Barrie Craig and Nick Carter

Summary

CASE CLOSED! – “Barrie Craig and Nick Carter”
Podcast by RelicRadio.com | April 8, 2026

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Overview

This episode of Case Closed revives two classic crime dramas from the golden age of radio:

1. Barry Craig, Confidential Investigator – “Hayes for Homicide” (aired August 31, 1954)
2. Nick Carter, Master Detective – “Poison with a Past” (aired March 4, 1945)

Listeners are treated to suspenseful stories involving murder, greed, deception, and classic detective deduction. The tone throughout is witty, atmospheric, and steeped in the characteristic brisk dialogue of mid-20th century noir radio dramas.

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Segment 1: Barry Craig, Confidential Investigator – “Hayes for Homicide”

[00:37–28:44]

Main Plot

Barry Craig is seeking a quiet vacation in rural Vermont but instead stumbles onto murder. What starts as a peaceful evening quickly escalates into a case involving a dead man found on a hay wagon, missing corpses, a glamorous but enigmatic farmer’s daughter, bank heists, and double crosses among criminals.

Key Discussion Points & Highlights

• Opening Reflection on Murder

  • “Someone once said that murder is a fine art. There’s a catch, though. If you’re a successful artist, they hang your paintings. If you’re a successful murderer, they hang you.”
    — Barry Craig ([00:48])

• The Setting & Discovery

  • Barry takes a vacation with Jake, encountering a hay wagon in the Vermont night—complete with a corpse stabbed in the heart but no identification ([03:25]).
  • They attempt to report the body at a farmhouse, provoking warning shots from a mysterious woman.

• Meeting Millie George

  • Millie presents herself as a farmer’s daughter with odd tales of dead men "walking."
  • Barry quickly deduces she’s “a complete liar,” noticing her expensive looks and city polish ([07:00]).

• Strange Events and Shifting Corpses

  • Returning to the hay wagon, Barry finds the corpse missing.
  • “Less hay. Less corpse. No corpse.”
    — Barry Craig & Jake ([11:30])

• A House Full of Scheming Criminals

  • At Millie’s farmhouse, Barry, Jake, “Brady,” and others converge, all pursuing a stash of stolen bank money hidden by a convict named Joey.
  • Sharp, comic banter about “the baby”—criminal slang for the money ([15:09]).

• Dina’s Betrayal and The Final Confrontation

  • Dina, an apparently loyal criminal cohort, flees with the money after staged gunshots reveal her true intentions.
    • “Craigie was right. I feel terrible…But I don’t understand Dina crossing me like that. What’d she get out of it?”
      — Brady ([22:16])
  • Barry deduces the real murderer and thief was “Brady” himself, laying out the logic with satisfying noir flair.

• Resolution

  • Barry exposes the criminal, and the police are summoned.
  • The episode ends with Millie George reaffirming her status as a genuine farmer’s daughter and offering Barry “some country cooked ham” ([27:14]).

Notable Quotes

• “Nature doesn’t concern herself too much about us and our doings, which is very bright of nature.”
  — Barry Craig ([04:21])

• “So far as Millie George was concerned, murder belonged in pretty much the same category as a run in a pair of new nylons. You said how dreadful and bought another pair.”
  — Barry Craig ([09:52])

• “You leave my mind out of this. It’s got its own troubles.”
  — Brady ([25:14])

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Segment 2: Nick Carter, Master Detective – “Poison With A Past”

[30:05–58:52]

Main Plot

Nick Carter is called upon to solve a string of mysterious poisonings among members of the Vedanta Society—cases baffling both police and medical experts. The culprit’s signature is a rare, untraceable poison sent as a flower to his intended victims. The story explores themes of jealousy, academic rivalry, and vengeance behind a facade of intellectual camaraderie.

Key Discussion Points & Highlights

• The Odd Case of Untraceable Poison

  • Riley, the police lieutenant, reports a murder by an unknown poison with no clear delivery method, seeking Nick’s expertise ([32:00]).

• Vedanta Society and its Eccentric Circle

  • The suspects are introduced—Professor Travers, Dr. Starr (a botanist), Mary Devine (student), all connected through the Vedanta Society and collections of rare Sanskrit manuscripts ([36:07]).
  • The group all smoked from the same pack of Travers’ cigarettes, but only Shelby died.

• The Menacing Datura Flower

  • Mary Devine brings Nick a datura flower, which she, Star, and Travers received as a warning.
    • “In India, they call it Datura…it intoxicates strongly…can be mixed with food or drink and will kill without leaving a trace. Cannot be isolated unless the chemist knows what he’s looking for.”
      — Nick Carter ([40:11])

• Investigation at the Vedanta Club & Indian Restaurant

  • Nick, Professor Travers, and Dr. Starr visit a curry shop. Travers, after eating, shows signs of poisoning and collapses ([45:13]).

• Deductive Reasoning & Motive

  • Nick links Dr. Starr’s expertise in poisons to the datura, recognizing the use of specialized knowledge as key to the case ([54:24]).
  • Motive is gradually revealed to be romantic jealousy:
    • “Because he took my girl away from me. Took her away from me...It broke her heart. She killed herself. He's an egotistical beast.”
      — Dr. Starr ([52:50])

• Climax: Nick Sets a Trap

  • Dr. Starr lures Mary to his apartment, but Nick preempts this, confronting Starr directly. Starr confesses, and Nick subdues him before anyone is harmed ([52:11]–[54:21]).

• Philosophical Twist

  • Nick notes that Professor Travers, dying, tried to point to his killer, using principles of mental control from Vedanta philosophy ([54:59]).

Notable Quotes

• “Every religion, every system of thought, every philosophy has something worthwhile in it, no matter how peculiar it may seem to us at first.”
  — Nick Carter ([55:28])

• “That’s sure a new one on me—using a Hindu philosophy to accuse your murderer.”
  — Lt. Riley ([55:24])

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Notable Moments and Character Exchanges

• Wit and Humor

  • Barry Craig’s dry wit and Jake’s comic country humor provide levity amid the murder investigations—e.g., Jake’s complaints about walking, “I got short ankles” ([13:01]).
  • The criminal exchanges—Brady’s banter and frustration, Dina’s duplicity—add noir flavor and lively repartee.

• Memorable Twist

  • In Nick Carter, the reveal that the murderer tried to engineer a sequence of deaths for personal vengeance, and Nick’s methodical reasoning, create a classic locked-room mystery feel.

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Key Timestamps

• [00:48] – Barry Craig’s reflection on the artistry of murder

• [03:25] – Discovery of the pale, unidentified corpse

• [07:25] – Millie George’s mysterious story and demeanor

• [11:30] – The corpse has vanished from the hay wagon

• [15:09] – Criminals argue about the “baby” (the bank loot)

• [22:16] – Dina’s betrayal is exposed

• [28:44] – End of Barry Craig segment

• [32:07] – Introduction of Vedanta Society suspects in Nick Carter episode

• [40:11] – Introduction of the Datura flower as a murder weapon

• [45:13] – Professor Travers is poisoned at the curry shop

• [52:11] – Confrontation and confession from Dr. Starr

• [54:59] – Nick explains the dying clue from Professor Travers

• [55:28] – Philosophical reflection on the value of all belief systems

• [58:52] – Conclusion of Nick Carter segment

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Final Thoughts

This episode expertly showcases the golden-age crime drama formulas—cynical yet sharp detectives, shadowy motives, clever foils, and the satisfying unraveling of the “whodunnit.” The performances and dialogue sparkle with wit, and the layered storytelling keeps listeners engaged to the very end. Both stories end with the classic balance of justice and wry observation that defined radio noir.

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For more vintage crime and detective tales, visit relicradio.com.

Transcript

[Narrator/Host]

Foreign.

[Podcast Host]

This is Case Closed crime stories from the golden age of radio. This week on Case Closed, our hour of mystery begins with Barry Craig, confidential Investigator. We'll hear Hayes for homicide from August 3, 31st, 1954. After that, it's Nick Carter, master detective and Poison with a past, from March 4, 1945.

[Announcer]

William Gargan stars as Barry Craig, confidential Investigator.

[Barry Craig]

Someone once said that murder is a fine art. There's a catch, though. If you're a successful artist, they hang your paintings. If you're a successful murderer, they hang you.

[Announcer]

The National Broadcasting Company presents William Cargan in another transcribed drama of mystery and adventure with America's number one detective, Barry Craig, confidential investigator.

