THE INDIAN CAPER and THE HONEST THIEF ADVENTURES OF SAM SPADE

Summary

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1001 Radio Crime Solvers: THE INDIAN CAPER & THE HONEST THIEF – Adventures of Sam Spade

Host: Jon Hagadorn
Episode Date: February 25, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode of 1001 Radio Crime Solvers features two classic radio detective stories from “The Adventures of Sam Spade”: "The Indian Caper" and "The Honest Thief." Both cases unfold with Sam Spade’s signature blend of sharp wit, playful banter, and hardboiled detective work. The themes explore cultural tensions, betrayal, greed, and the gray areas between right and wrong, all delivered in a brisk, snappy radio style from the golden age.

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Segment 1: THE INDIAN CAPER

(00:32–27:19)

Summary

Sam Spade gets hired by Chief Black Cloud, a wealthy Native American, to locate a missing engineer, Clarence Hobart, while also safeguarding a sacred wampum belt. Soon, Sam is entwined in a web of deception involving Little White Lilac, the chief's trusted companion. Spade navigates a world of fake identities, stolen treasures, and old tribal secrets before the truth violently unravels—and the prized wampum is destroyed.

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Key Plot Points & Insights

• Case Begins – Playful Banter & Setup

  • Sam flirts and jokes about Indian names with secretary Effie, poking fun at cultural tropes.
    • “Me sweetheart Shaman Spade.” (01:35)

• Client: Chief Black Cloud

  • Chief hires Sam to help find a missing engineer, Clarence Hobart, and entrusts him with a valuable Nipmuck wampum belt.
    • “This beaded wampum belt. Ancient relic of Nipmuk tribe...Guard it well.” (06:21)
    • Chief expresses a deep bond with Little White Lilac, described as the “fairest Indian maid of all.” (05:06)

• Investigation Tangles

  • Sam meets Hobart’s business partner, who doubts Hobart is really missing (07:46–08:11).
  • An attempted mugging in a dark alley, involving a disguised “brave,” signals lurking danger (08:24–08:59).

• Confronting Hobart – False Leads

  • Hobart is found alive (09:08). He brushes Sam off, claiming a two-day drunk.

• Little White Lilac's Story

  • She visits Sam in modern attire, says she wants to destroy the wampum belt to thwart Chief Black Cloud’s vengeful plans:
    • “The wampum belt is secret to undreamed of wealth...Chief Black Cloud...wants to start a giant Indian revolution.” (11:29)
    • Disguised as an elaborate seduction, Lilac leads Sam into a trap, knocking him out (13:16).

• Escalation: Murder & Theft

  • Chief Black Cloud receives a box containing the scalp of engineer Hobart (13:52).
  • Sam’s office is ransacked, and the safe drilled open—the wampum belt is gone (14:10).

• Who Is Lying?

  • Both Lilac and Chief Black Cloud deny the other's accusations; both claim truth (17:00–17:24).

• Unraveling the Mystery

  • Sam discovers Effie, trying on the wampum belt as a fashion accessory, never put it in the safe—so Sam recovers the belt.
    • “Chief Black Cloud's wampum belt. You didn't put it in the safe...” (21:36)

• Showdown and Destruction

  • In a final struggle, Effie and Lilac destroy the belt, scattering the beads everywhere (23:24).
  • Lilac denounces Black Cloud:
    • “You had the world in your hand. You didn't know it. You wanted it all for yourself. It could have been used to live.” (24:06)

• Hidden Motives Revealed

  • Chief Black Cloud confesses the belt described the site of buried tribal gold, under a lake, once coveted for an “evil plan”—but now he renounces it (25:19–26:12).

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Sam’s sardonic asides:
  • “I see you have reservations.” (04:07)
• Chief’s perspective:
  • “Indian land. Union mean nothing. Union temporary thing. I see Indian here long before white man. And Indian will be here long after white man.” (05:29)
• Effie’s innocent mischief:
  • “What’s that you’re wearing as a belt?” — “Oh, now, don’t be mad, Sam. I just had to...” (21:36)
• Climactic confrontation:
  • “You talk to Chief?” — “Yes, stupid. You had the world in your hand...Now nobody will have it.” (24:07)

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Segment Timestamps

• [01:33] Initial call, case begins
• [03:40] Chief Black Cloud introduction
• [06:14] The wampum belt entrusted
• [09:08] Hobart confrontation
• [10:13] Little White Lilac’s visit
• [13:16] Sam is knocked out
• [14:10] Discovery of the murder/scalping
• [17:00] Confrontation about truth/lies
• [21:36] Effie’s fashion mishap
• [23:24] Wampum destroyed
• [25:19] Chief Black Cloud’s farewell

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Segment 2: THE HONEST THIEF

(29:48–51:55)

Summary

A twisty morality tale: Sam Spade is hired by Louise Miller, desperate to clear her fiancé Ben Kamisky’s name after he confesses to a robbery. Sam’s investigation reveals layers of loyalty, guilt, and mistaken identity, culminating in the exposure of Ben’s brother Jimmy as the real thief—and a man willing to let his brother take the fall to keep their mother’s illusions intact.

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Key Plot Points & Insights

• Client’s Plea

  • Louise Miller, in distress, begs Sam to help her fiancé Ben, who’s confessed to robbery but insists Ben is innocent.
    • “Ben’s good and kind and sweet, and I love him...” (33:13)

• Meeting Ben Kamisky

  • Ben is stoic in his cell, refuses legal help, and tries to push Louise away.
    • “Go back and tell her this. I didn’t want furniture at $10 a month for the next 80 months...” (35:31)

• Character Investigation

  • Sam interviews Ben’s acquaintances, who all speak well of him.
    • “A man named Gabrini...liked him. A woman in a bakery shop told me how he’d gone into the army...discharged first lieutenant.” (36:52)

• Family Ties and Tensions

  • Ben’s mother, Mrs. Kamisky, insists Ben is a “bad son” compared to brother James—the apparent favorite (37:48).
  • Jimmy reacts with hostility when Sam comes by, evading questions (38:17).

• A Desperate Act

  • Louise attempts suicide after hearing Ben’s confession. Clues point to suspicious activity at her apartment (39:25).

• Introduction of "The Iceman"

  • Building manager Bert Singleby describes a flashy visitor to Louise the night of her suicide attempt—a gangster named Claude Bethering, aka "The Iceman" (42:20).

• Sam’s Confrontation with the Iceman

  • At the Red Spot Cafe, Sam confronts Claude, survives a tense exchange and a vicious fight, and calls the police (43:35–46:58).

• The Real Culprit Revealed

  • Ben reveals the real story: his brother Jimmy, a repeat offender, committed the crime while on parole. Ben confesses in order to protect their mother from the truth.
    • “He did everything. He’s always done everything wrong. He held up that liquor store...I did this for him.” (48:17)

• Climax & Resolution

  • Sam corners Jimmy at their mother’s house, overcomes him, and brings him to justice.
    • “You held up a liquor store, didn’t you? ...And you’re going to take your own wrap from now on.” (50:05)

• Epilogue

  • It is revealed the store owner confused the brothers due to their striking similarity (50:33–50:44).
  • Effie and Sam reflect on the moral lesson about love, devotion, and self-sacrifice (51:01–51:28).

