Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 295

This issue of Beadle & Adams' dime novel magazine (Vol. XXII, No. 295, June 18, 1884) features the primary serial "Old Cross-Eye, the Maverick-Hunter; or, The Night-Riders of Satanta County," by Captain Frederick Whittaker, author of numerous adventure stories. The narrative begins with the spring cattle round-up at Judge Collingsworth's ranch in Satanta County, Texas, introducing a cast of colorful ranchers with nicknames—Limpy Balstrop, "Punch" Burleson, Deaf Smith, and the Nailer—gathered to work the herds. The opening chapters depict their efforts to round up wild, unbranded cattle (mavericks), which stampede when a mysterious man in a red blanket deliberately provokes them, herding them away. The character Old Cross-Eye is revealed as responsible for the theft.