[Barry Craig]

Barry Craig speaking. Even confidential investigators need a vacation. Sometimes they've been known to take one. The place I'd chosen was Vermont. The main reason for that was Jake. He was on vacation, too. He decided to come home and see if he'd been smart in abandoning Vermont to run an elevator on Madison Avenue. Say, Jake.

[Jake]

Yeah?

[Barry Craig]

What's the verdict?

[Jake]

Madison Avenue.

[Barry Craig]

Why is Madison Avenue dark and quiet like this?

[Narrator/Host]

Nope.

[Barry Craig]

Is Madison Avenue surrounded by tall trees, cooled by gentle breezes, filled with the fragrance of unspoiled nature?

[Jake]

Nope.

[Barry Craig]

Now, what's Madison Avenue got that this place hasn't?

[Brady]

Girls.

[Barry Craig]

Well, you may be right, but. Or you may be wrong. That came from directly up the road.

[Jake]

Nice night for a hayride, is it?

[Brady]

Yep.

[Jake]

Could have been a giggle.

[Barry Craig]

A rather loud giggle.

[Jake]

Girls got very loud giggles sometimes. Especially on a hayride.

[Barry Craig]

Oh, Jake, stop pulling my leg. Hey, wait a minute. What's that in the road up ahead of us?

[Jake]

Hay wagon.

[Barry Craig]

I refuse to believe it, but it is filled with hay.

[Jake]

Usually are.

[Barry Craig]

There's a horse out in front of it. But where's the driver? Say, Jake, would he have gone off and left the wagon out in the

[Narrator/Host]

middle of the road?

[Jake]

Tain't too likely.

[Narrator/Host]

No.

[Barry Craig]

I'm coming up on that wagon. That girl, if it was a girl, didn't giggle, she screamed. I'd better take a look around in the hay.

[Announcer]

What for?

[Barry Craig]

Anything larger than a needle? Yeah, there's plenty of hay up here.

[Jake]

Anything else?

[Barry Craig]

No, I. Mr. Craig, I was rushing things. There is something else up here.

[Jake]

What?

[Barry Craig]

A man. A very pale man.

[Jake]

What's he doing up there?

[Barry Craig]

Nothing. Just being dead. He lay very still. His eyes stared up at the summer sky overhead. But so neither the stars nor the moon. The moon that shone on him and on the metal handle of the knife that was buried in his heart. He was wearing overalls and a work shirt. His Short hair outlined clearly, the skull beneath. There was nothing I nor anyone could do for him.

[Narrator/Host]

Murdered?

[Barry Craig]

Yes.

[Jake]

Anything on him?

[Barry Craig]

No identification at all.

[Jake]

Jake, we need a phone Past farmhouse half mile back.

[Barry Craig]

Let's go.

[Jake]

Think it's all right leaving him there?

[Barry Craig]

He won't mind. The Vermont night was as quiet and peaceful as it had been before. I heard the scream and a man died of a knife wound lying on a mound of hay. Nature doesn't concern herself too much about us and our doings, which is very bright of nature.

[Jake]

Got to turn off the road to get to that farmhouse.

[Barry Craig]

Yeah, Well, somebody ought to oil that gate.

[Jake]

Whole house is pretty run down, Jake.

[Brady]

It down ain't necessary.

[Barry Craig]

Those shots over our heads, her aim might improve.

[Jake]

Her aim?

[Barry Craig]

Well, you can see her farmhouse window. This time it's not the farmer with the shotgun, it's the farmer's daughter.

[Jake]

Spoil a lot of stories that way. She's left the window.

[Barry Craig]

Yeah. She knows she didn't hit either of us. Those shots were either a warning or possibly a yell for help.

[Jake]

How are you going to decide?

[Barry Craig]

Well, if it was a warning, I don't think she'd have left the window, so it must be a call for help. Come on.

[Jake]

That was real logical, Mr. Craig.

[Barry Craig]

Thanks.

[Jake]

Let's hope it turns out to be true.

[Barry Craig]

There were no more shots. Which did or didn't prove I'd been right. Because shooting would be better once we were inside the house.

[Jake]

First time I ever heard of targets knocking on the door.

[Narrator/Host]

Huh.

[Barry Craig]

The lady may have had all the target shooting she wants.

[Millie George]

Who's there?

[Barry Craig]

Barry Craig and Jake. Hello.

[Patsy]

Barry Craig.

[Barry Craig]

Yeah.

[Millie George]

And Jake.

[Narrator/Host]

Me.

[Millie George]

Neither of you look very terrifying.

[Barry Craig]

Is that bad?

[Millie George]

No, it's nice. Please come in.

[Narrator/Host]

Thanks.

[Millie George]

Please, make yourselves comfortable.

[Barry Craig]

Nice room.

[Millie George]

Rustic perhaps, but I like it.

[Barry Craig]

Do you like being a farmer? Or maybe I should say a farmer's daughter?

[Millie George]

Very much.

[Barry Craig]

Almost as much as you like firing guns at strangers.

[Millie George]

But I didn't know whether you were strangers or.

[Announcer]

Or what.

[Millie George]

Or dead men.

[Barry Craig]

Maybe she was what she claimed to be, a farmer's daughter. But if she was, somebody's been telling me lies about farms. Her hairdo was sleek, as though it had been just applied. Her fingernails had had a lot of professional attention. Her dress was so simple it practically yelled Paris at you. And she didn't need any of these beauty aids. She would have been beautiful without them. But not nearly so expensive. You did say dead men?

[Millie George]

Yes.

[Barry Craig]

You often run across dead men walking around?

[Millie George]

Yes.

[Narrator/Host]

Uh huh.

[Millie George]

You think I'm crazy, don't you?

[Barry Craig]

I Don't think you're crazy at all. You've just got a peculiar vision.

[Millie George]

Not sure I ought to be grateful for that.

[Barry Craig]

Oh, forget I said it.

[Millie George]

My name is Millie George.

[Barry Craig]

How do you do?

[Millie George]

This is, or was, my father's farm. He was very happy here until the dead men started walking. And then he became one of them himself.

[Barry Craig]

Your father's dead?

[Millie George]

Over a year now.

[Barry Craig]

You live here alone?

[Millie George]

I don't really live here at all. I have an apartment and a job in town. But I come here often. As often as I dare.

[Barry Craig]

My fingers idly traced a pattern in the inch deep dust on the table next to my chair. Inch deep dust. Millie George was very lovely. She told her ghost story neatly. But she was also a complete liar. I think maybe we'd better skip the walking dead for a minute. There's something more urgent that's got to be done. Where's your phone?

[Millie George]

I'm afraid there isn't one. Father never cared for what he called mechanical murderers.

[Barry Craig]

Murderers?

[Millie George]

He meant things that killed time, interrupted work.

[Barry Craig]

I see.

[Millie George]

Destroyed. Quiet.

[Barry Craig]

I see. That's too bad.

[Millie George]

Why do you need a phone?

[Barry Craig]

Jake and I ran across a hay wagon some distance down the road.

[Patsy]

Oh?

[Barry Craig]

There was a man in it. He wasn't walking around like the people you've been telling us about. He was lying down, but he was dead anyway. If I've been looking for a reaction to my words, I would have been disappointed. Lily George took the news with not a flicker of anything except polite interest. But I wasn't disappointed. I'd expected that reaction. The police like to be told about stray corpses.

[Millie George]

I suppose so. I think the gardeners have a phone.

[Barry Craig]

Where would I find them?

[Millie George]

Well, their house is about a quarter of a mile further down the road.

[Barry Craig]

Oh, good. Jake.

[Jake]

Ready.

[Millie George]

By the way, this man, what did he die of?

[Barry Craig]

A knife in his heart.

[Millie George]

Oh, suicide.

[Barry Craig]

The angle of the knife's entrance wouldn't be right for suicide.

[Millie George]

Oh, then it was murder. How dreadful.

[Barry Craig]

Yes, terribly dreadful. So long. So far as Millie George was concerned, murder belonged in pretty much the same category as a run and a pair of new nylons. You said how dreadful and bought another pair. You couldn't do exactly the same thing with a damaged life, though.

[Jake]

Mr. Craig.

[Barry Craig]

Yeah?

[Jake]

Millie George said the gardener's house, the one with the phone, was down the road that way.

[Barry Craig]

That's what she said, Jake.

[Jake]

Then why are we going this way?

[Barry Craig]

I want to take another look at that hay wagon.

[Jake]

Once wasn't enough.

[Barry Craig]

I think maybe there's been a change. Less hay Less corpse. It was a nice road to be taking a stroll on in the cool evening. It would have been an even nicer road if there hadn't been a hay wagon in the middle of it.

