Pickup on Noon ST

These four short stories were first printed in magazines in the 1930s. They provide samples of Chandler's writings, and a description of life and culture in Los Angeles for magazine readers. Chandler packs a lot of action into relatively few pages. There isn't the background descriptions found in his longer novels (padding or for literary appreciation?).

"Pickup on Noon Street" tells about a day in the life of an undercover narcotics agent in Los Angeles. There is a botched attempt at extortion that leads to a new situation.

"Smart-Aleck Kill" tells about a blackmail and extortion of a movie director. When he is dead his private detective tries to solve a murder made to look like a suicide. There is a discussion among the top men, then truth and bullets end this story. The story for the public means "no dirt on the administration".

"Guns at Cyrano's" is about a resident of a hotel who finds the girlfriend of a boxer is being threatened. Is the fight fixed? Later the boxer and his girlfriend meet a man with a gun. The police show up to investigate. Carmody finds an interesting plot about an old Senator and a young girl. There is a showdown where the issues are resolved.

"Nevada Gas" begins with a novel method of murder. A gangster seeks revenge against whose who betrayed him. Johnny De Ruse investigates a murder attempt. At the end he gets the information he needs to solve the murders.