Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 379

Catalog Entry "The Terror from Headwaters" by Jos. E. Badger, Jr. is a frontier adventure tale serialized in this issue. The narrative centers on Howling Jonathan, a garrulous, boastful drifter who rides a stagecoach from Empire City to Good Leather, annoying the taciturn driver Joe Duncan with endless braggadocio about his fighting prowess and legendary status. Jonathan claims to be seeking adventure and combat with local tough characters—Iceberg Dave, Ugly Dan, and Colonel Joel Mallison—but suspects they will flee upon learning of his arrival. His theatrical manner masks hints of a genuine dangerous nature; he's armed with revolvers and knife, and cryptically references operating as part of a coordinated trio ("Shadrach, Meshach and To-bed-we-go"). The dialogue establishes a western setting with mining operations, road-agent threats, and rough frontier society. The narrative combines comedic boasting with undertones of impending violence.