Peter Lorre (0:10)

This is Case Closed Crime Stories from the golden age of Radio. Good evening. This is Peter Laurie. Disillusionment does strange things to people. When the world delivers a crushing and saddening blow, there is an impulse to renounce life completely. But a barred door is no insurance against death, as you will hear tonight in a Mystery playhouse. The Mystery Playhouse is host tonight to that champion of the people and Defender of truth, Mr. District Attorney. Well, Mr. DA has been putting a finger on a criminal element of the big city for some time now. He's dealt with all sorts. Racketeers, thieves, murderers, and come out on top every time. Let's see how he does it tonight, huh? In a business district of Mr. Da City, surrounded by tall, gray buildings, stands a lone house, its windows boarded, its walls faded. The unkempt and gentle remains of yesterday's splendor, striving valiantly but hopelessly to hold its own against the strong and overwhelming odds of today's commerce. Within the house, a single kerosene lamp dimly lights a dusty, disordered room. Here, an old lady seated in a chair, rocking, rocking back and forth. Another old woman enters the room and speaks. Elva. What is it, Mary? I don't like to bother you, but isn't it time that I went to the store? You're not going to the store, Sister. But I go every day. I have my reasons, Marie. But there's no food in the house. I know. And we need kerosene for the. The lamp. I am aware of that. Well, then why don't. Please remember, my dear, I am your older sister. Oh. Oh. I am not questioning your decision, Ella. But what is your reason? We have no money. No money? Mr. Douglas has not sent us our cash allowance for the last four weeks. Why not? I don't know. Then what shall we do, Sister? I am going to see Mr. Douglas. You? You are going outside the house. Yes. But, Ella, your vow. You'd be breaking it. You haven't left this house for nearly 13 years. I know. Why can't I go? Ella. Oh, my dear child. You're much too young to handle business matters. I was 67 last moment. You're still my baby sister. I have qualms every time I send you around the corner to the store. You could hardly expect me to send you on an errand like this. Very well. Listen to me for a minute. Yes? I want you to wait here in the house for me until I return. Yes, yes, of course. You're not to answer the doorbell if it rings. Oh, I understand. I shall bring the Food back with me. All right. I never intended to break my vow and leave this house. But for your sake and mine, I must. Why? There's some important reason why we'd not received our allowance. I'm going to see Mr. Douglas and find out. Mr. Douglas. Yes? I came here to your home for only one reason. Our allowance. Well, my sister and I have not received any money from you in the past four weeks. Yes, I know that, Miss Crawford. Well, I've been meaning to drop around and go over the entire matter with you. What do you mean? Well, I have some rather shocking news for you. What is it? You haven't any more money. You mean it's gone? All of it? Yes, I regret to say it is. I don't understand. You and your sister were receiving a weekly income from the interest on securities that were left you both. I know. As the administrator of the estate, I have handled these securities to the best of my ability. Yes. Unfortunately, the companies that you held stock in were non essential industries. The curtailments of war wiped them out. Mr. Douglas, I don't believe you. Well, I. I'm sorry you feel that way, Miss Crawford, but it's true. I think you have been dishonest with us. Oh, now just a minute, please. And in view of that, you leave me very little choice. Why? What do you mean? When I leave here, I shall go to the police. What for? To have you arrested for stealing our money. I see. It was too large a sum to just dissolve in the manner you describe. Why did you lock that door? I've been hoping you'd come here. That's why I stopped sending you the money. Are you trying to frighten me? No. I'm merely going to kill you. You're joking. You think so? Keep away from me. Keep away. Keep away. Yeah. Excuse me, chief. Yes? You know Sam Green, don't you? He runs the little delicatessen store right off Main Street. Yes. Yes, of course. Well, he's outside. He'd like to see you for just a minute. What about? Oh, it's something about a customer of his. Probably wants you to collect a bill for him, chief. Well, send him in, miss. Yeah, he's quite a guy. Go right in. Thank you very much, ma'am. Hello there, Sam. Oh, hi. You Mr. Harrington? And you, Mr. District Attorney. Hello, Sam. What can I do for you? Well, it's about a customer of mine. A very nice little old lady. Oh, yes? Yes. She ain't been into my store for the last two days and so I'm worried. What did I tell You, Chief, I know it'll be something like this. He wants you to find customers for him. You're some joker, Mr. Harrington. But that ain't it. For this particular lady not to come in, there must be a special reason. Well, how's that? For over 12 years now, this is the first two days she has missed. Who is she? Her name is Crawford. Ms. Marie Crawford. Maybe you remember reading about her in the papers a couple of years ago. She and her sister live in that old tumbledown house right in the business district. Oh, yes, yes, I know the house. Oh, yeah, I remember the story, too. The building inspectors were going to close it up and the two old ladies wouldn't let him in. Oh, boy, did the feature writers jump on that one. Exactly. They were a very wealthy family once. And this woman is coming to your store every day until just a few days ago, is that it? Yes. So I'm worried if something has happened to her, if she is sick or something. There's no way to find out. No one goes into the house. Well, Sam, we'll be going through that neighborhood a little later on. We'll stop by at the house and see what