Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 213

1881 · 16 pages

"Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloquist Scamp-Hunter" This serial by Edward L. Wheeler (author of the "Deadwood Dick" novels) presents an adventure romance set at Atlantic City. Fritz Snyder, a German-accented young ventriloquist, defends an unaccompanied woman named Madge Thurston from drunken roughnecks aboard a Philadelphia ferry-boat. He becomes curious about her mysterious purpose at the shore and follows her to the Brighton Hotel. That evening, a well-dressed stranger summons Fritz as a witness to a secret marriage ceremony in an ocean cave—Madge marries a man identified as Major Paul Atkins. The narrative emphasizes Fritz's detective instincts and ventriloquism skills (demonstrated when he impersonates voices to disturb spiritualist passengers on the excursion train), suggesting he will play a crucial role unraveling the mystery surrounding this hasty union.

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