Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 881

1894 · 16 pages

Catalog Note *Turkey Billy, the Shine-'em-up Detective: The Gamin Guardian* by Charles Morris is a serialized adventure tale set in New York City. The protagonist is Turkey Billy, an enterprising bootblack working Madison Square, who possesses quick wit and keen observational skills. When he shines the shoes of a young gentleman named Harry Weston and his companion Nelly, Billy discerns they are lovers and jestingly suggests they marry. Unknown to them, a rival named Morton watches from behind a tree, consumed with jealous rage over Nelly and swearing vengeance against Harry. Morton hires a disreputable character named Jenkins to spy on the couple. Billy, intrigued by the suspicious men, accepts Harry's offer of office work. Upon arriving at Morton's commission merchant office the next morning, Billy overhears Morton and Jenkins discussing their surveillance—learning that the lovers showed increasing intimacy in the park. The narrative combines melodramatic elements with comedy as Billy navigates this tangle of romance, jealousy, and intrigue.

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