The Double Life of Mr. Alfred Burton. Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1913.
First Edition. Gustavus C. Widney illustrations. Uncommon departure from mysteries by Oppenheim in this fantasy of sorts missed by Bleiler. "This is, in a way, pure comedy, Alfred Burton, head clerk of a third rate auctioneer and house-agent, in showing a client over a house, discovers in a long-closed room a tiny plant with green leaves and a cluster of queer little brown beans hanging down from them. The virtue of the beans is that he who eats one shall see nothing, think nothing, say nothing but the truth. Imagine an absolutely truthful auctioneer! Alfred Burton has a well-meaning, rather ordinary wife who becomes unendurable to him, and he falls in love with a charming girl who would have no appeal for the man he formerly was." Basis for the 1919 silent film directed by Arthur Rook and starring Kenelm Foss and Ivy Duke. Near Fine in Very Good dustjacket, some shallow edge chips and wear.
Price: $350.00