“An old time story of youthful romance and hot adventure, well seasoned ... with simple love and pleasant humor”—thus the author himself correctly describes his story. In the early forties, when the hero’s fortunes are at their lowest, an old aunt leaves him a legacy of four old keys, a box full of small gold figures of Inca gods, an undecipherable manuscript and the family estate with 5000 acres to hold in trust for his wife to be. The first three items point to family secrets all of which develop and unravel in the course of the story in quaintly romantic fashion with underground passages and chambers and hidden treasures. Of immediate interest to Barent, however, is to find a wife that is to save him from a debtor’s prison. How a wealthy land greedy neighbor of the Creighton estate offers his daughter to fill the place; how the daughter resents the bargain; how Barent tears up the contract when he finds he loves her and faces a variety of troubles instead; how the tables turn and how Ronella comes to require Barent’s help; and how the two really love each other more than gold and acres, make a fascinating tale.
“Very readable romance.”
+ Boston Transcript p4 Ag 28 ’20 350w
“This is Mr Shafer’s first novel, and it is one of considerable promise, colorful and related with no little spirit.”
+ − N Y Times p22 Ag 8 ’20 360w
“A broad vein of humor rescues the tale from melodramatic lapses.”
+ Springf’d Republican p9a O 24 ’20 220w
SHANKS, EDWARD BUXTON. People of the ruins. *$1.90 (2c) Stokes
20–17169