we can find out. I'm wearing my knuckles to the bones knocking on this door, Chief. Well, what do we do now? I think we'd better try to get in somewhere. Yeah. Now, how about skeleton key? Yes, yes. Chances are the poor old woman is sick. Neither that are very deep after all that knocking. And I'll try this key here. This one ought to do it. Well, there we are. Go ahead, Chief. Right. Now we'll have to use our flashlight in here. All right. Those windows all boarded up just like night. Yes. Oh, there we are. That was quiet establishment. Yeah. Looks like an abandoned junkyard. What are all these empty boxes scattered around the hole? Well, I guess they might have been placed there to trip up any unwelcome intruders. Hey, look down there at the end of the hall. Three pianas. Yes, covered with dust. Well, let's see if we can maneuver around these boxes. Yeah, right. Let's get a little quiet. Sure, Chief. I feel like little Kiva hopping cakes of ice. Hey, wait a minute. Listen. Hey, what's it? I don't know. There seems to be a faint light coming from that room down there. Yeah, and that's where that sound comes from, too. Let's see what's in there. Hey. Hey, look. Just sitting there rocking. Better let her know we're here. Is that you, Ella? No, ma'am. May we come in? Oh. Oh, I thought it was Ella returning. Well, who are you and why are you here? We've just come to see if you were all right. Of course I'm all right, but. But you really shouldn't be here. Ella will be angry. Who is Ella, ma'am? She's my sister. Is she around? No, no, she went out on an errand. I'm rather worried about her. She's been gone for such a long time. How long? Well, almost two days. Two days? Where'd she go? Well, I. I've been trying to remember. It was something about money. I know that, because that's why I didn't go to the store. Why didn't you let someone know about this? Well, because Ella told me to wait here. I always do as Ella says. You see, I'm her younger sister, Marie. Are you sure you can't recall where she went? No, no, not quite. But it did have to do with money. You see, there was nothing to eat in the house, and she was going to get money for food. You mean you ain't eaten since she left? No. No, I guess I haven't. Well, have you a lawyer, a business advisor, anyone who handles your affairs? Oh, yes. You know who that is? Well, I'm trying to think. Wait. This. This might help. Ella wrote out a card a long time ago. I carry it when I go to the store in case anything should happen to me. And I have it here someplace. Oh, here it is. May I see it, please? Surely. Thank you. Ella wrote it down very plainly. Yes. Yes, I. In case of accident, notify William Douglas. 14th floor, Spire Building. Oh, that's it. Yeah. That's who she went to see. Mr. Douglas. You sure? Oh, yes, of course. Harrington called Ms. Miller to have her bring some food over here. And we'll pay a call on Mr. Douglas. Won't you sit down, gentlemen? Thanks. Now, what can I do for you, sir? Well, Mr. Douglas, we'd like some information. Anything at all, sir. We've just come from the home of a woman named Crawford. Marie Crawford? Yeah, that was her first name, chief. Oh, yes. Do you know her, Mr. Douglas? Oh, very well. I handle her estate. Nothing wrong with her, I hope. No, it's her sister that concerns us. Her sister? Yes, she's been missing for almost two days. Yeah, the old lady told us that she left the house to come to see you. To see me? Yes. Didn't she ever show up? Tell me, Mr. District Attorney, how did you ever get mixed up with Marie Crawford? Our storekeeper brought her to our attention. He was worried about her because she hadn't put in her daily appearance at his shop. So you went to her home to investigate? Yeah. Yeah, that's right. Was there anything about her behavior that struck you as unusual? Vagueness of manner, perhaps? Yes. Yes, she did have trouble recalling things. I'll bet she couldn't even remember my name. It's quite true. Well, what's that got to do with her sister disappearance? Oh, a great deal. Yes. You see, Ms. Crawford indulges in flights of fancy. Huh? You mean she hasn't a sister? No, I mean she had a sister. She's in Northside Cemetery. She died in 1931. Hello? I see. Well, get that information for me, will you, please, and call me back. Thank you very much. Yes, come in. You busy, Chief? No. Come in, Harry. Thanks. Well, Chief, I just been out to the north side Cemetery. That old gal's buried out there, all right. You see the grave? Well, it wasn't a grave, Chief. It was one of these. Well, these here above the ground jobs Mausoleum. Yeah, that's right. I copied off the carving, though. It said, ella Crawford, born January 10, 1870. Died December 25, 1931. Christmas Day. Yeah, I also checked with the records out there. This was the Crawford family plot. Yeah, that Maria's down for some space when she kicks in, too. I guess the poor old dame is just a little loose upstairs, huh, Chief? She is eccentric. There's no doubt about that. You know, for a minute and a half, I thought we had a red hot case. I'll take it. Hello? Speaking. Oh, yes. Yes, in 1935. You're sure of that? Well, thanks a lot. Goodbye. I think I have an assignment for you, Harrington. Right, Chief. I want you to move over to Sam Green's Delicatessen. See if he kept a copy of the grocery list that Miss Crawford used to bring him. Right. And if he hasn't got them, ask him to recall just what food she ordered. Yeah, sure. Have you got a new angle? Yes, I have. I've just found out something makes me question whether Ella Crawford did die in 1931. Take a little more soup, Ms. Crawford. Thank you, Ms. Miller. Now, you really haven't eaten a thing. Yes, I know. Ella would scold me for that if she were here. She's always after me about my eating. Oh, really? You're very dependent on your sister, aren't you? Oh, yes. I don't know what I'd do without her. You see, mother and father both