[Jake]

Still there?

[Barry Craig]

Yeah. The horse must be getting lonely.

[Jake]

Being a farmer, you get a wrong angle on horse. You don't think being a horse's chum is romantic?

[Barry Craig]

I'll never say hello to a horse again. Excuse me.

[Jake]

You'd get in pretty spry at climbing Hay wagons, Mr. Craig.

[Barry Craig]

Just practice, that's all.

[Brady]

Mr. Craig.

[Narrator/Host]

Hmm?

[Jake]

Count in the hay up there?

[Barry Craig]

No, just confirming a guess.

[Jake]

Less corpse.

[Barry Craig]

No corpse. I'd thought back at Millie George's house that the shots might have been a warning or maybe a call for help. I knew now they'd been neither. What they actually had been were distractions.

[Jake]

Mr. Craig. Maybe. Maybe he wasn't really dead.

[Barry Craig]

Jake, they don't get any deader.

[Jake]

Ain't likely. You'd be fooled Somebody moved him out of there. Yeah, well, what for? Can't be many folks enjoy dragging corpses around.

[Barry Craig]

Whoever dragged this one maybe didn't enjoy it at all.

[Jake]

Well, what was he trying to do, save undertaker's expenses?

[Barry Craig]

Maybe he was trying to save his neck. He got down under the hay wagon and said goodbye to it. We wouldn't be coming back that way,

[Brady]

Mr. Craig.

[Barry Craig]

What is it, Jake?

[Jake]

Funny thing about city people, they like to walk. Oh, they do it deliberate, even when they don't have to. Well, country people hate to walk.

[Barry Craig]

But, Jake, we've got to get back to that farmhouse with a girl in it. Yeah, Millie George.

[Jake]

We're hoping that this time maybe she won't shoot over our heads.

[Barry Craig]

We're hoping that this time she won't shoot at us at all.

[Jake]

And for this, we're wearing our feet down, clear at the ankle.

[Barry Craig]

Oh, it's not as bad as that.

[Jake]

It's worse. I got short ankles. Oh, Mr. Craig, I can tell you right now, she don't have a phone.

[Barry Craig]

I know, but by this time she may have something else.

[Jake]

Do I want to know what it might be?

[Barry Craig]

Not in your condition, you don't.

[Jake]

Thanks.

[Barry Craig]

We didn't have much farther to go. Which was just as well. Jake had started groaning at every step. Next to Jake's snores, Jake's groans are the surest recipe for punctured eardrums. Oh, you can stop groaning, Jake. We're at the house.

[Jake]

Oh, dear. If I got strength enough to lift my head, I am at the house.

[Barry Craig]

Think you can make it inside?

[Jake]

Oh, dear, I can Try.

[Narrator/Host]

Fine.

[Barry Craig]

Jake, it doesn't look as if anyone's going to invite us in.

[Jake]

This don't make me feel bad.

[Barry Craig]

We'll go in without an invitation.

[Jake]

Now I don't know how I feel.

[Barry Craig]

Why not later. Well, somebody left the lights on.

[Jake]

Wasn't a Vermont man. Quiet.

[Barry Craig]

Yeah. Let's try the parlor.

[Jake]

Anything for an excuse to keep a

[Barry Craig]

walk in, I suppose. This is the parlor.

[Jake]

Nobody in here. It's the parlor.

[Narrator/Host]

Hmm.

[Barry Craig]

I don't like this much. The only thing left for us to do now is sit down.

[Jake]

Excuse me while I cheer.

[Narrator/Host]

I.

[Brady]

What are you waiting for? Go ahead, Grandpa. Cheer.

[Barry Craig]

Company, so I notice. Kind of thing you're liable to run into in old houses. They come out of the woodwork, I think.

[Brady]

Don't try to insult me, mister.

[Barry Craig]

Why not?

[Brady]

Anything you're liable to say is liable to be true.

[Barry Craig]

Don't be foolish. I don't use that kind of language.

[Brady]

You also ain't using the kind of language I would like to hear.

[Barry Craig]

What language would that be?

[Brady]

The one telling me where the baby is buried.

[Jake]

A boy or a girl?

[Barry Craig]

Baby, Jake.

[Brady]

Oh, that grandpa's a joker. Grandpa could easy get his head knocked off.

[Jake]

Put the gun down, son. And Grandpa will be glad to tangle with you.

[Brady]

I ain't putting no guns down. When I say baby, you know what I mean?

[Barry Craig]

You mean something worth money?

[Brady]

You are a bright one. Okay, so where is it?

[Barry Craig]

Even if I knew where it was, I wouldn't tell you.

[Brady]

Why not?

[Barry Craig]

You've got the wrong RH factor.

[Brady]

Wrong? Well, supposing I can get ahold of the right one.

[Barry Craig]

It wouldn't buy you the time of the day.

[Brady]

For me, language like that's gotten guys killed before this, mister.

[Barry Craig]

So have guns like that.

[Brady]

This is kind of fancy, but it ain't very productive.

[Barry Craig]

What makes you think I know anything about the baby?

[Brady]

You're in this dump, ain't you?

[Barry Craig]

I'm in it.

[Brady]

So what are you doing here? Looking for a beer?

[Barry Craig]

It so happens I'm looking for a corpse.

[Brady]

Well, you're gonna find one your own only ain't gonna be in no condition to appreciate it.

[Barry Craig]

Funny thing. You didn't show any interest in the corpse I'm looking for. Whose it might be.

[Brady]

Say, mister, Corpses is dead. They don't bother me. It's the live operators you gotta keep in mind. Like you and Grandpa.

[Barry Craig]

How about the girl?

[Brady]

You just leave her out of this. She's for me.

[Narrator/Host]

Oh.

[Barry Craig]

And why do you think I was called in?

[Brady]

Hey, hey, wait, mister. You trying to tell me you was called in by.

[Barry Craig]

By the girl? Yes.

[Brady]

That don't smell so good.

[Barry Craig]

Neither do you. Let's call it a draw and go home.

[Brady]

You were saying the girl brought you in, huh? Okay, we find out fast. Hey, Sugar. Sugar. His joker informs me you brought him in on a deal.

[Millie George]

That so?

[Patsy]

No.

[Barry Craig]

I had a long look at the girl who'd come into the room. It was fun while it lasted. She was worth looking at. She was beautiful, non rural, undoubtedly expensive. And she was not Millie George. Well, call it mistaken identity.

[Brady]

Cut it out, Dina. I don't know what you think he said, but it wasn't very funny.

[Millie George]

It wasn't.

[Brady]

It wasn't.

[Barry Craig]

Oh, this girl probably is on your side. She's not the one I was talking about.

[Brady]

You mean there's been another babe around?

[Millie George]

Oh, honey, he must mean Joey's wife.

[Brady]

Why don't you forget you ever learned to talk?

[Millie George]

Dina, that ain't a friendly attitude.

[Brady]

I ain't feeling friendly. Joey makes it out of the pen, ducks for cover here on a counter. Here is where he buried the baby.

[Barry Craig]

Banks wouldn't like you calling their money baby.

[Brady]

Well, I don't like banks.

[Barry Craig]

So it was bank money. Thanks for telling me.

[Brady]

Who told you? Never mind. To resume. Joey gets here and the first thing anybody knows, he winds up with a knife and a ticker. This is bad.

[Jake]

Taint good.

[Brady]

Shut up.

[Jake]

You can't say that to a Vermont man.

[Brady]

Why not?

[Jake]

I don't rightly remember.

[Brady]

Well, get in touch with me when you do.

[Jake]

What?

[Brady]

Sal, will you lay off? You guys trying to confuse me or something? Joey winds up with a knife and a ticker and no dough.

[Millie George]

Look, ain't you forgetting Joey's wife?

[Brady]

Yeah, if she was around here, maybe she met him even before we got here. Grabbed the door off' n him and then handed him a knife, huh?

[Barry Craig]

Fine wife.

[Brady]

Ah, she never liked him so much after she found out he was a bank operator.

[Barry Craig]

She was prejudiced against banks.

[Brady]

She was prejudiced in favor of banks.

[Barry Craig]

Narrow minded woman.

[Brady]

So I'm thinking maybe she's the one we gotta get our hands on. When did you see it?

[Barry Craig]

A little while ago.

[Brady]

Where?

[Narrator/Host]

Here.

[Brady]

She ain't in the house. We went all through it. If she knifed Joey and scrambled a dough, we better get after her.

