The year was 1916 and most of the world, at least as it was viewed through the prism of American newspapers, appeared to have gone quite mad. Or so it appeared to Mr Samson Plews. His own world, and that of Miss Sha Luli, was though about to get even madder. It started with a curious puzzle in the agony column of The Bismarck Tribune. Solving it was simple, but where it all led was an entirely different matter. But if that journey wasn't to be a strictly one way affair then some truly fearsome difficulties, not to mention opponents, would have to be overcome.