The man Franklin paused again for a few moments then, in response to my repeated question, said —
“To the boy Charles old Mr. Burrell gave the name of Wooton, the present-day corruption of Wollerton, and he was brought up by a farmer’s wife at Sutton Bridge for the first ten years of his life, being afterwards sent to school at Hythe, in Kent. At the time I discovered all these facts Dorothy Wollerton, who is, of course, unaware of her real name, was twenty-two, and her brother Charles a year and three months younger—a smart young man, who had entered the office of a ship-broker in Leadenhall Street. Having obtained this information in secret, together with the whereabouts of both of them, I gave it to my companions, whereupon they at once set to work upon an ingenious plan.
“Miss Drummond—as she believed herself to be—was informed by letter from me as a solicitor that in future she would be under the guardianship of Mr. Charles Purvis, of St. Peter’s Square, Hammersmith, a gentleman who had been appointed by the late Mr. Burrell before his death, while at the same time Bennett got on friendly terms with Charles Wooton. Thus, for the second time in their lives, brother and sister met at Purvis’ house, and, being unaware of their relationship, fell in love with each other.”
The man paused for a moment, regarding the astonishment upon the faces of all of us. Then he went on, saying —
“It must be borne in mind that Charles Wooton, being the youngest, was heir to the estate of Bartholomew da Schorno. He was a shrewd young fellow, however, and appears very soon to have entertained suspicions of Bennett and the others, while having made inquiries regarding Purvis, he found him to be scarcely the sort of man who should be guardian to Dorothy. He therefore refused to associate with us, and for some weeks we saw nothing of him. Bennett and Purvis, however, prevailed upon Dorothy to invite him one evening to the house at Kilburn, which, by the way, Bennett had taken furnished. He went there on an invitation to supper, and—well, you know the rest. He was stabbed to the heart by Bennett, while I, not knowing what was intended, escorted Dorothy to the house, where the others compelled her to touch the dead man’s face, after which Bennett and Purvis pointed out to her that she had acted as accessory of the crime.”
“The fiends!” I cried. “And the body—how was it disposed of?”
“It was taken in one of those zinc-lined air-tight travelling chests and left in the cloak-room at Euston, where, I believe, it will still be found. Of course, the assassination of Charles served two distinct purposes, first to conceal certain ugly facts which he had learnt about both Purvis and Bennett, and secondly his death made Dorothy heiress. It was the idea of my three companions that if the treasure were discovered Purvis should at once marry her under threats of exposure and thus obtain the money, distributing a certain portion to each of us.”
“An amazingly ingenious conspiracy!” I said, utterly bewildered at the strange story he had related. “Then to this moment Dorothy is unaware that Charles was her brother?”
“After his death Bennett told her, but she is in entire ignorance that her real name is Wollerton, or that she is heiress to the Italian treasure.”
A silence fell between us, but it was broken by Franklin, who, continuing, declared —
“All that I have told you is absolutely the truth. Knowing that you will keep faith with me I have attempted to conceal nothing. Purvis is aware that you are Dorothy’s lover, and he and his friends also know that you carry in your pocket the decipher of the document in the Record Office. Hence their conspiracy to kill you and obtain it. Be warned,” he urged. “Do not keep any appointment with Dorothy, otherwise it may prove fatal to you.”
“Bennett is, I suppose, unaware that I am the man he marooned ten years ago?” remarked Usher.
“I believe so. He does not know your name,” was Franklin’s response.
Whereat my companion smiled grimly at thought of the revenge that was to be ours ere many days.
Martin Franklin, although an unscrupulous man, nevertheless kept his word. Probably it was because he feared lest we should give information to the police, and he believed it best to be on the side of the victors rather than the vanquished.
Before we had allowed him to go he gave us his solemn promise to hold no communication with Bennett or the others, so that they would not know of our success or of how we had been forewarned of the fresh conspiracy against me.
Leaving Reilly and Usher to guard the treasure I walked with the scoundrelly lawyer to the edge of the wood, where, with a show of politeness that I knew was feigned, he bade me good-day and left, not, however, before I had warned him in a few plain words of the consequence of any betrayal of our secret. If what he had told us were actually true, then we had now no fear of the seizure of the gold as treasure-trove. The story, however, seemed to us so romantic as to be hardly credible.