[Millie George]

Brady's this scream, ain't he?

[Brady]

Don't disturb my mental processes.

[Narrator/Host]

Huh?

[Brady]

There wasn't no car around before. Which means she must have headed for the village and railroad station. Okay, now we know where we're going.

[Barry Craig]

Oh, I think we do.

[Brady]

That Reminds me. What about you guys?

[Barry Craig]

We'll hang around, play some pinochle. I've been wanting a good pinochle game.

[Brady]

Dina, what do you think?

[Millie George]

I think you're a big dope.

[Brady]

Oh, what kind of remark is that?

[Millie George]

You believe too easy. Joey's wife would maybe stick up Joey, but she wouldn't take the bank's money.

[Brady]

Yeah, you could be right.

[Millie George]

Yeah, but maybe these characters. You oughta.

[Barry Craig]

Don't pay any attention to her, Brady. She's a bitter woman.

[Brady]

You shut up.

[Millie George]

You know what I say? I say get rid of them, and then we'll have lots of time to find the money.

[Brady]

You could be right.

[Barry Craig]

She could also be wrong.

[Brady]

All right, so she's wrong. What do I lose if she's wrong?

[Jake]

Mr. Craig's life and mine.

[Brady]

In my line of business, I can't afford to be sentimental. If you die for nothing, I shall be sorry. But not very sorry. And not for very long. Okay. Here.

[Millie George]

Please, Brady, not while a lady's in the room.

[Brady]

Oh, excuse me.

[Millie George]

Dina, sometimes I think you ain't got no manners.

[Brady]

I said, excuse me.

[Jake]

Yes.

[Brady]

A nice, refined girl, you know, never even packs a rod.

[Narrator/Host]

Well, Brady.

[Barry Craig]

Yeah?

[Narrator/Host]

You're an idiot.

[Brady]

Well, that could be.

[Barry Craig]

You think Dina's really going to wait for you in that car outside?

[Brady]

Well, sure. Me and her is personally very friendly.

[Barry Craig]

That was before the bank money came up. Why shouldn't she wait for me and share your execution?

[Brady]

Who's getting executed? I knock you guys off, we find a door, we get out of here. Nobody knows who's even around.

[Barry Craig]

Dina gets out of here. You mean you don't. The cops will pick you up in a few hours.

[Brady]

You keep saying she won't wait for me.

[Barry Craig]

That's what I keep saying. Because it's the truth. Would you like to test her before sticking your neck away?

[Jake]

Out.

[Brady]

What kind of test?

[Barry Craig]

Fire two shots into the floor.

[Brady]

What for? I got nothing against the floor.

[Barry Craig]

Forgive me, because I've got brains enough

[Narrator/Host]

to be an idiot.

[Barry Craig]

Fire these shots and it'll sound to dinner as though you shot Jake and me. Then, if she waits for you, fine. You can go ahead with your original plan. But if she doesn't wait, if she scrams as soon as she hears those shots.

[Brady]

Hey, it's an idea. You know, it's even a good idea. Okay, boys, just don't get alarmed.

[Narrator/Host]

Here.

[Brady]

You shouldn't have insulted Dina. She's okay. So just for insulting her, I'll kill you anyway.

[Barry Craig]

Shut up. Listening, Brady.

[Brady]

Hey, Dina. Hey, Dina.

[Jake]

A man betrayed

[Barry Craig]

Craig.

[Brady]

Craigie was right. I feel terrible.

[Barry Craig]

You should.

[Brady]

But I don't understand Dina crossing me like that. What'd she get out of it?

[Barry Craig]

How much money was in the bank job?

[Brady]

Around 30 grand.

[Barry Craig]

She gets 30 grand out of it, huh? But, gee, were you and she together all evening?

[Brady]

Well, no.

[Barry Craig]

But you came down to this house.

[Narrator/Host]

Why?

[Brady]

We figure this is where Joey's gonna head once we hear he has departed from the pen. But Joey don't show. Then you tell me Joey is now a corpse.

[Barry Craig]

Pretty plain what happened. One way or another, Joey latched onto a pair of overalls and a work shirt plus one wagon filled with hay. He dug up the money from wherever he'd hidden it and headed for this house.

[Brady]

But before he got here, he runs into trouble.

[Barry Craig]

He ran into Dina.

[Brady]

Now it begins to clear up. Dina takes him for the door.

[Barry Craig]

She takes him.

[Brady]

I could have figured it out for myself.

[Jake]

Yeah, all you needed was Mr. Craig's brains.

[Brady]

Better he should have him. What would I do with him?

[Jake]

You've got a point. And so is your head.

[Brady]

Please, Grandpa. Dina does not wish to share this here dough with me. So she tries to get me to knock you guys off, then get picked up by the cops while she's traveling very fast in my car. Hey, this is revolting.

[Narrator/Host]

It is?

[Brady]

You know, you do very good. Guessing, no.

[Barry Craig]

Guessing no.

[Brady]

How do you know Joey was an escaped con?

[Barry Craig]

I mentioned the fact that he was pale and his hair had been cut short. That was enough. Farmers don't work indoors in the summer. They couldn't be pale. And why did Joey dress up like a farmer? Because he wasn't one. Escaped convicts are pale, have short hair and seek a disguise.

[Brady]

You know something, Craig? You're so smart, I'm beginning to worry.

[Barry Craig]

What about?

[Brady]

What kind of security is us criminals gonna have with private eyes like you go around being smart all the time?

[Barry Craig]

The same kind of security you've always had. No security.

[Brady]

Just don't dwell on that.

[Narrator/Host]

There.

[Brady]

I got something else to worry about. I gotta figure out a way to get hold of Dina before she scrams out of the country with that dough.

[Narrator/Host]

But Brady.

[Barry Craig]

Dina doesn't have the money. Brady had a little trouble with this. Even Jake began to look worried. As far as I was concerned, I hoped because I could turn out to be wrong. And being wrong in a case of this kind was only one short step before being dead.

[Brady]

But you figured it all out yourself.

[Barry Craig]

Logically.

[Brady]

That Dino was the one who knocked off Joey and took the dough.

[Barry Craig]

What? You're forgetting Brady Is that there can be more than one logical explanation for anything.

[Jake]

He means just because something logical don't prove it's true.

[Barry Craig]

Oh, and then, of course, logic can be twisted. As twisted as your mind, Brady.

[Brady]

You leave my mind out of this. It's got its own troubles. Please explain.

[Barry Craig]

Well, Joey was a desperate man running from the police. He was also a man owning $30,000. He was finally a man in a hurry. So how would Dina have persuaded a man in those circumstances to let her get close enough to him to stab him?

[Brady]

Well, maybe there's no way somebody got close enough to him.

[Narrator/Host]

Of course.

[Barry Craig]

Somebody who was armed with a weapon that was dangerous at a distance. A gun, say.

[Brady]

Oh, so Dina.

[Barry Craig]

No, no. You yourself told us Dina never carried a gun. Joey's wife wouldn't have needed to take the chance of killing him on the road. She could have waited till she had him here.

[Brady]

You know something? I said you were so bright, I was beginning to get worried. I ain't beginning no more. I'm worried.

[Barry Craig]

So you admit you were the one who stabbed Joey and took the money issue. Dina scrammed just now because she was afraid you didn't intend to share the money with her, but instead would kill her the same way you'd kill Joey. Could be she realized you'd hidden Joey's body to gain time for doing just that.

[Brady]

I won't do her much good. I know where she goes when she's scared. But before that, you can't shoot us.

[Announcer]

Why?

[Jake]

Well, I don't know, frankly. But give me a little time and I'll think of something.

[Brady]

Too bad, Grandpa. I ain't giving you no time at all.

[Jake]

Oh, for a fellow who's just been shot, I feel fine.

[Barry Craig]

You weren't shot, Jake. Come on in, Miss Millie. I spotted her behind those drapes a long time ago. I was looking for her. The trouble with you, Jake, is that you spent so much time thinking about the farmer, you forgot about the farmer's daughter. It didn't quite end there, though. The police removed the debris, put out a pickup for Dina, and then

[Millie George]

Barry. Yeah, I really am a farmer's daughter.

[Barry Craig]

I know.

[Millie George]

So, yeah. How about some country cooked ham?

[Narrator/Host]

Hmm?

[Announcer]

You have been listening to William Gargan in another exciting transcribed mystery drama from the adventures of Barry Craig, confidential investigator. Tonight's story, Hayes for Homicide, was written by Louis Vittes. Next week, it's the strange story of Ghosts Don't Die in Bed, about which Barry Craig has this to say.

