AustLit

A station owner shoots the dog of a railway navvy for worrying sheep on his property - with a very lucky shot for its owner. Bush sketch. (PB)

Anglo-American romance, divorce and marriage - precipitated by cigar-smoking. An English doctor in the USA marries an heiress in Indiana, they are divorced because of his smoking, and only reunited 8 years later in London when he saves his own son from dying. Light. British divorce laws tighter than USA (Indiana at least) this said approvingly. (PB)

A storm and shipwreck at the seaside town of Hastings proves an office clerk from Deloraine innocent of stealing £200 from his firm, but in saving lives he is himself believed drowned. Several months later he returns from the dead to claim his fiancee and his reputation. Slight; values of honour and piety, etc. (PB)

A grave-digger in Scotland has his revenge on a school boarder who attempts to frighten him. (PB)

Romance comes to a plain woman through a literary evening - but just as she is coming to believe in the suitor it ceases. A chance remark of a later visitor reveals that the suitor believed she had money. Light tale of emotions deceived - cheerful tone. (PB)

Romance of one of Napoleon's colonels. Eugene Merville had risen through the ranks when he met and fell in love with a masked woman at a ball in Paris. She tested his love and loyalty for a year, and he is true though he falls in love with another ... Light; ideal of true love remaining faithful. (PB)

A priest's threat to an Irishman to stop him drinking and beating his wife is partly successful and partly a failure. Humour. (PB)

A small town bank is burgled through the clever ruse of a thief who masquerades as a substitute pastor for several weeks. Slight; well-constructed. (PB)

Account of a close shave with cowboys in Western USA by a man who assisted a travelling magician, The Fakir of Siva ... (PB)

A young lawyer accepts a case defending a clerk from a charge of murder but is unable to call upon his employer - a beautiful and unidentified young woman - as a witness. He discovers that the client was her fiancee, the victim her father and the murderer her brother - a confession helps him free the accused. Competent. (Probably US). (PB)

Tale of a son who refused to execute his father to save his own life. Basic. (PB)

An army colonel, having served in India, takes up residence in the home of an old sailor, Captain Welland and he and his dog befriend the old man grieving for the daughter he rejected when she married against his wishes and who had since died. He disproves a ghost haunting the old man and his dog finds the thief who robbed and would have murdered the captain of he had not already died: the colonel's personal servant - also the captain's son-in-law ... (PB)

A newly-married American couple decide to see the sights of Brussels with the wife disguised as a man. Problems arise when the husband meets a friend of his who is eager to show the fresh young man the scenes of colourful night life ... Slight; amusing. (PB)

A mother's response to the discovery of a tattoo on her son's arm. The point of the piece a little unclear. (PB)

US story of murder, romance and detective work. The confession by a young woman to her fiancee of her youthful marriage to a man already married also reveals her murder of her uncle - who was forcing her to confess the mistake himself. Well-plotted detective tale with a touch of Lady Macbeth; slight. (PB)

A judge's questioning of a practical English farmer reveals the basis for his mistrust of the law. From Lord Mansfield in the Court of King's Bench. (PB)

A newspaper's city editor receives a call from a physician committing suicide and wishing to describe the symptoms - the editor cleverly discovers the source of the call and sends help. Plain tale, suspense well-sustained. (PB)

Anglo-French romance set on the French coast in summer. A rescue while bathing and the intimacy of a yacht voyage to Scandinavia reveal to each other the hearts of a Breton nobleman disguised as a common sailor and the rich and lovely Helene. A Norwegian legend marks the turning point. Light; very well-written but no real issue of substance. (PB)