However, the removal of the chests and bags was our next consideration, and with that object I walked into Tickencote village, and there obtained a cart and drove on to Stamford. There I purchased a quantity of rope and coarse packing-canvas, conveying them to the spot where my two companions still sat on the oak stump smoking, awaiting me. Together we worked on during the whole afternoon packing both chests and bags in the canvas so that their antique nature should attract no attention.
Then, in accordance with an arrangement I had made in Stamford, a railway trolley met us on the high road at four o’clock, and we conducted its driver around the wood until we came to a drift by which the woodmen were evidently in the habit of entering with their drags. At first the man seemed rather surprised at the nature of his load, but a crisp five-pound note in his palm effectually closed his mouth, and in an hour we had the satisfaction of getting the whole mounted on the trolley, Reilly riding to Stamford Railway Station beside the carter. We had sealed the knots of the cords of each packet with black sealing-wax, which I had bought with the packing materials, therefore at the station we ordered a closed truck, saw them stowed inside for London, and, as we declared the freight to be valuable, the key was handed to me.
Thus far the treasure was ours. That same night we all three returned to London by the last train, the big black van containing the treasure being coupled with us at the rear, while just before two o’clock next morning I had the satisfaction of seeing the whole of it safely placed in my sitting-room at Keppel Street, much to Mrs. Richardson’s wonderment as to what the heavy sealed packages could contain.
Usher constituted himself guard of the treasure, and early next morning I went to Cornwall Road and informed Dorothy of our success and of her good fortune.
“It is true, Paul, that I was fond of Charles Wooton, not knowing that he was my brother, and it is equally true that I induced him to accept the invitation to supper at Kilburn which Bennett gave him. But I never dreamed that those men intended to kill him until Martin made me enter the room against my will, and I saw the poor fellow lying dead—stabbed to the heart. But I see it all now! I see why Bennett and Purvis were constantly declaring that I was morally responsible for his death. It was because Purvis intended to compel me, by threats of exposing my secret, to marry him.”
I quite agreed with her that she had been the victim of a most clever and ingenious conspiracy, which had only failed because of our constant perseverance in the pursuit of the treasure; and then, as I bent to kiss my love upon the lips, I told her what was the absolute truth, namely, that I had all along believed in her innocence.
“I love you, Dorothy,” I repeated. “I have loved you ever since that night when by the intercession of Providence you saved my life. Therefore, do not think that Franklin’s revelations influence me in the least.”
“Ah, Paul, you are indeed generous!” she cried, springing up and clinging to me. “I—I feared that you would think ill of me—that you would believe I invited Charles there knowing that he was to be their victim.”
“I am well aware that such was not a fact,” I said seriously, bending to kiss her ready lips again. “You met him, but did not know he was your brother—you knew nothing of the careful and ingenious plan of that man Purvis who posed as your guardian, and who intended to marry you if occasion demanded.”
“They killed my brother,” she remarked reflectively, as though speaking to herself. “My poor brother, of whose very existence I was in ignorance!”
“They constituted you heiress on purpose!” I said. “But we shall be even with them before long, never fear. When did you see them last.”
“I saw Bennett a week ago,” was her reply. “I met him quite accidentally in St. Paul’s Churchyard.”
I had previously related to her all that the rascally solicitor had told me regarding the fresh plot against my life, and she now urged me to be wary.
“I am only awaiting their appointment,” I said laughing. “It will be the last they will make outside a gaol.”
“But do be careful, Paul,” she, urged, with all a woman’s solicitude for the safety of her lover. I told her, however, to have no fear.
Two hours later she was at Chelsea assisting us to open the great chests and examine their dazzling contents.
I had called at a famous dealer’s in Piccadilly, and in confidence obtained the assistance of an expert, who now stood with us absolutely bewildered at the magnificence of the jewels. Some of the gems, he declared, were without equal—the finest he had ever seen.
But I may, I think, pass over that morning spent in examining our find. Let it suffice to say that the expert went back to Piccadilly, declaring that the collection was worth a very considerable sum, and hoping that his firm might have the offer of purchasing a portion, if not the whole of it.
At three o’clock, after Dorothy had lunched with Usher and myself in Mrs. Richardson’s sitting-room, my own being filled to overflowing, the servant handed me a telegram, which read —
“Miss Drummond has met with accident. Wishes to see you immediately.—Clark, 76, Lavender Road, Battersea.”
