Beadle's Dime Library No. 642

This 1901 pulp weekly from New York Detective Library presents "The Nabobs of Centipede," a western serial by Captain Howard Holmes. The story opens in a Centipede City, Arizona gambling den where two Americans—Manuel and the young Dick Dirrell—discuss the wealthy Don Ramon, who controls the local mines and population. An Indian performer named Mosco (Maricopa) demonstrates knife-throwing tricks, including a dangerous feat with a coin held between a man's teeth. When Jaguar Juan, the town detective, volunteers to hold the coin, Mosco deliberately deflects the blade. A Mexican servant then rushes in announcing Don Ramon's murder by strangulation in his own mansion. The investigation draws Juan and others to Don Ramon's palace, where his young daughter Juanita is discovered awaiting the detective. She detains him privately, revealing prior association—Juan has been away overnight and Juanita questions him about his route and encounters.