Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 885

# Catalog Entry

This installment of Dead-Shot Ralph's Ten-Strike; or, Marlo, the Gold Ghouls' Chief by Col. Prentiss Ingraham presents a Western adventure narrative centered on rival claims to leadership and property. The wrecked sailor Julius Marlowe, posing as a priest, captures the outlaw ranchero Marco Fuentes and extracts his ranch deed through coercion, intending to marry the Senorita Lulita Samos and claim her fortune. Marlowe convinces two cowboys transporting Fuentes to the authorities to stage an execution, providing them one thousand dollars in payment. Marlowe then assumes leadership of the Gold Ghouls outlaw band, discovering a false grave and believing Fuentes dead. The narrative establishes Marlowe's scheme to acquire wealth through fraud and robbery while concealing his true identity, having convinced surrounding communities that he perished in a shipwreck. The installment ends as the Gold Ghouls gather to hear Marlowe's future plans.