Evening star., 1921-07-24

of Samuel Lyle, Criminologist.'
etc. New York: The Century Com
pany.
Despite it's spooky title this is, in
the main. an engaging account Of the
dotngs Of summer colony of inter-
esting people on the New England
coast. The larger part Of the account
Is taken up with the pleasant play
time of the intelligent and interesting
people Of the colony and with the
dawnings Of q courtship between two
delightful people. 1t Is only when
mysterious burglaries begin to take
place, well along in the season, that
the notion of ghosts creeps into ac-
count for the wholly untraceable
agency Of the disappearances Of prop
erty. At the critical moment some
one thinks to call in our old friend,
the genial Samuel Lyle. with whom
Arthur Crabb made US acquainted
some time ago. From this point for
ward the story is taken in hand by
this lovable and many-sided man.
thereby taking on direction and
all over again to enthusiastic support
OF the big, easy-moving detective who.
In some unaccountable way. reminds
US OF Gilbert Chesterton. And this re-
minder is something Of tribute to
the substantially and resource of
Samuel Lyle, criminologist.
THE HUSBAND TEST. BY Mary Caro-
lyn Davies. Frontispiece by Eliza
beth Pilsbry. Philadelphia: The
Penn Publishing Company.
Bettina had the theory-and a very
amount Of pre.nuptiai experience is
tble to determine in even the least
degree the kind Of husband that
stands concealed within the person
ality Of the lover. So Bettina-the
believe-invented for her two suitors
an absurd. month-long test in the
role of husband. At the end Of the
time set. the record showed one. Of
Would haSitusly %tn hit tSs %aoss sronnd tssi
squarely. q man who would be q
credit to the community, the father
of obedient. uninspired children. q
good provider. a stand-off1sh man
only to tap lightly on the walls Of
romance and the doors swung wide.
Through these he led Bettina, ''the
most beautiful lady in the world"
according to this knightly lover and
away they few without care Of food.
Of the dull details Of keeping body
and soul together. Ones grand
mother, or mother would have
chosen the substantial citizen-that
the wisdom that being a grandmoth-
er. or a mother. Is supposed to bring.
Rettina did quite the other thing.
This comic situation covers, you sec,
a pretty general truth concerning the
behavior Of young woman under
early love is romantic. A patter of
amusing talk. clever pointed talk,
goes along with the comedy of Bet
tinas husband test.
WIND ALONG THE WASTE. BY
Gladys E. Johnson. New York:
The Century Company.
The scene of this mystery tale
simply oozes lonesomeness. A bare
stretch Of dune country. a monoto-
nous sweep of sea, a secretive gray
house pricking out through the
dunes-these pitch the low key and
forecast the stealthy and mysterious
doings that are recorded here.
Within the house there is a make
couple Of children. a Chinese serv-
ant. To governess these children
Ann Belmont has come down from
San Francisco to this arid stretch of
California coast. 1t is Ann who tells
the story, as it's mysteries begin to
trouble her not long after her ar
rival. One Of the sisters is the DOM
inant character here-a rigid New
England woman, or q Spartan, or any
other OF the heroic mold of women.
The secret out-farings and returns
are all Of her doing. Whatever the
mystery IL. 1t IL this woman who is
supporting and cherishing 1t. There
is Bluebeard chamber in the house,
to which no one. save this woman,
dares to go. The solution Of the
matter reaches over into China for
its origin. A secret band. a stolen
idol. a crusade Of vengeance against
the woman who years before was a
missionary in China. where She
dauntlessly challenged the hatred OF
a fanatic group Of natives. The au-
ther. you see, goes a long way from
home for the seeds Of her mystery
but the home stun has been used
over and over again, 80, the impor-
tation-far-fetched as 1t is-gets its
excuse in the plea for freshness. A
love story shifts the role Of heroine
from the strong woman to Ann Bel
mont herself-or. at least, divides II
between the two-when a young
man takes up his abode in the house
of mystery and proceeds. on the one
hand, to unravel the queer tangle
and, on the other hand. to make love
to Ann. The tale Is undoubtedly
creepy and puzzling in spots-and
that is what a mystery tale is in
tended to be.