It may be my Saxon prejudice, but, though most of the ingredients of _Irish Stew_ (SKEFFINGTON) are in fact Irish, and though Mrs. DOROTHEA CONYERS is best known as a novelist who delights in traditional Ireland and traditional horses, I am bound to confess that I enjoyed the adventures of _Mr. Jones_, trusted employe of _Mosenthals and Co._, better than Mrs. CONYERS' stage Irishmen. "Our Mr. Jones" is neither a _Sherlock Holmes_ nor an _Aristide Pujol_, neither a _Father Brown_ nor a _Bob Pretty_, but nevertheless he is an engaging soul and we could do with more of him. Mrs. CONYERS' hunting _clientele_ may much prefer to read about the dishonesties of _Con Cassidy_ and his fellow-horse-copers and the simple but heroic _O'Toole_ and his supernatural friends. But, as the average Irish hunting man cares little more for books than he does for bill-collectors, his preference may not be of paramount importance. In any case the Irish ingredients of _Irish Stew_ would be easier to assimilate if Mrs. CONYERS would refrain from trying to spell English as the Irish speak it. If the reader knows Ireland it is unnecessary and merely makes reading a task. If the reader does not know Ireland no amount of phonetic spelling will reproduce a single one of the multitudinous brogues that fill Erin with sound and empty it of sense. On the whole Mrs. CONYERS' public will not be disappointed with her latest sheaf of tales. But it is _Mr. Jones_ who will give them their money's worth. * * * * * I was, I confess, a little sceptical--you know how it is--when I read what Messrs. HODDER AND STOUGHTON'S official reviewer said of Mr. HAL. G. EVARTS' _The Cross-Pull_: "The best dog story since The Call of the Wild," etc., etc. Well, I certainly haven't seen a better. Mr. EVARTS' hero, _Flash_, is a noble beast of mixed strain--grey wolf, coyote, dog. The Cross-Pull is the conflict between the dog and the wolf, between loyalty to his master and mistress whom he brings together and serves, and the wolf whose proper business is to be biting elks in the neck. Happier than most tamed brutes he is involved as chief actor in a round up of some desperate outlaws, among whom is his chief enemy, and he is fortunate enough to serve the state while pursuing to a successful end his bitter private quarrel. Brute _Brent_ gets and deserves the kind of bite which was planned by a far-seeing providence for the elk.... You can tell when an author really loves and knows animals or is merely "putting it on." Mr. EVARTS understands, sentimentalises less than most interpreters; seems to know a good deal. The story loses no interest from being set in the American hinterland of a few decades ago. All real animal lovers should get this book--they should really. * * * * *