Deadwood Dick Library, Vol. IV, No. 40

This issue of the Half-Dime Library (No. 40, December 13, 1899) contains a complete Deadwood Dick novel by Edward L. Wheeler: "Deadwood Dick's Dream: The Rivals of the Road," subtitled "A Mining Tale of Tombstone." The story opens with Deadwood Dick, now a detective rather than an outlaw, bound to a tree on the prairie after being betrayed by a partner named Cordova during an investigation into counterfeiters. A U.S. Cavalry detachment and marshal discover him; the marshal, recognizing Dick's reformed status and past good deeds, releases him rather than arrest him. Over camp that night, Dick begins recounting a prophetic dream about Tombstone mining camp and the criminal Phantom Moll, a notorious "Girl Footpad" whom Dick believes is involved in counterfeiting operations. The issue also catalogs sixty-three prior Deadwood Dick Jr. titles in the series.