Perry Mason — Criminal lawyer, who forges a signature to foil a trap
Della Street — His secretary, whose loyalty leads her to a bad tummy-ache
Salty Bowers — A prospector, who loves the desert, with or without gold
Banning Clarke — His partner, who has a weak heart but a fighting spirit
Velma Starler — A trained nurse, who knows what to do for arsenic poisoning, but can’t find the drowsy mosquito
Nell Sims — A cook, who believes that the way to a man’s stomach is through his heart
Dr. Bruce Kenward — Who had to make a night call on himself
Lillian Bradisson — A widow, who is over fifty, admits thirty-eight, and pretends twenty-eight
James Bradisson — Her son, who is cocksure, conceited, and a corporation president
Dorina Crofton — Nell Sims’ daughter, who is absent-minded or in love
George V. Moffgat — A lawyer, who tries to make one stipulation too many
Hayward Small — Who enjoys remarkable success as a mining broker
Lucille Brunn — Who plans to marry Salty Bowers
Lieutenant Tragg — Who doesn’t like country curves
Sheriff Sam Greggory — Who is wise in the ways of the cattle country
Paul Drake — A detective, who has to scout up a couple of burros in the middle of the night
Pete Sims — Who is a good claim-salter but a poor liar
District Attorney Topham — Who is perfectly willing to let Perry Mason solve the case for him