Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 987

Shadrach, the Sport Detective: The Secret Seven By John W. Osborn (author of "Sport from St. Louis, Etc.") This dime novel installment opens with Shadrach Mason, a quick-witted sport detective, discovering a dying English stranger, Darius Collins, shot during an ambush. Collins has been robbed of crucial papers relating to a secret mission and names Donald Craigie—allegedly a black sheep heir from Scottish estate Craglands—as responsible for the attack, either directly or by hire. Before dying, Collins instructs Mason to deliver news of his death to Sandy McGowan at Crystal City, or alternatively to Duncan Saunders in Philadelphia. Mason recovers a gold locket containing a young woman's portrait from the assassin's campsite and notes distinguishing marks on the murderer's horse's shoe. As Mason travels toward Crystal City through dangerous mountain terrain, he encounters a mysterious old man calling himself Ajah, the Mountain Seer, who appears amid theatrical flames and claims supernatural powers to read minds and warn of impending danger.