Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 686

This issue of Beadle and Adams' weekly story paper features "Sawdust Sam's Last Green Frame" by E. L. Wheeler, author of the Deadwood Dick novels. The narrative follows Kansas farmers Peter and Maria Penn, who receive a letter from their estranged son James claiming wealth and promising financial assistance. A second letter from a stranger named Joseph Reed offers counterfeit currency at cut rates, which the innocent Penns partly mistake for legitimate investment opportunity. Planning to visit James in New York, they sell their mortgaged farm to neighbor Potts for five thousand dollars cash. Aboard a train to the city, they meet a stylish young man revealed to be Deadwood Dick, Jr.—a celebrated detective en route to New York at Inspector Byrnes's request to investigate swindlers. Dick warns the trusting couple about sharpers targeting country visitors. The narrative establishes a confidence scheme targeting the Penns, with their son's letter and Reed's counterfeit proposition as bait.