[Barry Craig]

We call next week's story, Ghosts don't die in bed, which is a true saying. It's also true, of course, that they don't die anywhere else because they're already dead. All except for one I run into When?

[Narrator/Host]

When? Good night, folks. See you next week.

[Announcer]

The National Broadcasting Company has just brought you transcribed an NBC Radio Network production with William Gargan starring as Barry Craig. Confidential Investigator, directed by Arthur Jacobson. Also heard Harley Bear, Joyce McCluskey, Jack Moyles and Vivi Janis. John Lang speaking. The aviation Age of America is now in progress and calls to young Americans to keep in step by becoming members of the United States Air Force. If you are a high school or college graduate between the ages of 19 and 26 and a half, single and in good physical condition, then you may be eligible to win your wings as an Air Force lieutenant. While in training, you'll learn to fly as pilots with the latest equipment and the best instructors. Investigate now. Visit your Air Force recruiting station for additional information. There's another exciting dragnet adventure tonight on most NBC radio stations.

[Lieutenant Riley]

What's the matter?

[Patsy]

What is it?

[Lieutenant Riley]

Another case for Nick Carter, Master Detective?

[Narrator for Nick Carter segment]

Yes, it's another case for that most famous of all manhunters, the detective whose ability at solving crime is unequaled in the history of detective fiction. Nick Cotter, Master Detective Presented by the three great Linax home brighteners. Linax Clear Gloss Varnish, Linax Cream Polish and Linac Self Polishing Wax created by Acme, America's great producer of fine Acme quality paints. Today's curious adventure Poison with a Past

[Narrator/Host]

or Nick Carter the Mystery of the Vedanta Killings.

[Narrator for Nick Carter segment]

In just a moment, we'll hear how Nick Carter was able to solve the mystery of the Vedanta killings and prevent the strange poison from claiming any more victims. But first, here's a good tip. Millions of American families are happier these days because women who run their homes wisely have learned about Chemtone, the miracle wall finish which makes every home more bright and inviting. Now those same wise homemakers are learning the modern way to new beauty for

[Narrator/Host]

woodwork, furniture and floors.

[Narrator for Nick Carter segment]

The three great Linax home Brighteners. Linax Clear Gloss to give lustrous, longer lasting protection to every wood and linoleum surface. Linax Cream Polish to renew the sleek, gleaming beauty of fine furniture and Linax Self Polishing Wax to lend rich, satiny loveliness to any floor, wood, linoleum or tile. Take the modern shortcut to new home beauty with the three great Linux home brighteners. You'll find them all at your hardware, paint or department store. Your Headquarters also for Chem Tone, the miracle wall finished. And now for today's mysterious adventure with Nick Carter. As we join Nick and Patsy and

[Narrator/Host]

Nick Carter's office, we find Nick talking to Riley on the phone. But look here, Riley, I can't drop everything I'm doing and help the police department out every time somebody gets killed.

[Lieutenant Riley]

I'm not asking you to, Nick, but. But this is something special. I think you'll enjoy working on it.

[Narrator/Host]

Yes, you always say that, Raleigh. Every time you get stuck, you tell me it's an unusually interesting case.

[Mr. Vine]

But this time it is, Nick.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Honest.

[Narrator/Host]

It is. All right. Give me one reason why it's not just a routine murder case.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Because the guy was killed while a lot of other people was around and nobody knows what's happened. The medical examiner is here and he swears it's a poison case. But he's stuck completely. He eats some queer stuff he never ran into before. Now, you're an expert on poisons, Nick, you ought to look into this.

[Narrator/Host]

An unknown poison, huh? Was it given him externally or internally?

[Patsy]

We don't know.

[Lieutenant Riley]

There's not a trace of evidence to show how it was done at all. And you know old Doc Buck is no slouch when it comes to poisons.

[Narrator/Host]

No, Doc Buck knows his stuff, all right, and he can't figure it out.

[Lieutenant Riley]

He's tried every trick he knows, Nick, and nothing seems to work. Look, will you take a run over here and see what you can make of it?

[Narrator/Host]

Okay. Riley, what's the address?

[Lieutenant Riley]

The Hamilton Apartments on Riverside Drive. Apartment G4.

[Narrator/Host]

I'll be right here waiting for you within 20 minutes. But it better be good.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Oh, cheers, Nick. You won't be sorry. So long.

[Narrator/Host]

So long.

[Patsy]

So he managed to rope you, did he?

[Narrator/Host]

I don't know whether he's roped me or not, as you so elegantly put it. It's got me interested enough, so I'm going over and have a look at it.

[Professor Travers]

Want to come?

[Patsy]

Do I want to come? You don't think I want to sit around here when there's a murder case to be solved, do you?

[Narrator/Host]

Suppose not? Okay, get your hat and let's be on our way.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Welcome to our little gathering, Nick. And you too, Patty.

[Patsy]

Darren, is nice of you to invite us finally.

[Narrator/Host]

All right, let's dispense at the preliminary rally, get down to business right away. Who's dead and where's the body?

[Lieutenant Riley]

Oh, it's rare and segoyar now, eh?

[Narrator/Host]

Okay.

[Lieutenant Riley]

The corpse is Frederick Shelby, the Explorer Shelby.

[Narrator/Host]

Well, that fellow's got More lives than a cat.

[Patsy]

Well, he must have used up all nine of them if he's dead now.

[Lieutenant Riley]

The body's right in here, Nick.

[Narrator/Host]

In the library.

[Patsy]

Look at all the books. Most of them pretty old, too. French, German, Russian. What do these, Nick?

[Narrator/Host]

That one. Sanskrit. Betsy. Those there are Hindu. Who lives here? Raleigh. Is this Shelby's apartment?

[Lieutenant Riley]

No, Nick. It belongs to Professor Alexander Travers.

[Narrator/Host]

Oh, yes, A specialist on Hindu literature and philosophy.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Yeah, that's right. Him and some of his friends was talking about that Hindu stuff when Shelby was killed.

[Narrator/Host]

Here's the body. Here that long?

[Lieutenant Riley]

Not over an hour, the doc says. And that checks with what the others tell us we're holding him here for now.

[Patsy]

Look at the expression on his face. He must have died in terrible agony.

[Narrator/Host]

No doubt of that. And there's no doubt of its being poisoned either. Not with that look on his face. Duck.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Buck said the same thing. But not one of his tests showed him what kind of poison was used. He said it could be most anything.

[Narrator/Host]

Fancy a shift? I met over here. I'll close your way. Want to see something?

[Patsy]

Sure.

[Narrator/Host]

Nick here. Yes. Look at the car.

[Patsy]

Practically blue. White. He looks almost like a marble statue.

[Narrator/Host]

Yeah. All right, Riley, where are the rest of the party? Say, you're holding them here?

[Lieutenant Riley]

Yeah, they're in the next room. There's Professor Travers. This is his apartment. Like I said, a good looking dame by the name of Mary Devine and Dr. Paul Starr. He's a college teacher. Now, they didn't know what happened when they Shelby passed out. So they fought for an ambulance. The intern took one look at him and called us.

[Narrator/Host]

Anything else before I talk to them?

[Mr. Vine]

Yeah.

[Lieutenant Riley]

They told the doc that none of them had eaten or drunk anything before or after they came here. So the doc figured maybe Shelby was poisoned by the cigarettes he smoked. So we sent all the butts and ashes down to the lab for analysis. Sent down the pack of cigarettes, too.

[Narrator/Host]

Only one pack? Yep.

[Lieutenant Riley]

They was all smoking out of the same pack.

[Narrator/Host]

Any report yet?

[Lieutenant Riley]

No, no, I told them to call

[Narrator/Host]

me here as soon as they finished. All right. Have a look at your witnesses. Okay, Dick.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Right in here.

[Mr. Vine]

See why they keep us.

[Lieutenant Riley]

This here is Nick Carter, folks. Nick, this is Mary Devine here. Over here is Professor Travers. That's Dr. Starr.

[Narrator/Host]

Glad to know you, Mr. Carter. First, let's get straight into who you all are. Mr. Travers, what do you do?

[Professor Travers]

I teach Oriental Literature at the university, Mr. Carter, but I don't see what.

[Narrator/Host]

Dr. Starr, what do you do?

[Professor Travers]

I'm a botanist, Mr. Carter.

[Narrator/Host]

I'm connected with the university, too. Indirectly. See you, Ms. Devine.

[Mr. Vine]

I'm just a student at the university.

