Beadle's Pocket Library No. 69

# Detective Dick; or, The Hero in Rags

This weekly serialized detective story by Charles Morris introduces Detective Dick, a street boy of sixteen dressed in rags, operating as a messenger and investigator. In Chapter I, Dick reports to Ned Hogan about Harris's assignment. Hogan grows impatient with Dick's impudent manner, though Dick ultimately delivers a letter from F. Wilson Harris in Chester, Pennsylvania, rejecting Dick as a messenger and demanding Hogan visit personally. The letter also mentions the schooner Lucy arriving at Chester pier. In Chapter II, Hogan telegraphs Harris in cipher, asking him to watch for the Lucy and its red-haired mate. Meanwhile, Hogan stakes out a house on North Eleventh Street where Harry Spencer—apparently their mutual suspect—is being watched. The narrative also shifts to a singing lesson occurring within that house, where a handsome, well-dressed man teaches a beautiful young woman a romantic song titled "Love Waits."