This is why it heads the list of best sellers in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia. The advertising value of a big prize offer may account in some degree for the heavy advance sale--although the wholesale buyers ordered _after reading_. Nothing but sheer merit can account for the extremely large retail sale. Friend-to-friend commendation is steadily increasing over-the-counter demand. The judges--the readers--all gave "Diane" first place among five hundred manuscripts, many of them by first-class authors. The trade has applauded the choice. Reviewers have called "Diane of the Green Van" well worth the big prize. We should like to be able to publish the list of twenty or more successful writers who entered stories. On reputation alone, their work would have gone far; but we feel that the _story_ of "Diane" will go farther. "Here are expectation and enthusiasm justified alike. It is a clear, clean, clever romance.... It combines the love and intrigue of the 'Zenda' tale with the freedom of a Locke or Farnol story of broad highways."--_New York World._ "Just what countless pleased readers will devour with avidity.... Gracefully written, vivid in style and suggestion.... Bright and breezy and exciting."--_Chicago Record Herald._ "The tale has unusual dramatic grip, much brilliancy of dialogue.... It is the sort of narrative that no one willingly lays down until the last page has been turned."--_Philadelphia North American._ "The novel throbs with the youthful joy of living and the enchantments of summer hover over its pages. Everywhere is there originality in the invention of the incidents and subtlety in the delineation of characters."--_Chicago Tribune._ "A heroine whose fascination richly merits study. A hero who will capture the heart of the reader from the moment of his first appearance."--_Boston Globe._ "So good a thing, a thing so romantic and thrilling, we have not seen in--lo, these many moons of story telling."--_Louisville Post._ "Diane" is a tale with the freshness and spontaneity of youth, with the rich personality of the author shining through its diverting pages. In its imagination and clever dialogue and plot it strikes the keynote of popular appeal. At the same time, "Diane" has all the essentials of lasting popularity. The publishers feel justified in predicting a long journey for the Green Van and its charming young mistress. (_$1.35 net_) *_Publishers The Reilly & Britton Co. Chicago_* _A New "Frank Danby" and Other Spring Leaders_ FRANK DANBY'S _Finest and Most Powerful Work_ FULL SWING _Ready April 30th_