[Professor Travers]

But a very fine student, Mr. Carter. Mr. Vine won a fellowship in Oriental literature. She's done some excellent work.

[Narrator/Host]

Any of you know any possible motive for Shelby's death?

[Professor Travers]

I know we've been talking about it and we're as much in the dark as you are.

[Narrator/Host]

What do you know about Shelby?

[Professor Travers]

Not very much. We have only one common interest.

[Narrator/Host]

The Vedanta.

[Professor Travers]

As a matter of fact, we first

[Narrator/Host]

met him at a meeting of the Danta Society. Shelby feeling all right this afternoon?

[Professor Travers]

As far as we know, he said

[Narrator/Host]

nothing about feeling ill. Now, tell me what happened here this afternoon. As many as you can recall. You say you were all sitting around talking?

[Professor Travers]

That's right. We were discussing the Vedanta.

[Patsy]

What is this Vedanta?

[Narrator/Host]

Professor Travers can probably explain that better than I. Patsy.

[Professor Travers]

It's a philosophy of life. It was first put forward 1500 years

[Narrator/Host]

ago by Hindu scholars.

[Professor Travers]

It has to do with controlling the bodily expression so as to heighten the

[Narrator/Host]

powers of the mind.

[Professor Travers]

Why don't you come to a meeting of the Vedanta Society with us someday? That would explain it better than I could.

[Narrator/Host]

Perhaps. Thanks, baby. I will. Now, what happened here? Why, we were all seated around smoking

[Professor Travers]

and chatting when suddenly Shelby started to get faint.

[Narrator/Host]

In a few minutes he passed out. That's all. You were all smoking? Yes. What? I understand you were all smoking the same brand of cigarette.

[Narrator for Nick Carter segment]

Whose were they?

[Professor Travers]

Oh, they were mine, Mr. Carter. Shelby forgot to bring his pipe. And Star was out of the private brand he smokes.

[Narrator/Host]

I had a full pack, so I used mine. Even Starr smoked one.

[Professor Travers]

He usually wouldn't look at any cigarette that wasn't his own private mixture.

[Narrator/Host]

Anything else you can think of?

[Professor Travers]

No, I think not.

[Narrator/Host]

That's all I know.

[Mr. Vine]

Nothing happened that was really unusual. Except that Mr. Shelby died.

[Narrator/Host]

All right. Give your names and addresses to Lieutenant Riley. And don't leave town until we tell you you can. That's all. Good.

[Professor Travers]

All right,

[Patsy]

Nick. What do you make of it?

[Narrator/Host]

I don't know. No apparent motive, no suspects. Unknown poison. Of course, it's too early to know definitely.

[Patsy]

It couldn't be suicide, could it?

[Professor Travers]

No, I don't think so.

[Narrator/Host]

Fancy. I'm pretty sure it's murder. But I'm also sure the murderer covered his tracks very thoroughly.

[Patsy]

Yes, Lieutenant. Yes, I got it. Of course I'll tell him.

[Mr. Vine]

What did you expect?

[Patsy]

Oh, you. Goodbye.

[Narrator/Host]

I gather that was Riley you were talking to.

[Patsy]

You gather right. He said to Be sure and tell you that the laboratory reports absolutely nothing wrong with the cigarettes or the butts or the ashes. All normal and natural.

[Narrator/Host]

Too bad. Sort of hoping that. Well, never mind. There's an answer somewhere and I'll find it yet.

[Patsy]

He also said to tell you that Mary Devine was coming in to see you very shortly.

[Narrator/Host]

Now, did you say what for?

[Patsy]

No, just said she was coming.

[Narrator/Host]

Maybe she remembered something.

[Patsy]

I'll get it, Nick. That may be Ms. Divine now.

[Narrator/Host]

Or a bill collector.

[Patsy]

Oh, come in, Mr. Vine. Mr. Carter. Thank you.

[Narrator/Host]

Good morning, Mr. Vine.

[Mr. Vine]

Good morning, Mr. Carter. I don't know that what I have to tell you is of any value, but I'll let you decide that.

[Narrator/Host]

Fair enough. What is it?

[Mr. Vine]

Do you know what this is?

[Patsy]

Oh, what a beautiful flower. What is it?

[Mr. Vine]

In India, they call it Datura. It has other names, too.

[Narrator/Host]

Datura. That's a poison.

[Patsy]

Yes, Betty.

[Narrator/Host]

My notes are poison.

[Patsy]

They're right here, Nick. Here you are.

[Narrator/Host]

Thank you. Yes, Here we are. Mmm. Taste is pleasant. Given in small doses, it intoxicates strongly. Two drams will prove fatal at once. Can be mixed with food or drink and will kill without leaving a trace. Cannot be isolated unless the chemist knows what he's looking for.

[Patsy]

That's a nasty poison, isn't it? Yes.

[Mr. Vine]

In India, mothers feed it to unwanted girl babies.

[Narrator/Host]

Ms. Divine, where did you get this flower?

[Mr. Vine]

Like I got its special delivery this morning. Dr. Starr got one and Professor Travis got one, too. The same way.

[Narrator/Host]

I see. In other words, the murderer warns you that he's going to kill all three of you. Same way he murdered Shelby?

[Patsy]

It looks that way. Why would he want to kill all of them then?

[Narrator/Host]

Probably because he's afraid that they noticed something when Shelby was killed yesterday that would give him away if they told anyone about it.

[Mr. Vine]

But I don't know anything, Mr. Carter. Neither do the others.

[Narrator/Host]

Perhaps you do, Ms. Divine. You don't realize it. It often happens. Any rate, the killer is taking no chances. Fancy, Call Riley. Have him tell the lab what to look for. Maybe they can find some traces of it that way.

[Patsy]

Of course.

[Mr. Vine]

What do you think I'd better do, Mr. Carter?

[Narrator/Host]

Be very careful of what you eat or drink, with whom you associate for a few days. In the meantime, I'll be busy finding out what I can. You have any plans for the immediate future?

[Mr. Vine]

No, not especially.

[Narrator/Host]

And you're sure nothing happened at Professor Trevor's apartment yesterday that would help us?

[Mr. Vine]

No, Mr. Carter.

[Patsy]

Not a thing.

[Narrator/Host]

I better see Star and Travers. Maybe they can tell me something they overlooked before Mr. Carter.

[Mr. Vine]

They'll both be at the Vedanta Society meeting this morning at 11. Swami Atulanatha is speaking, and he's the favorite lecturer. Why don't we go to the meeting, too? You can talk to them there.

[Narrator/Host]

An Excellent idea, Mr. Vine.

[Patsy]

Riley says you'll take care of notifying the lab.

[Narrator/Host]

Thanks, Bessie. Mr. Vine and I are going to a meeting of the Vedanta Society. You better stay here in case Riley does learn anything. I'll call you later. You ready, Mr. Vines? Yes. All right, let's go.

[Mr. Vine]

I really don't know much about them, Mr. Carter.

[Narrator/Host]

I see. But perhaps you could tell me this. How close to Shelby were Travers and Star?

[Mr. Vine]

Well, Paul Starr barely knew him. As a matter of fact, he met Shelby for the first time yesterday.

[Narrator/Host]

And Professor Travers?

[Mr. Vine]

Oh, he and Shelby were pretty chummy. They had a common interest in the Vedanta, and they each have a collection of rare Sanskrit manuscripts, which they will to each other when they die.

[Narrator/Host]

You mean whoever dies first bequeaths his manuscripts to the others?

[Patsy]

Yes, that did.

[Narrator/Host]

How valuable are these manuscripts?

[Mr. Vine]

Oh, they're priceless, I understand.

[Narrator/Host]

Hmm. What about you? Where do you fit into this picture?

[Mr. Vine]

Well, I. I met them because of my interest in Oriental languages and literature. I. I feel that after the war, with the world made so much smaller by the use of airlines all over the globe, I may be glad to know all I can about the Orient.

[Narrator/Host]

Oh, yes, of course. How much further is this place where the meeting's being held?

[Mr. Vine]

Oh, just across the next avenue in that old brownstone house. I'm sure you'll enjoy the meeting with Swami Atulanatha being the lecturer. He's wonderful.

[Narrator/Host]

Perhaps so, but I think I'm going to enjoy talking to Star and Traverse even more.

[Mr. Vine]

Well, Mr. Carter, wasn't he wonderful?

[Narrator/Host]

Yeah, just very interesting. Much more intellectual than I expected.

