THE SINISTER SISTER and THE KIMBERLY CROSS MATTER ADVENTURES OF SAM SPADE

Summary

Podcast Summary: 1001 Radio Crime Solvers – "THE SINISTER SISTER and THE KIMBERLY CROSS MATTER ADVENTURES OF SAM SPADE"

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Introduction

In this gripping episode of The Adventures of Sam Spade, host Jon Hagadorn brings listeners into the tumultuous world of Sam Spade, the quintessential private detective navigating a labyrinth of deceit, danger, and dazzling jewels. Set against the backdrop of San Francisco’s shadowy alleys and opulent galleries, the story intertwines multiple characters and intricate plotlines, ultimately revealing a sinister conspiracy centered around the priceless Kimberly Cross diamonds.

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Initial Case: The Sinister Siren Caper

The episode opens with Donald O. Stryker visiting Sam Spade’s detective agency, presenting a mysterious case he dubs "The Sinister Siren Caper" ([06:48]). Stryker, a member of the venerable Striker family, fears he is now a marked man after receiving a cryptic warning from a man named George P. Strutt. Strutt informs Stryker that he is "number six" in a sequence of impending threats ([04:56]). Intrigued and concerned, Spade agrees to take on the case, formalizing their agreement with Stryker’s payment of $50 ([06:48]).

Notable Quote:

Sam Spade: "Mr. Stryker, are you completely skeptical? No, no, just quasi." ([06:48])

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Investigation: Unraveling the Threads

Sam Spade delves into the investigation by visiting Strutt’s apartment on Leavenworth Street. Here, he discovers clues linking George P. Strutt to a series of mysterious events, including the escape of Artie, a convicted bank robber ([09:33]). Spade meticulously sifts through phone books, identifying individuals with surnames starting with "Str" and "S," leading him to cross paths with Harvey J. Strotherton and Lieutenant Dundee.

As Spade interacts with various characters, including Effie Perrine, his loyal secretary, and Angel, another associate, he begins piecing together the connections between the Striker family, Artie’s escape, and the elusive redheaded woman, Patricia Conroy ([10:42], [27:57]).

Notable Quote:

Donald O. Stryker: "A.38 slug had taken him just under the left shoulder blade and instinctively, Dundee grasped the point." ([18:30])

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Climax: The Kimberly Cross Diamond Heist

The investigation takes a pivotal turn when Sam Spade uncovers the involvement of the Kimberly Cross diamonds, a highly valuable set of jewels on exhibit at the Burgendorf Galleries. Spade discovers that the exhibit’s security measures are compromised by an undercover agent, Johnny Stroud, working with Sunset Indemnity Insurance ([35:00], [36:27]).

Patricia Conroy emerges as a key player, revealing her connection to Larry Galliano, an ex-convict recently released from prison. Conroy discloses that Galliano was coerced into participating in a staged robbery to facilitate the theft of the diamonds ([48:43]). As tensions escalate, Conroy confronts Spade, leading to a dramatic revelation of her true intentions and the intricate web of betrayal surrounding the diamond heist ([53:37]).

Notable Quote:

Patricia Conroy: "Someone offered him the job at Burgendorf's the day he got out. Larry thought it was legitimate until he heard a couple of things by accident." ([48:44])

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Resolution: Unmasking the Conspiracy

In a climactic showdown, Sam Spade confronts Patricia Conroy and her accomplices. Utilizing his astute observational skills and unwavering determination, Spade deciphers the false identities and fraudulent schemes orchestrated to steal the Kimberly Cross diamonds. The revelation that Conroy used a fake name and attempted to implicate others in the heist marks the turning point in the case ([53:28], [54:51]).

Despite being metaphorically "shot" during the confrontation, Spade ingeniously turns the tables, ensuring that justice prevails. The diamonds are secured, and the conspirators are exposed, demonstrating Spade’s unmatched prowess as a detective.

Notable Quote:

Sam Spade: "You had the Kimberly Cross in your inside coat pocket when you came into the wagon this morning." ([53:37])

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Conclusion: The Aftermath and Reflection

The episode concludes with Sam Spade reflecting on the complexities of the case and his interactions with Effie Perrine. Despite the perilous encounters and moral ambiguities, Spade remains steadfast in his commitment to unraveling the truth. Effie’s admiration for Spade underscores the personal sacrifices inherent in his line of work ([57:46]).

Notable Quote:

Effie Perrine: "A girl can't help wondering sometimes... I just wish sometimes someone else could be your secretary and I'd be the one you'd meet in a room with velvet draperies and a long cigarette holder and slanting glasses and a black lace negligee." ([57:09])

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Key Takeaways and Insights

1. Complex Web of Deceit: The episode masterfully illustrates how deception and false identities can complicate investigations, emphasizing the importance of meticulous attention to detail.

2. Character Dynamics: The interactions between Sam Spade, his associates, and the antagonists highlight themes of loyalty, trust, and betrayal, enriching the narrative depth.

3. Classic Detective Work: True to the golden age of radio detective stories, the episode showcases classic noir elements—shadowy settings, femme fatales, and the relentless pursuit of truth.

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Conclusion

The Adventures of Sam Spade continues to captivate audiences with its intricate plots and compelling characters. In "THE SINISTER SISTER and THE KIMBERLY CROSS MATTER," Sam Spade exemplifies the archetypal detective—sharp, resourceful, and unwavering in the face of danger. This episode not only entertains but also pays homage to the rich legacy of radio's golden age detective tales.

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Note: All notable quotes are attributed with their corresponding timestamps from the provided transcript.

Transcript

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[NBC Announcer]

The National Broadcasting Company presents the Adventures of Sam Spade Detective.

[Effie Perrine]

Sam Spade Detective Agency.

[Sam Spade]

Me sweetheart. Oh, well, that's a warm reception if.

[Angel]

I ever heard one.

[Effie Perrine]

I'm here at my post office, Sam, ready to do my duty.

[Sam Spade]

All right, all right, let's have it.

[Effie Perrine]

Have what?

[Sam Spade]

What have I done? Well, come on, come on.

[Effie Perrine]

Sam, who was that lady I seen you with?

[Sam Spade]

What lady?

[Effie Perrine]

What lady? Sam, for your information, there is a five column picture on page one of the Chronicle showing you with your arms around the redhead. Yes. Ah, it means nothing to me as a person, Sam, although I am a redhead myself. But I feel there are certain standards of publicity and agency of our stature.

[Angel]

Angel.

[Sam Spade]

Angel, if you bothered to read the.

[Angel]

Caption under the picture, you would have.

[Sam Spade]

Learned that my arms were around this.

[Angel]

Other redhead to keep her from braining.

[Sam Spade]

Me with a paperweight she picked off Dundee's desk.

[Angel]

Oh, yes.

[Sam Spade]

So take my picture back out of the drawer and while you're at it, grab the book and pencil because I'll be right down with a somewhat lengthier.

[Angel]

Explanation entitled the Sinister Siren Caper.

[NBC Announcer]

Transcribed for NBC. William Spear, Radio's Outstanding Producer, Director of Mystery and Crime Drama, brings you the.

[Sam Spade]

Greatest private detective of them all in.

[NBC Announcer]

The Adventures of Sam Spade.

[Angel]

Oh, Red headed woman made a fool out of me.

[Sam Spade]

Effie. Ms. Perrine.

[Effie Perrine]

Oh, yes, sir.

[Angel]

Yes, sir, I was just.

[Effie Perrine]

Why, Sam, what a pleasant surprise.

[Angel]

Oh, no.

[Effie Perrine]

Black eyes, Hair comb, Suit. Brass.

[Sam Spade]

Yes, Frayed.

[Angel]

Frayed but tidy.

[Effie Perrine]

How do you explain this, Sam? Well, and for you two coming in with.

[Sam Spade]

Battle scars.

[Effie Perrine]

Uh huh. Among other things.

[Sam Spade]

How do I explain this?

[Angel]

That woman is a cue if I ever heard one.

[Sam Spade]

Are you ready, Sam?

[Effie Perrine]

That's all right.

[Sam Spade]

That's my girl.

[Angel]

2.

[Sam Spade]

Mr. Donald Stryker, Belhaven Apartments, from Samuel Spade, license number 137596. Subject, the sinister Siren caper. Dear Donald, business was terrible and I blame the weather.

[Angel]

Sitting in my office with my feet on the radiator and the paper on my lap, looking out on the 48th.

