The text presents excerpts from the historical mystery novel Tell Me, Pretty Maiden, following the experiences of Molly Murphy, an Irish immigrant working as a private detective in New York City during December 1902. Molly manages several complex investigations concurrently, most notably trying to determine who is creating a deadly "ghost haunting the Casino Theater" for actress Blanche Lovejoy, which involves Molly going undercover as a member of the cast. Furthermore, Molly and her romantic partner, the temporarily suspended police officer Daniel Sullivan, try to identify and aid a traumatized, mute girl (Jessie Edwards) found nearly frozen in Central Park. This rescue leads Molly into investigating a robbery and the disappearance of Yale student John Jacob Halsted, finding that Jessie had been kidnapped by a dangerous criminal gang. To finally secure Jessie’s freedom after the gang falsely commits her, Molly enlists the help of journalist Nelly Bly and risks institutionalization by allowing herself to be