Frank Norris was a late 19th century American novelist writing in the naturalist genre. His most famous works include McTeague (1899), The Octopus: A California Story (1901), and The Pit (1903). His works show socialistic tendencies and were influenced by Darwin and Huxley. His work often includes depictions of suffering caused by corrupt and greedy turn-of-the-century corporate monopolies. Stories in this collection are A Deal in Wheat The Wife of Chino A Bargain with Peg-Leg The Passing of Cock-Eye Blacklock A Memorandum of Sudden Death Two Hearts That Beat as One The Dual Personality of Slick Dick Nickerson The Ship That Saw a Ghost The Ghost in the Crosstrees The Riding of Felipe.