Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-08
'ISitAbne,

murders are committed with perfect Chinese
puzzle of highly human motives to bedevn the
agencies of law and order roundabout.
These in this particular domestic melee are
of two brands-the regularly constituted detec-
tive, Chief of Police Farley, assisted I'M
officially, by his friend, Marchand, amateur
sleIIth of the familiar super-method and amaz-
ing effects. Well, together they pull the mystery
out into the daylight-and this is one of the
high points In the business of pursuing criminals
and opening up crime Another distinction of
this invention is the middle pitch to which it
is keyed. Everything that happens is of the
usual order. The people act we do, talk as
we do, behave as we do. At least they do just
this till they begin to turn toward murder,
which, Of course, and at once, sets them a
world apart from us. Good story. Believable
and, at the last, real comfort in certain minor
matter.
FUGTTTvES OF THE PEARL. BY John H.
PaynteT, A. M, author Of Joining the Navy"
etc. Washington: The Associated Publishers,
Inc.
A TOUCHING story, reminiscent Of slavery
days. A chapter of local history It's
scenes laid in Washington at points which one
may visit in reminiscent recalling Of old days,
which, good or i'll, cast spell upon all of US.
Up around the corner of L and Eighteenth
streets easily identifable today, there lived
way with that time, much of the thought of this
family was spent in dreams of being free. Not
entirely for ones self, but rather against the
fear, the certainty, of having the children sold
away from their parents. Hardly conceivable
thought now, but very real and crucifying
thought then.
This story is engaged in one of those in
Vulnerable adventures by way Of which small
groups Of Negroes planned escape and ventured
out upon such hazard. A futile effort, almost
without exception, for the Negro had no means
either within himself Of without to Withstand
the Jealous pursuit Of the white man ardent
TO retrieve his own property. In fine spirit
OF recording Mr. Paynter sets down the details
Of this preparation for fight on the Pearl down
the Potomac to safety and-oh, well, to a free
and happy life. The fears and tinidities the
hesitations and retreats, are so wildly drawn
here as to pass over into the readers heart
and mind The caution becomes his caution,
The dread of pursuit and capture becomes his
And so the story goes to the actual fight itself
and what came of it, That you will want to
read on your own account. Faith so large a
part of the Negroes emotional and religious
Life, becomes guiding light in this story
well grounded faith, as It turned out The
book carries in appendix the family tree of a
single pair, showing the Tamihcations Of birth
and descent Of these people of the South
Very interesting and very much worth while
a study OF any people who little more than
half hundred years ago were not counted
people at all. An astounding record, it seems
10 me.
THE MURDER TRAP. BY Armstrong Living
ston, author Of Tackles Death" etc.
Indianapolis: The Bobbs- Merrill Co.
A CANNY, forelooking mystery maker, this
Armstrong Livingston. He has proved
this before. Here he merely adds another
point in evidence. The more suspects" the
better, OF course, in this brand of invention
Money is the worlds greatest lure. A man
with money becomes the center of interest
what ne Is gonig 70 do with it becomes a
paramount topic. One day the rich man In
this particular case makes hts will Not a
soul-not single soul-knows its substance
Not one except his lawyer But that LAWYER is
. sphinx and, besides, the soul of honor Not
another soul, thougn-exeept the typist Of that
lawyer. But she is dead and buried-that is
In SO Tar as communicability goes. And there
you are-the story on its way with the making
OF tnat last VIII and testament. Next day
next DAY or so-that good man is killed muir
oefeo on the lawn Of his own estate. Who
md It? The nephew who is going to inherit
nalf OF $1O,O00,00O? The niece who will get
tne otnef haf? Some one Of the lesser bene-
nc1arieS? Who knows. However the matter
VIII clear up, for there are the two regularly
constituted officers Of the law who have the
matter In sort Of competitive charge and
there Is, besides, man who looks exactly like
that detective with whom we are NOWADAYS
acquainted-the one who pulls evidence out of
door knob, or crooked stick, or any other
unlikely thing under the SUM- Interesting
though, even II we are getting toward the
graduate end Of this detective business Inter-
esting because this writer, this Mr. Livingston,
mas STRUCK new stride In detective work
Doesn't work so hard over it, or appears not
70 afc &c.