died when I was quite young, and Ella took charge of me. From that day on, I've always Been with her even when she married. Married? Yes. Ella was married to a very wealthy young man named Robert Elliot. They fell in love at their first meeting, and two weeks later they were married. Well, his parents, however, did not approve. They forced them to separate before they'd been married a year. Oh, how awful. Ella was never the same. Did she ever see him again? About 50 years later when he died. He'd been killed in an accident. His parents had long since passed on, and he died alone and penniless. They found a picture of Ella in his possession. So she was the one who was notified of his death. I see. He died on Christmas Day in 1931. She buried him two days later and never left the house again. She felt that her soul had passed on with him. And that's why you lived like this? Yes. Ella took a vow that she'd never leave the house again, and I've stayed with her. I see. Ms. Crawford, do you mind if I leave you for a few minutes? I want to make a phone call. Not at all, my dear. I'm sorry there's no telephone here. But we had so little use for it. I understand that nice Mr. Green on the corner has a telephone in his stove. All right. I'm sure he'd let you use it. Well, thanks a lot. I'll be right back. Oh, such a nice child. I do hope she finds Ella. I don't think she will. Oh. Oh. Who's that? Mr. Douglas. Oh, Mr. Douglas. Well, how did you get in? I came in the side door. Where is my sister? She's all right, Marie, but she's gone for two days. Is someone taking care of her? I took care of her. Now I've come to take care of you. Well, Chief, have we got something on this case? All right, will you? I'm beginning to think we have, dear. Yes? Before you got here, Ms. Miller phoned from Green's Delicatessen. Yeah, I must have just missed her. Yes, she called a report that Marie Crawford's sister, Ella, was once married to a man named Robert Elliot. Robert Elliot? Yes. It seems as though it was an unfortunate marriage. His parents broke it off. Robert. Ellie, let me think a minute. He died on Christmas Day in 1931. Hey, hey, hey, wait a minute. Wait a minute. December 25th, 1931. That's on the old gal's epitaph, don't you? Yes, I know. That's why I think I'll take it. Hello? Hello, chief, it's me again back at Greensdale contestants. Yes, Ms. Miller, what's up? Well, After I left you, I went back to the Crawford place and found that Mr. Douglas there. Yes. What was he up to? He was trying to talk Marie Crawford into packing her things and leaving with him. What? Did she do it? Well, no, I stopped it. Good. Mr. Douglas says the old gal's batty and wants to put her away. But I wasn't having any of that. Well, Good for you, Ms. Miller. Where's Douglas now? Oh, he went off in a huff, muttering about court orders and stuff. Well, that's all right. Where's Miss Crawford? Oh, well, I brought her down here to the store with me. She's right outside the phone booth now, listening to what Sam Green thinks about Hitler. Oh, well, that's fine. And don't let her out of your sight. I'll send Brophy out to stay with you. You've done a good job, Ms. Miller. Thanks, Chief. Bye. Bye. Hey. Hey. Look, Chief. Yes? While you was talking, I remembered something. Yes? Robert Elliot. That name is carved on a tomb right next to the Crawford Games. I saw it. Well, that buttons it up, then. Come on. Herrings. Where to? Oh, what Miss Miller had. Never mind that now. We're going out to Northside Cemetery. You know, Chief, this ain't exactly my idea of a pleasant way to spend an evening. Taking a walk through a graveyard. Well, if you feel like whistling, go ahead. Oh, no, no. That only wakes up the ghosts. You remember the location of the mausoleum? It's right along here someplace. Wait a minute. I think that's it right down there. Good. What are we looking for on this excursion, Chief? Proof that Miss Crawford did not die in 1931. What? Well, if she didn't die, where is she? That's something Mr. Douglas may have to answer. What, you think he knocked her off, Chief? I'm not sure. Wait a minute. Hold on. I think this is him. Shine your flashlight on it. Right. There you are Ella Crawford. Yeah. Hey, look. Look here, Chief. Right next to it. I was right. This here's the tomb of Robert Elliot. Yes, I see. Died December 25, 1931. Yeah. Well, what do we do now? I'm going into that mausoleum. Yeah. Huh? Yes, it's quite necessary that I do. Well, Chief, do you think it'll be okay? I mean. Well, don't you think we ought to get permission for a thing like that? Well, no, no, I'm afraid that might lead to complications. We'll just have to do it on our own responsibility. Yeah. Yeah. Well, how do you get into one of these places? Just open the gate. I imagine there we are. You wait out here, Hank. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, right? Yeah. If you get stuck, holler. Chief, I will. Shut up, you. Harrington. Yeah, Chief. Come on in here. I want to show you something. I was afraid of that. What is it? There. There's the answer. Where? Oh, I get it. What do you know about that? Well, that's that, Chief. Come on, let's go. No, no. Let's wait here, huh? Put your light up. Huh? I said put your flashlight out. I want to wait here. Yeah. Okay. Oh, yeah. I guess he's part of the franchise here. Yes. How. How much longer do we wait in here, Chief? Just a little while. I had an idea that something might have happened, but I guess maybe I was wrong. Yeah. Hey. Hey, Chief. I just been thinking, huh? There's a car coming, right. Hey, somebody's getting out here. Yeah. You need some help, Mr. Douglas? Who's that? The district attorney. Well, what are you doing here? I was going to ask you the same question. Well, I. I have come out to Ms. Crawford's grave. Yes, so we see. What's that you're carrying in your arms? Cover him with your gun, Harrington. He's carrying the dead