"It is done with supreme self-confidence, and the result is a work of genius."—New York Evening Post.

"'The Prodigal Son' will hold the reader's attention from cover to cover."—Philadelphia Record.

"This is one of Hall Caine's best novels—one that a large portion of the fiction-reading public will thoroughly enjoy."—Chicago Record-Herald.

"It is a notable piece of fiction."—Philadelphia Inquirer.

"In 'The Prodigal Son' Hall Caine has produced his greatest work.'—Boston Herald.

"Mr. Caine has achieved a work of extraordinary merit, a fiction as finely conceived, as deftly constructed, as some of the best work of our living novelists."—London Daily Mail.

"'The Prodigal Son' is indeed a notable novel; and a work that may certainly rank with the best of recent fiction...."—Westminster Gazette.

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK.

* * * * *



"A beautiful romance of the days of Robert Burns."

Nancy Stair.

A Novel. By Elinor Macartney Lane, author of "Mills of God." Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50.

"With very much the grace and charm of Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of 'The Life of Nancy Stair' combines unusual gifts of narrative, characterization, color, and humor. She has also delicacy, dramatic quality, and that rare gift—historic imagination.

"'The Life of Nancy Stair' is interesting from the first sentence to the last; the characters are vital and are, also, most entertaining company; the denouement unexpected and picturesque and cleverly led up to from one of the earliest chapters; the story moves swiftly and without a hitch. Robert Burns is neither idealized nor caricatured; Sandy, Jock, Pitcairn, Danvers Carmichael, and the Duke of Borthewicke are admirably relieved against each other, and Nancy herself as irresistible as she is natural. To be sure, she is a wonderful child, but then she manages to make you believe she was a real one. Indeed, reality and naturalness are two of the charms of a story that both reaches the heart and engages the mind, and which can scarcely fail to make for itself a large audience. A great deal of delightful talk and interesting incidents are used for the development of the story. Whoever reads it will advise everybody he knows to read it; and those who do not care for its literary quality cannot escape the interest of a love-story full of incident and atmosphere."

"Powerfully and attractively written."—Pittsburg Post.

"A story best described with the word 'charming.'"—Washington Post.

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK.

* * * * *



WIT, SPARKLING, SCINTILLATING WIT, IS THE ESSENCE OF

Kate of Kate Hall,

By Ellen Thorneycroft Fowler, whose reputation was made by her first book, "Concerning Isabel Carnaby," and enhanced by her last success, "Place and Power."

"In 'Kate of Kate Hall,' by Ellen Thorneycroft Fowler, the question of imminent concern is the marriage of super-dainty, peppery-tempered Lady Katherine Clare, whose wealthy godmother, erstwhile deceased, has left her a vast fortune, on condition that she shall be wedded within six calendar months from date of the testator's death.

"An easy matter, it would seem, for bonny Kate, notwithstanding her aptness at sharp repartee, is a morsel fit for the gods.

"The accepted suitor appears in due time; but comes to grief at the last moment in a quarrel with Lady Kate over a kiss bestowed by her upon her godmother's former man of affairs and secretary. This incident she haughtily refuses to explain. Moreover, she shatters the bond of engagement, although but three weeks remain of the fatal six months. She would rather break stones on the road all day and sleep in a pauper's grave all night, than marry a man who, while professing to love her, would listen to mean and malicious gossips picked up by tell-tales in the servants' hall.

"So the great estate is likely to be lost to Kate and her debt-ridden father, Lord Claverley. How it is conserved at last, and gloomy apprehension chased away by dazzling visions of material splendor—that is the author's well-kept secret, not to be shared here with a careless and indolent public."—Philadelphia North American.

"The long-standing reproach that women are seldom humorists seems in a fair way of passing out of existence. Several contemporary feminine writers have at least sufficient sense of humor to produce characters as deliciously humorous as delightful. Of such order is the Countess Claverley, made whimsically real and lovable in the recent book by Ellen Thorneycroft Fowler and A.L. Felkin, 'Kate of Kate Hall.'"—Chicago Record-Herald.

"'Kate of Kate Hall' is a novel in which Ellen Thorneycroft Fowler displays her brilliant abilities at their best. The story is well constructed, the plot develops beautifully, the incidents are varied and brisk, and the dialogue is deliciously clever."—Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK.

* * * * *



LOVE. MYSTERY. VENICE.

The Clock and the Key.

By Arthur Henry Vesey. 12mo. Ornamental Cloth, $1.50.

