Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 146

This issue of Beadle and Adams' weekly presents the opening installment of "Silver Star, the Boy Knight," a prairie romance by Oll Coomes, author of western serials including "Vagabond Joe" and "Antelope Abe." The narrative opens in Dakota Territory on an October night when Silver Star, a young frontier lawman identifiable by a silver star badge, receives a mysterious note from "the Hidden Spy" warning of outlaw Paul Osman's schemes. While investigating near the White Earth woods, Silver Star witnesses a hot-air balloon descending erratically. From the basket, two aeronauts argue violently; one throws an object overboard to lighten the craft, then throws his companion to his death. Silver Star discovers the first object is a beautiful, well-dressed girl of sixteen, bound in blankets and rope—apparently kidnapped. The maiden awakens confused and distressed, revealing she's been torn from her home miles away. Silver Star pledges to protect her and escort her to the fort, introducing himself as the Boy Knight.