body of Ella Crawford. Sure. And he wants to put it in that empty casket we just looked at. Why, really, gentlemen. Never mind the alibis, Douglas. Come on with us. Well, ladies and gentlemen, a clever plan that Mr. Douglas had evolved to cover up the death of Ella Crawford failed. And he paid the full penalty for his crime. Yeah, and for his swindling those old women out of their dough, too. Don't forget that, Chief. What a mean guy. Yes, indeed he was. What made you first suspect, Douglas, Chief? It was the identification card that Ella had given to her sister, Marie. It was in Ella's handwriting, and it gave Douglas's address as the Spire Building. I recall that the Spire Building hadn't been erected until 1935. I had this point confirmed. And that was four years after the supposed death of Ella Crawford. How about that mausoleum, Chief? That had a school for a while. Ella Crawford built that for herself when her husband died. In her own eccentric way, she believed that it was a harbor for her soul. The soul that she had lost when he passed away. As we know, she'd even gone so far as to have the date of her husband's death carved on her own tomb. Well, in her mind, she regarded it as the date of her own death. And that little eccentricity nearly enabled Douglas to get away with the murder of Ms. Crawford, too. Yes, Ms. Miller. Fortunately, we were able to catch him proving once again that the criminal never can win. Saint A Douglas fellow was a pretty low character. Can't you just see him as a little boy playing happily pulling the wings off the flies? Well, Mr. District Attorney, more power to you, sir. Many thanks. And I hope you and your cast pay us another visit soon. Now, my friends, are you ready for our trip to the green room, huh? The players are reversing our next performance there, you know. Well, just come with me, please. Come, come, come. You hit a rock. Didn't sound like a rock. Little hollow. Big it up, whatever it is. What? Karl? It's a skull. Yes, skull. Spears is right. This place must have been an old Indian burial ground. Please put it back. Oh, keep it, Carl. Perhaps you'd better put it back. Please. Please bury it again, Mr. Cruz. It will bring bad luck to all of us. No, Spears. That's just a silly superstition. Well, what about the rest of the skeleton? Well, there doesn't seem to be one. No, just a skull. You bring it into the house, will you, Spears? Little Pine? I'd rather not. All right, I'll take it in myself. Don't either of you mention this to my brother, Arthur. He's terribly scared of things like this, and he's just gotten over his nervous breakdown. Carl, perhaps you should put the skull back. What do you steal? You're not being taken in by this hokum about curses, are you? That sounded like my wife, Mary. She was cleaning the windows. Good heaven. She fell out of the window. Mary. Mary. But she's unconscious. Please do something. You must do something. I'm afraid there's nothing we can do. Spears. She hit her head against a rock. She's dead. How? Spears. He's quieted down. I can't understand it. There's only one rock underneath the window, and Mary hit that. That one rock. There isn't even a pebble around for yards. Don't go imagining things again, Arthur. Spears kept talking about a curse. Spears believes in pixies and gremlins too, don't forget. Well, I feel rather funny about it all. Oh, Carl, maybe you'd better switch some more limestone. This living room feels gloomy. Oh, let's cut this nonsense out. Wait. You hear anything? Oh, I don't. Yes. I think it's coming from the ceiling. What's coming from the ceiling? I don't hear. What is it? Must be the beam. They sometimes do that from the heat. It's not the beams. It's too regular a sound. What room is directly above us? It's an old bedroom. We use it as a storeroom now. It hasn't been open in years. There's something up there. Of course there is. A lot of old things from years back. Lucille, did you put the stories? Skull, the scarab, Dawn? Yes, I did. What are you two whispering coming down the stairs? We'll take a look and settle this. So far. Look at your feet. Carl. The skull. How did it get down here? It came down the steps. Seems to be looking up at us. A skull. How did it get into the house? Carl found it while digging. Spears said it belonged to some Indian. Spears was right. There is a curse on the house. We'll all be killed. I'm leaving. I can't stand it. Skulls that come bouncing down the stairs all by themselves. See? That's a little unusual, isn't it? Huh? Well, why don't you try to be on hand next time when Inner Sanctum's boy Raymond gives us the lowdown on some skullduggery. This is Peter Loric closing the doors of the Mystery Playhouse. Good night. This is the Armed Forces Radio Service. My name's Regan. I work for Anthony J. Lyon, International Detective Bureau. They call me the Lion's eye. Wednesday at 9 and CBS brings you Jeff Regan, investigator, starring Frank Graham as Regan. With Frank Nelson as Anthony J. Lyon. So stand by for mystery and suspense and adventure in tonight's story of the lady from Brazil. Her name was Irene Vicentino. The lady from Brazil, the Lion called her. He figured it for an easy trace job. Something for missing persons. Only when we do them, the lion gets paid. Yeah, the program said it was simple. Except before we wound it up, there were a couple of added attractions. A doctor who didn't do any doctoring, a nurse with a built in temperature, and a couple of blackouts that were meant to be permanent. And guess what? In that last part, I was supposed to be the star. Anyhow, it all began late last Monday. I was home. My boss, Anthony J. Lyon, knocked on my door. And that's when I made my first mistake. I let him in. Regan, I'm glad I found you in. I'm just on my way home from the office. You could have kept on going. I'm out of Johnny Walker. Oh, now, Regan. I didn't come by just for that. You