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Smith, Whispering. Whispering Smith was created by Frank Spearman and appeared in a number of stories, a novel, and six films from 1906 to 1951, beginning with “The Fight in the Cache” (Saturday Evening Post, July 28, 1906).

Whispering Smith is a detective for the railroad who tries to bring modern detective methods to the western frontier at the turn of the 20^th century. Smith is in charge of the “special service on the mountain division,” and keeps a room at Medicine Bend. Smith is something of a badass. He’s a hard man who knows the land well and is known and feared by all the criminals in it. He’s willing to cut a deal with a small crook to catch a bigger crook, but he has some limits: “Now shall I break your arm, or will you behave yourself? You’ll have to come with us. If I had ever done you a mean turn I would not say a word. I have left you as free as the wind here, making only the one rule–to let the railroad alone.”

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