[Professor Travers]

Well, Mary, I see you've managed to convert Mr. Carter. That's fast work. I wouldn't call it conversion, Dr. Star,

[Narrator/Host]

my main reason for coming here was to talk to you and Professor Travers.

[Jake]

You.

[Professor Travers]

You want to talk to me, Carter?

[Narrator/Host]

I do. Just for a few minutes.

[Professor Travers]

Well, suppose we have lunch first and then talk later.

[Mr. Vine]

Oh, good idea. Where shall we go?

[Professor Travers]

Let's go to the Bombay Curry Shop. The best place of its kind in town. Excellent.

[Narrator/Host]

I'm starved.

[Professor Travers]

How about you, Ms. Carter?

[Narrator/Host]

I could certainly eat something.

[Professor Travers]

Well, come on, then. The curry shop.

[Narrator/Host]

It.

[Mr. Vine]

You see, Mr. Carter, this is the main dish. It's curried rice and vegetables. And then over there in the center of the restaurant on that long table there. Those are the special seasonings. Like hors d'.

[Narrator/Host]

Oeuvres.

[Mr. Vine]

You help yourself to those. Whatever you want to go with this main dish.

[Narrator/Host]

Such as what?

[Mr. Vine]

Oh, Bombay duck, dried saltfish, tamarind and other spicy things. See, Dr. Sauer's getting his now. Shall we try some?

[Narrator/Host]

Oh, by all means.

[Professor Travers]

Come on. Some of these things are really delicious. Here, professor, how about some of this tamarind? Have you learned to like it yet? I ate tamarind before you were born. Give me a good helping of it. Will you Starve.

[Narrator/Host]

There you are.

[Professor Travers]

Oh, certainly. It's delicious.

[Mr. Vine]

Take anything you like, Mr. Carter. You never know what's good until you try it, you know.

[Narrator/Host]

Certainly looks appetizing. Let's try a little of everything.

[Professor Travers]

Well, that certainly was good.

[Narrator/Host]

I enjoyed that meal.

[Professor Travers]

Yeah, I thought you would. Cigarette, Carter?

[Narrator/Host]

No, thanks. I don't smoke.

[Professor Travers]

How about you, Star careful one?

[Narrator/Host]

No, thanks. I prefer my own special mixture.

[Mr. Vine]

Dr. Starr is a cigarette fins, Mr. Carter. But he won't smoke anything but his own brand. Says any other kind makes him sick.

[Narrator/Host]

Well, gentlemen, now that we've taken care of the inner man, I'd like to ask you a few questions about Shelby. Sure, sure.

[Professor Travers]

Ask away. Well, we don't know. We won't tell you.

[Narrator/Host]

Why, Professor, I believe you're drunk.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Drunk?

[Professor Travers]

No, sir. I never touch a drop of liquor. It's too intoxi. Intox. It's not good for you.

[Narrator/Host]

Well, you are drunk, Professor. Don't try to kid us.

[Lieutenant Riley]

I'm not.

[Professor Travers]

I know what's eating you.

[Lieutenant Riley]

You're jealous.

[Professor Travers]

I'm. I'm a better man than you. And I proved it, didn't I?

[Narrator/Host]

I. I don't know what you're talking about.

[Lieutenant Riley]

No, You're a liar, Scar.

[Narrator/Host]

You know.

[Lieutenant Riley]

All right, all right.

[Professor Travers]

But she. She.

[Narrator/Host]

Professor travis travers. My step, Mr. Carter.

[Mr. Vine]

That's just the way shelby died.

[Narrator for Nick Carter segment]

Well, here's another clue for Nick in his effort to find out who killed Shelby. And how will he be able to track down the murderer before any more killings can take place? We'll see in just a moment. Do you youngsters track in slush? Do those umbrellas drip puddles in the hall? Does the dog leave muddy paw marks on all your shining floors? Never mind. When you keep your floors protected with beautiful Linax clear gloss varnish, you'll find that it keeps both dirt and water right on the surface, where they're easy to clean away. And that same sturdy, protective finish gives sparkling beauty as well to linoleum Floors and woodwork for Linax Clear Gloss has a gleaming transparent luster that gives all your household things renewed attractiveness. And how well Linax Clear Gloss wears, resisting damage by hot grease, boiling water, fruit acids, perfume, even alcohol. Use it on tabletops, on bathroom tile, on linoleum throughout your home. You'll find it the most satisfactory household finish you've tried, as thousands of other successful American homemakers have. What's more, Linax Clear Gloss Varnish is easy to brush on. So ask your dealer for Linux L I N X LIN X Clear Gloss Varnish. You'll find all three great Linax Home Brighteners and Chemtone the miracle wall finish at hardware, paint and department stores everywhere. And now back to our story. We left Nick Carter in the Bombay curry shop where he has been lunching. Suddenly, Professor Travers uttered a few strange remarks and fell over dead. Later that same afternoon, Nick is talking to Lieutenant Riley in the latter's office.

[Lieutenant Riley]

You say, Nick, that this dad tourer or whatever it is killed him, huh?

[Narrator/Host]

Well, obviously, Riley, all the symptoms are present. Although I didn't realize it until after it was all over.

[Patsy]

No, but Nick, Lieutenant Riley's chemist, has analyzed all the food in the restaurant and nothing out of the way was found. You all ate the same food, didn't you?

[Narrator/Host]

Yes, Betsy, we did.

[Patsy]

Then how is it that Professor Travis died and none of the rest of you were even sick?

[Narrator/Host]

I don't know yet.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Well, I think you're a nut snake. Now, look, you said Travers and Shelby was got to leave each other their collections of manuscripts, now, didn't you?

[Narrator/Host]

That's what Mary said.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Well, then Travers invited Shelby to his apartment and killed him so as to get Shelby's collection. Then when you started questioning him today, he got scared and committed suicide. It's as plain as any.

[Narrator/Host]

No, no, no, Ronnie, that's impossible. A man of Travers type wouldn't kill himself to escape arrest. He tried to kill me instead. It was an egotist that his conversation proved. Egotist considers suicide a sign of weakness.

[Lieutenant Riley]

But if it was murdered, how was it done? Nick, answer me that.

[Narrator/Host]

I'm not ready to answer that yet.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Well, have you got even one little clue that says it's murder? Just one.

[Professor Travers]

Yes, Riley, I have.

[Narrator/Host]

You have? What is it? Why did Dr. Star smoke one of Professor Travers cigarettes when they were at Travers apartment? When Mary tells me he'd rather go without smoking than to smoke anything but his own particular mixture.

[Lieutenant Riley]

But they all smoke the same cigarettes that day, Nick. Only Shelby was killed where the Star

[Patsy]

come in and today, Nick, you said the Star did smoke his own mixture.

[Narrator/Host]

Yes, but facts are facts, Pat. You can't get away from that. Dr. Star did something unusual. It probably was done for a reason. Fact that I don't yet understand the reason doesn't make it any less important.

[Patsy]

Nicholas Carter's office. Is Mr. Carter there, please? This is Mary Divine's mother calling. Oh, surely. Just a moment. For you, Nick. Mary's mother.

[Narrator/Host]

Oh, thank you. Hello, Mrs. Devine. What can I do for you?

[Patsy]

Well, I just want you to know that Mary will be a little late in meeting you.

[Narrator/Host]

Meeting me?

[Patsy]

Yes. She expected to be there by 8 o', clock, but she'll be delayed 15 or 20 minutes.

[Narrator/Host]

Just a minute, Mrs. Divine. She expected to be where?

[Patsy]

Why, at Dr. Star's apartment, as you asked her to.

[Narrator/Host]

When did I ask her to meet me? At Dr. Starr's apartment. Why?

[Mr. Vine]

Why?

[Patsy]

You phoned an hour ago.

[Narrator/Host]

I did not. I did not.

[Patsy]

Well, whoever phoned said he was you and said you or he had something important to tell her and asked her to be at Dr. Star's apartment by 8:00'. Clock.

[Narrator/Host]

I'm glad you called, Mrs. Devine. I'll take care of it right away.

[Patsy]

What's wrong, Mr. Carter? Mary isn't in any danger, is she?

[Narrator/Host]

Not yet. And she might have been if you hadn't called.

[Patsy]

Oh, Mr. Carter, please don't let anything happen to me.

[Narrator/Host]

Don't worry, Mrs. Divine. I'll take care of her. And I'll take care of him, too.

[Narrator for Nick Carter segment]

Come in.

[Narrator/Host]

Maria Carter? Yes. Dr. Star Carter. You expected me. I know. I. I thought. You thought I was Mary Divine, didn't you?

