Frank Reade, Jr., With His New Steam Horse Among The Cowboys; Or, The League Of The Plains

About this issue

This is a science fiction adventure serial published by Aldine Publishing Company in their "O'er Land & Sea" Library (price twopence). The issue features the opening chapters of Frank Reade, Jun.'s first exploit with his newest invention. Frank Reade, a young inventor from Readestown, demonstrates his mechanical Steam Horse—a locomotive-powered metal horse pulling an armored wagon—to visitor Captain James Bentley. Bentley reveals his son Arthur disappeared a year ago at Star Ranch in Texas's Pan Handle, occupied by squatter cowboys who refuse to leave; two detectives sent after the boy never returned. Moved by the captain's distress, Frank agrees to mount a rescue expedition without payment. Frank enlists his two servants, the Irish Barney O'Shea and the Black servitor Pomp, to prepare supplies and ammunition. The Steam Horse is packed aboard a special train bound for Lone Tree station in Texas. The serial establishes the adventure's premise: Frank will pursue both the missing son and the outlaw gang controlling the ranch using his mechanical marvel.