Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 964

1896 · 16 pages

This issue features "Arizona Crack-Shot" by Col. Prentiss Ingraham, chronicling a mysterious young gambler and sharpshooter in Devil's Canyon, Arizona—a lawless mining camp infamous for rough desperadoes, gamblers, and outlaws. The unnamed protagonist, handsome and gentle-mannered despite his youth, demonstrates extraordinary marksmanship and deadly skill with multiple weapons. Buffalo Bill arrives on official business and reunites with an old scout, "Bunco," now prospecting for gold after being swindled back East. A tense card game erupts when the youth accuses his brutish partner Red Sam of cheating in collusion with two other players to steal three hundred dollars. The youth draws his revolver on Red Sam; the other two men draw on the youth, prompting Buffalo Bill to intervene with dual revolvers covering both attackers. The narrative culminates in a five-way standoff with death imminent.

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