[Sam Spade]

Consecutive day of rain, I was seriously.

[Angel]

Contemplating moving my place of business to a warmer clime where people could get out in the sunshine and into trouble.

[Sam Spade]

The only item of possible interest in.

[Angel]

The paper was the story of the.

[Sam Spade]

Escape of one Artie the actor, a.

[Angel]

Convicted bank robber who apparently didn't much care whether or not it was raining when he busted out of the city jail.

[Sam Spade]

I had reached the part about some.

[Angel]

Good friend and true smuggling Artie a set of keys when something prompted me to look up. And that, Mr. Stryker, is how I found you.

[Donald O. Stryker]

Mr. Spade.

[Angel]

Yes, sir.

[Donald O. Stryker]

I am Donald O. Stryker. S T R Y K E R. The O stands for Oglethorpe. My mother's maiden name.

[Sam Spade]

Oh, well, that's Nice.

[Angel]

Sit down, Mr. Stryker. Thanks. Well, now, what can I do for you, Mr. Spade?

[Donald O. Stryker]

The strikers, as you may or may not know, are an ancient and honorable family dating back to pre Elizabeth England. With the possible exception of one southern number who is said to have once nodded by mistake to Jesse James, no Striker has run afoul of the law.

[Sam Spade]

Well, good for you, one and all.

[Donald O. Stryker]

We have kept our skirts clean, one and all. That is why I am utterly at a loss to explain the situation in which I find myself.

[Angel]

And just what, sir, situation is that?

[Donald O. Stryker]

A quasi reliable source has informed me that I am a marked man.

[Sam Spade]

Quasi?

[Donald O. Stryker]

Yes.

[Sam Spade]

Why don't you begin at the beginning, Mr. Stryker?

[Donald O. Stryker]

The beginning, Mr. Spade, is only two minutes from the ending. Oh, yes, it happened last night. I was sitting home with a book of Plato's dialogues when the bell rang most energetically. It proved to be a man named Strut. George P. Strutt. S T R U T T. A wild haired, wild eyed individual he was. Mr. Spade. Yes, Stryker, he says. Donald O. Striker. Well, I'd hardly nodded when he grabbed me by the necktie. Ha, he said, just like that.

[Angel]

Ha ha.

[Donald O. Stryker]

Mr. Stryker.

[Sam Spade]

Ha.

[Donald O. Stryker]

I'm in time then. You can still save yourself. And he shoved this.

[Sam Spade]

Oh, what's that?

[Donald O. Stryker]

A picture of a girl, a young and rather pretty girl out from a newspaper.

[Angel]

Oh, yes.

[Donald O. Stryker]

No name or identification. Beware this girl Striker, he said. Beware the siren song she sings. Stryker, he said that he cinched up even harder on my necktie. Yes, Stryker, you are number six.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

I am.

[Donald O. Stryker]

Five and four are doomed before us. Beware, Stryker. Beware this girl, this sinister red haired harpy, this handmaiden of the dark angel.

[Sam Spade]

Well, that's quite a speech.

[Donald O. Stryker]

A curtain speech, Mr. Spade. For with that, he let go my necktie and ran off down the hall. Somehow. Somehow after that, Plato didn't seem quite the same.

[Angel]

Yes, I see what you mean.

[Sam Spade]

Do you know this girl?

[Donald O. Stryker]

Never saw her before in my life.

[Angel]

Or Strut either.

[Donald O. Stryker]

No.

[Angel]

Mm.

[Sam Spade]

Mr. Stryker, I don't want to talk myself out of a job, but you.

[Angel]

Don'T need a private detective. Now, this is probably some harmless chap who walked out of one of the local sanitariums and took to ringing doorbells.

[Donald O. Stryker]

But that's just it. He isn't Mr. Spade.

[Angel]

Huh?

[Donald O. Stryker]

I did some telephoning this morning.

[Angel]

Yes.

[Donald O. Stryker]

He has a quasi successful cigar stand downtown and an apartment on Leavenworth Street. His name is right next to mine in the telephone book. I must get to the bottom of this, Mr. Spade, I. Here. Here's $50.

[Sam Spade]

Well, Mr. Stryker, are you completely skeptical? No, no, just quasi. And with that, we formalized our agreement.

[Angel]

On one of my quasi legal contracts. And I promised to call you instantly if anything turned up. And you departed, still in a quasi quandary. Sticking the newspaper clipping into my wallet, I hopped the cab and went to.

[Sam Spade]

Strut's apartment on Leavenworth.

[Angel]

Let's see. 26, 24, 22.

[Sam Spade]

Hey.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Hey, lady.

[Angel]

Open. It was a cleaning lady, cloth on head, mop and pail beside her, testing the guarantee on Strut's grand piano.

[Donald O. Stryker]

That kn.

[Angel]

Who?

[Donald O. Stryker]

Strut ain't got no respect for a thousand dollar grand piano. Listen to that busted string. Yes, the crime, that's what it is. What do you want, Jack?

[Sam Spade]

I take it Mr. Strut isn't in?

[Donald O. Stryker]

Nope.

[Sam Spade]

Who are you?

[Angel]

Sam Spade, private detective.

[Donald O. Stryker]

Detective?

[Angel]

Yeah.

[Sam Spade]

Seems Strut thinks someone is going to kill him.

[Donald O. Stryker]

Oh, now, when did he dream that one up?

[Angel]

You got me. You know him? Very well.

[Donald O. Stryker]

I've come here twice a week for 15. You ought to talk, Sam. You'll have to follow me around.

[Angel]

Okay.

[Donald O. Stryker]

Gotta get a wiggle on.

[Angel]

Come on, now, get a wiggle on. You think he was dreaming it up, huh?

[Donald O. Stryker]

Now, let me tell you about George Scott. Let me put that bucket down. Oh, please.

[Angel]

There. Sorry.

[Donald O. Stryker]

He is 68 years old, to my knowledge. And in them 68 years, one important thing has happened to him. He was born. George just reads too many cheap books, that's all.

[Angel]

No girlfriends?

[Donald O. Stryker]

No. Well, now, wait a minute. Let me see. There was a woman about eight years ago in the bird watching club he belongs to, but that laid an egg.

[Angel]

Bird watching.

[Sam Spade]

Any enemies?

[Donald O. Stryker]

How could a man like George have enemies? Nobody notices him. He matches the rugs. Now, look, he goes to lodge meeting twice a month, to church every Sunday. He doesn't smoke, drink, gamble, spit on the floor or chase women. Got no other bad habits. No car, no house, no money, no prospects. God, I gotta get into that closet now. So why would anyone want to kill George Strut? He's been dead on his feet for 20 years.

[Effie Perrine]

Why?

[Donald O. Stryker]

When I see George, I'll give him a piece of my.

[Sam Spade]

I turned in time to see him.

[Angel]

Lean out stiffly, pause like a falling tree, and then topple to the floor.

[Sam Spade]

Followed closely by the cleaning lady, who.

[Angel]

Must have agreed before she fainted that George didn't match the rug anymore.

[Sam Spade]

While this struck a false note in.

[Angel]

My mind, it explained the false note in the piano.

[Sam Spade]

The missing string was wound around his neck. I dragged her into the bedroom and.

[Angel]

Managed to get her onto the bed by making two trips.

[Sam Spade]

Then I called Homicide.

[Angel]

The next order of business, per our agreement, was to call you, Stryker.

[Sam Spade]

So I got Strut's telephone book found. He'd marked the page with your number.

[Angel]

On it with a slip of paper.

[Sam Spade]

Which turned out to be the receipt for rent paid on a safe deposit.

[Angel]

Box at the garage.

[Sam Spade]

Golden Gate Bank.

[Angel]

Now, this didn't seem especially important at the moment, but something else did. He made a circle around a group of six names in the phone book.

[Sam Spade]

Marking each one with a check. Strubble, Strudwick, Strum, Strotherton, Strut and Stryker.

[Angel]

I postpone calling you for the moment.

[Sam Spade]

And dial the number just above. Struts, Strotherton, Harvey.

[Angel]

J.

[Sam Spade]

156 Santa Ana Avenue, St. Francis Wood.

[Effie Perrine]

Yes?

[Sam Spade]

Mr. Strutherton in, please?

[Effie Perrine]

No, no, M. Mr. Strutherton isn't in. This is his wife.

[Sam Spade]

My Name is Spade, Mrs. Strutherton. I'm a private detective. I. I don't want to alarm you, but Alarm me.