got anything else? No. All right, all right. As a matter of fact, I. I want your advice, Regan. Cut out starches and get some exercise. What else? Yeah, what would you do if you traveled 10,000 miles just to see your sister and then couldn't Find her. I'd give up the search. You would? Why? I haven't got a sister. No, that's not what I'm talking about. You'd go to Missing Persons, wouldn't you? Sure you would. But if you knew your family in a foreign country would become greatly alarmed at this sort of notoriety, you'd look for your sister in another way. You'd hire a good private detective. Now, isn't that right? Come on, fatso, put it on the road. What do you mean? I'm just posing a simple problem. And you've got an angle somewhere. All right. We have a new client. Her name's Irene Santino. She's from Brazil. Rio. Fine family. Regan, coffee? She's engaged International to locate her younger sister, Carmen. I'm no Saint Bernard. You'll do till I can feed one. No. Now, I know you've been working hard lately, but, Regan, this is one of those occasions when I'm proud to be a part of our profession. We have an opportunity to help a young lady in desperate straits and at the same time secure goodwill from South America. Ever hear of the State Department? Of course I have. But they can't do it all alone. It's up to individual citizens to take responsibility, too. And that's the only reason you want me to find a citizen? Absolutely. Now, Ms. Santino is taking an apartment at this address. Here. Go see a comforter. Let her know International and the United States of America will do everything possible to locate her lost sister. Yeah. Hello? That's enough. What'd she pay you? $200. That's a lot of green to get in advance. She insisted. She's very anxious to find that girl. Watch out her check doesn't bounce. It won't. She paid cash. That $200 was already making a lump in the lion's coat. And I knew the next spot for it was his mattress. Well, maybe that's the reason he's a bachelor. I left him in my place and drove over to the address he'd given me. It was one of those Beverly Hills apartments with a long, glassy look, like a greyhound with a sore stomach. Irene Santino's apartment's on the second floor. She was a tall, brown haired girl without a smile. She wore glasses, and when she talked, she sounded sad, like a banjo player with a paper pick. Thank you so much for coming over, Mr. Regan. I've been very upset all day. I just had to do something about. Calm. You're assisting. Yes, she's the one. I. I came to California to see I heard it's an awful vacant feeling. I thought she'd meet me at the airport and then she wasn't there. When I went to her address, we were very close. She's from Rio, too? Yes. How's her English? Well, her the same as mine. We were both educated in the United States. You older than common? Yes, two years. She's 25 now. Carmen left home a year ago. She's always been very independent and. Oh, I received this letter from her a few days ago. It was the first word since she left home. It came this way? Yes. No envelope? Oh, I threw that away. She wrote her address there at the end and I didn't see any need for keeping out. And she wasn't at this address? There isn't any such address. What does Carmen look like? Well, I gave her a snapshot to Mr. Lyon. Didn't he give it to Hugh? Yeah. He forgets things. Well, no matter. I have another course. It's old, not very good. I think it's right here in the suitcase. You'll pardon things soon all over. I haven't had time. Oh, here you are. I see. She's blonde, a little lighter than mine. The same height, too. We used to wear each other's clothes. Oh, Mr. Regan. You will be able to find her, won't you? I don't think you want me to, Regan. Are you trying to be funny? You hand me a snapshot so old it could be anybody, and a letter that says nothing and you want me to turn up a blonde. But I thought those would be leads. She mentions the name of her doctor. Is he the man? Man? She left home a year ago. She wasn't following the crops. There was a man in it. I've got to have it all, lady. All right, all right. There was a man. Name was Frank Martin. Come. I met him once in Mexico City. He thought she was in love with him. He lives out on Laurel. And you talk to him? No, no, but I ask questions around. I'm completely satisfied he knows nothing about it. Perhaps if you'd see the doctor, my sister may. You want me to find your sister? Yes. But you don't want me to see this Frank Martin. I didn't say that. You didn't have to, lady. Okay. You'll get a report when I've got something. Oh, just one more thing. What's that? How long did you stop off on the way to shop in New York? Why? What makes you think I'd do that? When you leave your clothes turned around, the labels show there's no Saks Fifth Avenue in Rio. When I walked out, her mouth was wide open like she was trying to scream. Only nothing came out. I hung around outside the door for a minute to see if she'd use the phone, but nothing happened. I looked up Frank Martin in the city directory and drove over to Laurel. A two story apartment building the color of a bride's blush. It was wrapped around a swimming pool too small for people and too big for birds. Martin's name wasn't on the mailbox, so I looked up the manager. You don't know me, do you, pilgrim? I just got here. I played the pals in 26. Oh, them was the day. Write it up and sell it to the movies, them slobs. Central Casting called me in. 4 years. Got a card? Afros. S a G in the Musicians Union. I play French horn. None of them call me. I figure it's television. No union yet. I'm looking for a man named Frank Martin. Now, look, if you got trouble, stay away from Frank. He bruises easy and you're just a mother. He's a nice laddie. Now remember what I tell you. Sure, sure. All right. Come on, I'll show you. Thanks. That's him up there. He stays in one key all the time. A low