SOME RECENT FICTION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 181, 20 April 1918, Page 11

SOME RECENT FICTION

The Keeper of the King's Peace,

Mr. Edgar Wallace, who recently madu whiit, was lor him a, new dei>arture with a . crudely-sensational and carelessly-written dutectivo story, has wisely returned to Ins old background, uio West Coast of 'Africa, ivliioli has provided the scenarm lor so many cxw lent, stories from his pen. In his latest story, or collection of stories. '{J lO hooper of the King's Peace" WiHl, Lock and' Co.; per Whitcombo aiw iouibs), lie introduces ouco a»i,m umt i redoubtable JJritish official. Commissioner Sanders mid his military associates Captain Hamilton and Lieutenant J lbbetts, otherwise known as JJones,_ tho trio beinjf joined by Hamilton s pretty sister from lingland. J.Jie stories deal with the extremely varied, o ft e u dangerous,' and at tunes extremely comical experiences am adventures in which tho members of tlio quarLot find themselves concern- <-"• banders Ims ti> settle several wiotty and thorny administrative prob-lems-native outbreaks, tho evil inIluoncos of native wizards, and epidemics of smallpox and other virulent t\T 0B ) , Alwaj ' s > a3 in Mr - AVaUWs eailier books, we see the calm, cool Englishman who keeps his head during Uw most menacing experiences and proves himself a firm and just ruler, lespeeted and feared by evil-doers and ever maintaining British prestige without any bullying or injustice. Captain Hamilton is a good second in command, and Bones provides nn agreeable, element of humour by his eccentricities, grotesque blunders, and misadventures.. The stories, besides being !„« h 'u\ lto, '. t! !", ,i,, 6. explain the difficulty with winch a British African ofliHnnr^ir' 0 !' 46,1 ' 1 - In 0U0 > " Tile <ll rit & we % ei somo am«sing swoliglits upon Portuguese administration in Africa. Maurice Greiffenliagen s vigorously-drawn illustrations are a welcomo .feature of tho book.