[Angel]

Do you happen to know if your.

[Sam Spade]

Husband has received any threats recently?

[Effie Perrine]

Why? Not that I know of.

[Sam Spade]

Any contact with a strange young woman, about 30, red hair?

[Effie Perrine]

Why are you asking me this?

[Sam Spade]

I'd rather not say until I know more about it.

[Angel]

What about the girl?

[Effie Perrine]

Yes. Yes, he did meet a girl like that.

[Angel]

Oh, When?

[Effie Perrine]

She came to the door one night about a week ago. Said her car was stalled down the street a ways. Harvey went out to help her. They were gone about a half hour, and then he came back.

[Sam Spade]

Well, did he tell you anything about her?

[Effie Perrine]

No. Tells that he'd gotten her started.

[Angel]

Is he a mechanic or.

[Effie Perrine]

He was. Lawyer.

[Sam Spade]

Was.

[Effie Perrine]

Harvey is dead, Mr. Spade. His car crashed through a rail on the Skyline Boulevard night before last. Burned. I just been to San Mateo to identify the bodies.

[George P. Strutt]

Drum, Joseph P. 828 Howard Street.

[Angel]

Yeah.

[George P. Strutt]

Yeah, that's Joe. There's your beard.

[Sam Spade]

Thanks.

[Angel]

You know Joe pretty well.

[George P. Strutt]

I might and I might not.

[Sam Spade]

Why, what do you mean you might not? This is 828 Howard street, isn't it?

[Angel]

The number's over the door. Don't you like me, Barton?

[George P. Strutt]

What's eating you about Joe's thrum? Look, you see this private detective's life, huh?

[Angel]

Oh, yeah, yeah. Poor but honest Barkley trying hard to get a little cooperation.

[George P. Strutt]

I thought you was a cop.

[Angel]

Now, what's with Joe?

[George P. Strutt]

Well, I'll tell you.

[Angel]

He uses the phone here.

[George P. Strutt]

He makes a little book now and then in the back room. Nothing wrong, you understand. But still in all, there's nothing a guy likes to blat around about the strangers, you know?

[Angel]

Yeah. Any idea where he is now?

[George P. Strutt]

Well, that's a pretty hard thing to say. Where Joe is at any given time. Even when Joe's acting normal, which at present he isn't.

[Angel]

Oh, why not?

[George P. Strutt]

Well, like all bookies, Joe does not have a heart. But if he had one, I would not hesitate to say Joe was in.

[Sam Spade]

Love with a red headed dame about 30.

[Angel]

How did you know? Here, look at the picture.

[George P. Strutt]

Let me get my glasses. Glasses, glasses, glasses.

[Angel]

There they are.

[George P. Strutt]

This is the dish.

[Angel]

You know her name? No, no.

[George P. Strutt]

Joe has made no formal announcement as yet, but the wait has gone around. He is giving 8 to 5 he will marry her, which for Joe is a sure thing. Last Friday it was. When I seen him last, they sat up to the bar here and the two of them talking at some length about things I have never heard Joe discuss before.

[Angel]

Like what?

[George P. Strutt]

Well, as I said, bookies are different from people's. So it should have not surprised me that Joe and his wren were not discussing rose covered cottages. As do most boys and girls when they reach the looney stage. Yes, from what I could gather as I passed by now and again serving the other customers, Joe and his girl were discussing a cozy little rose covered safe deposit box.

[Angel]

Mm.

[Sam Spade]

And you haven't seen either of them since last Friday?

[George P. Strutt]

No, I. Oh, you're right with you.

[Angel]

Yeah.

[George P. Strutt]

Global Leaf Buffet. Charlie Talkins. Yes. Why you don't say? When this morning, huh? Yeah, yeah, sure I will. Thanks for calling.

[Sam Spade]

Goodbye.

[George P. Strutt]

You. You wouldn't know a bookie who might be casting about for a phone, would you?

[Angel]

Val, what happened to Joe?

[George P. Strutt]

Body washed ashore on Baker's beach this morning. That was the morgue.

[Sam Spade]

I know what you mean, Sam Marks.

[Angel]

Abrasions, contusions.

[Sam Spade]

Indications of foul play. That's right, Maxine.

[Angel]

Did you see the police surgeon's report? Yeah.

[Sam Spade]

Shot of dope and shoved into the briney. Person or persons unknown. Well, pretty hard to do by yourself, huh, Sam?

[Angel]

Yeah.

[Sam Spade]

Oh, you wish to look on Joe.

[Angel]

Strum, I take it? Yeah. Yeah.

[Sam Spade]

This it? Yeah.

[Angel]

Let's see.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah.

[Angel]

Oh.

[Sam Spade]

Oh, no, no, this is the wrong one. This is Strudwick. Wait a minute. Strudwick. Strudwick.

[Angel]

Anthony P. Are you known, Sam?

[Sam Spade]

28 Genoa Place, Bayview 72118. Nice looking boy, they said. Friend of yours, huh?

[Angel]

No. No. Huh.

[Sam Spade]

Well, then how did you. Brand new league. I'm in, Maxie. We call the shots ahead of time. Now, what about Strudwick? Old artist, lived on Telegraph Hill. Got drunk three nights ago, walked out his studio window on the fourth floor.

[Angel]

All alone at the time.

[Sam Spade]

Well, if anyone offers you odds on that, grab it. See you later, Maxi. Yeah, but ain't you going to look on Joe Strum?

[Angel]

No.

[Sam Spade]

Well, it's up to you, Sam. So long, Strudwick. Top man on the totem pole was James A. Struble, a barber who lived on 18th Avenue. I called, no one answered. So I made what by now had become the obvious addition. I went to headquarters and checked the homicide reports. Likewise the accident files and the traffic detail. Surprise, no James A. Struval. So I switched abruptly from the S's to the D's and called on dear patient, understanding Lieutenant Dundee, who's going off half car?

[Angel]

You.

[Sam Spade]

If you weren't such an idiot, you'd see what I'm talking about. No, listen, Sam, I'm no green pea. I've been kicking around homicide for 30 years. Long enough to know you gotta have a motive to build up a case.

[Angel]

Yes.

[Sam Spade]

How can you stand there and tell me a redheaded dame opens a phone book, draws a ring around six names and then runs out quick and knocks them off? I didn't say that.

[Angel]

Ah.

[Sam Spade]

Then why do you want me to put out a general pickup on James A. Struble? Because if he isn't dead right now, he will be. Oh, the dame Dundee. No dame could strangle a six foot man like strut with a piano wire. She's working with someone.

[Angel]

Sam, I love you, believe me.

[Sam Spade]

But try to see my side, will ya? So I put out a general on Struble and we pick him up and he screams. And the chief hauls me in to ask why. And I tell him we put the pinch on Struble because his name is ticked off in somebody's phone book.

[Angel]

Why? Yeah. Hey, who are you?

[George P. Strutt]

Lieutenant, I want to see the lieutenant.

[Angel]

Is he drunk? I'll ask him. Oh, yeah.

[Sam Spade]

What's your name?

[George P. Strutt]

James A. Strobe. I want to report a murder.

[Angel]

For who? Me.

[Sam Spade]

That's the last we got out of him. Ten seconds after he hit the floor, he was dead. A.38 slug had taken him just under the left shoulder blade and instinctively, Dundee grasped the point. A squad car was dispatched. Dispatched to your office, Mr. Stryker, to pick you up and stow you safely in the poke. When I checked out.

[NBC Announcer]

You are listening to the weekly adventure of radio's most famous detective, Sam Spade. Three chimes mean good times on NBC this Sunday, the glamorous and very unpredictable Tallulah brings you another gala broadcast of the Big Show. Among Tallulah's guests for this Sunday's Big.

[Sam Spade]

Show are Fred Allen, Eddie Cantor, Bill.

[NBC Announcer]

Baker, Eddie Fisher and many, many more. It's an hour and a half of the very best in comedy, music and drama. Every Sunday, it's the Big show on NBC for drama this Sunday, Theater Guild on the Air presents the heartwarming play Genie, starring Barry Sullivan and Margaret Phillips. And now back to the sinister Siren Capers. Tonight's adventure with Sam Spade.

[Sam Spade]

The next move looked like a tedious one. To take the clipped out picture of.

[Angel]

The redhead and try to identify her.

[Sam Spade]

By matching it up in the files of one of the town's four newspapers. I'd gone a half a block when.

[Angel]

Someone saved me the trouble. It was the bartender.