[Narrator for Nick Carter segment]

Why, I.

[Narrator/Host]

Why do you say that? Mary's mother told me you were the one who phoned her, Weren't you? Clever, aren't you? Yes, I phoned her.

[Professor Travers]

I. I had something I wanted to show her.

[Narrator/Host]

Suppose you show it to me instead?

[Professor Travers]

I don't think you'd be interested.

[Narrator/Host]

Well, you're wrong. I'd be interested in anything about you. For example, why you smoked one of Professor Travers cigarettes yesterday at his apartment, when you'd usually prefer to go without rather than smoke anything but your own particular mixture. Why, I. I. Answer my question for you. You wanted to kill Travers. It was Vlad Bug between you, probably over that woman Travers mentioned in the curry shop this afternoon. So you prepared a cigarette full of Vetura, dry ground. Fine. And when you took one of the cigarettes from the pack Travers had, you substituted the one you'd prepared. You knew Mary was safe because she didn't smoke. But you made a mistake in your calculation somewhere. And Shelby got the poison cigarette instead of Travers, isn't that it? You're very clever, aren't you, Mr. Carter?

[Professor Travers]

I've changed my mind.

[Narrator/Host]

I do have something here I want to show you.

[Lieutenant Riley]

This.

[Narrator/Host]

My God. That what you're going to show Mary when she got here?

[Professor Travers]

No, but I can't take any chance on you notice.

[Narrator/Host]

Here you are. How do you know it was Dartura killed Shelby? I recognized the symptoms as soon as Mary told me what they were. And they were the same symptoms as Travers showed when he died this afternoon. Died from eating tamarind sprinkled with a tour of powder. Right. You seem to be always right, Mr. Carter. Yes.

[Professor Travers]

I got to the condiment table first,

[Narrator/Host]

sprinkled the poison on some of the tamarind.

[Professor Travers]

Then I made sure Travers got it.

[Narrator for Nick Carter segment]

Star.

[Narrator/Host]

Why did you hate him so?

[Professor Travers]

Because he took my girl away from me. Took her away from me.

[Narrator/Host]

Just because he wanted to prove he could do it. He didn't want her. In fact, after he got her, he refused to marry her. It broke her heart. She killed us. He's an egotistical beast. And having got rid of Travers, you felt you had to get rid of Mary, too, because you might unconsciously betray you some way, right? Quite right, my omniscient detective.

[Professor Travers]

Now that you've cleared up all the

[Narrator/Host]

mystery, I'm afraid I shall have to

[Professor Travers]

get rid of you too. Because I can't have you going around.

[Narrator/Host]

Mary. Come in. No one gets in here until after

[Narrator for Nick Carter segment]

I've taken care of you.

[Narrator/Host]

Well, you're wrong, Star. I left the outside latch off when I came in earlier. You left that latch off. Come on in, Mary.

[Narrator for Nick Carter segment]

Why you don't take it?

[Narrator/Host]

I don't like having anyone try to finish me off, Star. I prefer to do the finishing off myself, Mr. Minute. Come on in, Mary.

[Mr. Vine]

Are you all right?

[Patsy]

Nick?

[Mr. Vine]

What happened?

[Lieutenant Riley]

Did you get it?

[Mr. Vine]

What happened, Mr. Carter? Patsy wouldn't tell me.

[Narrator/Host]

Dr. Star is in no condition to ask you in, so I will. Come on in, all of you.

[Mr. Vine]

What's the matter with Doc?

[Lieutenant Riley]

Did you have to kill him, Nick?

[Narrator/Host]

Oh, Riley, you know me better than that. No, he's just temporarily out.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Oh, well, let me get the cuffs

[Professor Travers]

on him before he comes to.

[Narrator/Host]

That'll hold him.

[Patsy]

So you were right, Nick. It was doubtless dark.

[Narrator/Host]

Yes, Patsy, it was. I felt pretty sure of it from the first because being a botanist and a specialist in Oriental plant life, he'd know all about the Datura plant. But I couldn't figure out any motive for him to want to kill Shelby. And that stopped me until Travers was killed. Then I realized that maybe Starr didn't intend to kill Shelby at all. Which turned out to be the case.

[Mr. Vine]

But, Mr. Carter, how did you know that it was Dr. Star? Even when Professor Travers was killed, it

[Narrator/Host]

was Travers himself who gave me the clue I needed. You remember what he said in the curry shop about having proved himself a better man than Star?

[Mr. Vine]

Yes, but I thought he was just raving.

[Narrator/Host]

Oh, no, Mary. He was doing that deliberately. The Vedanta philosophy teaches control of the body to sharpen the mind, doesn't it?

[Patsy]

Yes, it does.

[Narrator/Host]

I feel sure that when Travis knew he was dying, that's just what he did. For an extraordinary effort, he kept his mind clear enough to accuse Star by giving me Starr's motive for killing him. He did it by insinuation, so as not to warn Star what he was doing.

[Professor Travers]

That's sure a new one on me.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Using a Hindu philosophy to accuse your murderer.

[Narrator/Host]

Yes, Riley, that is a new one. Just shows you how you can get something valuable out of anything you study. Every religion, every system of thought, every philosophy has something worthwhile in it, no matter how peculiar it may seem to us at first.

[Narrator for Nick Carter segment]

In just a moment, Nick and Patsy will give you a preview of next week's exciting case. Thousands upon thousands of American men are fighting overseas, fighting for home as they remember it. One of the most important things we can do is to keep home as they remember it. And the most satisfactory way to care for your home is with those three modern shortcuts to household loveliness. The three great Linax home brighteners. Linax Cream Polish, for instance, renews the original gleaming beauty of your fine furniture, reveals the handsome grain of the wood, frees it from the unsightly cloudiness of fingerprints, dust and old polish. And it accomplishes this result in one quick, easy application for Linax Cream Polish actually cleans as it polishes. It cuts your job in half, saves you one whole step in your cleaning day routine. And when you finish, you'll see that Linax Cream Polish has left no oily film on the surface of your furniture, for it dries hard so that no dust clings to it. Linax Cream Polish is truly the ideal method of caring for fine furniture, so use it regularly. Ask your dealer for it by name. Linax Cream Polish for fine furniture, you'll find all three great Linax home Brighteners, Linax Self Polishing Wax, Linax Clear Gloss Varnish and Linax Cream Polish. At your nearest hardware, paint or department store. And now let's hear from Nick Cotter himself. Well, Nick, what's your story about this next time? Black widows, Ken, what kind of widows are black widows?

[Narrator/Host]

The spiders, Ken. Poisonous spiders.

[Patsy]

But they spin very lovely webs that are used by the army and Navy for making precision instruments.

[Narrator/Host]

The web of black widow spiders is unexcelled for making hairs and sighting devices used by armed forces.

[Narrator for Nick Carter segment]

Well, who got into trouble? The black widows or the armed forces?

[Narrator/Host]

Neither, Kat. There's a killer who wanted to steal a large shipment of spider web and to do so was forced to kill two people.

[Patsy]

But a black widow stopped him with Nick's help.

[Narrator for Nick Carter segment]

Well, what do you call this cheerful little tale?

[Narrator/Host]

Webs of Murder or the mystery of

[Patsy]

the Black Widow spider.

[Narrator/Host]

Complete details next week. So long.

[Patsy]

So long, everybody.

[Narrator for Nick Carter segment]

And so long to both of you, Nick and Patsy. We'll be waiting for your story next week as usual. Next week at the same time, listen to another curious experience of Nick Carter

[Narrator/Host]

Master Detective entitled Webs of Murder or Nick Carter and the Mystery of the Black Widow Spiders.

[Narrator for Nick Carter segment]

Nick Carter, Master Detective is featured in street and Smith magazines. Lauren Clark is starred as Nick with Helen Choate as Patsy. Original music is played by Lew White and the programs are written and Directed by Jock McGregor. Nick Carter Master Detective is presented at this time and over these same stations each week by the three great Linax home Brighteners, Linax Clear Gloss Varnish, Linax Cream Polish, and Linax Self Polishing Wax, created by Acme, America's great producer of Acme fine quality paints. This is Ken Powell speaking for the thousands of Linax dealers all over America and saying so long until next week. This is mutual.

[Podcast Host]

There's more from Barry Craig, Nick Carter, Case Closed and all of the other podcasts at the website relicradio.com you can donate through that website as well if you'd like to help support this and all of the podcasts. Thank you as always to those who have helped out. Thanks for joining me this week. I'll be back next Wednesday with another hour of old time radio crime on Case Closed.