Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 948

This 1895 Beadle and Adams publication contains the opening chapters of "Texan Tally," a frontier serial by Colonel Prentiss Ingraham, author of Buffalo Bill stories. The narrative follows Wild Kid, an eighteen-year-old reckless but noble-hearted youth called "the Terror," who spots three horsemen in ambush near Death Pass. When Marie Brasher, beautiful daughter of Major Brasher (a wealthy Rio Grande cattleman), rides into the trap, Wild Kid intervenes decisively. Three masked men lasso both Marie and her horse, intending kidnapping for ransom, but Wild Kid shoots El Monte Ed dead and drives off the other two assailants. Marie reveals she was en route to Wild Kid's cabin, summoned by Half Breed Joe because Wild Kid lay wounded. Wild Kid escorts her home, declining invitation inside since her father disapproves of him, having refused him entry to the Texas Rangers.