[George P. Strutt]

I got news for you. And where can we talk?

[Angel]

How about the Blue Fox?

[George P. Strutt]

Okay, I'll meet you there in five minutes.

[Angel]

Wait a minute.

[Sam Spade]

Why can't we talk here?

[Angel]

Cheers.

[George P. Strutt]

Sorry, Sam.

[Angel]

Sock. Well, you're in bad shape.

[Sam Spade]

Bartender.

[Angel]

What happened?

[George P. Strutt]

The red hint, Joe Strum's girl. She was in.

[Sam Spade]

When?

[George P. Strutt]

An hour ago. She was loaded to begin with. And when I poured her a couple of stiff horns on the house, she begun to talk. Sam, crime is rampant.

[Angel]

Yeah. For instance?

[George P. Strutt]

Well, from what she told me, Joe Strum was dwelling in a fool's paradise. Much talk, many promises and an occasional smooch. But when the school is added up, Joe never gets past his own 10 yard line.

[Sam Spade]

Whose girl was she?

[Angel]

Whose girl?

[George P. Strutt]

Prepare for a jolt, Sam.

[Sam Spade]

I'm holding onto my chair.

[George P. Strutt]

Adi, the actor.

[Angel]

Ottie, the actor.

[George P. Strutt]

Ottie, the actor. The picture you showed me was taken at his trial. She was sitting right behind his lawyer.

[Angel]

Wait a minute, wait a minute.

[Sam Spade]

The safety deposit box.

[Angel]

Yeah.

[Sam Spade]

How much is Artie supposed to have stanched away?

[George P. Strutt]

She told me a solid half million bucks. Now, numerous insurance Officials and a hatful of private dicks are openly curious as to what happened to the dough. Yeah, and the ranks of the curious have just been joined by Artie himself. Since he busted out of the jug, no dough. The cupboard is bare.

[Sam Spade]

Why'd he take the box out in Joe's name?

[George P. Strutt]

She says Artie's a whimsical type guy. You know what he does?

[Angel]

What? He flips the phone book open when.

[Donald O. Stryker]

They pull into town with a dough.

[George P. Strutt]

And picks himself five names and five banks.

[Sam Spade]

Six names, you mean?

[George P. Strutt]

No, five, she says.

[Sam Spade]

Striker was in, huh?

[Angel]

Never mind, never mind.

[Sam Spade]

So Artie figured with the money in.

[Angel]

Five different legitimate names, it couldn't be.

[Sam Spade]

Traced to him if he got tapped, huh?

[George P. Strutt]

Which he does get tapped and convicted besides. Now the dish looks upon Ari as in the deep phrase and hustles around to each of the five guys with a proposition. So Ottie becomes wise to this and takes them up in order when he busts out.

[Angel]

Cheers. Yeah.

[George P. Strutt]

There'S much. This much I learned before she staggers.

[Sam Spade]

Out of my joint.

[George P. Strutt]

The rest I must leave for you.

[Sam Spade]

To figure you can't drink.

[Angel]

Bartender.

[George P. Strutt]

Occasionally, Sam. If there is any other reward, though.

[Sam Spade]

Floating around when the smoke settles, I.

[George P. Strutt]

Will be at the Cloverleaf.

[Angel]

It's only beer, you know.

[Sam Spade]

And if you run across an honest.

[Angel]

Hard working book, who needs a phone? Yeah.

[Sam Spade]

Thanks a lot, Charlie. All right. Charlie wiped the froth off his chin.

[Angel]

With a napkin and took off. I let him have a healthy lead, then tailed him. It was quite a tour, too.

[Sam Spade]

Into the morgue across the street, out the Kearney street door, then onto the California street cable car and up Nob Hill to the Fairmont Hotel where he.

[Angel]

Hustled into a yellow cab number 4.

[Sam Spade]

6, 2, and drove off.

[Angel]

And waiting for him in the cab was the red headed dame. There were no other cabs around to.

[Sam Spade]

Follow in, so I waited a half.

[Angel]

Hour until he got back, waved a.

[Sam Spade]

Bill under the driver's nose and climbed back on the merry go round. He let Charlie out at his own.

[Angel]

Place, the Coverly, and then driven downtown.

[Sam Spade]

To a plea bag called the Shoreside Hotel on the Embarcadero, where he left the redhead. I woke up the desk clerk and shoved the redhead's picture under his nose.

[Angel]

Let me see, let me see. Seems like you recognize him. Sure. Claire Boo. Clara Bow, the movie queen, ain't it? Look, friend, she was just here. Clara, the girl here ain't. She ain't Clara, Bo. Right, right.

[Sam Spade]

She ain't Clara. She just drove up in a taxi.

[Angel]

And don't see her as good as I used to when you see the glasses hurt my nose.

[Sam Spade]

Look, she just drove up in a taxi.

[Angel]

Did you see her come in? No, no, no. I must have been dozing away. Yeah.

[Donald O. Stryker]

As she come out, though, huh?

[Angel]

Yeah. Her and Mr. Walker checked out 15 minutes back. He was in 26 upstairs. I didn't have to cross examine the court to see Mr. Walker had lived.

[Sam Spade]

In 26 for some time.

[Angel]

The floor was ankle deep in cigarette.

[Sam Spade]

Butts, liquor bottles, sandwich crusts and other debris.

[Angel]

A table in the corner was covered with travel folders, mostly on South America.

[Sam Spade]

And 7 Days newspaper, the top one.

[Angel]

Of which was turned to the story on Artie, the actor. And I've been reading in my office.

[Sam Spade]

This morning when it all started.

[Angel]

You know, it's too bad you came in when you did strike her, because if I'd read one more paragraph, I'd.

[Sam Spade]

Have learned something that could have saved.

[Angel]

Me a lot of trouble. Whatever was the case with four of the names, the fifth one Artie hadn't.

[Sam Spade]

Picked at random, his lawyer was Harvey J. Strotherton. Hello, Mrs. Strotherton? This is Sam Spade.

[Effie Perrine]

Hi, Mr. Spade?

[Angel]

Yeah.

[Effie Perrine]

Thank heaven you called. I'm terribly frightened.

[Sam Spade]

What's the matter?

[Angel]

The girl. A redhead?

[Effie Perrine]

Yes, she just called me. She says. She says my husband was murdered. One of his clients, a man he defended, thinks Harvey betrayed him.

[Angel]

Hardy? The actor Artie Billings?

[Effie Perrine]

Yes. There was a lot of money. She knows where it is.

[Angel]

Why is she telling you all this?

[Effie Perrine]

I don't know, Mr. Spade. She warned me against calling the police. I don't know what to do.

[Angel]

Well, then don't do anything.

[Effie Perrine]

Well, don't you see? She's coming here. She'll be here in 20 minutes.

[Angel]

I made it in 15, left the cab a block away and walked down.

[Sam Spade]

Santa Ana avenue to number 156.

[Angel]

The night fog had moved in, making.

[Sam Spade]

It tough to follow the path through.

[Angel]

The high shrubbery to the door of the house. Mrs. Stutterton hadn't helped matters any by.

[Sam Spade]

Turning out every light in the joint.

[Effie Perrine]

Mr. Spade?

[Angel]

Yeah? Yeah?

[Sam Spade]

She here yet?

[Effie Perrine]

No, no, come in.

[Angel]

Come here.

[Sam Spade]

Why don't you turn off the lights, be matched?

[Patricia Conroy]

There's a fire in the living room.

[Effie Perrine]

This way.

[Angel]

The shades and draperies were all pulled.

[Sam Spade]

The windows shut tight. The house had the musty reek of a room that's been closed up for a long time. She guided me around the dining room.

[Angel]

Furniture and through the doors into the living room, sat me down in front.

[Effie Perrine]

Of the fire, would you like some brandy, Mr. Steve?

[Sam Spade]

No, thanks.

[Donald O. Stryker]

Cigarette?

[Angel]

Yeah, thanks.

[Effie Perrine]

Tell me. Now tell me. I want to know everything. This man my husband defended.

[Angel]

You know he's out of jail.

[Effie Perrine]

I saw the papers. Why would he kill Harvey after my husband did everything in his power to get him acquitted?

[Sam Spade]

Money. A lot of money.

[Effie Perrine]

How much?

[Angel]

A half million dollars.

[Sam Spade]

How about a match?

[Donald O. Stryker]

Oh, yes, of course.

[Angel]

I held back, and without thinking, she leaned over into the firelight.