It was the invitation into the fatal trap! I showed it to Dorothy and to Usher, and while the former grew serious and apprehensive, the latter laughed outright.
At four o’clock, accompanied by Usher, Reilly, and two police officers in plain clothes from the Chelsea Station, I reached the corner of Lavender Road and York Road, where I took leave of my companions and went in search of No. 76. It was a small, eight-roomed house, one of a long row of similar dwellings, and when I knocked and inquired for Mr. Clark, the rough-looking lad who opened the door at once invited me inside.
The moment, however, that I stepped within the small hall I found myself seized by two men, who sprang from a room on the left; but almost before I had time to realize my situation I heard a scuffle behind, and saw that the detectives had entered behind me before the lad could close the door. An instant later Reilly and Usher were also on the scene, while Bennett and Harding, who had seized me, let go their hold and rushed to the back of the premises. It was an exciting moment.
We had taken the ruffians completely by surprise, yet Bennett, with his usual cunning, tried to make good his escape. While Harding ran out into the back yard and was captured by Reilly and Usher in the act of climbing the wall, Bennett with fierce determination rushed up to the top of the house and out on the roof, followed by the police officers.
Over the roofs he ran for a long distance as nimbly as a cat, followed closely by the detectives until they came to where two houses were divided by a narrow lane a few feet wide. Then Bennett, finding himself hard pressed and seeing the gulf before him, took a flying leap. His feet touched the gutter on the opposite side, and for a moment we thought he had escaped.
A second later, however, we heard a crack, and saw him clutch wildly at air as the gutter gave way beneath his weight, and he fell backwards to the ground, striking his skull heavily upon the paving.
The neighbourhood is thickly populated, and ere we could reach the spot a great crowd had collected. Very soon, however, the truth was plain. I examined him quickly, and found his neck broken. Death had been almost instantaneous.
Hurriedly we returned to No. 76 amid great local commotion, and found that although Purvis, who had been concealed in one of the upstair rooms, had succeeded in escaping, my friends were holding Harding prisoner. An inspection of the house showed that preparations had been made to assassinate me—indeed, there was a large air-tight travelling chest already prepared to receive my body! They evidently intended to dispose of me in the same manner as Charles Wollerton.
Harding was taken to the police station, and search among the left luggage at Euston resulted in the discovery of the trunk with its gruesome contents, as Franklin had confessed. Purvis has, up to the present, successfully eluded the police, but is believed to be abroad. Harding was eventually tried at the Old Bailey for being implicated in the murder and sentenced to ten years’ penal servitude, while the last heard of Franklin was that he had been arrested a year ago in Glasgow and sent to prison on a charge of forging cheques.
As for Black Bennett, the just hand of Heaven had fallen swiftly upon him, rendering man’s justice unnecessary.
Every fact that Franklin had related we discovered to be true. The proofs held by Mr. Burrell at Oundle proved most clearly that Dorothy was the youngest descendant of old Clement Wollerton, hence none could dispute her splendid inheritance.
A few days after that exciting chase in Battersea Reilly, Usher, and Mr. Staffurth assisted me to go through the treasure and check it by the long list written in the vellum book. We found, to our satisfaction, that it was intact.
Within a month, with Dorothy’s authority, we had disposed of all of it save a few of the most valuable ornaments, which she kept for her own use. The firm in Piccadilly were the principal purchasers of the coins and diamonds, but much of the remainder was sold by auction at Christie’s and other sale-rooms and realized very high prices, while a quantity of it has now found its way into the British Museum and other similar institutions.
The chestful of gold coins bequeathed to me as finder realized a little over £1,000, and out of this I paid for the dilapidations at Caldecott Manor—which is, by the way, now reoccupied by a highly respected gentleman and his wife—and made presents to my friends, Job Seal included, augmented, of course, by Dorothy herself.
And the rest? Need I tell you? I think not. All I shall say further is that within two months of our sudden fortune Dorothy, whom I had loved long before I knew her to be heiress of the treasure, married me at Hampstead, where we now live—in Fitzjohn’s Avenue, to be exact—leading an idyllic life of peace and love. If you pass up the thoroughfare in question you will probably notice the name, “Mr. Pickering, Surgeon,” upon a brass plate, for although the sum realized by the sale of the jewels has provided us with a comfortable income for life, yet I am not by any means an idle man.
