The Deadwood Dick Library, Vol. IV, No. 43

Museum Catalog Note This issue of the Half-Dime Library (No. 43, January 3, 1900) contains primarily a serialized novel-in-progress titled "The Ventriloquist Detective: A Romance of Rogues" by Howard L. Wheeler, author of the "Deadwood Dick" series. The narrative opens on a Philadelphia-to-Atlantic City excursion boat where a mysterious young woman named Madge encounters a rough drunk and is rescued by Fritz Snyder, a ventriloquist and apparent detective. Intrigued by her guarded demeanor, Fritz follows her to the seaside hotel and begins investigating her true purpose for the visit. The episode includes characteristic period humor featuring ethnic dialect comedy and a ventriloquist's prank aboard the excursion train. The issue also contains an extensive catalog listing of previous Deadwood Dick, Jr. titles available in the series, indicating the publisher's prolific output in this adventure-dime-novel format.