[Sam Spade]

I saw Mrs. Stan. And then for the first time, it was the redhead.

[Angel]

All right, hold it. Now, don't move. What are you doing? This is a.38, baby, at the back of your neck. Now, don't move. All right, where is he?

[Effie Perrine]

I don't know what you mean.

[Sam Spade]

You heard what I said.

[Angel]

Where's your husband?

[Effie Perrine]

He's dead. He's dead.

[Sam Spade]

The body you identified in San Mateo is already the actor.

[Angel]

You and Harvey engineered the escape. So you'll have a full guy for.

[Sam Spade]

Five murders and 500,000 bucks. Now, for the last time, where is he?

[Effie Perrine]

Harvey. All right, Harvey. He'll kill me.

[Angel]

Don't sp. Don't. Don't do it. Do it. Do it. I didn't have to. A few months hence, the State of California will do it the legal way. It was a long ride round Robin Hood's Barn, Striker, but you wanted to.

[Sam Spade]

Get to the bottom of it.

[Angel]

So there it is. Period. End of report.

[Effie Perrine]

Sam, what about the money?

[Sam Spade]

I'm still looking for it. If Harvey has thus far chosen not to talk. But Dundee hasn't really turned on the persuasion machinery yet.

[Angel]

Who knows? Maybe he's opened the phone book at.

[Sam Spade]

The Peas and put his finger on Perine.

[Angel]

Effie.

[Effie Perrine]

Oh, don't even think of it, Sam. I settle for $26.87, which represents the shorty in my check covering the period.

[Sam Spade]

Effie.

[Angel]

Can I believe my ears? I look back upon the past 12 hours.

[Sam Spade]

How to keep our little organization together. To stave off the bill collector. I place my life in jeopardy. Tangled with a murderess. Use my poor tired body as bait for her savage conspiracy.

[Effie Perrine]

Sam, I'm sorry.

[Sam Spade]

Ferreting my way through morgue and crime ridden alley to finally win the fight and then. And then to come home expecting a cheery welcome and to get instead scurvy, innuendos and a bill for 2687.

[Effie Perrine]

Oh, forget it, Sam. Don't ever mention it again. I'm forgetting.

[Sam Spade]

Well, that's my girl.

[Angel]

Here.

[Sam Spade]

10, 25, 6, 7.

[Angel]

$27.

[Sam Spade]

Now we're all square.

[Effie Perrine]

Thanks, Sam. Thank you.

[Angel]

Come here.

[Sam Spade]

Now you can bring me the 13 cents tomorrow.

[Effie Perrine]

That's my boss.

[Donald O. Stryker]

Good night, Sam.

[Angel]

Good night. Sweethear.

[NBC Announcer]

Three chimes mean good times. On NBC, the National Broadcasting Company presents the Adventures of Sam Spade Detective.

[Effie Perrine]

Sam Spade Detective agency. This is Ms. Bergamot. Oh, Ms. Bergamot, I'm so sorry, but Mr. Spade isn't in. He ought to be back any moment. However, that is, if you wish to employ him. This is his secretary, Ms. Perrine. Well, as a matter of fact, Ms. Perrine. Oh, he'll be available. I know. The matter he's attending to is just. It's purely routine. What he calls a humdrum number. Humdrum? Well, it's the private detective version of babysitting. You see, all Mr. Spade had to do was sit on a chair for 24 hours. And that's why I say he'll be back any minute. His last words to me were take anything. So if you desire a server in. I do not desire Mr. Spade's services. As a matter of fact, he's using mine. What? I'm his nurse at the harbour Emergency Hospital.

[Sam Spade]

Nurse, another shot, please. This time, bourbon.

[Effie Perrine]

Quietly, Mr. Spade. He's coming along quite nicely. The bullet didn't enter the cranium at all. Bullet? Cranium, both. Mr. Spade wants to.

[Donald O. Stryker]

But I refuse.

[Sam Spade]

Nurse, I refuse. But Ms. Nightingale. I am FF wonder girl who sell dry those big brown eyes. Cherub, fluff up the sofa and spread out some lamp for me to lay my poor bullet ridden head on. In practically no time at all, I'll be staggering in to gasp out a humdrum report on the Kimberly Cross Caper.

[NBC Announcer]

For NBC. William Speer, Radio's outstanding producer, Director of mystery and crime drama, brings you the greatest private detective of them all in the Adventures of Sam Spade.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Hospital.

[Sam Spade]

Smiling, I have to break down your whole constitution. Give you fits.

[Effie Perrine]

Ah, Sam.

[Sam Spade]

Who else?

[Effie Perrine]

Oh, Sam, you look like the drummer man in the spirit of 76.

[Sam Spade]

Nothing, nothing, nothing. As you know, angel, no profession is without its hazards. Least of all this time. Caudry one of ours. Sit down now.

[Effie Perrine]

Oh, yes.

[Sam Spade]

Now may I put my poor wounded head in your lap? Comfy?

[Effie Perrine]

Poor Sam.

[Sam Spade]

They're stupid too, honey. Let's see now. Hey, new feeling high toos, huh? Date. Fill it in. To G.J. runcible, claims manager, Sunset Indemnity Company. From Samuel Spade, license number one subject, the Kimberly Cross Caper. Dear Mr. Runcible, it's just as well for private investigators that we have no way of knowing. By the way a job starts, how it's going to end. I remember Once I went beating the bushes for a mad dog killer and ended up playing Monopoly with him in a hotel room for six hours. And I remember too, the time I agreed to take a box of homemade candy to an old lady, wound up with a double murder in a case of arson. Yours, Mr. Runcible, belong to this species. Spade. G.J. runcible, Sunset Indemnity. You available? Maybe. What'd you have? Are you. Are you not available, Mr. Spade? Answer yes or no. Yes. Yes. How much? 50 a day, expenses.

[Angel]

Right?

[Libsyn Ads Representative]

Right.

[Sam Spade]

Got a job for you. Next 24 hours, all you got to do is sit on a chair and keep your eyes on something beautiful. Sounds keen. Might call it a babysitting job.

[Angel]

Oh.

[Sam Spade]

Who is she? Kimberly Cross.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Pretty.

[Sam Spade]

Like a quarter of a million dollars. Oh, rich too, huh? She's on exhibit at the Burgendorf Galleries on Sutter Street. She's on exhibit. Get over there right away. Well, I'd better check with Mr. Burgendorf personally and then see Johnny Stroud, our company man.

[NBC Announcer]

He'll give you instructions.

[Sam Spade]

Fine. Now. Now, why don't you tell me what we're. Hello? Hello? That always happens on page six, Mr. Burgndorf. Mr. Burgundor. You. Sorry.

[Donald O. Stryker]

Sorry, sir. The exhibit officially does not until 9am begin.

[Sam Spade]

As you see, it's 8:45. I won't charge you, Mr. Bergendorf. I won't charge you. You can bring out the baby anytime now. Mr. Runcible of the Sunset Indemnity sent me here.

[Donald O. Stryker]

My credentials, Mr. Spade.

[Sam Spade]

You are Mr. Spade? I am, yes. Now, what's with this Kimberly Cross?

[Donald O. Stryker]

To a single horse gallery such as mine comes such an honor only once. Today only. Burgendorf's is with Tiffany's in the same class. Here, here, huh? Is picture of Kimberley Cross.

[Angel]

Yeah.

[Donald O. Stryker]

Fourteen stones, all blue, white. Eight down, six across. Total $268,000 plus 20% tax.

[Sam Spade]

Oh, jewelry.

[Donald O. Stryker]

To call this jewelry is to call Elizabeth Taylor. A garden variety tomato is a crown jewel from Thuringia. Mr. Spade, really. It's part of a state of a dead duke. Is price tag $268,000 plus.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Where is it involved?

[Donald O. Stryker]

Time lock comes 9 o'clock on the north. She opens then.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah. The exhibit begins.

[Angel]

Yeah.

[Sam Spade]

There's a company man here from the insurance outfit, isn't there?

[Donald O. Stryker]

Johnny Stroud.

[Sam Spade]

Oh, where is he?

[Donald O. Stryker]

He's working concealed. This man Strout undercover. Clever stuff, huh? You see, parked at curb across the street, one autobus.

[Angel]

Oh.

[Sam Spade]

Oh, yeah. Department of Public Health, City and County of San Francisco.

[Donald O. Stryker]

What Antitubercaloosa's campaign is giving to public for free gratis. 1x ray per citizen for chest cavity.