one. You said that once. Well, here we are. You know, I kind of like you. You get around. Ever run into Mervyn Leroy? Not yet. If you do, mention my name, will you? Sure. What is it? Just say that Trixie Finnegan was asking for him. He'll remember old Trixie. How could he forget? You're not a woman at all. Come on in. At Sunlock. Your name Frank Martin? Yeah. He wants to know. My name's Regan. I'm a private investigator with International Detective Bureau. Wrong stick. I'm sure I don't need one. I'm not looking for work. I'm looking for you. What'd you say it was? Regan? Yeah. R, E, G, A, N. Regan. Regan. Just wrote that one. Pretty cute, eh? I'm looking for a friend of yours. Carmen Santino. Oh, how is Carmen these days? I don't know. But you said you were detective. I did. You sound like an amateur to me. You sound like a guy with a chip on his shoulder. You sound like a lot of things. You're trying to get tough, baby. It figures out when your name isn't on the mailbox. Yeah. Nobody would ever write you. I'll just skip that. Regan. Well, who hired you to do what? Her sister's in town. She's looking for Carmen? No. Common header, sister. What else? You're the boyfriend. Boyfriend? That's real good. Let me tell you what she's like, Regan. Eyes just right, hair just right. Everything just right. Wait till you see her in a bathing suit. That's something, brother. She isn't wearing one in this picture. Let's see. It's a bad picture. Regan hardly looks like her. Like she is. Ever met him like that? Are we gonna be married, Regan? Only she decided all of a sudden she didn't want him. Just like that. This is her idea. Haven't seen her since. You try Once she moved, no forwarding address. That's all. Makes a good story. Yeah, but you don't believe it. Let me tell you the reason we broke up. It's a dilly. My hearing's good. Well, you've heard about the happy couple. The guy keeps getting loaded. Can't lay off. This is different. This is the big switch. Carmen? Yeah, Carmen. And why she was seeing a doctor. Carmen seeing a doctor. Look, why don't you get out of here? We don't like each other. Sister thinks something might have happened to Carmen. She's scared. Yes, some of us are scared part of the time. Somebody makes a lot of noise looking for somebody, then everybody gets scared. You scared, Regan? Yeah. What about Carmen Santino? I might be looking. Too late. Well, what he gave me filled in the cast. But the plot wasn't getting any clearer. So I looked up the doctor Carmen had mentioned in a letter. His name was Kingston, and the only address was a place out in Encino. It was a ranch house, filled all over the top of the hill like whipped cream. Figured he was getting over ceiling for his pills. I parked my car by the gate, followed the flagstones up to the front door. When I pressed a button, I heard something that sounded like chamber music. And then a blonde girl wearing a red dress that must have been riveted on opened the door about the middle of the second chorus. I like blue serge. Has an effect on me. It's the only thing in the closet. You fill it out nice, but you don't look sick. I want to see the doctor anyway. Come on in. We'll talk about it. You are tall, Mr. Regan. Regan? Who are you? Florence Nightingale. I hold the doctor's stethoscope. My name is Vivian Lytel. Mind telling him I'm here? He's busy. He just opened another bottle. I'm right on time. Oh, Rex isn't sociable like me. He drinks alone. He gets more that way. Let me entertain You Easy, angel. I don't know how to fix a fracture. I've already got a man who can do that. I want one with brains. What's the matter with a doctor? Keeps his in a bottle. Hasn't used them for a long time. Now he's done all right, this. He'd be selling papers if his wife hadn't left him a good insurance policy. Don't you like his money? Oh, don't get me wrong. Just that girl has feelings too. Yeah, they show. I'm glad I met you. We're gonna have some nice afternoons. I thought you worked for a living. Got lots of free time. Besides, I should have at least one outside interest. Keep looking. You'll find one. You smile good, but you talk nasty. I only came to see Kingston. There's always a phone call. And make an appointment. Get out. Oh, Vivian, about. Oh, I didn't know you had company. I'll talk to you another time. Just a minute, doctor. This is Mr. Regan. He's your company, but he doesn't have a business card. Look, Mr. Regan, I'm no longer in practice. Just doing research on my own. I have all the medical equipment I can use. I turned all my patients over to another doctor. I know when you forgot. Well, tell me who. Carmen Santino. Carmen? Go ahead, Vivian. I'll speak to Mr. Regan. Watch yourself, Rex. He doesn't know how to be nice. Take a minute. I'll crack some ice. You'll need a drink. Very fine nurse. Yeah, it's a nice uniform. Well, working on my own. Very casual. You said I had a patient named Carmen. What was that? Carmen Santino. I'm afraid you're mistaken, Mr. Regan. Who told you that? I read about you in a letter. That must have been another Kingston. There's only one with a license. You're a relative of the girl friend. You're a detective, aren't you? Yeah. Want to show me your files? Someday. Why not today? This way, I keep them right here in my lap. Help yourself, Mr. Ringgan. Oh, you want a drink? Too early. You don't mind if I have one? Your house didn't find anything? Not under Centino. She could have used another name. Oh, that's possible. When was I supposed to have treated her? About a year ago, according to this letter here. This is a picture, huh? No. I've never treated anyone who looks like that. Sure? Positive. What was her illness? Might have had something to do with that stuff you're drinking. They die from it sometimes. I see. You can't see it from this Window. But just over the hill. My wife is buried. I had special permission from the county. Of course. Bury her on my property. She was a great comfort to me. We were very close. I haven't been the same since she passed away. And that is why I am no longer in practice. I didn't ask for that. Oh, but you did. With your eyes. You're a strange man. Do you enjoy making a living this way? Prying into other people's lives? Searching for what is best left alone? Still here, Rex? Yes. Yes, Vivi. He's just leaving. You gonna find your way? Yeah. Bye, Blue Serge. You're a real disappointment. Don't give up. I'll be back. Don't bother, Regan. The doctor will be out. The whole thing looked phony, like a fan dancer in long underwear. But when I left the two of them, I was beginning to get an idea. Just beginning. I walked over the side of the hill to look at that grave. It was there, all right. Like he said. Irene Kingston. 