Mystery and Crime Bellem, Robert Leslie: Robert Leslie Bellem Sampler 4. V1. 30 May 2012

[crutledge]

Robert Leslie Bellem was a prolific American pulp magazine writer, best known for his creation of Dan Turner, Hollywood Detective. He was born in either 1894 or 1902, and died in 1968. Before becoming a writer he worked in Los Angeles as a newspaper reporter, radio announcer and film extra. After the demise of the pulps, Bellem switched to writing for television, including a number of scripts for The Lone Ranger, Adventures of Superman (1950s version), the original Perry Mason show, 77 Sunset Strip, and other shows.s

MALIBU MESS

Nothing can be so mixed up as a couple of scrambled Hollywood marriages—with everybody wanting to kill everybody else. Dan is on hand to prevent things going quite that far . . .

There was only one man on the set who could have shot the arrow, yet Dan hated to think Jeff could be guilty. Motive tumbles over motive, and suspect waltzes around with suspect—but there still remains the question: Where did the arrow come from?

FEATURE SNATCH

HEADS YOU LOSE

It looked like a gift from Santa Claus left on Dan’s doorstep, but, unwrapped, it turned out to be as grisly a thing as anyone could hope not to find.

HOMICIDE HUNCH . . .

It was a screwball situation. Here was Dan, sitting at home and minding his own business, when the knock came at his front door. A short time later he was in a lavish apartment a few miles away, where he had been convoyed at the point of a gun, and a beautiful cutie he had never seen before was calling him “Dan, darling” and implying that they were old sweeties!

MURDER'S BLUE MOTIVE

PHONY SHAKEDOWN

At first, Dan thought the girl had shot at him and it didn’t make him any the less mad because she had missed. But before he could make her talk, another bullet closed her mouth. That sort of interference in Dan’s business was the last straw! Somebody was going to pay—and plenty.

DEAD MAN'S SHAKEDOWN

Whatever it was, it had happened thirteen years ago! Whatever it was, only a dead man was supposed to know anything about it! Yet now Sid Waldring was being blackmailed for it. Completely in the dark, Dan offers to help if he can.

KILLER'S INVESTMENT

It looked like the old badger game to Dan—at first. Then he realized the movie star had no motive except to escape a frame-up for murder, herself. . . .

RUSSIAN RUN-AROUND

Donaldson’s crack had been meant as a joke, but the girl who overheard it wasn’t in a joking mood. After that, it didn’t matter what Dan Turner said. To her he was a Russian wife-deserter, and a bad actor.