From the exhibition
Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 994
· August 11, 1896

This issue of *Beadle and Adams'* pulp weekly contains the opening chapters of "Billy Bowers' Street Scouts: Raiding the Rolling Rock," a serialized mystery by Jo Pierce. The story follows the titular Billy Bowers, an eighteen-year-old member of the Bald Eagle Boat-Club on the East River. When the club's theatrical benefit performance is interrupted by news that the ticket office has been robbed of all proceeds, Billy—still wearing his policeman costume from the play—investigates. He discovers a mysterious green porcelain figurine of a Turkish-looking man that breathes and rolls its eyes, apparently left by the thieves. Meanwhile, police have arrested two men, including a suspicious character named Dick Turk, though Billy's theory about Turk's involvement is questioned by the police captain, who directs suspicion toward the missing treasurer, Dan Sherrill.
Public domain (pre-1929), restored and presented by comicbooks.com public-domain