1922. 1948. Maybe that explained it, maybe it didn't. I was remembering those New York labels I'd seen on my client's clothes. I called up a friend of mine in the caa. He checked into it and. And told me nobody named Santino had come in from Rio on any flight in the last week. And the immigration people didn't have a passport or visa record on her either. I was home thinking about all this when my phone began ringing. It was Irene Centino, and she did all the talking. I tried to get you at your office, Mr. Regan, but no one answered. I had to speak to you. What about? I found Common. Say that again? I found Carmen. Or rather, Carmen found me. I feel foolish now, calling the people in and all that. She came right to my apartment. Can you imagine? She's been looking for me. Please thank Mr. Lyon for his kindness. And Mr. Reagan. Yeah? It's all confidential. I wouldn't want any of this to get to the wrong people. You know, some of the wrong kind. Doesn't everyone? Well, goodbye. Oh, Regan. Regan. You run any expenses on this Santino thing? No. Good. Good. It's all over. How do you know? She just found me. Just came from Missing Persons. There's a cop there named Perini. Got an eye like an eagle. Had that other picture of the Santino dame with me. He took one look at it and opened up a file. What kind of file? Dead and unclaimed. What do you mean? The county buried her. Carmen Santino's been dead A. This is cbs. And you are listening to the story of the lady from Brazil. Tonight's adventure with Jeff Regan, investigator. Well, it figured somebody was having nightmares. I didn't say anything to the lion and went down to the hall of Records. It was a little guy sitting at the desk in Vital Statistics. His fingernails were dirty, and that wasn't a Harry Drucker haircut he was wearing. He was reading a dictionary. And he must have been at a good part because he looked mad when I nudged him. No, no, no. We're not in the bust, buddy, so just quit shoving. I want some information. Public servant. That's what I'm here for. What kind of information? Death files. You're such a morbid guy. Lots of stuff on births and marriages. Why don't you ask me something about them? Girl named Carmen Santino died about a year ago. Tell me what from. Okay, okay. Take it easy. How do you spell it? Just like it sounds. Sabatini? Sailors. Sanaki. Sailors. Sanford. Sanford. That's what happened to old Sandy. No wonder I ain't seen him around Lateno. Oh, yes. Santino. Date of death, 15th October, 1948. Cause of death, alcoholic poisoning. Okay. Yeah, that's right. How'd you get it? Never mind. Who signed a certificate? Rex J. Kingston, MD. Okay, here's one more for you. Look up Irene Kingston, the doc's wife. Look it up. Okay. Okay. Let's see. King Kingsley. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Kingston, Irene. 13th October, 1948. Cause of death? You guessed it. Again, the same. Alcoholic poisoning. Hey, this guy couldn't keep a patient. Well, that filled it in. I could see the plot, but I wasn't sure of the ending. So I didn't waste any time getting over to Irene Santino's place. But I wasn't fast enough. The door was halfway open when I got there. All the company left, but Irene was still around. She was sitting there looking at the phone like it was all she had to think about. 3. Excuse me for not getting up, but I didn't expect you. I told you I found my sister. You told me, but you didn't tell me she was dead. I didn't even tell you that I haven't got a sister, did I? Did I? Come on, lady. Give it to me. What are you talking about? Just give her a red spot on my arm. It doesn't look like much, does it? But you just wait, Mr. Riggin. You just wait. You just wait. I found a doctor on the floor below. He grabbed his black bag and went to work on her. She quieted down to a slow inside giggle, then went out all the way. The doctor got a hold of an ambulance and carted her off to a hospital. They just wheeled her out the door when the lion showed up. Did I see an ambulance out in front? That's right. Your client was in it. Huh? Somebody stuffed her full of something and made her giggle. I don't understand all this at all. I stopped by home to change to my dark suits so I could come by and bring Miss Santino the news of her sister's death. And what do I want? You can save your tears, fatso. She didn't come from Brazil, and she wasn't rich. That woman gave me 200 cash. There was nothing unreliable about her. We had a contract. Well, New Year's coming up. You can use it for confession. Now, see here, Regan. Look at this picture. Irene Santino. I have one just like it. All right. Draw some glasses on it. Add about six or seven years. I don't understand you, Regan. We're talking business, and all at once we're playing games. Look. Look. When I came to see her tonight, she wasn't wearing her glasses. She looked a lot like the dame in this picture. Well, of course she did. Naturally. That's her own sister. She never had a sister. Never had a sister? Then who did the county bury? That's what I'm gonna find out from a certain Dr. Kingston. I had a feeling