So careful have we been to preserve our secret that to those who know us and may chance to read this narrative, the truth will come as an entire surprise. Our love is perfect, for surely no couple could be happier than we are. When at evening I sit at the fireside gazing at the sweet, smiling face of my devoted wife, I often reflect upon those dark days of anxiety and despair—the days of my love’s thraldom and of my own desperate endeavour to solve the mystery. Before me there hang, in black frames, the parchment with the seven signatures and the ancient diploma with leaden seal which I discovered with it, and whenever I look up at them my memory runs back to the potency of that simple number three—that numeral scrawled in faded ink which revealed to us “The Tickencote Treasure.”
THE END.
Ward, Lock & Co., Ltd., London.
Ward, Lock & Co.’s
POPULAR FICTION
A. E. W. MASON
LAWRENCE CLAVERING.
A remarkably powerful and stirring historical romance, full of life and movement.
STANLEY WEYMAN
MY LADY ROTHA.
A Romance of the Thirty Years’ War.
The Saturday Review.—“No one who begins will lay it down before the end, it is so extremely well carried on from adventure to adventure.”
EDEN PHILLPOTTS
THE LOVERS.
A brilliant tale of love and adventure. A true Phillpotts in every respect, and should rank high among his works.
THE MOTHER.
The Daily Telegraph.—“This is Mr. Phillpotts’ best book. Whatever may be the value of some fiction, it will do every man and woman good to read this book. Its perusal should leave the reader in a higher air.”
H. RIDER HAGGARD
AYESHA.
The Court Journal.—“A stupendous effort of imagination, and provides a narrative as enthralling and as realistic as anything Mr. Haggard has written.”
KEBLE HOWARD
ONE OF THE FAMILY.
Evening Standard.—“We are again indebted to Mr. Keble Howard for giving us a most amusing and cleverly written book.”
S. R. CROCKETT
JOAN OF THE SWORD HAND.
The Daily Mail.—“A triumph of cheery, resolute narration. The story goes along like a wave, and the reader with it.”
STRONG MAC.
The Morning Post.—“So vividly is the story told that it often reads like a narrative of things that have actually happened.”
LITTLE ESSON.
The Scarborough Post.—“One of the most popular of Mr. Crockett’s books since ‘Lilac Sunbonnet.’ ”
MAX PEMBERTON
PRO PATRIA.
The Liverpool Mercury.—“A fine and distinguished piece of imaginative writing; one that should shed a new lustre upon the clever author of ‘Kronstadt.’ ”
CHRISTINE OF THE HILLS.
The Daily Mail.—“Assuredly he has never written anything more fresh, more simple, more alluring, or more artistically perfect.”
A GENTLEMAN’S GENTLEMAN.
The Daily Chronicle.—“This is very much the best book Mr. Pemberton has so far given us.”
THE GOLD WOLF.
Illustrated London News.—“From the beginning Mr. Pemberton weaves his romance with such skill that the tangled skein remains for long unravelled.”
THE LODESTAR.
The Standard.—“It impresses us as an exceedingly poignant and effective story, true to real life. Written with cleverness and charm.”
WHITE WALLS.
The Lady.—“A melodrama cleverly imagined, written in the author’s happiest and most spirited style, and well illustrated by Maurice Greiffenhagen.”
LEILA AND HER LOVER.
Shows the author in his most romantic and emotional manner.
ROBERT BARR
LORD STRANLEIGH, PHILANTHROPIST.
The Manchester Courier.—“Mr. Barr’s spirits never flag, his stories have all point, and one may recommend the latest exploits of Lord Stranleigh as being as amusing as ever.”
LORD STRANLEIGH ABROAD.
The last adventures of one of the breeziest and most notable characters in modern fiction.
JUSTUS MILES FORMAN
THE ISLAND OF ENCHANTMENT.
Madame.—“Rather should this delightful volume have been titled ‘The Book of Enchantment.’ ”
THE UNKNOWN LADY.
Observer.—“This is the best work its author has ever attempted or achieved. There is charm in every line of it.”
BIANCA’S DAUGHTER.
