Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-11
MISS CHRISTIE WROTE
A BOOK ON 4 WAGER
Ben 7rauers Wrote Because
He Wished To, and Each
Book Is Worih Reading

When novel Is announced as the
first book Of n new author one usually
opens It with trepidation. But no such
fears need deter the reader from the
first novels Of Agatha Christie and Ben
Travers.
Miss Christie wrote her book. 1.-THE
Mysterious Affair at Styles" on n
wager'tha she could not write dctec-
tive story in which the reader would
not be able to spot the murderer in the
first few chapters. The publishers do
not say whether she collected on her
wager, but she certainly succeeded in
what she undertook. She has an old
lady, with two stepsons and young hus-
band whom she recently married. die
at night from strychnine poisoning. Sus
picion points to four or five different
persons only to be dissipated when the
circumstantial evidence. against them
proves unconvincing, and when the real
murderer, that Is the person who ac-
tually did that which caused the death,
is disclosed it is almost the only char
acter in the whole story against whom
suspicion has not been directed. This is
an achievement worthy of authors who
have written many books instead OI
only one. Miss Christie has incidentally
created a new kind of detective in the
form of n retired Belgian police officer
who Is taking refuge in England during
the war. Hc unravcls the tangled thread
Of evidence so skillfully that. although
he indicates what he is doing as tho
story progresses, the reader does not
guess its significance.
Ben Travers, who was formerly on the
editorial staff of John Lane in London
has written in "Thc Dippcrs" roar
ing farce, of such great possibilities fol
dramatic production that arrangement
have already been made for turning i
are a team Of American dancers, maj
and wife, who have been engaged to er
tertain party at the house of a new
British lord, ennobcd because Of hi
war work. The hero and heroine o
the tale, however, are Mrs. Tavistoc'
and Henry Talboyes, a London solici
tor, her fiance. TalbOyes has been il
| the country to rewrite Will for
client and he starts on foot for the rail
road station to get train back to Lon
don. He misses the train and is mis-
taken by n chauffeur for the husband o
Mrs. Dippcr, the dancer. The woman
| had arrived at the country house. bu
her husband was coming in some othc
way. Talboyes is not given time enougl
to explain to any one and is ushercd up
stairs to the dancers room and an
nounced as her husband. The man ant
woman talk at cross purposes for
while till Mrs. Tavistack comes in anC
it is arranged that Talboyes, out of thu
goodness of his heart, shall impersonat
the husband in the dance. OF course h
cannot dance. but he succeeds in doinj
something. The tale suggests F. An
stey's farce. "Thc Man From Blank
lcy's." for it is based on the comrltca
tious that arise when man is supposed
to be what he is not. Mr.. Travers ha
told it in good comedy manner and i
deserves attention for its own sake from
those who seek entertainment.
THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR At STYLES
| BY Agatha Christie. New York; Joh'
THE DiPPERs. BY Ben Travers., New
| York: John Lane Co. sl.75.