The Fire Flower

This book tells the story of John Sheldon. Excerpt: John Sheldon; who lived joyously, heedlessly, often enough recklessly. When other men grumbled he had been known to laugh. While these last lean, hard years had toughened both physical and mental fiber, they had not hardened his heart. And yet, a short five days ago, he had had murder in his heart. He had just made his "pile"; he, with Charlie Ward, who, Sheldon had thought, was straight. And straight the poor devil would have been had it not been that he was weak and there was a woman. He wanted her; she wanted his money. It's an olstory...He had befriended Ward, and Ward had robbed him. In the first flare of wrath he took up the man's trail. He followed the two for ten days, coming up with them then at Belle Fortune…There had been ten days of riot, wine and cards, and roulette-wheel, for Charlie Ward and the woman. Sheldon, getting word here and there, had had little hope of recovering his money. But he did not expect what he did find.