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Louise’s Faith:
  • “Ben’s good and kind and sweet, and I love him and I want to marry him.” (33:13)
• Sam’s Empathy:
  • “Faith is a thing we’re a little short on these days. So we came to terms.” (33:48)
• Ben’s Motivation:
  • “Your girl believed you were innocent, Kamisky. But you said you weren’t. My guess is somebody figured she knew something and tried to shut her up...” (47:47)
• Jimmy’s Confession:
  • “Yeah, I will. And he did. Period. End of the report.” (50:12)

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Segment Timestamps

• [29:48] Sam’s return to his office, new case
• [32:19] Louise Miller hires Sam
• [33:13] Louise’s emotional plea
• [35:31] Interview with Ben at jail
• [39:25] Louise’s suicide attempt
• [42:20] Bert Singleby introduces “the Iceman”
• [43:35] Confrontation with the Iceman at Red Spot Cafe
• [47:47] Ben reveals the truth about his brother
• [49:19] Confrontation at Kamisky’s home
• [50:12] Case wraps up

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Memorable Moments

• Effie’s comic relief:
  • Her pride in showing Sam a new suede coat, only to realize she’s wearing the case’s evidence as a belt. (21:36)
• Lilac’s outburst to Chief Black Cloud:
  • “You had the world in your hand. You didn’t know it. You wanted it all for yourself. To tear down the earth. It could have been used to live.” (24:06)
• Sam’s existential sign-off:
  • “Why is the world so cruel?” — “Because people live in it.” (50:44–50:48)

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Episode Tone & Style

• Witty, Dry Humor:
  Sam and Effie’s interplay keeps the mood lively even amidst murder and betrayal.
• Golden Age Dialogue:
  Fast-paced, stylized speech with a tough-guy edge and clever wordplay.
• Emotional Depth:
  Both stories reveal unexpected pathos—especially in the family tragedy and lost hopes of “The Honest Thief.”

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In Short

This double-feature episode offers two hardboiled detective cases packed with twists, disguised motives, and tragic ironies. Sam Spade’s sharp tongue and wry observations keep the listener engaged while the stories examine profound questions of loyalty, justice, and human weakness.

For fans of vintage radio detectives and those who appreciate classic noir with richly drawn characters—this is essential listening.

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Transcript

[Announcer]

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[Narrator / Sam Spade]

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[Narrator / Sam Spade]

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[Announcer]

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[Narrator / Sam Spade]

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[Announcer]

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[Narrator / Sam Spade]

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[Announcer]

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[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Welcome back everyone to 1001 Radio Crime Solvers. This is your host, John Hagedorn. Today, two episodes of Sam Spade. Hope you enjoy it.

[Sam Spade]

By the way, check out our brand

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

new website @bestof1001stories.com, that's best of 1001 stories. And get everything in one place. Wait a minute. There's a call coming in for Effie

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Sam Spade Detective Agency.

[Sam Spade]

Me sweetheart Shaman Spade.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Shaman, not Sam.

[Sam Spade]

An old Indian word signifying wise man. And it's true, Effie. I'm a lot wiser man than I was yesterday at this time.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Really, Sam?

[Sam Spade]

Really? Little papoose. Put on some war paint, a few turkey feathers and your best open toed market.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Where are we going, Sam?

[Sam Spade]

Why, to Ted's teepee for a rousing repast of ground corn and dried buffalo meat.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Oh, well, don't quibble, Effie.

[Sam Spade]

Get the wigwam ready, sharpen my tomahawk and lay out my herringbone breech clout. I'll be right in to dictate. The chicaga. The chanagma. Ah, the Indian caper. From the land of the sky blue water. They brought a captive maid. Red Wing.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Here I am running skunk.

[Sam Spade]

Running what skunk?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

He was a famous Indian detective.

[Sam Spade]

You sure you're not making this up?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Oh no, Sam. Oh no. He was the scourge of Indian lawbreakers.

[Sam Spade]

Scourge, huh? Even so, you have two minutes to think of a better name.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Oh, rippling strain.

[Sam Spade]

Not virile enough.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Crunching muscles.

[Sam Spade]

Two, two, girl what is that stuff you've been getting me anyway? To Lieutenant L J Myron, San Francisco Homicide detail. I better take it back. Copy to Chief Black Cloud of Santee Dakota Indian Reservation. Oh, murder. Attention. Federal Indian agent from Samuel Spade, San Francisco license number 137596. Subject the Shargoga Gog the char gonna call it for now the Indian caper. And quiet to you. I was sitting in my office, quiet. I was sitting in my office doing absolutely nothing, when something interrupted me. First it was a buckskin smell, then the soft tread of moccasins, followed by the sound of a rattle. His beaded clothes were wrapped in a rich looking embroidered blanket and his multicolored headdress raced to the floor. His face looked like the model for the Indian head nickel.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

How?

[Sam Spade]

Who?

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

My name is Chief Black Cloud.

[Sam Spade]

How do you do, Chief?

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

You shaman Spade. Sam Shaman Indian word for wise man.

[Sam Spade]

Prophet, Seer Sam.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Newspapers say you good scout.

[Sam Spade]

Well, they exaggerate.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

So you know Chief need to hire good scout for a job.

[Sam Spade]

Well, shall we talk?

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

You come for pow wow in chief's council lodge.

[Sam Spade]

Where's that?

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

St. Marc Hotel, fourth floor.

[Sam Spade]

I see you have reservations.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Well, you ride with black plow. He have iron pony on street made by great Indian Chief Pontiac.

[Sam Spade]

And he actually had a council lodge at the St. Mark, fourth floor. Outside the door of his room, two braves were standing, arms folded. One of them was the first Indian I'd ever seen with hair on his chest. We entered the room. Indian Flight. Of course, the chief had apparently brought in his own decorator. The walls were covered with hanging animal skins. A weathered canopy of thatch hid the ceiling. And on the floor, genuine hand woven rugs. No expense had been spared. In one corner of this room stood a full sized teepee. Two squaws shuffled out of it. What else? The young one glided forward and handed the chief a long Indian pipe.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Shaman Spade. This fairest Indian made of all. Only person in world important to Black Cloud. Name Little White Lilac.

[Sam Spade]

How do you do, Little White Lilac?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

It's nice to have you here.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

She wise, educated girl. Graduate Smith College. Nice old squaw. Squaws no good at powwow.

[Sam Spade]

Well, you know best, Chief.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Now we powwow. You get paid well. Chief Black Cloud owned 130 oil wells near Tulsa.

[Sam Spade]

Oh, Oklahoma, huh?

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Not Oklahoma. Indian land. Union mean nothing. Union temporary thing. I see Indian here long before white man. And Indian will be here long after white man.

[Sam Spade]

All right, Chief. All right.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Chief Black Cloud come to San Francisco village five days ago for Powwow with big engineer.

[Sam Spade]

Anybody I know his name?

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Clarence Hobart. Engineer for Arundel and Amaskeag Consolidated Engineering Company. Fine Indian name. We have powwow four days, Hobart disappear.

[Sam Spade]

And you want me to find him, is that it?

