Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 952

About this issue

Beadle and Adams pulp weekly (October 22, 1895), featuring the serial "Bareback Billy's Big Round-Up" by Harold Payne. The story follows Billy Bristol, an eighteen-year-old circus bareback rider and amateur detective who performs with the Rawlding & Spodgers circus in Big Rapids. During his acrobatic act—executing summersaults, standing feats, and hoop-jumping while riding his pony Charleyboy—Billy covertly observes audience members for fugitives. He suspects a man resembling the criminal Fielding is in attendance and alerts Captain Hunter, a professional detective. As the performance continues, the suspect undergoes mysterious facial transformations—changing beard style and eye color—confounding both pursuers. Hunter chases one figure outside the tent while Billy loses track of another in the crowd. The detectives reunite baffled, hypothesizing multiple coordinated criminals. They retire to Hunter's hotel to continue their investigation. The narrative blends circus entertainment with detective fiction conventions.