The Athenæum.—“Mr. Forman is one of the most distinctively romantic writers of to-day. He has a fund of fine sympathy.”
JOURNEYS END.
The Court Journal.—“Surprisingly fresh, abounding in touches of observation and sentiment.”
MONSIGNY: THE SOUL OF GOLD.
The Daily Telegraph.—“The novel is admirable, the idea is very cleverly worked out, and the book is worthy of much praise.”
THE GARDEN OF LIES.
The Daily News.—“This novel is far in advance of anything that Mr. Forman has hitherto accomplished. ‘The Garden of Lies’ belongs to that class of story which touches the heart from the first. It is a real romance, full of vigour and a clean, healthy life.”
TOMMY CARTERET.
The Daily Chronicle.—“This is a fine book, thoroughly fine from start to finish.”
BUCHANAN’S WIFE.
The Daily Telegraph.—“ ‘Buchanan’s Wife’ may be regarded as another success for an already successful author.”
A MODERN ULYSSES.
People’s Saturday Journal.—“Full of exciting incidents handled in a bright, crisp style.”
THE QUEST.
World.—“ ‘The Quest’ is every whit as good as its author’s best known story, ‘The Garden of Lies.’ ”
THE COURT OF THE ANGELS. 6s.
The Athenæum.—“A gay, light-hearted, and pleasantly discursive book.”
THE HARVEST MOON.
The Standard.—“Mr. Forman is an accomplished writer of romance, as he has shown us on many previous occasions, and once again he holds us with his spell.”
THE OPENING DOOR.
One of the best stories Justus Miles Forman has written since “The Garden of Lies.”
E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM
FALSE EVIDENCE.
Western Mail.—“One takes up a story by Mr. E. Phillips Oppenheim with the certainty of enjoyment, and the reader is never disappointed.”
THE POSTMASTER OF MARKET DEIGNTON.
Freeman’s Journal.—“Mr. Oppenheim’s undoubted genius for clever construction and guarding his secret was never better shown than in this story.”
THE PEER AND THE WOMAN.
The Coventry Standard.—“A thrilling story by that clever writer of fiction, Mr. E. Phillips Oppenheim, which will add another work of interest to the already long list of his delightful creations.”
BERENICE.
The Yorkshire Observer.—“More sincere work than is to be found in this novel Mr. Oppenheim has never written. The subject shows the author in a new and unexpected light.”
MR. MARX’S SECRET.
The Scotsman.—“ ‘Mr. Marx’s Secret’ has a wonderful power of fascination: it is strongly written, and is certain to appeal to that popular author’s admirers.”
JEANNE OF THE MARSHES.
Bristol Mercury.—“ ‘Jeanne of the Marshes’ is charming and delightful in the extreme; without a doubt It will be voted one of the best novels of the season.”
THE LONG ARM.
The World.—“ ‘The Long Arm’ is a clever story, which no one will lay down till every line is read.”
THE GOVERNORS.
The Globe.—“ ‘The Governors’ is by Mr. E. P. Oppenheim—need more be said to assure the reader that it is as full of ruses, politics, and sensations as heart could desire.”
THE MISSIONER.
The Huddersfield Examiner.—“We have nothing but the very highest praise for this book. Deeply engrossing as a novel, pure in style, and practically faultless as a literary work.”
CONSPIRATORS.
The Daily Telegraph.—“The author must be congratulated on having achieved a story which is full of liveliness.”
THE SECRET.
The Standard.—“We have no hesitation in saying that this is the finest and most absorbing story that Mr. Oppenheim has ever written. It glows with feeling; it is curiously fertile in character and incident, and it works its way onward to a most remarkable climax.”
A MAKER OF HISTORY.
The Standard.—“Those who read ‘A Maker of History’ will revel in the plot, and will enjoy all those numerous deft touches of actuality that have gone to make the story genuinely interesting and exciting.”
THE MASTER MUMMER.
The Dundee Advertiser.—“It is a beautiful story that is here set within a story.”
THE BETRAYAL.
The Dundee Advertiser.—“Mr. Oppenheim’s skill has never been displayed to better advantage than here. . . . He has excelled himself, and to assert this is to declare the novel superior to nine out of ten of its contemporaries.”
ANNA, THE ADVENTURESS.