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Chief 3rd of San Francisco. One finish powwow get back to Santee Dakota Reservation.

[Sam Spade]

Clarence Hobart. Okay. I'll see what I can find out.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Good. One moment. Shaman bade chief have something you guard for a few days.

[Sam Spade]

What's this?

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

This speeded wampum belt. Ancient relic of Nipmuk tribe here in Tipi Semak. Too many light fingered chimaids and bellboys.

[Sam Spade]

You want me to hold on to this for you?

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Yes. Wampum of great sentimental value. Woven by ancient wise man Taniluka tells interesting story in history of tribe. Guard it well.

[Sam Spade]

Haven't lost a wampum yet. Is that all?

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

One more thing. We smoke pipe of friendship. I smoke here now. You smoke through.

[Sam Spade]

Through friendship. Now I know what happens if the bag of Lucky Strike doesn't buy. When I left Chief Black Cloud's 4th Floor Lodge, there was only one brave standing outside the door. The hairy chested Indian was probably taking five. The wampum belt was about three feet long, made up of hundreds upon hundreds of little colored beads. They were woven into a picture pattern. Very pretty. The interesting story undoubtedly could have been translated instantly and told fascinatingly by Red Rider. But then he has a smart horse. I put the wampum belt in my pocket and headed to the offices of the Arundel and Ameskee Consolidated Engineering Company. Fine old Indian names. I inquired about Clarence Hobart. They referred me to his partner, Anderson Watts. Hobart disappeared? Absurd.

[Announcer]

Why?

[Sam Spade]

You couldn't lose him if you wanted to. He's as wide as a barn door. Yeah, well, Chief Black Cloud seems to think he is missing. When I look here. Are you going to take an Indian's opinion over mine? I might. Well, just because he doesn't show up for an appointment doesn't mean he's disappeared.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Why?

[Sam Spade]

One day when we were on a cantilever project in New Orleans. Yeah, some other time. If Hobart hasn't disappeared, where would he be? Anywhere in the world. A man's unpredictable. Brilliant engineer, but moody. Every now and then he goes off alone to scheme up some fantastic thing. Like maybe cutting off the Gulf Stream and turning Cuba into an iceberg. I like it. But he always comes back. Disappear. No, no, not Hobart. Yeah. Well, can you give me his home address? Well, here you are. Try it if you like, but I'm sure he's not There. I called this morning and nobody answered. Honest. Injured, I left this utterly charming man and started for the address he had written down. I was taking the shortcut through the alley on Sutton street when I heard the rattle of beads and a naked brown arm of considerable size reached out of the murk. I grabbed for it, but he slipped out of my grasp and sped swiftly and silently up the dark alley into the fog, leaving me with a handful of Max Factor number eight Iroquois makeup. I continued to Hobart's house without further incident. Found it just off Chinatown. Mr. Hobart.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Oh, I thought you might be somebody else.

[Sam Spade]

Who else?

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Take your foot out of the door.

[Sam Spade]

Just. Let's talk a minute, shall we?

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Want me to call the police?

[Sam Spade]

I don't think you will, Mr. Hobart.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

All right, out with it. What's on your mind?

[Sam Spade]

My name is Sam Spade. I'm a private detective. There's an Indian named Chief Black Cloud who's worried about you.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

I'm old enough to worry about myself. Now stop bothering me.

[Announcer]

Go away.

[Sam Spade]

Look, I'm gonna tell the chief where you are, you know, because that's what I was hired to do.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

You'll. Ah, yeah, you're right. Confidentially, I've been on a two day drunk. You know how it is.

[Sam Spade]

Who, me?

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Ah, tell him to phone me tomorrow.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

I'll talk to him.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Oh, hi, Sam. Hi, Sam. How are you? Hello.

[Sam Spade]

What are you doing here today? This is your day off.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

I just wanted to show you something happy.

[Sam Spade]

First, do me a favor and put this wampum belt in the safe, will you?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

A wampum bell.

[Sam Spade]

Genuine Indian art.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Oh, it's beautiful. You know what it'll go beautifully with. Oh, Sam, I forgot. There's a girl waiting in your office.

[Sam Spade]

Well, good.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Sam, don't you want me to show you?

[Sam Spade]

And there was indeed a girl in my office. It was Little White Lilac, Chief Black Cloud's fairest Indian maid of all. Only a heap big change had done. She still had the Indian color. But gone was the headband, gone the buckskin dress, gone the squatting squaw, the St Mark tepee. Little white Lilac stood revealed in the thin disguise of a modern white woman's cocktail dress. Complete with pale face, 20 carat perfumes. It was a transformation worthy of a high priced medicine man. But more surprises were to come.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Hello.

[Sam Spade]

How.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

I've been waiting for you.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah, well, a big brave just returned from hunting party.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

You can drop the tv talk. I'm civilized.

[Sam Spade]

Well, okay. What's on your civilized line?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Chief Black Cloud gave you a wampum belt want you to give it to me so I can destroy it.

[Sam Spade]

Well, I. I gave my word to keep it. And I accepted the promise of money for its protection. Now, you wouldn't want me to be an Indian gift. I mean, violate my ethics, would you?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Sam, if I must tell you Chief Black Cloud is insane.

[Sam Spade]

Not if he keeps you around.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Must we have these juvenile references to my personal beauty?

[Sam Spade]

Juvenile?

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Well, sorry.

[Sam Spade]

You are Indian, aren't you?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Of course I am A Nipmuck.

[Sam Spade]

Nipmuck?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

That wampum belt is secret to undreamed of wealth greater than the fortunes of the 10 richest families of this country. Chief Black Cloud is wealthy from oil, but that belt make him more powerful than the bank of America.

[Sam Spade]

You mean he could take my car back?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

You think this is a joke, don't you?

[Sam Spade]

Well, I love the way you tell it.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

He's going to use it to destroy modern American civilization. To pay the white man back for what he did to the Indian.

[Sam Spade]

I see.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

He wants to start a giant Indian

[Sam Spade]

revolution and you want to destroy the wampum to save all this.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Exactly. And now you'll give it to me, won't you?

[Sam Spade]

Uh, what happens in the next chapter?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Sam, you have to believe me.

[Sam Spade]

Why?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Why do you think? The chief is here conferring with an engineer. He wants to get at that wealth.

[Sam Spade]

Hobart's gonna make him wealthy now.

[Announcer]

Really?

[Sam Spade]

Little white lilac. Isn't this all a little white lie?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Sam, if I take you to Hobart and he confirms what I've said, will you believe me?

[Sam Spade]

I might.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Come on.

[Sam Spade]

She took me by the hand and she let me out of the office and up and down several streets until we arrived at a frowzy looking brownstone. We entered still holding hands and came to rest in an apartment that looked just recently occupied. I guess that's what it looked like because you couldn't tell much. It was being lit by either one 10 watt frosted bulb or by fireflies.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

This is the place.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah. A little dim in here, wouldn't you say?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

I like dim places.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah. Where's Clarence?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

I'll get him in a minute. First, Sam.

[Sam Spade]

Yes, Violet?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

You've been so nice.

[Sam Spade]

I have?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

I want to find some way to thank you.