This is a tale of a mystery connected with an old clock. The lover, an American man of means, is startled out of his sensuous, inactive life in Venice by his lady-love's scorn for his indolence. She begs of him to perform any task that will prove his persistence and worth. With the charm of Venice as a background, one follows the adventures of the lover endeavoring to read the puzzling hints of the old clock as to the whereabouts of the famous jewels of many centuries ago. After following many false clues the lover ultimately solves the mystery, triumphs over his rivals, and wins the girl.

AMERICA.

"For an absorbing story it would be hard to beat."—Harper's Weekly.

ENGLAND.

"It will hold the reader till the last page."—London Times.

SCOTLAND.

"It would hardly suffer by comparison with Poe's immortal 'Gold Bug.'"—Glasgow Herald.

* * * * *

NORTH.

"It ought to make a record."—Montreal Sun.

SOUTH.

"It is as fascinating in its way as the Sherlock Holmes stories—charming—unique."—New Orleans Picayune.

EAST.

"Don't fail to get it."—New York Sun.

WEST.

"About the most ingeniously constructed bit of sensational fiction that ever made the weary hours speed."—St. Paul Pioneer Press.

* * * * *

"If you want a thrilling story of intrigue and mystery, which will cause you to burn the midnight oil until the last page is finished, read 'The Clock and the Key.'"—Milwaukee Wisconsin.

"One of the most highly exciting and ingenious stories we have read for a long time is 'The Clock and the Key.'"—London Mail.

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK.

* * * * *



A GOOD AUTOMOBILE STORY.

Baby Bullet.

By Lloyd Osbourne, Author of "The Motor-maniacs." Illustrated. 12mo. Ornamental Cloth, $1.50.

This is the jolliest, most delightfully humorous love story that has been written in the last ten years. Baby Bullet is an "orphan automobile." It is all through the adoption of Baby Bullet by her travelling companion that a dear, sweet, human modern girl meets a very nice young man, and a double romance is begun and finished on an automobiling tour through England.

"The story is smoothly written, full of action and healthful fun."—Philadelphia Public Ledger.

"'Baby Bullet' is without doubt the best written and most entertaining automobile story yet published. The most enjoyable feature of this book is its genuine, unforced humor, which finds expression not only in ludicrous situations, but in bright and spirited dialogue, keen observation and natural characterization.'—St. Paul Dispatch.

"Certain stories there are that a man fervently wishes he might claim as his own. Of these, 'Baby Bullet' is one."—Baltimore Sun.

"It is broad comedy, full of adventurous fun, clever and effective. The tale is fascinating from the start. The adventures of Baby Bullet are distinctly funny."—New York Sun.

"The characters are lightly drawn, but with great humor. It is a story that refreshes a tired brain and provokes a light heart."—Chicago Tribune.

"It is a most satisfying and humorous narrative."—Indianapolis News.

"One of the funniest scenes in recent fiction is the escape of the automobile party from the peroxide blonde who has answered their advertisement for a chaperon."—San Francisco Chronicle.

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK.

* * * * *



A SPLENDID NEWSPAPER YARN.

A Yellow Journalist.

By Miriam Michelson, Author of "In the Bishop's Carriage," etc. Illustrated. 12mo. Ornamental Cloth, $1.50.

This novel has the true newspaper thrill in it from beginning to end. The intense desire to "cover" one's assignment completely and well is brought out in the midst of the melodramatic atmosphere in which a modern newspaper woman must live. The stories are all true to life, and mixed with the excitement there is a wealth of humor and pathos.

"There is a dash about 'A Yellow Journalist' that exhilarates like a fresh breeze on a sharp winter morning."—Chicago Record-Herald.

"The book is bright and entertaining."—Minneapolis Tribune.

"There are just a few writers who have succeeded in reducing to paper the atmosphere of a newspaper office, and since the appearance of 'A Yellow Journalist,' Miriam Michelson must be numbered among them."—The Bookman.

"Miss Michelson's work has found great favor. The stories contained in this book are characteristic."—Philadelphia Public Ledger.

"Only one with the genuine journalistic instinct, who has agonized over a story and known the ecstacy of a 'beat' and the anguish of being beat, can write of news-gathering as Miss Michelson does. But she has other good qualities in addition to these—a good dramatic instinct, a piquant humor, and a knowledge of human nature. The fourteen chapters of 'A Yellow Journalist' are mighty interesting reading."—Baltimore News.

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK.

THE END