The Daily News.—“Mr. Oppenheim keeps his readers on the alert from cover to cover, and the story is a fascinating medley of romance and mystery.”
THE YELLOW CRAYON.
The Daily Express.—“Mr. Oppenheim has a vivid imagination and much sympathy, fine powers of narrative, and can suggest a life history in a sentence.”
A PRINCE OF SINNERS.
Vanity Fair.—“A vivid and powerful story. Mr. Oppenheim knows the world, and the unusual nature of the setting in which his leading characters live gives this book distinction among the novels of the season.”
THE TRAITORS.
The Athenæum.—“Its interest begins on the first page and ends on the last. The plot is ingenious and well managed, the movement of the story is admirably swift, and the characters are exceedingly vivacious.”
A LOST LEADER.
The Daily Graphic.—“Mr Oppenheim almost treats us to a romance which is full of originality and interest from first to last.”
MR. WINGRAVE, MILLIONAIRE. 6s.
The British Weekly.—“Like good wine Mr. Oppenheim’s novels need no bush. They attract by their own charm, and are unrivalled in popularity.”
AS A MAN LIVES.
The Sketch.—“The interest of the book, always keen and absorbing is due to some extent to a puzzle so admirably planned as to defy the penetration of the most experienced novel reader.”
A DAUGHTER OF THE MARIONIS.
The Scotsman.—“Mr. Oppenheim’s stories always display much melodramatic power and considerable originality and ingenuity of construction. These and other qualities of the successful writer of romance are manifest in ‘A Daughter of the Marionis.’ ”
THE MYSTERY OF MR. BERNARD BROWN.
The Aberdeen Daily Journal.—“The story is rich in sensational incident and dramatic situations. It is seldom, indeed, that we meet with a novel of such power and fascination.”
THE MAN AND HIS KINGDOM.
The Freeman’s Journal.—“The story is worthy of Merriman at his very best. It is a genuine treat for the ravenous and often disappointed novel reader.”
THE WORLD’S GREAT SNARE.
The World.—“It is full of dramatic incidents, thoroughly exciting and realistic. There is not a dull page from beginning to end.”
A MONK OF CRUTA.
The Bookman.—“Intensely dramatic. The book is an achievement at which the author may well be gratified.”
MYSTERIOUS MR. SABIN.
The Literary World.—“As a story of interest, with a deep-laid and exciting plot, this of the ‘Mysterious Mr. Sabin’ can hardly be surpassed.”
A MILLIONAIRE OF YESTERDAY.
The Daily Telegraph.—“We cannot but welcome with enthusiasm a really well-told story like ‘A Millionaire of Yesterday.’ ”
THE SURVIVOR.
The Nottingham Guardian.—“We must give a conspicuous place on its merits to this excellent story. It is only necessary to read a page or two in order to become deeply interested.”
THE GREAT AWAKENING.
The Yorkshire Post.—“A weird and fascinating story, which for real beauty and originality, ranks far above the ordinary novel.”
FOR THE QUEEN.
Modern Society.—“The fame of Mr. Oppenheim is world wide, and in ‘For the Queen’ the author lives up to the highest traditions of his reputation as a writer of fiction.”
THOSE OTHER DAYS.
Mr. Oppenheim ranges with assured mastery from grave to gay, while diplomatic scandals and political intrigues are woven with that delicate skill which we expect from him as a sort of right.
EXPIATION.
Mr. Oppenheim is one of the cleverest weavers of plots who write the English language, and he has many examples of his skill. “Expiation” is quite one of his best.
FRED M. WHITE
THE OPEN DOOR.
An absorbing tale of unusual interest and mystery. Mr. White’s high reputation for sensationalism is well known, and “The Open Door” will certainly uphold it.
THE FIVE KNOTS.
Western Daily Press.—“Mr. White has written several books, all of which have been enjoyed by a large number of readers, who will probably agree that it is the best.”
THE LAW OF THE LAND.
Daily Telegraph.—“Mr. White’s new novel may be strongly recommended. It contains enough surprises to whip the interest at every turn.”
THE MYSTERY OF THE RAVENSPURS.
Modern Society.—“As the plot is unfolded the reader becomes more and more fascinated, the interest being powerfully held until the close.”
THE SECRET OF THE SANDS.