[Sam Spade]

I'll wait on you, Bud.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

I can start by keeping Kiss me. Please say.

[Sam Spade]

The kiss was great. In fact, it blew the top of my head off. After this, there was a free fireworks display followed closely by a giant roar that sounded like Niagara Falls with a cold. It was a short feature followed by a long period of dark Black silence. When the curtain came up again, I was lying in an alleyway. I was stiff and cold. My head frobbed with pain. Pain. My brain was a jumble. My suit was torn and dirty. My patience was at an end and my anger with little White Lilac knew no bounds. I went down to the office and changed clothes and get a drink. The phone was already ringing when I opened the door.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Sam Spade, this Chief Black cloud talking from St. Mark.

[Sam Spade]

TP yeah, what's on your mind, Chief?

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Ten minutes ago, bellboy delivered to Chief Black Cloud box. Inside box is scalp of engineer Clarence Hobart.

[Sam Spade]

I hung up the phone, fell into my chair, snapped on the lights and fell out of it again. My office had been massacred. The place had been ransacked thoroughly and looked like the morning after a Comanche smoker and you guessed it, my safe had been drilled open. The ancient and valuable Nipmuck Wampum belt was gone. At this point, I decided what Chief Black Cloud meant. It was a detective.

[Announcer]

Now here's important news on good grooming. If you want the well groomed look that helps you get ahead socially and on the job, listen. Recently, thousands of people from coast to coast who bought Wild Root Cream Oil for the first time were asked, how does Wild Root Cream Oil compare with the hair tonic you previously used? The results were amazing. Better than four out of five who replied said they preferred Wild Root Cream oil. Remember, non alcoholic Wild Root Cream Oil contains lanolin. It grooms the hair naturally, relieves dryness and removes loose, ugly dandruff. So if you want your hair to be more attractive than ever before, get the generous new 25 cent size of wild Root Cream Oil. America's leading hair tonic. On sale at all drug and toilet goods counters. It's also available in larger economy bottles and the handy new tube get Wild Root Cream Oil again and again. The choice of men women who put good grooming first. By the way, smart girls use Wild Root Cream oil too. And mothers say it's grand for training children's hair. And now back to the Chagogagog Manchagog Chebunagungamog caper. Tonight's adventure with Sam Spade.

[Sam Spade]

I found Chief Black Cloud sitting cross legged and looking disconsolately down into a small cardboard box. Both squaws, including little White Lilac, were on one side of the room grinding corn. Lilac looked through me as if I didn't exist. I sat down next to the chief, looked into the box and recoiled. It was a real no imitation 20th century scalp and the red hair was certainly Hobart's scalp.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Comes with notes.

[Sam Spade]

Let me see.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Note written in Algonquin dialect. I translate. Honor. Chief Black Cloud return to Santee Dakota reservation and die proper death bidding to old man. Here you will meet violence unto death even as this man did.

[Sam Spade]

Puts the point across. Look, Chief, it isn't that I'm scared, which I am, but I just decided to pull out of this cavern.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

What?

[Sam Spade]

I've heard some things about you that don't sound too good, you hear?

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

What?

[Sam Spade]

That you want to start an Indian revolution to settle an old score with a white man.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Who tell you this?

[Sam Spade]

The fairest of them all, Little white Lilac.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

She tell you?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

I've never talked to.

[Sam Spade]

She not only told me all that, but she what?

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Speak. When did Little white Lilac tell you these things?

[Sam Spade]

She came to my office today.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

That's a lie. I never left this hotel.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

We will see. Kalanuka, you.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Yes, Chief Black Cloud.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Did Little White Lilac leave hotel today?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Little White Lilac with me all day? Why never out of strange.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Enough. Go away. Carla Nuka speak with tongue of truth. Little White Lilac, I have grown from baby. She also speak with tongue of truth. Somebody lie.

[Sam Spade]

Now, look, Chief, I know what I'm talking about.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

You Chief does not need help of double tongue man. Return wampum belt to me.

[Sam Spade]

I pay you. All right, I'll.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Well, Chief Jeep heard enough lies. Return w. Wait a minute.

[Sam Spade]

Wait a minute. I got a small but biting bit of truth to relate. Somebody stole the wampum belt.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Wam Belt gone.

[Sam Spade]

Somebody broke into my office, drilled the safe and took it.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

You stole.

[Sam Spade]

Was stolen from me.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Return wampum or you'll not live until sundown.

[Sam Spade]

I'll return it if I can find it. Then you can pay me off and we'll call it even.

[Announcer]

The makers of wild root cream oil are presenting the weekly Sunday adventure of Dashiell Hammett's famous private detective, Sam Spade. Now, here's important news on good grooming. If you want the well groomed look that helps you get ahead socially and on the job. Listen. Recently, thousands of people from coast to coast who bought wild root cream oil for the first time were asked, how does wild root cream oil compare with the hair tonic you previously used? The results were amazing. Better than four out of five who replied said they preferred wild root cream oil. Remember, non alcoholic wild root cream oil contains lanolin. It grooms the hair naturally, relieves dryness and removes loose, ugly dandruff. So if you want your hair to be More attractive than ever before. Get the generous new 25 cent size of wild Root Cream Oil, America's leading hair tonic. On sale at all drug and toilet goods counters. It's also available in larger economy bottles and the handy new tube. By the way, smart girls use Wild Root Cream Oil too. And mothers say it's grand for training children's hair. Get Wild Root Cream Oil again and again. The choice of men and women and children too. And now back to tonight's adventure with Sam sp.

[Sam Spade]

I walked outside muttering frightful white man supprecations. Cutting through the hotel parking lot, I suddenly noticed the Chief's iron pony made by Pontiac. There was a leather bag on the seat, sort of an Indian overnight case, and sticking out of it was a blood stained tomahawk. This was of decided interest to me and so were the rest of its content. Somebody had a giant engineering project a but because there were order receipts for such things as two LSTs, four underwater hydraulic drills, a diving bell, a dredging barge and a steam dairy. Back again? Yeah, back again. Mr. Wash. Still looking for the missing Clarence Hobart? Not anymore. Well, I knew you'd realize the futility of it. I found him, and I trust you found him in good health. Old Hobart a bug on health. Why, once when we were in Cleveland. I think he's dead. It was the Ohio River Bridge jock. Dead? Did you say Hobart dead? Scout. Anyway, Mr. Watts, what was Hobart working on with the Chief? Well, I don't know exactly. Well, let's go look at his desk file and see if we can find out. In a bottom drawer, under a lot of miscellaneous papers, we found a large manila envelope marked Black Cloud. It contained some topographical surveys of an area containing a lake. On the back of one of the surveys was written in fine print a series of 37 letters that looked like a whole group of Indian words swung together. Or a code or just doodling. It started out Chaga ga something or other. I left Mr. Watts sitting in his office with tears in his eyes, a new role for him, and made my weary way back to my place of business. Effie was standing in the middle of the office with a shocked look on her face.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Damn. Look at this office. How did it get like this? Oh, my files and everything.

[Sam Spade]

Come on, I'll help you pick things up. And again, by the way, what are you doing here? It's still your day off.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

When you were here last time, I wanted to show you something, but you were so anxious to get to that girl.