[Sam Spade]

Oh, chest X ray.

[Donald O. Stryker]

Handily parking opposite the Burgendorf gallery. So inside Mr. Stroud can take for himself a plant. Get it?

[Sam Spade]

Clever.

[Angel]

Clever.

[Sam Spade]

The free gratis autobus for chest X rays was a square end job, complete with reception compartment, X ray machine and attendant. The latter a sincere type with horn rimmed glasses and white starched blouse. I use the word sincere advisedly since he was at the moment doing a selling job on Johnny Stroud.

[George P. Strutt]

You know what I always say, Stroud?

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

What do you always say, George?

[George P. Strutt]

You never can tell about a cough. You never, never know.

[Sam Spade]

You see?

[George P. Strutt]

You see right there.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

I got a cold.

[George P. Strutt]

Maybe eight to five. It's only a cold, but five to eight. Let me take a picture. Now. No charge, no pain, no dice.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Go away.

[Angel]

Go away.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Oh, spade.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah, good, good.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Come on in. Come on in the Bar City. We're sending you up. Plenty of room back here.

[George P. Strutt]

You realize you're standing right in front of my X ray machine?

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

We'll move when you get a customer.

[George P. Strutt]

Customers?

[Sam Spade]

Yes.

[George P. Strutt]

Where are they? Where are those chests? If people only knew that 8 to 5 it may be a cold.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Then it could Runcible brief you on this baby?

[Sam Spade]

Yeah, it was brief all right.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

How do you make it?

[Sam Spade]

14 vulgar sized diamonds looking for a buyer. Sunset Indemnity ensuring Burgundorff against loss during the 24 hours they're on his hands.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

That's two for you.

[Sam Spade]

That's two against me too. Oh, like why does Sunset Indemnity need outsider help when they have you? And why are you playing like a movie Dick when the sensible thing to do is to sit down next to the exhibit with both eyes open and a rod under your arm?

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

What are you doing, George?

[George P. Strutt]

I'm testing my machine. Don't let me interfere with.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

George doesn't like me.

[Sam Spade]

I see that.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Well, I guess the boss left out one item, Sam.

[Sam Spade]

A tip.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Yeah, yeah, last night some schmo called him around midnight and got him out of bed. Oh, Runcible's a pessimist. You know, when Sunset Indemnity's on the line for a quarter of a million, he tends to get jumpy.

[Sam Spade]

Who had the tip?

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Anonymous.

[Sam Spade]

They all are.

[NBC Announcer]

Right from the open.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

The guy says somebody's gonna take a run and jump at the Kimberley Cross while it's at Burgendorf. Needless to say, for the balance of the night, principal does not sleep. So today we got Reinforcements, Georgie.

[George P. Strutt]

Yes.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

I'm gonna leave you now, George, to take my post across the street while Mr. Spade.

[Sam Spade]

Hey, wait a minute, Johnny.

[Angel]

Hmm?

[Sam Spade]

Look, look. In front of Burgundor's.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

The dame.

[Sam Spade]

The dame. To paraphrase Bergendorf, calling her a dame was like calling the Kimberley Queen a hunk of jewelry. That's not what interested me. At least not right then. She was walking back and forth in front of Burgendorf's like a kid at the dentist door trying to get up the nerve to push the button. Quoting from my notes, it says 9:02am Girl, 5ft 2, blonde, early 20s, gray tweed suit. Spent a few indecisive minutes in front of Burgundor's, finally went in. She came out almost immediately, started west on. Then evidently saw a patrol officer approaching on same side of street. Hurriedly crossed toward our post in public health department mobile unit number two and entered.

[Patricia Conroy]

Hello.

[George P. Strutt]

Well, good morning. Good morning.

[Patricia Conroy]

Am I too early for the.

[George P. Strutt]

Oh, you're just in time. First customer of the day. There. Let's see now. Name?

[Patricia Conroy]

Martin.

[George P. Strutt]

Martin. First Name, Bernice. Address?

[Patricia Conroy]

8 2-6.

[Sam Spade]

She wasn't a very good liar. While she was telling him her name was Bernice Martin, she filled with a leather handbag with the initials PC on it, big enough to read from across the street. George filled the form out, then moved her around to the machine. By now, the cop she was ducking and walked by and turned the corner.

[Effie Perrine]

Shall I.

[George P. Strutt]

No, no. It won't be necessary to take off your coat.

[Patricia Conroy]

Is this all right?

[George P. Strutt]

That's good. Stand right there.

[Sam Spade]

Hold still.

[George P. Strutt]

Now take a deep breath. Hold it there. That's all there is to it. You're doing a wise thing, lady.

[Patricia Conroy]

You think so?

[George P. Strutt]

Certainly. Eight to five. It's only a cold, but five to eight, you never, never know. Here's your stub with your number on it. We'll notify you in a few days.

[Patricia Conroy]

Thank you.

[George P. Strutt]

Thank.

[Sam Spade]

Whereupon Ms. PC also down to the corner and into a drugstore. Five minutes later, she still hadn't come out. Stroud was beginning to champ at the bit.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

So what, Sam?

[Sam Spade]

So she's worried. Ah, she's ducking cops. She's using a phony name or her girlfriend's handbag.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Look, I'm going.

[Sam Spade]

Hey, wait a minute. Wait a minute. I'm sure I've seen her somewhere before. Where? I don't know, but I think it was around headquarters.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Now, who's playing movie dick? Look, it's 10 after 9. I'll go over and settle down next to the. The Vulgar diamonds. And you make yourself comfy with Georgie.

[George P. Strutt]

If I get busy, out you go.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Keep your eyes on the customers going in and out. There's a good loud burglar alarm over the door there. You can hear in the block of wet. You see what I mean? It's good and lousa.

[NBC Announcer]

Holy cow.

[Sam Spade]

Stroud took the gallery and I set sail for the corner drugstore. Pulling up in 20 seconds flat. She was gone, of course. The druggist was at the fountain mixing a Coke, which he spilled when I reached across and grabbed him by the lapels. Blonde, you say? Yeah, yeah. Young, gray suit.

[Angel]

Hmm.

[Sam Spade]

I. I told you, Jack. She just came in here. I know. What do you want to know about her? What she do? Telephone? No, she was just like you. Asked me about a guy. What guy? Larry Galliano, his name is. Wanted to know if I'd seen him come by this morning. Who's he? I don't know. Did she describe him?

[Donald O. Stryker]

Have to.

[Sam Spade]

His picture's on page one of the morning paper. Here, take a look. It was no time to dawdle, but I gave it 10 seconds. Larry Galliano, a one time gas station stick up artist, had just been released from Quentin after doing five years. On the way across the street to Burgendorf's, it came back to me where I'd seen her standing outside the courtroom crying when they sentenced him five years ago. Over here, Sam. Yeah. Oh, no. Burgundor, huh?

[Angel]

Yeah, yeah.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Shot from behind the stones, needless to say. Sure. Maybe you were right about that day.

[Sam Spade]

No, no, she didn't have time. Someone was hiding in here waiting for Bergendorf to open up this morning.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

How'd he get out?

[Sam Spade]

Hell, there must be a back door in this joint.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

I'll check it. The phone's on the desk. Wake up Lieutenant Denby, huh?

[Sam Spade]

Right. How he'll love it too. Two of us holding hands across the street while. Stroud.

[Donald O. Stryker]

Johnny Stroud.

[Sam Spade]

Look, look, it's me, Burgndorf. Same spade. Stroud. He's checking the back door.

[Angel]

Who did it?

[Donald O. Stryker]

Oh, double cross, double cross me once.

[Sam Spade]

It is all who, who you talk. It was as plain as a man in his condition. Could have made it obvious to anyone with average intelligence. But for stupid Sam, it was still a long voyage home.

[NBC Announcer]

You are listening to the weekly adventure of radio's most famous detective, Sam Spade. Three chimes mean good times on NBC. There's music for you tomorrow on NBC. With the distinctive four keyboard styling of the first piano quartet, this widely acclaimed and unique musical organization brings you a melodic blend of classical and light classical selections in four part harmony. Every Saturday and tomorrow there's also a one hour concert by the NBC Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Walter Duclos. Featured in tomorrow's symphony performance are works by Sibelius and Schumann. It's the best in music every Saturday with the NBC Symphony and the First Piano Quartet. And now back to the Kimberly Cross caper, Tonight's adventure with Sam Spade.

