The sun., 1915-02-27
NEWS OF WRITING AND PUBL HING WORLD
RAGGED SERVANT
HEIR TO MILLIONS
W. ID. MaXwell'> Dramatic
story Reads Like attending
u Good Play.
THRILLS LEAD TO CLIMAX

To read w. y. Maxwcirs story NJ
"'rhe Ragged Messenger" ,the Bobbs-
Merrill Company, lndianapuls) is like
being at "A good play. This Is one of
the most dramatic of stories. The
dialogue If the first chapter seizcs
upon the interest. Lord patrington
and Or. Colbeck and Lady Tollhurst
talk we'll There ~ promise in what
the doctor briefly tells Of the million
aire from America who died in a
Liverpool hotel "A lawyer at six and
eightpenCe, a doctor ut seven and six
those were the stricken rich mans
companions at the last. There had
been n young woman. She had come
from America with him. had waited
az long as there WIS "A chance Of gain.
then disappeared. six and eight had
To- tell her will was made and
executed just before the man lost
consciousness and she wouldn't profit
by farthng. Seven and six told her
he could not rally. So she just walked
out Of the house and never returned.
There's plot for short story. Alone,
with the wealth Of king and dying
in In. inns best rooml" So says the
doctor, whose powers of being interest
ing Will be found to continue.
| Curiosity grows as Lord Patrington
supplements the doctor. 1t is now that
we hear of Morton, the street preacher.
who saved Lady Sarah, Lord Pairing
| tons daughter. when she was pushed
of the crowded platform at the Baker
street railway station Morton seized
4 q ~. Ia 4 g,,,
| in the narrow space between the two
tracks while two roaring trains rushed
by in opposite directions. A heroic act
which had to be acknowledged. To
receive Morton IN Park Lane was a
duty quite unavoidable. Al the same
| time the consequences were exceed
| ingly awkward
Morton was not considerate. He
made the Park Lane house a sort of
| headquarters. His followers came
there when they pleased. This from
! Lord patrington's point Of view was
Inappropriate. IL was unpleasant. He
! could not help hut feel distinct re-
| pugnance TO the association forced
/ upon him since the undenably heroic
saving of Lady Sarah by Morton.
There were consequences still worse.
II was plain thar this valiant man
had captivated Lady Sarah. If he
asked her shc would marry him. There
| were signs that he was going 20 ask
her. And what was this man. to whom
accident and steady nerves had given
this power? He was q religious en-.
thusiast "A fanatic. In the East End.
where he preached. they called him the
Mad Messiah" He himself, by what
appears. would have accepted the name
after rejecting the adjective. He was
poor. Hts clerical coat was very
shabby. Dr. Colbeck. as we'll as Lord
Patrington was lifted 10 find Morton
disturbing. for the doctor had hoped
to marry Lady Sarah.
Surprises come fast when Morton
appears. Carpenter. the architect,
with his plans for the House of the
| Woman Of Samaria, which Is to cost
half a mihion pounds, Will engage the
interest Ot the reader. This ambitious
man of genius is treated humorously
| by the novelist as well "a by the other
Ch3raCtcrs u Will not he guessed Wh9 :
is ~ happen 10 him ana his house
III" JOY OF Lady Sarah's relations
ana Of Or. Colbeck when Morton :
matrimonial Intentions were made
known was not shared by Lady Sarah.
We mud Morton explaining TO the COM
pany lie is telling of what happened
at one o: his mission room meetings
! in StcpncN. Br'or. The meeting a
young woman had plucked him by the
sleeve on the pavement outside. lie
had taken her within and found her
seat. He preached with great power
that evening. In Describing the effect
ne said There was iight now on the
dull white faces. hut II was not Il
them was preaching Lord Pat
rington Interrupted. Not 20 them ?'
he said. No" said Morton. Then '
said Lord harrington rudely. who the
, dickens were YOU preaching to?"
Morton answered him indirectly. II.
said: "but from the crowd ut tho
back she cam. creeping, her eyes fixct
, on mine till she paused midway a
> the end of a bench. Doctor, Il was q
face 10 inspire one" The doctor on.
r served that beauty In distress ,cus in
spring ~ was not her beauty thai
. inspired ne" said Morton, hut IL,
soul shining from h"r eyes" At thi'
, point Lady Sarah said perhaps a little
impaticntly: We'll, you say yol
preached to ht7 only" Morton wen
on THE light of the gas lamp
played about her hair until It seemed
=, halo of gold And ] told them %
i tho golden treasure laid by for then
n alt vas full of confidence speak in.
- truly as ambassador from the highes
Of al powers. promised them TN