From the exhibition
The Sport From Denver
· September 1898

This pulp magazine issue from September 1898 contains "The Sport from Denver; or, Cool John's Tug with the City Sharps and Sharks," a mystery-detective serial by J. C. Cowdrick. Set in Denver, the narrative opens with young Philip King, son of banker Roger King, shot dead outside his family home during a thunderstorm. Investigation reveals a horseshoe locket bearing the initials J.H. and photographs of Philip's sister Rosa alongside a young man identified as John Tandy, nicknamed "Cool John," a reputed sport-about-town. Though Rosa defends Tandy as innocent and confesses her affection for him, her father orders his arrest. Police and private detectives, including detective Coughlin, arrive to investigate. Coughlin immediately disputes John Handy's guilt, declaring him "a man of sand" and former friend of Philip's, suggesting deeper complexity to the murder.
Public domain (pre-1929), restored and presented by comicbooks.com public-domain