[Sam Spade]

It was a pretty selfish trick, but I left Johnny Stroud at the Burgundor Gallery to play for Cheesy with Dundee and company, knowing in advance pretty much how the patter was going to run. Then called the Chronicle and found the picture of Larry Galliano had been taken yesterday as they walked out of a fleabag on Mission street called the Aeolian Hotel.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Yeah, Galliano. Yeah, yeah, sure, sure, sure.

[Donald O. Stryker]

I know him.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Stayed here night before last until I found out about him.

[Sam Spade]

Oh, found out what?

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

That he was an ex con. This here's a respectable joint place house, mister. We don't cater to felons, mister, Miners or any other members of the demon Demons.

[Donald O. Stryker]

Yes, indeed.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

So when I found where Galliano come from.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Now look, did he give you a forwarding address?

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

I don't know. Let me see, son.

[Effie Perrine]

Yes.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Oh, yeah. Christopher Apartments on Jones, see? Say, you're in luck, young man. Yeah, my girlfriend's landlady over there. Now, looky here. Don't you sweet talker. Now.

[Effie Perrine]

Out of the way, boy, out of the way.

[Sam Spade]

Look, all I want, madam, is one moment of your time.

[Donald O. Stryker]

I already told you, boy, I don't know no Galliano. Never heard of him. So I don't want to hear from him.

[Sam Spade]

Well, wait a minute now. Will you just take a look at one side boy.

[Angel]

One side, boy.

[Donald O. Stryker]

No time.

[Sam Spade]

Well, Mrs. Landlady, I'm afraid you've lost out.

[Donald O. Stryker]

What?

[Sam Spade]

Yeah, you were in line of wearing a bagless vacuum cleaner, you know.

[Donald O. Stryker]

Wait, wait, wait, wait. Wait a minute, Curly.

[Sam Spade]

Wait a minute.

[Donald O. Stryker]

What you want to know, bud?

[Angel]

Yes.

[Sam Spade]

Well, this Galliano just might be using another name. Now, this is his picture right here. Yes, now I will rephrase my question. Has he been around?

[Donald O. Stryker]

Nope.

[Sam Spade]

I see.

[Angel]

Landlady.

[Donald O. Stryker]

Well, do I win?

[Sam Spade]

Oh, I am sorry, but stand by for the giant jackpot.

[Donald O. Stryker]

Is it electric?

[Sam Spade]

I patted her cheek, made a detour around her and left, figuring to check with the parole board. But as I was climbing into the cab in front of the building, a stray thought hit me and I went back to the doorway and case the name plates again. This time for someone with the initials I'd remembered seeing on the blonde's handbag. PC I did better. Patricia Conroy was living in apartment 402. I buzzed four times, then tried the door. It was open. I gave the living room and bedroom a fast horse, moved on to the kitchen and cased a hamper full of laundry on the back porch. Result. Nil. I'd about decided I was in the wrong apartment when I noticed something that changed my mind. A crumpled up envelope in a wastepaper basket in the living room with today's date on it marked Western Airlines Flight 6 to Los Angeles. Passenger LP Galliano. I had the phone in one hand and a finger on the dial when. Put it down. Oh.

[George P. Strutt]

Oh.

[Patricia Conroy]

Are you gonna put the phone down or do I have to shoot?

[Sam Spade]

You mean there's no third choice?

[Patricia Conroy]

Put it down.

[Sam Spade]

Sure. Now what?

[Patricia Conroy]

Sit down. You'll be here for a while, huh? His plane lands at Burbank in a half hour. If you have any dates between now and 4:30, forget them.

[Angel]

Mm.

[Sam Spade]

Mind if I smoke?

[Patricia Conroy]

Go ahead.

[Sam Spade]

You know, this is pretty heavy handed stuff for Nagyou.

[Patricia Conroy]

Know, I've grown up a lot in the last two days.

[Sam Spade]

Not enough, honey. Or if you wouldn't be stooging for Galliano. He can't run away from this kind of a rap, you know.

[Patricia Conroy]

48 hours.

[Angel]

Hmm.

[Patricia Conroy]

That's how long Larry's been out of the pen.

[Sam Spade]

Well, he didn't waste any time getting back in Shrine.

[Patricia Conroy]

Look, what's your name?

[Sam Spade]

Spade.

[Patricia Conroy]

Spade. What if I told you Larry Galliano had nothing to do with it?

[Sam Spade]

I might give you quite an argument.

[Patricia Conroy]

And I don't feel like arguing, so I'll just tell you.

[Sam Spade]

Good.

[Patricia Conroy]

Someone offered him the job at Burgendorf's the day he got out. Larry thought it was legitimate until he heard a couple of things by accident.

[Sam Spade]

Like what?

[Patricia Conroy]

Like getting hired to play fall guy in a phony robbery.

[Sam Spade]

You mean Bergendorf was in?

[Patricia Conroy]

Sure. Till this morning. They figured Larry would be a handy guy to have hanging around with his big fat prison record when the diamonds disappeared. That's what he told me. And I believe him. I love him. Whether or not you believe or love me or him, I do not care. I also do not care what kind of a rap you pin on me when this is all over. All I want is time enough to do a couple of errands. Now hoist it out of that chair and put it down in the closet. There. You hear what I said?

[Sam Spade]

Yes, ma'am. I was wrong. She was no Ingenue. Happily, the closet had a light in it. So I settled down on a hatbox and read some old copies of mademoiselle until 5:30 when I heard the door close. What with soundproof outside walls, no window, a double slab door with a lock she thoughtfully filled with gum. Was almost seven when I got back to my office. The next move, of course, was to call Lieutenant Dundee and wise up the Los Angeles police on Galliano. I picked up the phone and put it down four times. There was no use kidding myself. The yarn she told was pretty wild. But there was something about the way she told it, and I believed her in. Here.

[George P. Strutt]

Mr. Spade.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah.

[George P. Strutt]

You remember me this morning, George? The technician from the X ray mobile unit?

[Libsyn Ads Representative]

Yeah.

[Sam Spade]

George, what's on your mind?

[George P. Strutt]

Funny thing, that girl, 34 chest. You remember, the blonde?

[Sam Spade]

Oh, yeah, I remember very well, George. What about the blonde?

[George P. Strutt]

Well, I tried to call her. Operator says there's no such number. And the company has no record of a Bernice.

[Sam Spade]

She was using a phony moniker, George. Her name's Patricia Conroy.

[George P. Strutt]

Oh, now, why would she do that?

[Sam Spade]

Well, a girl's gotta be careful, you know.

[George P. Strutt]

She does, for sure.

[Sam Spade]

How come?

[George P. Strutt]

How come? I, I, I, I kind of took an interest in her case, you know, I, I rushed the pictures through as soon as we closed up tonight. She's an incipient case. Oh, yes. I wanted to wise her up right away. You see here.

[Sam Spade]

Oh, this is.

[George P. Strutt]

No, no, this one's Johnny Stroud. I took it when he wasn't looking. Told him I was testing. He was right at that. Nothing wrong with him. But I always say you never, never.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. How about the girl?

[George P. Strutt]

How about.

[Sam Spade]

How about the girl?

[George P. Strutt]

Cold. Oh, yes, yes. Here.

[Angel]

Now.

[George P. Strutt]

Now, look, you. You see this shadowy part here?

[Sam Spade]

Yeah. Hey, wait a minute. I wasn't looking at the shadow part. I was looking at something at the left side of the picture. Right where the inside coat pocket would be. The clear black outline of the Kimberly Cross.

[George P. Strutt]

Do you mean she had the.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah, yeah. Give me the phone.

[George P. Strutt]

Well, I thought it was one of those clip gimmicks the girls wear on the phone.

[Sam Spade]

The phone. Spade.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Johnny Stroud.

[Sam Spade]

Look, I got news for you.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

I got news for you too. I spotted that blonde again.

[Sam Spade]

Where?

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

In the bar on Carney street, talking to guess who.

[Sam Spade]

You mean Galliano?

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Who's he?

[Sam Spade]

Never mind.

[Angel]

Never mind.

[Sam Spade]

Who was she drinking with?

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Papadopoulos. The biggest jewelry fence on the coast.

[Sam Spade]

Where are you now?

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Outside her apartment. Jones. Near Post, I think.

[Sam Spade]

The numbers I'll be Up in five minutes.

[Patricia Conroy]

Look, like I told you, Spate, I don't want to argue.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

She says she doesn't want to argue, Sam.

