Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 631

This issue of Beadle's Dime Library (No. 631, Vol. XLV, August 7, 1889) contains the opening installment of "The Cowboy Detective's Own Case: A Romance of the Black Ivan's League" by Lieutenant A. K. Sims. The serial depicts the conflict between Black Ivan, leader of a mountain highway robbery gang, and an ex-cowboy turned detective known as the Texas Tom-cat. After the Tom-cat secures the conviction of several league members despite Black Ivan's bribes, the outlaw chief assembles his band—including his fierce daughter Hazel and the educated Lieutenant Tim Carlton—on Devil's Mountain to plan the detective's assassination. Carlton suggests an ambush strategy near Silver City, dividing the force along principal trails. The narrative follows Carlton's contingent as they stake out one route over two days without success, Carlton privately deciding he must enter Silver City at night to accomplish the killing himself.