The Inspirations of Harry Larrabee
by Howard Fielding
Kudos to the Library of Congress for having a complete run of "The Popular Magazine", an all-genre early pulp. They sent the microfilm to my local library and I was able to get a photocopy of what the L.O.C. advertised as "a complete novel" by Howard Fielding. Far from a novel at approximately 40 pages, I was happy to locate the story nonetheless.
SPOILERS
Harry Larrabee is the son of the deceased Joe Larrabee. Father Joe was an acquaintance from college of the story's narrator who is surprised to find out that Joe considered him his best friend in life. Joe's last request is for him to watch over his son Harry.
Harry is equally eccentric. He has a unique talent for reading situations that borders on the paranormal. In his absentmindedness, while working on the mystery of some stolen diamonds, he almost isn't aware of the charms of the victim, one Carolyn Vaughn.
The story has its pulp-ish twists. These include Larrabee assisting in bringing back Carolyn from the dead after which he finally takes notice of her!!
(And of course he solves the case.)
To jazz up the film, made in 1917 and now lost, the villain was dubbed "The Wolf" and the rejuvenation device was called a "pulmoter".
written: 12/5/2002