# Talbot Wills — Short Fiction character guide

> Talbot Wills in Short Fiction by Manly Wade Wellman.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Talbot, Wills, Mr. Talbot Wills, Mr. Wills

**First appearance:** 0006-the-golgotha-dancers

## Who they are

A minor character, possibly a local or official.

## In the story

### [The Hairy Ones Shall Dance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters/the-hairy-ones-shall-dance)

Talbot Wills meets Judge Pursuivant and learns about the werewolf curse.

### [I: “Why Must the Burden of Proof Rest with the Spirits?”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters/i-why-must-the-burden-of-proof-rest-with-the-spirits)

The narrator and skeptical investigator, formerly a stage magician, now exposes fraudulent mediums.

### [II: “You Can Almost Hear the Ghosts.”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters/ii-you-can-almost-hear-the-ghosts)

The narrator and skeptical investigator, accompanying Zoberg to witness psychic phenomena.

### [III: "That Thing Isn't My Daughter—"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters/iii-that-thing-isn-t-my-daughter)

Narrator and investigator; conducts the séance with meticulous security measures.

### [IV: “I Don’t Know What Killed Him.”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters/iv-i-don-t-know-what-killed-him)

Narrator and suspect; a magician who is handcuffed during the séance and later arrested by Constable O'Bryant.

### [V: “They Want to Take the Law Into Their Own Hands.”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters/v-they-want-to-take-the-law-into-their-own-hands)

Protagonist, arrested and imprisoned for John Gird's murder; escapes from a mob and takes refuge in the Devil's Croft.

### [VI: “Eyes of Fire!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters/vi-eyes-of-fire)

The narrator and protagonist, who wakes in the Devil's Croft and is pursued by a strange creature.

### [A Trick That Almost Killed You](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters/viii-a-trick-that-almost-killed-you)

Narrator who is rescued by Pursuivant and recounts his recent supernatural encounter.

### [IX: “To a Terrified Victim He Is Doom Itself.”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters/ix-to-a-terrified-victim-he-is-doom-itself)

The narrator and skeptic, engages in a debate with Judge Pursuivant about werewolves and ectoplasm.

### [X: Bloodlust and Compassion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters/x-bloodlust-and-compassion)

Narrator and protagonist, hiding at Judge Pursuivant's home, reflecting on the werewolf case and his growing feelings for Susan Gird.

### [XI: "To Meet That Monster Face to Face!"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters/xi-to-meet-that-monster-face-to-face)

Reluctantly agrees to enter the Devil's Croft with Susan, armed only with matches and a lantern, after being convinced by Judge Pursuivant.

### [XII: “We Are Here at His Mercy.”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters/xii-we-are-here-at-his-mercy)

Narrator and protagonist; grows suspicious of Judge Pursuivant, fights to protect Susan from the creature's influence.

### [XIII: “Light’s Our Best Weapon.”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters/xiii-light-s-our-best-weapon)

Narrator; comforts Susan and insists something else was prowling near the fire.

### [XIV: “I Was—I Am—A Wolf.”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters/xiv-i-was-i-am-a-wolf)

Narrator; searches for tracks, attacks the werewolf, and takes down Zoberg's confession.

### [XV: “And That Is the End.”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters/xv-and-that-is-the-end)

Takes notes during Zoberg's confession, protects Susan, and expresses outrage at Zoberg's plans.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/characters/talbot_wills
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/characters