[Sam Spade]

All right, I'm here. Now, look. What is it?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

A new suede coat. How do you like it? The color is rust.

[Sam Spade]

Well, I suppose. Effie.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

What?

[Sam Spade]

What's that you're wearing as a belt?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Oh, now, don't be mad, Sam. I just had to. It went so well with the coat and when I saw it.

[Sam Spade]

Chief Black Cloud's wampum belt. You didn't put it in the safe. Give it to me.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Give it to me.

[Sam Spade]

Wait right here. I'll be gone for half an hour and then I'll come back and take you out to the best dinner in town.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Oh, I should go home and change first.

[Sam Spade]

I had taken only four steps down the hall and somebody hit me from behind. I rolled and he went with me. We fought a quick, quiet and decisive fight. And at the end of it, I held him in an arm lock and let him back into my office.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Come on. What happened, Sam? He's back early.

[Sam Spade]

Had an unexpected caller come in with me and take notes. Now, sit there. All right, all right. Now, who are you and what's on your mind? I'm nobody and I got nothing on my mind. Spring. You're one of the braves that guarded the chiefs. Yeah, and you're a phony Indian. Lousy makeup and Indians don't have hair in their chest.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

All right.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

My name's Grit Hammond.

[Sam Spade]

I'm a cow. Poker. I should have stayed where I belong, out on the range. Well, why didn't you?

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Oh, once I said I'd do anything for that gal. Now I wish I hadn't.

[Sam Spade]

She brought me here.

[Announcer]

Why?

[Sam Spade]

Well, it had something to do with buried treasure. She was going to give me a big cut. Where is it buried? I don't know. She was going to tell me. I took Hammond around a homicide and left them in their safekeeping. While there, I got the latest flash. They had found Clarence Hobart and less scalp down to the waterfront. There were no clues except a blow on the back of the head and lipstick on his mouth which was enough for me, having been through the same course myself. Then I proceeded to St. Mark, fourth floor. Little white Lilac met me at the door.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

You can't see the chief.

[Sam Spade]

Why not?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

He's asleep one side.

[Sam Spade]

When the chief sees what I've got, he'll wake up screaming. His wampum.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

You have it.

[Sam Spade]

And with that, she pounced. I pushed her off as she came back and got a hold of one end of the wampum and tried to pull it away from me with disastrous results. The wampum came apart and the second was nothing but Hundreds of beads rolling different directions all over the place. In fact, it was no more.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

What happens in Chief Counsellor? Chief cannot sleep.

[Sam Spade]

Well, I brought back your wampum, but now it's all over the floor.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Wampum belt. Destroyed.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Yes, it's destroyed. You stupid old man.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

You talk to Chief?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Yes, stupid. You had the world in your hand. You didn't know it. You wanted it all for yourself. To tear down the earth. It could have been used to live.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

What are you saying?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

To live the way I'm supposed to live. Now nobody will have it. Not even you or that fat engineer who wanted it.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Little white lilac.

[Sam Spade]

Shut mouth.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

I've been shutting my mouth all my life. You're a stupid, ignorant, disgusting old man. You'd be better off.

[Sam Spade]

His big hands were around her throat. He stood there, anger and betrayed. Then his hands dropped and he turned away with tears streaming down his face. It was then that the fair Indian maid went for him with a knife. And that was my cue to step in with a pale face weapon.

[Announcer]

And now listen to this. Not only dad, but the whole family goes for America's favorite hair tonic, Wild Root Cream Oil. Wild Root Cream Oil grooms your hair neatly and naturally. Relieves dryness, removes loose, ugly dandruff. Get a family sized bottle or handy tube today and ask your barber for a professional application of Wild Root Cream Oil Hair Tonic again and again. The choice of men and women and children too.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Little white Lila.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah, well, I don't usually hit one, but don't feel too badly, Chief. She helped kill Clarence Hobart.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Now, Chief believe anything.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah. Chief, why did you want an engineer

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

design woven in wampum? Describes location of hidden Nipmuck treasure. Many, many years ago, Nipmok tribe lived in valley of the Berkshires. Discover only gold vein in east. Mine gold and keep for decoration. Kennebec Indians want gold. Start out on warpath. Nipmok Indians bury gold. Move village. Divert stream into valley. Make lake. Gold there today underwater. Where is it that secret Chief keep locked in head? Chief once had evil plan for gold. Now you forget. Make pilgrimage back to ancient ancestral camp and die. Send me Bill. Chief leave village of San Francisco for good.

[Sam Spade]

Period. And the pow wow?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Oh, Satan. It's sad.

[Sam Spade]

It is.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

It is vanishing race. Just think, the days of the Colt and the Winchester are gone forever.

[Sam Spade]

The day of the Remington is still with us. Go to it and type this up.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Well, it's all here, Sam, except one thing. How did the bloody tomahawk get in Chief Black Cloud's bag?

[Sam Spade]

A little White Lilac planted it there. If anything happened to the chief, she, as the only other living Nipmuck, would inherit the wampum.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Well, she could have gotten the money by just waiting.

[Sam Spade]

Oh, shut up.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Sam, you noticed anything about the report?

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Yeah.

[Sam Spade]

Hey, you got the name of the caperite? The chagaga. Oh, what is it?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Chagaga, Manchagoga Chabun among the mug king

[Sam Spade]

Caper even going out with an elocution page.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Oh, Sam.

[Announcer]

The adventures of Sam Spade, Dashiell Hammett's famous private detective are produced and directed by William Spear. Sam Spade is played by Howard Duff. Laureen Tuttle is Effie. The adventures of Sam Spade are written for radio by Bob Tolman and Gilda. Musical direction by Lud Gluskin with score composed by Renee Pierre Garag. Join us again next Sunday when author Dashel Hammett and producer William Spear join forces for another adventure with Sam Spade, brought to you by Wild Root Cream Oil. Again and again, the choice of men and women and children too. This is Dick Joy reminding you to get Wild Root Cream Oil, Charlie.

[Sam Spade]

It keeps your hair in trim.

[Announcer]

You see, it's non alcoholic, Charlie. It's made with soothing lanolin. You better get Wild Root Cream Oil, Charlie. Start using it today.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

You'll find it. You will have a tough time, Charlie, keeping all our gals away.

[Announcer]

Hiya, baldy.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Get wild root right away.

[Announcer]

This is cbs, the Columbia Broadcasting System.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

There's the cbs, the Columbia Broadcasting System.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Let's talk groceries. Specifically your groceries. With Instacart. You want your groceries just the way you like them, right?

[Announcer]

Well, the Instacart app lets you do just that.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

They have a new preference picker that lets you pick how ripe or unripe you want your bananas. Shoppers can see your preferences upfront, helping guide their choices. Instacart get groceries just how you like.

