Beadle's Dime Novels No. 138: Tim, the Scout

About this issue

This is a dime novel by C. Dunning Clark titled "Tim, the Scout: Or, Caught in His Own Toils," published by Beadle and Company in 1867 as part of their dime novel series. The story is set during Tecumseh's era, before the War of 1812. The protagonist is Tim Whalen, an Irish-American scout and ranger working for General Harrison. After losing his canoe to Indians while crossing the Tippecanoe River, Tim uses a log to ford the stream but capsizes and gets soaked. He then encounters a mysterious stranger claiming to be an Indian trader called "the Open Heart" who travels between Detroit and the frontier regions. Tim, suspicious by nature, interrogates the stranger about his allegiances and origins while accepting his brandy. The stranger asks Tim for directions to Harrison's army, raising further questions about his true intentions and loyalty.