Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 424

About this issue

This Beadle and Adams dime novel, "Cactus Plains, or Red-Hot Times at Ante-Bar" by J. C. Cowdrick (September 1885), follows the arrival of "Cibuta" John Jones—an American from Kentucky disguised in Mexican dress—to the frontier town of Ante-Bar. Both he and the town's resident bully, "Giant" John Jones, receive letters addressed to the same name. When Giant John, the town's terror, refuses to show Cibuta the letter postmarked from Tiptonville, Kentucky (which Cibuta claims is his), a confrontation erupts in the post office. After acerbic insults exchanged in florid language, Cibuta physically ejects Giant John into the street and defeats him handily in combat, surprising the crowd who had always feared the bully. Uncle Dan, the town's versifying postmaster, observes the action in rhyme throughout.