Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 48

1878 · 16 pages

Beadle's Half-Dime Library, Vol. II, No. 98 This issue features "Black John, The Road-Agent: The Outlaw's Retreat" by Jos. E. Badger, Jr., continuing from Chapter II. A stagecoach traverses treacherous terrain carrying passengers including Curly (Israel Tostivan), Kent Morgan, Frank Kershaw, May Howard, and Eunice Lee. Driver Ben Cockles warns that the notorious outlaw Black John—Monte Pete's former associate—has posted thousand-dollar rewards for Curly's location. As a storm approaches, the coach fords Little Wildcat Creek where Black John appears with masked gunmen, demanding toll from male passengers. Curly, concealed atop the coach, fires first, shooting Black John in the chest. The story blends frontier action with robbery-gang conflict, emphasizing gunplay and pursuit elements typical of dime-novel westerns.

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