Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-04-29
Reviews Of New Books

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"Shoe. Bar Stratton.- by Joseph Il.
Ames. Illustrated by q. w. Gage.
New York City: Tho Century Co.,
asa Fourth avenue. ($i.75o
Buck Stratton returned from the
World War to ind that he had been
cheated out OF hts cattle ranch in
Arizona In somewhat eurtrislnR
Before enlisting. ehortly af-,
ter he had bought tho ranch, he had
left all his papers and his deed for
the ranch with his lawyer In Chicago,
and on returning found tho ranch I'm
possession OF the lawyers daughter.
she having become pocsc~sed OF II by
her fathers will. He learned that the
father claimed TO have bought the
ranch from him before he went to the
war.
Buck was mystined. Tie also was
handicapped by the fact that his war
experience had brought TO him a
wound. the effects OF which deprived
him OF all memory OF preceding events
for an entire year. and also on re-
covery OF his right mind, left that
year an entire blank. a very perplex-
ing situation, as he could not ~urmise
what had occurred during that year.
Further complication attended the
fact that he had been reported dead or
missing. SO he decided TO inspect the
ranch, which was run by Mary Thorne.
the lawyers daughter, with Tex Lynch
AZ manager He secured employment
there. under the name OF Bob Green,
which had attached to him during his
blank year.
IL did not take Buck long to learn
that Tex Lynch was n scheming vii
lain. who was doing his best, I'm secret,
underhand manner, to depreciate the
value OF the ranch and thereby induce
Mary Thorne to sell It to him. There
fore. Buck Get himself To the task of
circumventing the Villains plans and
bringing him te Justice. Then ensued
a series OF most exciting incidents,
with Buck checking Lynch's schemes
OF robbery. and he also discovered
there was n rich oil deposit on the
ranch. which Lynch. with sleek and
plausible rascal Of a promoter, desired
To obtain possession Of.
In the end, Of course. Buck Strat
ton won the fight, although Il nearly
cost him his life on several occasions.
And Mary Thorne WAS carried off by
Tex Lynch, when he finally had 10
flee from the officers Of the law. and
Buck rescued her after a most sensa
tionsl combat with the outlaw. Then
comes pleasing ending OF the love
that had sprung up between Mary
and Stratton. and Buck gained n good
wife in addition to recovering pos
session OF his ranch.
A fine, thrilling southwestern story
one that stirs the blood and keen. in.
terest at top-notch until the end.
Received OF the publishers.
''The Blue Circle" BY Elizabeth Jor-
dan. author OF The Girl in the Mir
ror." Illustrated. New York City:
The Century Co, $50 Fourth avenue
S1.90D
John RenshawN-or really John L
Hamilton, noted financial cxpert-had
fallen into sad mental condition by
reason OF the horrors he had gone
through, resultant of German fiendIsh
neee during the World War. BY care.
ful treatment he had recovered with
the exception Of one delus.on--that
he waS incapable OF working and earn.
inS living. He believed he should sci
himself and hN services to some one
who would be his master and direct
his doings, he rendering implicit
obedience, and that by this plan alon,
could he entirely recover his faculties
and his previous command OF him,
self. His faithful physician. con
Vlnced that only such an experiment
would effect cure, erranged with {
wealthy old friend. residing in a fin,
old country mansion, to take him int,
service according 10 his eccentric de
| lusion.
80 Renshaw went TO. Tawny Ker
the nome OF his reh-accepted mast e.
and virtual owner for the years con
tract. and Immediately entered upo,
a succession of startling ,ncdents an,
mysterious intrigues that aroused hi
dormant energies and restored him Il
normaiity or thought and action In ,
Few days. Things were going wroncl,
at the house and ne knew II. Tn
blue circle" haunted hi. room a
! hlkht' there were bafYiing noise,
sounds that resembled the dra9rin,
or n heavy body 10 the door OF hi
room. and frantic efforts by II 10 clim
inside through the transom. And ther
were other occurrences. equally as mys
Trying and altogether disconcertins
not unmixed with threats OF DANCE,
Renshaw set himself to the wor
OF unraveling the mystery. and IN
story OF subsequent events is OF thrill
ing interest. More than that. the
mysthy the reader, who finds it I'm
possible to even suggest a eolutior
Inere Is natural suspicion OF the corp
OF sleek, eolicitous and almost super
| humanity efficient house servants. bu
sui the reader does not connect ther
WIN what was actually under wa,
| Ihere is no intimation of anythin
so ordinary. or vulgarly common a
thleVery in connection with the rnvs
terry that hovers over this householf
but that is what was at the bottom. Tn
servants. hardened and expert Grim!
naIs. were planning a robbery tha
would richly reward them in none,
siiVerware and jewels, and they wer
on the verge OF success when Rep
shaws masterstroke fell upon thaD
and they went to prison instead. Thu
Is the revelation OF the mystery h,
/ what a story ~ %