[Sam Spade]

Too bad. Too bad. I. I don't mind telling you, I'm a little burned up. Baby, I fell for that line you handed me this afternoon. I. I didn't even mind sitting in your closet for two hours.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Ah, what's that?

[Sam Spade]

Sure, she's got a.32 tucked away here. Had me looking up the barrel while she dished out a lot of. Who's got the cross, honey? You or Galliano?

[Patricia Conroy]

We don't know anything about it.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Then what were you doing in that bar with Papadopoulos?

[Patricia Conroy]

Larry said whoever had it would try to move it through him. I thought I could get to him, but I was wrong. How does that sound?

[Sam Spade]

What do you think?

[Patricia Conroy]

Look, I walked into Burgendorf's this morning.

[Sam Spade]

Why'd you run out?

[Patricia Conroy]

The vault was open, furniture was overturned, and Burgendorf didn't answer when I called. I figured it was a setup for Larry to check in and he was on his way. So. So it does sound phony.

[Sam Spade]

Doesn't.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Sure does, honey.

[Patricia Conroy]

I don't lie. I guess I could make up a better story than that.

[Sam Spade]

Oh, you're doing great. Why'd Larry blow Tom?

[Patricia Conroy]

You need a diagram. You were scared. What chance is the next convict when it's his story against someone else's?

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

What did you do with the.32 in.

[Donald O. Stryker]

The drawer over there?

[Sam Spade]

Now, here's the big question, honey.

[Effie Perrine]

I can't tell you anything else.

[Sam Spade]

Where are the diamonds?

[Patricia Conroy]

How do I know? How do I know?

[Sam Spade]

Look, you're a real modest girl, Patricia. As a liar, you're a sensational.

[Patricia Conroy]

I'm not lying. Oh, believe me.

[Sam Spade]

You had the Kimberly Cross in your inside coat pocket when you came into the wagon this morning.

[Patricia Conroy]

What are you talking about?

[Angel]

I'll get it.

[Sam Spade]

The X ray, baby. Take a look. You asked for a diagram. There it is in your inside left.

[Patricia Conroy]

Wait a minute.

[Sam Spade]

Hello?

[George P. Strutt]

Mr. Spade?

[Sam Spade]

Yeah.

[George P. Strutt]

This is George, the technician again.

[Patricia Conroy]

This is all wrong.

[Sam Spade]

Hold it, George.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Let me see that.

[Patricia Conroy]

I don't have any inside pockets. Look, I'm wearing the suit right now.

[Sam Spade]

Hold it, George. What is it?

[George P. Strutt]

I got to worrying about that print of Ms. Conroy's. The incipient case. 34 chest unit.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah, what about it?

[George P. Strutt]

I called the lab and they checked again. It's a mistake, Mr. Spade. A switch. It belongs to someone else.

[Sam Spade]

Who?

[George P. Strutt]

Johnny Stroud.

[Sam Spade]

Oh. Oh, well. Well, George, you won't have to worry about making more extra Prints.

[George P. Strutt]

What?

[Sam Spade]

The ones you have will do. Yeah, thanks. Thanks a lot, George. George is getting worried.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Extra prints?

[Sam Spade]

Yeah. Yeah, I had him run off a batch. Evidence trial, DA's office, you know. Now, let's take her in, huh? Yeah.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Just a minute.

[Effie Perrine]

This is crazy.

[Patricia Conroy]

I have no inside pocket.

[Sam Spade]

You wouldn't argue with a picture, would you, honey? Give me the gun, Johnny. We'll take her in together.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

No, no, wait. I want to settle something else.

[Sam Spade]

Johnny, you're. You're pointing that thing at me. It might go off.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Yeah. Yeah, it might have that.

[Sam Spade]

What's eating you, Johnny?

[Patricia Conroy]

I know what's eating him. He's.

[George P. Strutt]

Shut up.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

You aren't a very good liar either, are you, Sam? There aren't any extra prints.

[Sam Spade]

Well, there's always George.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

In a couple of hours, there won't be any George.

[Donald O. Stryker]

Nervous?

[Sam Spade]

Okay, Johnny, on your feet.

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Let me go, Sam.

[Sam Spade]

Let me go. We can work out a deal. Shut up, Sam.

[Patricia Conroy]

Sam, your head. You're shot.

[Sam Spade]

Here.

[Angel]

Yeah.

[Sam Spade]

Take the gun. Call Dundee. Get it. Dundee. Homicide. And the next voice I heard belonged to cross. Cool, brisk Ms. Bergamot of the Harbor Emergency Hospital period. And a babysitting session.

[Effie Perrine]

How intrepid. Sam, but your wound.

[Sam Spade]

Nothing, sweetheart, nothing. As Hopalong Cassidy always says in real six. Don't worry, honey. It was only a scratch. Now, wait.

[Effie Perrine]

Now, wait.

[Sam Spade]

Can't. Can't you get up without moving your lap?

[Effie Perrine]

No. But, Sam, there's one important omission. Oh, The Kimberly Cross. What did Stroud do with it?

[Sam Spade]

That cherub is an intramural affair between Stroud and Mr. Runcible. While, as you know, this report is an affair between you and the portable. Scoot, scoot, scoot.

[NBC Announcer]

Three chimes mean good times on NBC, there's music and mystery for you tomorrow evening. For music, it's your hit parade, bringing you the top tunes in the land with Eileen Wilson, Snooki Lanson and Raymond Scott's orchestra. For mystery, it's the Man Called X, starring Herbert Marshall as an intrepid adventurer in international intrigue who travels wherever there is mystery, danger and romance.

[Effie Perrine]

Here it is, Sam.

[Sam Spade]

Oh, brisk, efficient. Miss. You may lay it on my desk and restore your lap to its original position.

[Effie Perrine]

Oh, yes, sir. Comfortable, Sam?

[Sam Spade]

Ah, loving every minute.

[Effie Perrine]

Sam.

[Angel]

Yeah?

[Effie Perrine]

A girl can't help wondering sometimes.

[Sam Spade]

About what?

[Effie Perrine]

Well, the way you described the blonde in your report. Glamorous like the Kimberly Cross and all.

[Sam Spade]

You like that?

[Effie Perrine]

Oh, I just wish sometimes someone else could be your secretary and I'd be the one you'd meet in a room with velvet draperies and a long cigarette holder and slanting glasses and a black lace negligee.

[Sam Spade]

Hold it, girl. Hold it. You've gone quite far enough.

[Patricia Conroy]

I know.

[Effie Perrine]

But it's only natural for a girl to want to be glamorous, eh?

[Harvey J. Strotherton]

Pardon me.

[Sam Spade]

You show up with any of those props and I'll turn you over my knee.

[Effie Perrine]

You like me the way I am, Sam?

[Sam Spade]

Yep.

[Effie Perrine]

Why is it always this way? Just when I think I'm getting somewhere, I find myself saying, good night, Sam.

[Sam Spade]

Good night, sweetheart.

[NBC Announcer]

The adventures of Sam Spade are produced, edited and directed by William Speer. Sam Spade was played by Stephen Dunn. Lorene Tuttle is Effie. Also in the cast were Wally Mayer, Fritz Fell, Georgia Ellis, Sidney Miller, Olin Soule, Alice Wellman and John Monahan. Script for tonight's adventure by Harold Swanton. Musical scoring by Lud Gluskin conducted by Robert Armbru. Join us again next week, same time, for another adventure with Sam Spade. Don't underestimate the danger of tuberculosis. Although great strides have been taken towards stamping out the disease, it still remains a menace. Last year alone it caused 50,000 deaths in the United States. 50,000 needless deaths. Because TB can be controlled and cured if caught in time, the key to the complete defeat of the disease is the chest X ray. You'll find that in many communities, chest X rays can be obtained free of charge or at a nominal cost.

[Dutch Marketing Representative]

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[Libsyn Ads Representative]

Marketing is hard, but I'll tell you a little secret. It doesn't have to be. Let me point something out. You're listening to a podcast right now and it's great. You love the host. You seek it out and download it. You listen to it while driving, working out, cooking, even going to the bathroom. Podcasts are a pretty close companion. And this is a podcast ad. Did I get your attention? You can reach great listeners like yourself with podcast advertising from Libsyn Ads. Choose from hundreds of top podcasts offering host endorsements or run a pre produced ad like this one across thousands of shows to reach your target audience in their favorite podcasts with Libsyn ads, go to Libsynads.com that's L I B S Y N ads.com today.