Henry Goes Prehistoric by W.C. Tuttle
In a bustling Wild Horse Valley, Sheriff Henry Harrison Conroy and his eccentric team, including Judge Van Treece and Oscar Johnson, face a crime wave fueled by new gold strikes. The influx of unsavory characters challenges their comedic yet effective peacekeeping. Amidst this chaos, a murder mystery unfolds when Old Ben Todd, a prospector, is found dead, leaving behind a will naming saloon girl Violet La Verne as his heir. However, the will is dubious, as Ben couldn't read or write, and his supposed gold strike remains unrecorded. As Henry investigates, he uncovers a web of deceit involving high-grade ore theft from the Yellow Warrior mine. The plot thickens with the involvement of local figures like Pete Gonyer, a potential sheriff replacement, and Professor Fossil, an alleged archaeologist with questionable knowledge of geology. The professor's escape from custody and the discovery of stolen ore on pack horses reveal a criminal conspiracy led by Gonyer, with Stickler and others as accomplices. Henry's team, through a series of misadventures and confrontations, manages to capture the culprits, unraveling the mystery behind Ben Todd's murder and the ore thefts. The resolution restores order to Wild Horse Valley, affirming Henry's unconventional yet effective approach to law enforcement.
By W.C. Tuttle · First published 1968 · Genre: Children's Literature, Adventure, Science Fiction · 19,609 words
First lines
The Sheriff of Tonto City Could Expect Anything to Come Out of the Night in Wild Horse Valley -- Even an Idea
"Judge" Van Treece was mad; so mad that he deliberately threw his beloved, and badly dog-eared copy of Shakespeare, across the office, where it fluttered to the floor, like a wounded duck. He didn't even look at the poor thing, as he sat, tilted back in an old chair, his high heels hooked around a rung of his chair, which brought his bony, overall-clad knees, almost up to his chin. Judge had the features of a tragedian, and just now he glared his hate at nobody in particular.
What this Textopian page supports
Henry Goes Prehistoric is listed on Textopian as a novella by W.C. Tuttle, dated 1968 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: W.C. Tuttle
- Date: 1968 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Adventure, Science Fiction, Humor
- Length: 19,609 words
- Structure: 1 section, 635 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Henry Goes Prehistoric by W.C. Tuttle
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Genres
- Children's Literature — The book is tailored for a young audience with simple language and engaging illustrations that appeal to children.
- Adventure — It presents a dynamic journey through prehistoric times, emphasizing exploration, discovery, and daring escapades.
- Science Fiction — The narrative involves elements of time travel and encounters with ancient environments, aligning it with speculative fiction.
- Humor — A playful and light-hearted tone characterizes the book, using comedic elements to entertain its readers.
Tags
dinosaurs · adventure · prehistoric · children's literature · humor · fantasy · time travel · fossils · science fiction · educational · action · exploration