[Announcer]

Safeway and Albertsons have made saving easier than ever with great savings on family favorites this week at Safeway. And Albertsons. USDA choice beef, boneless, tri tip, whole or flankin style. Ribs bone in are $6.99 per pound member price and asparagus are $1.99 per pound member price plus 16 ounce strawberries. Six ounce raspberries or blackberries are $1.97 each. Limit three member price with digital coup coupon. Hurry in. These deals won't last. Visit Safeway or albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Don't say detective agency me.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

It's you on the filter and in the flesh. Any Messages, phone calls, letters or telegrams?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Just the usual. A bill to the landlord and a notice from the telephone company.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Well, dispose of them as usual.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

You sound awfully chipper. Have you been on a case? Don't. Did you make some money?

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Yes, I've been on a case. No, I did not make any money.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Oh. Your client got murdered before he could pay you.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Wrong again. My client was a woman. She did not get murdered. And she could pay me.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Huh?

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

And she did.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

But you just said she didn't.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

True. We ain't true. Things are not what they seem.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

I a little confused you just said that.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

And I meant every word of it. Stop registering bewilderment.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

All.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

All is paradox. So sharpen your pencils, straighten your seams, get out your notebook and prepare to be confounded by the contradictions I shall contradict to you during my report on the honest thief caper. I'm not looking over for the. Look, alert girl. We've many things to do.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Up. Up. You say the strangest things on the phone.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Don't I?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

I don't believe I probably understood what it was all about.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

A natural misunderstanding. I didn't understand it myself.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Date?

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Sergeant Frank Nilgas, Robbery detail, San Francisco Police. You're fast today. Subject, Ben Kamisky. Ben Kamisky. C O M I S K I. Sam.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

I went to Albert High School with a boy named Ben Kamisky. Is he the same one?

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Very likely, yeah.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Oh, Sam, tell me, did he turn Aunt down? Is he good? Did he get married down?

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Every. This is one mystery you're not going to solve by reading the last chapter first. Dear Frank, it was one of those days. The sky was black and it looked like rain. But when I put on my trench coat, the sun came out. At breakfast, it looked like I'd ordered fried eggs and I wound up with pancakes. Also, I discovered I was wearing one blue sock and one black one. After that, I gave a cab driver a 5 instead of a 1 and let him ride off with a change. And there was one other thing.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Sam. Bank just called you overdrawn.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Not Chef. I made a deposit two days ago.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

I checked them. He didn't.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

You're nuts, too. I made out the slip myself.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

And.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Oh, give me.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Sam. I'll take it right down.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Yeah, I better do that. Angel.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Yes? Oh. Oh. Can I help you, Mrs. Faden?

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

All right. Come right in, miss. Sit down. Ms. Perrine, you may go and do that. Instruct them that if such a mistake occurs again, I shall take my account elsewheres.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Yes.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Now, please. Sit down, miss.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

My Name's Louise Miller, Mr. State. I. I want to hire you. How much will it cost?

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Well, now, Miss Miller, let's. Let's talk about it a little quick.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

I don't have much time, Mr. State. I have to be at the office in a half an hour and I have to cross town. You see, I. Well, Mama thinks I should forget all about him, but I came under my. Well, here, I've. I've got $95. Will you please do something? Just something.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Come on now.

[Announcer]

Come on.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

I'm sorry.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

That's all right. Now, who is he? What's he done? And why does Mama want you to forget him?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Ben. Ben Kaminsky. We were going to be married pretty soon. We even picked out our furniture.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

I don't know. Yeah, it's all right now. Go on. What's he doing?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

I'm saying he held up a store two nights ago. They picked him up on the street today. He's in jail.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Well, if he's innocent, I'm sure they'll find that out.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

He won't Even see me, Mr. Spade and you. He won't see anyone. Ben's good and kind and sweet, and I love him and I want to marry him. And I want you to find out why he.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

What it's all about. Look, Miss Miller, I. I think you should be in the office of a good lawyer. I'm sure he doesn't want a lawyer.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

He won't even see the public defender. He doesn't want anything. Oh, please, please, Mrs. Peter. I just want to die. If Ben what's a prisoner, I just want to die.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

I'm no sentimentalist, but faith is a thing we're a little short on these days. So we came to terms. It was agreed she could pay me after the job was done if there was any job to do. She left for work and I phoned you, Sergeant Milgus, and found out Ben Kaminsky had already been arraigned and was being held in the city jail. When I dropped in 20 minutes later, you walked me back to his cell. What's it all about, Ben? I know. I was just looking into it. He won't tell you anything. Kept his trap shut all the time he's been here. As far as we've been able to find out, no previous record. Well, maybe it isn't so bad for him at that, huh? First degrees, then? LI saw proprietor, man named Potter over on Army Street. Identified him in the morning lineup. Just like that. Picked him out of a dozen guys we hauled in. Then what Send a couple of the boys out to Kamisky's room and find all the dough in a dresser drawer. 900cl. Now what I get if you come here? This is Sam Spade. He wants to talk to him. Ben Kamisky was tall, dark complexioned, about 29 or 30 years old. His hair was black, straight and closely cropped. His faces were regular, not good, not bad. I seen plenty of hold up men and gun toters in my day and he wouldn't have been cast in the part in my movie. I didn't know what I expected to say to him or what I expected him to say to me. But I didn't expect what I got. What are you trying to do? Get out of here. He just got here, man. Well, you can just leave. Hasn't a citizen got any rights even in jail? Well, they start to lose them and they use a gun to make a living. I don't want any lectures. I haven't got any to hand out. I'm a private detective. A friend of yours hired me. She thinks you're a pretty nice guy. Louise, huh? Why won't you see her? She's nuts. She ought to have a head felt. What's she worrying about anyway? I'd say she was worrying mostly about you. And I'd say it's the sick kind of worry that gets into a girl when she loves somebody she shouldn't. She's nuts. You said that. Did you rob that store? The guy who runs it says I did. I suppose I did. Why, but. Laughs the complaint says you make 65 bucks a week in an architect's office. You can eat on that. Look, Spade, go back and tell her this. I didn't want furniture at $10 a month for the next 80 months. I didn't want a car the same way I didn't want her working and me working and getting nothing but wrinkles. Tell her I got caught and to go and find a guy who can pay the way. Is that all? That's enough. You're charged with arms robbery in the first degree. That means not less than five years. I know it. Shut up about it. Why'd you turn down a lawyer? Haven't you heard? Stay. They're holding up my indictment. I'm a prize pigeon. They think maybe I knocked over 10 or 12 other places in town. Pigeon. Sure, sure. But don't worry about me. And tell Louise not to worry about me. Got a million bucks. Sold it away. And I'm going to buy my way out through the DA's office. Okay, have it your way, Ben. But an hour later, I found myself strolling around Ben Kamisky's old neighborhood. A man named Gabrini, who owned a grocery store, remembered him and liked him. A woman in a bakery shop told me how he'd gone into the army as a private and been discharged. The first lieutenant. A phone call to a Mr. Henderson, a light architect, revealed that Ben Kaminsky was in line for a raise and promotion. All in all, I was getting a composite picture that didn't look quite right. I decided to try his mother's place. It was on Lombard Avenue, a street that starts on the waterfront. According to the penciled note above the doorbell, it was out of order. The slot on the mailbox read Mrs. Anastasia Comiske.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Yes, what is it, please?

