# Mr. Scudder — The Thirty-Nine Steps character guide

> Mr. Scudder in The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Scudder, little Scudder, Franklin P. Scudder, Franklin Scudder

**First appearance:** 0002-i-the-man-who-died

## Who they are

A jittery American who barges into Hannay's flat with a wild tale of conspiracy, then leaves him holding the evidence and the blame.

## Relationships

### [Karolides](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/characters/karolides)

_professional_

Scudder is investigating a plot to assassinate Karolides, making their interactions tense and conspiratorial.

### [Paddock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/characters/paddock)

_professional_

Paddock is Scudder's landlord or neighbor, and Scudder uses him to relay messages and hide his activities.

### [Richard Hannay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/characters/richard_hannay)

_friendship_

Scudder confides in Hannay about the conspiracy, creating a bond of trust and urgency.

### [Sir Walter Bullivant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/characters/sir_walter_bullivant)

_professional_

Scudder is a secret agent reporting to or working alongside Bullivant on the same case.

### [Sir Harry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/characters/sir_harry)

_professional_

Scudder and Sir Harry are connected through the espionage network, sharing information about the plot.

### [Richard Hannay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/characters/richard_hannay)

_friendship_

Scudder confides in Hannay about the conspiracy, creating a bond of trust and urgency.

### [Sir Walter Bullivant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/characters/sir_walter_bullivant)

_professional_

Scudder is a secret agent reporting to or working alongside Bullivant on the same case.

## In the story

### [The Thirty-Nine Steps](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/chapters/the-thirty-nine-steps)

The murdered spy whose notebook contains the clue about the thirty-nine steps.

### [The Man Who Died](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/chapters/i-the-man-who-died)

A mysterious American who claims to have faked his death and reveals a plot to assassinate Karolides.

### [The Milkman Sets Out on His Travels](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/chapters/ii-the-milkman-sets-out-on-his-travels)

Found dead in Hannay's flat; his murder sets Hannay on the run.

### [The Adventure of the Literary Innkeeper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/chapters/iii-the-adventure-of-the-literary-innkeeper)

Deceased; his coded notebook is studied by Hannay during the journey.

### [IV: The Adventure of the Radical Candidate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/chapters/iv-the-adventure-of-the-radical-candidate)

His notebook reveals the real conspiracy involving the 'Black Stone' and the planned war, though his earlier story was partly false.

### [The Dry-Fly Fisherman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/chapters/vii-the-dry-fly-fisherman)

Deceased; his notebook is analyzed by Hannay and Sir Walter, revealing the plot.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/characters/mr_scudder
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/characters