The Scotsman.—“Mr. Fred M. White has written a story full of dramatic surprises. Mr. White is a master of sensations, and his introduction of the incident of the Italian Vendetta gives point to a good tale.”
THE GOLDEN ROSE.
Irish Independent.—“This latest book possesses all those characteristics which go to make Mr. White’s novels so readable and so popular.”
PAUL TRENT
THE FOUNDLING.
Daily Graphic.—“The character of Strand is an excellent study, cleverly and strongly drawn, and the book is a very interesting and readable work.”
THE SECOND CHANCE.
Mr. Paul Trent’s stories, “The Vow” and “The Foundling” were powerful tales with a motive. “The Second Chance,” as its title indicates, is of the same school.
LOUIS TRACY
SYLVIA’S CHAUFFEUR.
Morning Leader.—“ ‘Sylvia’s Chauffeur’ is as pleasant a piece of light reading as any one could desire.”
RAINBOW ISLAND.
The Literary World.—“Those who delight in tales of adventure should hail ‘Rainbow Island’ with joyous shouts of welcome. Rarely have we met with more satisfying fare of this description than in its pages.”
THE ALBERT GATE AFFAIR.
The Birmingham Post.—“Will worthily rank with ‘The Fatal Legacy’ and ‘Rainbow Island,’ both books full of wholesome excitement.”
THE PILLAR OF LIGHT.
The Evening Standard.—“So admirable, so living, so breathlessly exciting a book. The magnificent realism of the lighthouse and its perils are worthy of praise from the most jaded reader.”
A SON OF THE IMMORTALS.
The Morning Post.—“Mr. Tracy’s new book ‘A Son of the Immortals’ is of a highly sensational character, and adventures and stirring situations follow closely upon one another’s heels all through it.”
MIRABEL’S ISLAND.
A delightfully exciting and fascinating romance of love and adventure, comparable to its author’s famous success, “Rainbow Island.”
NO OTHER WAY.
Financial Times.—“Mr. Tracy’s latest novel provides an absorbing narrative which is not likely to be cast aside prematurely.”
HEADON HILL
THE COTTAGE IN THE CHINE.
Will make a strong appeal to lovers of sensational fiction; every page has its incident or adventure, and the most exacting reader will not find a dull moment until the last page is turned.
MY LORD THE FELON.
The Bookseller.—“Every page of this book has its incident or adventure, while the reader’s interest is kept up to the last chapter.”
THE CRIMSON HONEYMOON.
“ ‘The Crimson Honeymoon’ is a really fascinating sensation story, well written and cleverly put together.”
HAROLD BINDLOSS
THE TRUSTEE.
Another powerful and well-written story of hardihood, love and adventure in Canada. The clean, fresh atmosphere which pervades it is distinctly exhilarating.
Punch.—“Mr. Bindloss is an author who can deftly use sensationalism to his purpose without forcing it for mere effect, and who can also depict the character of a strong man as honest as determined in love with a sweet woman. He tells a story with rare skill.”
THE PIONEER.
The Bookman.—“Altogether a fresh, stimulating, wholesome story, and one which should only be banned by parents who do not wish their fledglings to succumb to the fascinating lure of the wilds.”
Academy.—“His novels are terse, powerful, yet graceful, showing intimate knowledge and acute observation, never overweighted with description, yet containing many delightful pictures.”
THE PROTECTOR.
Morning Post.—“Mr. Bindloss is always a sure find for a good story, and in this one he has, if possible, excelled himself.”
THE LIBERATIONIST.
Morning Leader.—“This is the author’s best novel, and is one which no lover of healthy excitement ought to miss.”
HAWTREY’S DEPUTY.
The Western Daily Mercury.—“The whole story is told with the most spontaneous verve, and is tinged with a delightful element of romance.”
THE IMPOSTOR.
The Queen.—“Mr. Bindloss writes books which are always good to read. His writing is uniformly good, and his books are always sane, intensely interesting, and dealing with subjects that cannot fail to concern a wide public.”
THE WASTREL.
The Times.—“Mr. Bindloss’s books are unchangeably true to type; and in the distracting medley of modern fiction they calm and regulate the mind.”
J. C. SNAITH
MISTRESS DOROTHY MARVIN.
The Nottingham Guardian.—“Mr. Snaith stirs the blood, from the first page to the last, and all the characters live, move, and have their being.”
