By September 1939, Erle Stanley Gardner was really hitting his stride, churning out the Perry Mason mystery novels. He was still writing for the pulp magazines at that point, of course, having just seen one of his Ed Jenkins novelettes published in Black Mask magazine. But he was producing a new Perry Mason novel every six months, which is a pretty good pace for an author writing nothing else. But in addition to Perry Mason, he was also writing Ed Migrane for Double Detective, Lester Leith for Detective Fiction Weekly, and another mystery novel in the Donald Lam/Bertha Cool series. And more! Quite amazing!
The Case of the Rolling Bones was the 15th Perry Mason mystery from the pen of Erle Stanley Gardner. The bones mentioned in the title refer to dice, not actual human bones. Crooked dice! You see, L.C. Conway owned a company that produced crooked dice. And that’s how the tale started.
Conway went under a different name. Several, in fact. His sister, Emily Milicant, is engaged to Alden Leeds. Seems they both knew each other back in the early 1900s up in the Yukon, when Alden Leeds struck it rich. Now, Leeds relatives disapprove of Emily Milicant. They feel she’s after his money. With a brother like L.C. Conway, small wonder! But Conway turns up dead, and Alden Leeds is accused of his murder. It’s up to Perry Mason to uncover the truth about what happened long ago in the Yukon, in order to expose the true murderer in this case.
In this story, we are finally introduced to Gertie, the switchboard operator. It’s a nice little introduction that has the recently hired woman assisting Perry to pull a fast one on the local cops, showing she has moxie. Her full name, in case you’re curious, is Gertrude Lade. Also in the story are Della Street and Paul Drake. No sign of D.A. Hamilton Burger or Lt. Tragg.
When Raymond Burr brought his characterization of Perry Mason to television, this novel was adapted for the final episode of the first season, broadcast on June 28, 1958. That was back in the day when there were 39 episodes in a season. My how things have changed!
Oh, and Burger and Tragg made it into the TV adaptation, by the way.
The Case of the Baited Hook
The Case of the Baited Hook was the 16th Perry Mason novel written by Erle Stanley Gardner, and it showed up in March 1940. The hook, from the title, was a $10,000 bill, cut in half. One of the halves was given to Perry Mason, the other to a mysterious masked woman. Who was this woman? Why was Mason given such a large retainer? What did she want? Those were all questions that Perry would answer in this surprising case.
Albert Tidings was found dead, lying shot on the bed of his estranged wife’s house. Was the murder his wife, who desperately wanted a divorce? Or the young lady whose trust fund he was administering? Or the socialite who had accused him of mismanaging the hospital fund? Was one of those three the hidden woman behind the mask? Or was it someone else?
All the regulars are back for this confounding murder mystery; all except Lt. Tragg who hasn’t joined the series, yet. Perry, Della and Paul Drake are all involved. Switchboard operator Gertie is present, as is District Attorney Hamilton Berger and Det. Sgt. Holcomb. About the only thing missing is the famous courtroom scenes; all the action takes place outside the courtroom. But still, an excellent entry in the series.
When it came to the television series, this story was adapted for the 14th episode of season 1, broadcast on Dec. 21, 1957. And although the D.A. Hamilton Burger was in the novel, he wasn’t in the TV episode. And conversely, Lt. Tragg was in the TV episode, but not in the book. Ah the vagaries of bringing a novel to television!
Here we have two more excellent examples of Perry Mason at his best, written by a man who honored his pulp beginnings. Both are recommended reading!
