The Crimson Gardenia and Other Tales of Adventure

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

32101

Title

The Crimson Gardenia and Other Tales of Adventure

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this collection of adventure tales, Rex Beach weaves tales of romance, danger, and redemption. From a masked reveler seeking thrill in New Orleans to a hardened gunman protecting a child in a saloon, the stories explore the clash between civilized society and primal emotion. With vivid action and dramatic twists, Beach delivers gripping narratives that challenge modern sensibilities while celebrating the enduring power of love and honor.

Summary up to 500 words

In Rex Beach's *The Crimson Gardenia and Other Tales of Adventure*, a collection of suspenseful and dramatic stories, the narrative begins with Mr. Roland Van Dam, a wealthy but unadventurous New Yorker attending Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Discontent with the dullness of high society, he dons a mask and wanders the carnival streets, where he encounters a mysterious French girl who claims he was expected. She warns him of lurking dangers, leading him into a perilous chase through the crowded festivities. Though the text cuts away before resolving this specific plot, it establishes a tone of suspense and hidden romance. The narrative then shifts to Butler Murray, a man haunted by a desire for death. After surviving a grueling fire-fighting ordeal in Goldfield where his friend DeVoe succumbed to pneumonia, Murray attempts suicide by driving his car off a cliff. His car fails to start, thwarting his plan. Undeterred, he arranges for a doctor to find him dead, only for his friend to flee in disgust at the prospect of inheriting a fortune via a staged death. Murray subsequently travels to North Carolina to attempt a different kind of suicide by drowning in a marsh, seeking a final end to his grim comedy. The final and most substantial story introduces John McGill, a former Mormon elder turned hardened gunman known as John Daniels. He is found alive in a dance hall by his estranged wife, who reveals she is working for a criminal named Barclay. McGill discovers that Barclay is abusing her and their young daughter. In a shocking revelation, the child is McGill's own, not Barclay's. Overcome with paternal love and fury, McGill brutally disfigures Barclay with a gun-brand across his face, leaving him a permanent mark of infamy. He then rescues his wife and child, offering them a chance at a new life, demonstrating that even the roughest man can be moved by the purity of a child and the strength of true love.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Adventure
• Fiction