LADY BARBARITY.
Black and White says: “ ‘Lady Barbarity’ would cheer a pessimist in a November fog. It is so gay, so good humoured, so full of the influence of youth and beauty.”
GUY BOOTHBY
THE RACE OF LIFE.
The English Review.—“Ahead even of Mr. Cutcliffe Hyne and Conan Doyle, Mr. Boothby may be said to have topped popularity’s pole.”
THE CRIME OF THE UNDER SEAS.
The Speaker.—“Is quite the equal in art, observation, and dramatic intensity to any of Mr. Guy Boothby’s numerous other romances.”
A BID FOR FREEDOM.
The Sheffield Telegraph.—“A fully written romance which bristles with thrilling passages, exciting adventures, and hairbreadth escapes.”
A TWO-FOLD INHERITANCE.
Punch.—“Just the very book that a hard-working man should read for genuine relaxation.”
CONNIE BURT.
The Birmingham Gazette.—“One of the best stories we have seen of Mr. Boothby’s.”
THE KIDNAPPED PRESIDENT.
Public Opinion.—“Brighter, crisper, and more entertaining than any of its predecessors from the same pen.”
MY STRANGEST CASE.
The Yorkshire Post.—“No work of Mr. Boothby’s seems to us to have approached in skill his new story.”
FAREWELL, NIKOLA.
The Dundee Advertiser.—“Guy Boothby’s famous creation of Dr. Nikola has become familiar to every reader of fiction.”
MY INDIAN QUEEN. 5s.
The Sunday Special.—“A vivid story of adventure and daring, bearing all the characteristics of careful workmanship.”
LONG LIVE THE KING.
The Aberdeen Free Press.—“It is marvellous that Mr. Boothby’s novels should all be so uniformly good.”
A PRINCE OF SWINDLERS.
The Scotsman.—“Of absorbing interest. The exploits are described in an enthralling vein.”
A MAKER OF NATIONS.
The Spectator.—“ ‘A Maker of Nations’ enables us to understand Mr. Boothby’s vogue. It has no lack of movement or incident.”
THE RED RAT’S DAUGHTER.
The Daily Telegraph.—“Mr. Guy Boothby’s name on the title-page of a novel carries with it the assurance of a good story to follow.”
LOVE MADE MANIFEST.
The Daily Telegraph.—“One of those tales of exciting adventure in the confection of which Mr. Boothby is not excelled by any novelist of the day.”
PHAROS THE EGYPTIAN.
The Scotsman.—“This powerful novel is weird and soul-thrilling. There never was in this world so strange and wonderful a love story.”
ACROSS THE WORLD FOR A WIFE.
The British Weekly.—“This stirring tale ranks next to ‘Dr. Nikola’ in the list of Mr. Boothby’s novels.”
THE LUST OF HATE.
The Daily Graphic.—“Whoever wants dramatic interest let him read ‘The Lust of Hate.’ ”
THE FASCINATION OF THE KING.
The Bristol Mercury.—“Unquestionably the best work we have yet seen from the pen of Mr. Guy Boothby.”
DR. NIKOLA.
The Scotsman.—“One hairbreadth escape succeeds another with rapidity that scarce leaves the reader breathing space.”
THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE DEVIL.
The Yorkshire Post.—“A more exciting romance no man could reasonably ask for.”
A BID FOR FORTUNE.
The Manchester Courier.—“It is impossible to give any idea of the verve with which the story is told. The most original novel of the year.”
IN STRANGE COMPANY.
The World.—“A capital novel. It has the quality of life and stir, and will carry the reader with curiosity unabated to the end.”
THE MARRIAGE OF ESTHER.
The Manchester Guardian.—“There is a vigour and a power of illusion about it that raises it quite above the level of the ordinary novel of adventure.”
BUSHIGRAMS.
The Manchester Guardian.—“Intensely interesting. Forces from us, by its powerful artistic realism, those choky sensations which it should be the aim of the human writer to elicit, whether in comedy or tragedy.”
SHEILAH McLEOD.
Mr. W. L. Alden in The New York Times.—“Mr. Boothby can crowd more adventure into a square foot of canvas than any other novelist.”
DR. NIKOLA’S EXPERIMENT.
Illustrated by Sidney Cowell.
THE MAN OF THE CRAG.