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

You're Mrs. Kaminsky.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

I'm busy now. I picked lunch for my son. You come back on Cincinnati, please.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Oh, well, Mrs. Kaminsky, I'm here to talk to you about Ben. He's your son too, isn't he?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Yes, Ben is my son.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Well, I'm trying to help him, Mrs. Kaminsky.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Why? He has no money. I have no money.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

A friend of his, Louise Miller, hired me.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Oh, Louise. She's a foolish girl. Very foolish. Her heart should not be with Ben.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

I think he's a very lucky man to be loved by somebody like that. It's not for her.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Ben would not be in jail, in trouble. Oh, you don't want to help my son. She don't want to help him. She'll leave him alone if she want to help. Ben is bad, not good like my son James. James is always good times. He's the way he sends me money.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

From what I hear, Ben's always been pretty good, too.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Always one good son, one bad son.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

What's going on, Mom? All sorts of this.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

He come to ask questions about Ben, huh?

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

I'm Jim Kamisky, Ben's brother. You run on in, Mom. I'll talk to this gentleman. All right, get out of here. Look, I'm just trying. You got any questions to ask about, then go to the police. They can give you all the answers. And stop bothering my mother. She's been through enough in the last two days. If I catch you around her again, I'll break you in half. The man who slammed the door in my face had the same angry look and the same angry glare of Ben Kamisky. The angry Comiskey brothers definitely wanted nothing that looked remotely like help, it seemed to this casual observer. I went back to my office to wait for six O'. Clock. That's when I intended to call my client, report my opinions and drop the case. But at 5:30 she called me.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Mr. State? Yeah, this is Louise Miller.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Oh yes, I was just going to call you. I'm afraid I haven't been able to do much.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

It looks like I know Mr. Staven. I just telephoned downtown. Ben pleaded guilty at the indictment this afternoon. He's going to be sentenced tomorrow.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

And that to all appearances, Sergeant Milgus is the crop. But two hours later, and for the second time in one day, I found myself doing what I didn't think I'd be doing. Walking around a dull gray two story apartment house on Adam's place. My ex client's address to be exact. I was wondering what a lonely distraught girl would be thinking the night before her boyfriend was shipped away to prison. I found out. I got a whiff of it as I walked down the hall. It was coming out from under her door and I had to use my shoulder. The room was acrid and singing with gas fields and Louise Miller was stretched out on the floor in a six foot kitchen. When I picked her up and carried her out, I wasn't sure whether she was dead or not. 10 seconds after I'd found Louise Miller I'd called a police ambulance and in a matter of minutes an intern was working over with a pull motor. Her breathing became regular and her pulse picked up but she was still unconscious. Lieutenant Kelsey of Homicide showed up and said it was obviously a suicide attempt. Which is his kind of ingenious thinking, I thought. Not if she were going to commit suicide, she wouldn't have called first to pull me off the caper. She'd have let an insignificant detail like that take care of itself. Now she was too strong to pity herself and too sure of what her intuition told her to believe. Even Ben Comiskey's confession. For that kind of faith, I owed it to her to poke around the ashes while they were still hot. I did and turned up a live coal in a faded blue shirt and wrinkled brown pants. Bert Singleby by name and by vocation. Manager of the Greystone Arms Apartments. What kind of a girl was she? Oh, nice, clean, sincere. The kind mothers always want their sons to marry. Boy, I wish I'd listened to mine. Yeah. Did you know her boyfriend? Ben Chamisky? Oh, salt a dir. I can't understand him pulling a hold up like that. But then, you know, the war did strange things to you. I guess it did. I almost stayed in Europe and married myself up to a French dollar myself. Yeah, I bet.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Yeah.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

But Sandra, that's my wife. She'd have hunted me down in Tibet. It was easy to come home, face the music. Yeah, well, about Louise. You know any reason why she might commit suicide? Frankly, no. No, I met her in the hallway tonight, and she said. Mr. Singleby, she said, ben didn't do that. Hold up, because I'm pretty sure I know who did. Well, I figured she'd just keep it up a front. But if she did really know that Ben didn't do it, she wouldn't have turned on the gas, now, would she? No, she wouldn't. Did she tell you who she fought better? No. It's awesome. Quiet girl. Not like my wife. Now, Sam.

[Chief Black Cloud / Other Male Characters]

Yeah?

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Did you see or hear anything that might have been suspicious or unusual around her apartment tonight? Look, I don't want to go around breaking up any homes or spreading dirty gossip around unless it involves Sandra's relative. Mr. Singleby, I promise you, sir, that I'll treat any information you give me confidentially as long as I can.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

All right?

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Now listen. Sandra told me not to say anything because it's. You know, it's a lot easier to rent a suicide apartment than a murder apartment. You know that. Confidentially, I'm a humanitarian, but if you tell anybody I said this, I'll. Well, I'll just lie about it. I'll never tell a soul. Well, we were out of butter, see, so I had to run down to the store. Well, when I passed the mailboxes outside,

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

a guy is standing there.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

He asked me which apartment Lewis Mill, Louise Miller was in, and I said, 12B. What do you look like? Oh, let's see now. A 5 10, medium build, tan suit, dark shirt, sort of a wide brim hat. Kind of flashy. Wore three or four big rings. Diamonds. They look like three or four big diamond rings on each hand. The iceman. Why didn't you tell all this to the police?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Who you talking to? Don't you dare say a word about that poor girl.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

That's why. That is why Sandra always says, keep your mouth shut and you keep out of trouble. But me, I don't know.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

I just love s. Stop talking too much and close that door.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Yes, Sandra, dear. I'm closing it. The iceman. I'd heard about him for years. A Chicago import, but I had never bumped into him before. He'd been headquartering at the Red spot cafe, the kind of a place that skid row winos visit when they want a slum. It was dark inside, but I strode manfully to the bar. Yeah, something. The iceman here. What do you want him for, huh? He's a friend of mine. You're a friend of hoes. What are you giving me? You got bull written all over you from the top of your stupid head to the bottom of your flat face.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Feet.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

He had the tan suit, the flashy rings, the dark shirt and a wide brimmed hat. He stared at me with eyes that were icy and insolent. He rubbed the knuckles of one hand into the palm of the other as if he just ached for a chance to bruise them, which I was sure he did. Four guys saunaed over to lean on the piano. And as ugly as they were, I knew it wasn't a barbershop quartet. Two more left the bar and stood behind him and a few others got up from nearby tables and joined the group. I should have brought my team, but I hadn't. You're a friend of mine, huh? Well, if it isn't Claude Beding, the juvenile delinquent of 1940. Is that so? You're a real brain. Who are you, Brainy Sam Spade. Oh, now, ain't that a pretty name. You got something on your mind? I just wanted to talk with you about what you did to a girl named Louise Miller tonight. Never heard of her. Sounds cute, though. Girls are a lot easier to push around, aren't they, Claude? Call me Ice. Claude Sitter. Some guys are just as easy as some things. Where have I been all night tonight, fellas? You heard that, Spade. I've been here all night. Any of you guys ever hear of a Louise Miller? Sorry, nobody ever heard of her.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

See?

