Beadle's Pocket Library No. 325

Dusky Darrell, the Camp Detective This dime novel serial by Edwin Emerson features "The Dandy's Daring Dash," following Adolophus Perkins, a foppishly-dressed Bostonian dude who paradoxically possesses genuine frontier skills after six months trapping in the Black Hills wilderness. Along the Missouri River near Independence, Perkins discovers a miniature portrait of beautiful Julia Weller and becomes instantly infatuated. Julia's brother Jack, seeking the lost picture, introduces himself, and the two men quickly become companions. Jack explains his family left a week prior to cross the plains toward California goldfields; he remained behind settling business. Planning to overtake them alone, Jack invites Perkins to join him. Perkins eagerly accepts, motivated equally by adventure and opportunity to meet Julia. The chapter concludes with both men departing at sunrise, armed and equipped for the westward journey, ready to pursue the wagon-train across the frontier.