you'd be back. I built a fire. I forgot the marshmallows. We'll think of something else. I'm. I'm not mad anymore. I'm still looking for your doctor. Let me take care of you. I have a way with men. Didn't we do all this once before? Well, it's night now. I'm better with the lights low. You can ask me some questions. I know some swell answers. I'll bet. How do you like it? Your way? There. That's better. Now let's have a nice, quiet evening, just you and me. That why you wore that? You like it? You got talent. Lady will discover me. There's been a famine of men like you. You don't look underfed. Come on. You haven't touched your drink. I want to see him. All right. We could have had such a nice evening. Rex. What is it? Mr. Regan's here again. Oh. Oh, yeah, yeah. Hello, Regan. Didn't I tell you I'd be out? You told me that, but you didn't tell me what I wanted to know. Had to go to Vital Statistics to get it. What? You don't have anything in your files about Carmen Santina. But you signed her death certificate. You get this, Regan. I don't have to talk to anyone who comes here without a warrant. And you haven't got one. When I tell the city attorney's office what I've got, they'll have somebody out here to open that grave on the hill. What do you mean, Regan? Irene Kingston died two days before Carmen Santino of the same thing. Dr. Kingston signed both certificates and he collects on his wife's insurance. Only I don't think his wife really died. I think that extra grave on the hill is wounded Dresden. My wife didn't die, Regan. Where is she now? I don't know. But she could be around town using the name of Irene Santino. It was a shot in the dark, but it brought results and swung a lamp base around. That connection him on the side of my head. When I came to, I was in a white room in the back of the house. Nothing worked. Irene, would you please bring a bottle? Vivian was standing there with Kingston. He looked sick, like an ostrich with a sore throat. Irene, he had a needle in his hand. I got the shakes. You can do it. All right, Rex. Go ahead. It's the same treatment you two tried to give Irene. You should have stayed out, Regan. I wanted one more look at you, baby. I hate to see the nice ones go, but it'll be all over in a minute. All right, Rex. Give me a drink for me. And I gotta have a drink. It won't help. I found Irene in time. She's in a hospital. She's gonna live. She's gonna talk. Irene's still alive, Rex. Give it to him and then we'll clear out. I didn't kill her. I didn't kill her. You better this time. I can't. I can't. Go ahead. No. No, I won't. I said go ahead. I'll shoot you, Rex. I'll shoot you if you don't. No, you won't. It's all over, Vivian. It's all over. But Kingston was too much for her. All of a sudden it began going off. Vivian started to look pale. Then she went down slow. Oh, she deserved that, haven't. You gonna tell the state, Regan? Is Irene really gonna live? That's what the doctor says. Oh, good. Good. Regan, look. No, don't try to move. I gave you a shot of preparatory solution. You won't be able to move for another hour. I suppose I ought to run. You won't get far. I know. Listen to me. Irene is my wife. She's innocent of all this. When you tell the police the real story, I haven't got it all. I know it started with Carmen Santino. Oh, shit. She stumbled in one night. Dropped dead before I could do anything for her. Alcohol. Yeah. Before she died, she kept talking about a man named Mark. Lives over on Laurel. But I didn't get in touch with him. I had a better idea. She looked it a great deal like my wife Irene. It was really quite remarkable. The insurance. Yeah. Irene didn't want to do it, but she loved me. So she finally agreed to hide out in New York. I used one body for two death certificates. Buried an empty box up on the hill. I was supposed to join Irene later. We were going to start a new life together. Vivian. Yeah, Vivian came along. I was drinking one that. She found out the truth. I was trapped. Would have stayed that way if Irene hadn't hired you. Well, it figured she made up that story about a sister from Brazil just to scare you into getting rid of Vivian. It worked too. I'm scared stiff. Yeah. Like that guy Martin said. Somebody gets scared, and then you. Everybody. Regan. Regan, can you hear me? Oh, sorry. Stuff's making me sleep. Yeah, that'll wear. I'm going now. Regan. See that Irene gets a fair shake. I'll try. He picked up a bottle and started out the door. He didn't even look down at Vivian's body on the floor. I tried to move, but like he said, nothing worked. It was more than two hours before I could get to the phone and call Homicide. And it was more than two days before I talked to the Lion. Jeffrey. Jeffrey, my boy. How you feeling? Better. Well, the fog's gone out of my head, if that's what you mean. Otherwise, I feel louder. Oh, don't take it so hard, my boy. All in a day's work. Besides, there's the brighter side. Yes, indeed. Like what? Well, for one thing, they got that Dr. King, sis. He only got as far as Las Vegas. Crime doesn't pay, Jeffrey. Crime just does not pay. Doesn't, huh? What's this? Now, wait a minute. Give me that application. Consolidated Insurance. It's nothing, I tell you. You mean to tell me you're gonna try to collect reward? Well, we did expose an insurance fraud. And there's nothing in the world that stinks like a fraud. I'll say. Hey, wait a minute. Regan. Where you going? Out to buy an air. Jeff Regan, Investigator, is written by E. Jack Newman, directed by Sterling Tracy, and stars Frank Graham as Regan. With Frank Nelson as Anthony J. Lyon. Original music is by Dick Arant. Foreign Investigator is heard each week at the same time over cbs. Bob Stevenson speaking and inviting you to be with us again next Wednesday at 9 for more suspense and mystery and adventure with Jeff Regan, investigator. This is cbs, the Columbia Broadcasting System SA.