Textual identity is not textual authority. “Catalogue primary/default” selects the default catalogue representation; it does not mean that this wording is automatically Howard’s most authoritative text.
Characters in this exact text
AhmedAhmed — Maronite accomplice left on the stairs in The Mystery of Tannernoe LodgeOn Pagefirst: Zaida apartment sequence or surviving narrative.Jack BissettJack Bissett — aspiring reporter persona and concealed murderer in The Silver HeelOn Pagefirst: Opening or surviving narrative.Jelner KratzJelner Kratz — Shanghai-born lawyer whose murder initiates The Silver Heel investigationOn Pagefirst: Opening murder setup.Joseph LepsteinJoseph Lepstein — Kratz's partner and later victim in The Silver HeelOn Pagefirst: Investigation or surviving narrative.Mandarin TangMandarin Tang — Wu Shun's father in The Silver Heel developmental recordMentionedfirst: Newspaper clipping.Zaida's maidSelda Mendez — Zaida Lopez's maid and Bissett's accomplice/victimMentionedfirst: Zaida investigation or solution.Steve HarrisonSteve Harrison — private detective and central protagonist of Lord of the DeadOn Pagefirst: Opening or surviving narrative.Ti WoonTi Woon — head of the Chinese tong who protects Ahmed and aids HarrisonOn Pagefirst: Chinese tong sequence.Wu ShunWu Shun — murdered Chinese man whose stolen ruby connects the earlier crime to The Silver Heel murdersMentionedfirst: Newspaper-clipping or solution backstory.Zaida LopezZaida Lopez — Eurasian dancer whose silver heel becomes a central clueOn Pagefirst: Investigation of the silver heel or surviving narrative.
Surviving manuscript evidence
The records below describe surviving physical typescripts, carbons, manuscript material and documentary catalogue evidence for this exact textual state. TSS numbers identify physical catalogue units; they are not story or draft IDs.
Synopsis 4 — surviving titled Howard typescriptHoward synopsis typescript
Extent7 pagesCompletenessComplete
Physical extent: Complete seven-page titled synopsis
TSS: 21885–21891
Complete Howard synopsis typescript bearing the title THE SILVER HEEL.
Additional documentary notes
- Title present on typescript: The synopsis bears the title THE SILVER HEEL. (first page / witness level)
Source: Hardboiled Manuscripts, Volume 2 v0.77, The Silver Heel Editorial Notes p. 3; Synopsis 4 pp. 15–20