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
Jim AllisonJim Allison — neighbor and Richard Wilkinson's only claimed friendMentionedfirst: First surviving Draft 2 page.Joel MiddletonJoel Middleton — outlaw who killed John Wilkinson during the family feudMentionedfirst: First surviving Draft 2 page.JohnJohn Wilkinson — eldest Wilkinson brother murdered by Joel Middleton before the main actionMentionedfirst: Richard and Peter's argument.McVeyMcVey — Marshal of Lost Knob in Graveyard RatsMentionedfirst: Richard's argument.PeterPeter Wilkinson — Wilkinson brother who brings Harrison into the case and is later murderedOn Pagefirst: First surviving Draft 2 page.RichardRichard Wilkinson — youngest Wilkinson brother and concealed murderer behind the Wolf Hunter disguiseOn Pagefirst: First surviving Draft 2 page.SaulSaul Wilkinson — Wilkinson brother driven insane by the appearance of John's severed headMentionedfirst: Richard and Peter's argument.HarrisonSteve Harrison — private detective and central protagonist of Lord of the DeadOn Pagefirst: First surviving Draft 2 page.
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.
Draft 2 — two surviving Howard typescript leavesHoward typescript
Extent2 pagesCompletenessIncomplete
Physical extent: Only manuscript pages 10 and 11 survive
TSS: 23058, 23056
Untitled incomplete Howard typescript represented by two surviving leaves. Their text differs from the corresponding portions of Drafts 1 and 3.
Additional documentary notes
- Untitled Witness: Draft 2 is untitled. (witness level)
- Partial Survival: Only two leaves survive, numbered 10 and 11. (manuscript pages 10–11)
- Distinct Textual State: The source explicitly states that these pages do not correspond to either Draft 1 or Draft 3. (surviving leaves)
Source: Hardboiled Manuscripts, Volume 2 v0.77, Graveyard Rats Editorial Notes p. 137; Draft 2 pp. 171–172