Case of the Beautiful Beggar

Cast of characters

PERRY MASON — He took Daphne Shelby’s case because working for her would be a pleasure at any price — even for free.

DELLA STREET — She was a one-way Street — and the way was always Perry Mason's.

DAPHNE SHELBY — Her assets were obvious — a beautiful face and a check for $125,000.

PAUL DRAKE — His pipeline to the City’s banking circles was getting clogged by all the dirt in the Shelby case.

ELINOR FINCHLEY — Daphne’s aunt by marriage — she used to be a nurse and she was still handy with the needle.

STANLEY PAXTON — A bank executive with a weird sense of humor; when he lent Perry $75,000 without security, the Finchley’s couldn’t see the joke.

RALPH EXETER — Borden Finchley’s “closest” friend — he had a big investment in Borden and he meant to stay close to it.

BORDEN FINCHLEY — Horace Shelby’s half brother — he was determined to protect Horace and his fortune, even if it killed him — Horace, that is.

DARWIN MELROSE — Finchley’s earnest young lawyer — he was so busy plugging up legal loopholes that Mason stole the ease from under his nose.

DR. GRANTLAND ALMA — The court appointed him to examine Horace Shelby; now all he had to do was to find him.

DR. TILLMAN BAXTER — He got his medical degree the hard way — he bought it along with the Goodwill Sanitarium.

LIEUTENANT TRAGG — He was hot on the trail of the murderer, but he tripped over a gas pipe.

MARVIN MOSHER — He thought his case against Daphne was airtight; then Mason threw a wrench into the machinery.

HORACE SHELBY — His brother said he was senile, but he was shrewd enough to give the police — and the mob — the slip.