Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 189

Content Description This is "Wild Bill's Gold Trail; or, The Desperado Dozen," a sequel serialized in Beadle & Adams' Dime Library (No. 189, June 7, 1882), written by Prentiss Ingraham. The narrative follows a stagecoach journey toward Poker City, where driver Andy Rush escorts passengers through territory controlled by the outlaw gang the Desperado Dozen. A seemingly rough miner passenger is revealed to be Captain Tiger, the gang's leader in disguise. When the stage is stopped, Tiger demands gold and attempts to seize a veiled young woman of apparent importance. A timid parson aboard the coach unexpectedly displays courage, firing on Tiger and helping defend the passengers. During the ensuing chaos, the elderly gentleman and the veiled woman are captured while the parson aids Andy Rush in driving the stage to safety with the frightened young daughter still aboard. The fragment concludes with introduction of Wild Bill, a distinguished figure lounging at the Hikek Hotel in Poker City, dressed elegantly with concealed weapons.