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Well, she has a lot of friends who have. The police, the people down at Mercy Hospital and me. And none of us are going to forget her or what happened to her and who did it. Got something you'd like to do right now, maybe? Yeah, but I'll pick my time. All right, enough of this cheap chatter. I don't want to be seen talking with you too long. I got my reputation to think about. Now blow before I take one hand out of my pocket and push your stinking face back through that door. You'll need both hands, Samson. Go on, you creep. Fellas. All right. As I went rapidly through the door, Claude Bettering was standing, oily, smiling, all polishing a couple of his oversized rings on his lapel. That was was a picture I said I wouldn't forget, and I didn't. I went and rented myself a car parked on the block from the Red Spot. Cafe and waited almost all night. I knew that Louise Miller was not the kind of a girl who would have anything to do with a guy like Veteran. And if he came to her apartment, this must have been for some unloving purpose. Probably to keep her from telling who actually did the hold up Ben Kamisky had confessed to if she found out the truth. Finally, a bunch of palookas came out, Veteran included, climbed into a car and drove off me after them. One by one. Bettering dropped his men off at their hotels and apartments until he was finally alone. He stopped at a brownstone on Hobart and I caught him just as he opened the door of his apartment. Well, the tough guy. You're gonna find out. Don't think I'm easy. And he wasn't easy. He was 3 inches shorter and 25 pounds lighter. And wherever he had picked up his reputation for of toughness, he earned it. But I never enjoyed a fight in my life any more than that one. I battled him through his maze and into the floor. And he still wouldn't give up.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

You stinking creep.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Why did you beat up Louise Miller? I didn't. Why? I didn't.

[Sam Spade]

Why?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Why?

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Your popping house manager identifies you, he's a liar. Who did you do it for?

[Sam Spade]

Nobody.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Who? Nobody.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Who?

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

You stinking creep. I'll push your face.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Who? Who? Push your face.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

He went out. Quite a guy, the Iceman. I used his phone to call the police and tell him to pick him up for attempted murder. Then with dawn coming up and my energy going down, I went back to the city jail, got a pass and woke up Ben Comiskey. Why don't you stop messing around on my business, Spade? Did you ever really love that girl of yours? Get out, you sadistic jerk. Well, she's in Mercy Hospital now. You can send her a card. Write something nasty on it. So long, Spade. Yeah?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

What?

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

What's she in the hospital about? What do you care? Tell me, please. Somebody turned on the gas in her apartment and tried to kill her. It's nothing, really.

[Sam Spade]

Please.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Who did it? Who did it?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Stay.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

I think it was a guy named Claude Bettering. They call him the Iceman in certain circles.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

But why?

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

That's what I'd like to know. Who's Bettering?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

I don't know.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Your girl believed you were innocent, Kaminsky. But you said you weren't. My guess is that somebody figured she knew something and tried to shut her up. I think Bettering was hired by somebody, Spade. Look, I. I don't have any dough, see? But I want to get out of here for one day. You know anybody to raise the bail? I won't skip and I'll pay back anything you want. Why? I gotta see somebody. I don't think I can. Who do you want to see? My lousy, dirty, low down, no good brother. He hired Battery.

[Sam Spade]

Who else?

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

He did everything. He's always done everything wrong. He held up that liquor store, but he's on parole. A two time felony offender. One more rascal, he'd go up for 20 years. I did this for him. Yeah? Look at me. I did it for him. And he tries to kill my girl. Your mother said he was a good boy. Hard working, lived in Cincinnati. Me again. I told her all that. She believed it. I started the whole stupid lie and had to go through with it. I could explain two years, three years to her, but not 20. He promised he'd go straight.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

He promised.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

I see. I even said him money I earned and said it was from him. Oh, you never saw anybody like me before, did you? No, I haven't. Get me out. Get me out. Salmon. I'll drag him in by his back teeth. Thanks anyway, but I'll do it myself. Let me do it. Let me do it, please. I drove over to Mrs. Comiskey's house and knocked on her door. She came out in a house coat, hair, musk, sleep still in her eyes.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Yes?

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

I'm sorry to bother you at this hour, Mrs. Kaminsky, but is your son home?

[Sam Spade]

Jimmy?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Jim? No, he went. He went out last night. He didn't come back yet.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

I see. When do you expect him?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Well, he didn't say.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

He didn't have to, because I saw a closet door move and I was in and across the room in a second. I pulled the door back and Jim Kamisky came out, gun and all.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

He.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

She hurried across the room, threw herself between Jimmy and me and started wrestling the gun away from me. He put one hand flat on her face and knocked her halfway across the room. I went at him. He shot, but it went into the ceiling. I didn't give him a chance to do it again. You held up a liquor store, didn't you?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Yeah.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

And hired Bettery to kill Louise Miller.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Yeah.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

And you're going to take your own wrap from now on.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Yeah.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Yeah, I will. And he did. Period. End of the report.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Oh, Sam. That poor old lady.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Yeah. Yeah. She lived in a dream world built by a son who had too much heart and not enough common sense.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

But, Sam, that. That man in the liquor store identified Ben as a whole company.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Well, when he saw the both brothers together, we realized we'd made a mistake. At night, with a hat pulled down and a collar up, anybody could have confused the Kamiskey brothers.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Sam, why is the world so cruel?

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Because people live in it. I'll go in and type it out.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Well, here it is, Sam. And if you don't mind my saying so, it's a lesson to everybody.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

If you say so, Anne.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Honestly, Sam, I'm just infuriated.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Now, don't go too far.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

This place, love, devotion, just isn't right.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Hand me the glass.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

This kind of thing could be going on all over the world if it weren't for people like you who step in and take things in. Hand the glass. There you are.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Thank you, Ms. Br.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Honestly, Sam. Honestly. That's all.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Are you finished?

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Look, I have some sociological feelings too. I'm just not an automatic secretary you turn on and off.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Come here. Come here.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

What is it you chase. I have feelings.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Effie, I just kissed you.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

I know. What?

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

I just kissed you.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Oh, Sam.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Delayed reaction. Must be the heat.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Oh. Good night, Sam.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Good night, sweetheart. Thanks for joining us for the adventures

[Sam Spade]

of Sam spade here at 1001 Radio Crime Solvers.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

This is your host, John Hagedorn.

[Sam Spade]

We always appreciate reviews you Apple listeners

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

and we appreciate comments, Spotify listeners and

[Sam Spade]

anybody else who can review or comment. We appreciate that too.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

And we appreciate your sharing our show with others.

[Sam Spade]

Thank you very much for listening and we'll be back soon.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

And don't forget to join us at our brand new website, bestof1001stories.com.

[Sam Spade]

That's bestof1001stories.com and join our newsletter there and there. You can enjoy all of our shows and all of our past episodes.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Give it a try.

[Sam Spade]

You'll like it.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

The new gum health hero is here

[Sam Spade]

from Parodontax, the experts in gum care.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Parodontax gums strengthen and protect strengthens the

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

gum seal by killing plaque bacteria along the gum line for a stronger and tighter seal between the gums and teeth. Clinically proven to reduce bleeding. And now with hyaluronic acid for foaming action.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Brush and rinse twice daily to protect against plaque.

[Effie / Little White Lilac / Louise Miller / Female Characters]

Keep gums tight and enjoy long lasting gum health.

[Narrator / Sam Spade]

Strong gums healthy smile.

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