. the mysterious treasure OF
the hidden valley, but he uses the
gold to splendid ends, defeating the
rascally financial methods OF group
of eastern capitalists, bringing about
new dispensation OF happiness for
the toilers at the great smelter. and
turning the money which the stern
mountains have yielded into the recla-
nation and irrigation of rich valley
lands under conditions that diffuse
the benefits among the whole COM
munity. Although these economic is
sues are only lightly touched on. and
are never allowed to obscure the ro-
mantle interest OF the tale, they have
a very vital bearing on the story as q
whole, and indeed yield some OF its
most compelling incidents.
Other life-like Characterization are
those of Jim Rankin, the owner Of
livery stable. versed in all the ways
OF the west, willy as a fox yet guile
less as child, rough yet tender and
lovable. with wonderful vernacular
that brightens the narrative in many
spots: Whitley Adams. the blithesome
college boy, whose entrances are al>
ways like sunshine, and interviewer is
the tragedy OF. white Horse" cam
yon; while throughout the story radi-
ates the character of Grant Jones. the
country editor, indefatigable and pos
sessed of great nervous energy. his
head ever in the clouds Of lofty ideals.
Then among the women characters.
besides Gail Holden. the splendid rid
er and lariat-wieider, true-to-life
Wyoming girl. and the wistful little
college widow" Stella Rain, both OF
whom have already been referred to,
there are the Shields sisters, Dorothy
and Barbara, twin daughters Of a rich
cattle king, fine and beautifully por-
trayed types Of noble western woman
hood.
Last but not least Is the fockmas>
ter of the hills, the venerable clergy
man who devotes his life of unobtru.s
sive self-denial to riding among the
mining camps, baptizing the babies,
tending the sick, comforting the
dying, encouraging everyone to be
even just little better than their
rude surroundings make them, preach
ing great truths where and when he
can-the parson to whom even the
gambler Or the barkeeper takes OF his
hat respectfully, for even such % they
come under his kindly spell. And
when we learn from the brief and
simply-worded dedication that this
the authors own father, we realize
that this tale OF The Treasure Of Hid
den Valley Is something more than
the mere Pigment Of writer's brain
1T is a story that has been dwelt on
lovingly from the creators impress.
sionable boyhood days. it reproduces
the ineffaceable memories Of youth
retouched by the matured Judgment OF
manhood. The characters are real.
the scenes are real. the thoughts,
often enshrineG In exquisite literary
form. are real pulsing thoughts. the
whole book contains . convincing
human document.