Narrator (0:10)

This is Case Closed Crime Stories from the golden age of radio. What's the matter? What is it? Another case for Nick Carter, Master detective? Yes, it's another case for that most famous of all manhunters, the detective whose ability at solving crime is unequal in the history of detective fiction. Nick Carter, Master Detective. Tonight's curious adventure, Death After Dark. Or Nick Carter and the Mystery of the vampire killings. Mr. Carter. Mr. Carter, I've got to talk to you. Something has happened. Do you. Well, yes. No. Well, that is, it did and it didn't. It might be better if you were to tell me just what it was that did or didn't happen to you. Okay. Well, it was like this, sir. Four of us, Betty Graham, Gertrude Chase, Dora Mason and myself were playing tennis in the park this afternoon. We played a few sets and then about 6:30 we started home. But just as we got to the park gate, Dora suddenly discovered that she'd left her racket in the court. I offered to go get it for, but she started after it herself. The rest of us sat down on the bench to wait for. After about 10 minutes, Gertrude suddenly got up, said something about going to meet Dora, and then started up the same path as Dora had done. Betty and I sat on the bench talking and waiting for them until suddenly we began to realize it was getting quite dark. All at once, Betty said what was on my mind. I don't like this, Phil. The tennis court is only about 5 minutes walk from here. They should have been back before this. Yes, I know. I was thinking the same thing. What do you suppose could be keeping them? I don't know. Don't you think we'd better walk up that way and see what's happened to them? Nothing's happened to them, Betty. But if you want to walk up and meet them, why, okay. I'd rather do that than keep sitting here. Oh, come on then. But I'll bet we meet them before we get to the court. But I judge from the way you tell it that you didn't find them. No, Mr. Carter, we didn't. When we got to the court, it was deserted. We called and called, but we got no answer. Then suddenly, Betty saw something. Here. Look. What is it, Betty? Look there on the grass behind you. That's Dora's tennis racket. I know. Those colored strings. But that. That means that she never came back here at all. But where could she have? Betty, didn't Dora have a rose in her hair? Why, yes. She picked it up on the path just before she left us. I Remember watching her tie a knot on the stem. So she could put one of her hairpins through it to hold it in her hair? Why, here, by the end of the net. A rose. You're right. And it's got a knot in the stem, too. And look, Betty, it's been stepped on. Bill, I'm afraid. Let's get out of here. Something happened, I'm afraid, and she started running across the grass toward the nearest gate. Weren't you scared too? Well, yes, some. But I caught up with her and quieted her down a little. And you didn't see anything of the girls you were looking for? Well, by this time it was too dark to see much of anything. Betty took me by the arm, and we made for the nearest gate. We weren't running, but we weren't lingering either. Maybe you just wait a minute. I just haven't finished. Before we got to the road leading to the gate, we. We had to go through a patch of thick woods. I'd gone that way before, so I didn't think much about it. But Betty was still pretty scared. It's dark here, though. I can hardly see anything. Hurry. I want to get out of here. If we try to go any faster, we may fall over something. Just. Just take it easy and keep going, and we'll. Well, Phil, what did happen? That's just the point, Nick. I don't know. When I regained consciousness a couple of minutes later, one of the park guards was bending over me. And another was trying to bring Betty back to her senses. And you have no idea what actually did happen? No, Nick, no idea at all. Except that a lot of creatures seemed to drop down on us from out of the trees. You say creatures. How do you use that word? Why, that word seems just to be about the only word to use. You couldn't see them at all? No. It was so dark. I could only see that there were a lot of dark forms around me. The thought flashed through my mind that. That we'd been attacked by a band of boy robbers. And they didn't say anything? No exclamations or anything? No, Nick? Nothing? Not a word. The only sounds I remember are a sort of hissing. Sounded like a lot of snakes. Then I got a blow on the back of my neck and it knocked me senseless. What happened to Betty? She'd been doped. She said something had been put over her nose. Something that felt like a piece of burlap and smelled sweet. Then she lost consciousness. After the guards brought her to, I took her home and left her there. As far as I know, she was unharmed, except that she was almost hysterical. What about the other girls, the ones who played tennis with you. Did they turn up later? No. I called both of them on the phone, but neither of them were home. And they hadn't been home since they were out with us. And our first job was to tell the girl's parents what we can and get their permission to take charge of the investigation. Then we'll start our investigating in the park. Everything here looks so different at night, Mr. Carter. Much rather not have to make this examination by night, Phil. But I don't dare wait until morning. Might be too late. There's a tennis court right ahead, Mr. Carter. And here's the tennis racket right where we left it. Don't go any further. I want to see what I can find on the ground in the way of marks of prints. Yeah. Yes. Pretty obvious that a number of barefooted persons have been tramping on the grass here. Barefooted? Yes, I found one. Pretty clear impression of a complete foot. Looks about the size of a 10 year old boy. Yes, there are lots of prints here. Do you think they could be the Prince of. Come here. What is it? Have you found. Take it easy, Bill. Take it easy. Look here. Dora Mason. Is she. Yes, Bill. She's dead. Poor Dora. Why, she almost looks as if she were asleep, doesn't she? Yes, except for that peculiar alabaster whiteness of her skin. Almost as if there wasn't a drop of blood left in her body. How was she killed, Mr. Carter? I don't know. I don't know. The only mark I can find on her is a tiny round hole in her neck a couple of inches below her ear. Well, it's pretty late, but I guess he'll forgive us when he knows why we've come. He may be in bed by now. I'm sorry if he is, but I can't let it go until tomorrow. I must try. Not tonight. Yeah? Oh, hello, Phil. What's up? This is Mr. Carter, Ed. He wants to hear the story about you and Ethel. How you were attacked in the park last week. Are you trying to kid me? No, Ed, we're quite serious. Phil and the girl who was with him were attacked in the same way this evening. The girl was killed. What? Who was she? Dora Mason. Dora? Gee, that's tough. Well, come in, won't you? Sure, Ed. We're afraid Gertrude Chase has been killed, too. Hey, what is this, a gang war? Did you think it was gangsters who attacked you, Ed? I. No, I didn't know what they were. They might have been small men or they might have been boys. How many were there? I should say maybe a dozen. I don't know. I couldn't see them. They seemed to drop down out of the trees. They were so quiet. I thought maybe they weren't human. Not human? How do you mean? The only noise I heard was. Was a sort of hissing. When you were fighting them, did you hit any of them? Sure, lots of them. What did they feel like? They were small, not very strong. And they weren't dressed in regular clothes. I don't know what they had on, but it wasn't our kind of clothes. What did they do to you? They. They swarmed all over us. We both yelled for help. And then they put a piece of burlap over my face, which covered my eyes and nose. It smelled funny. Made me dizzy. Then they knocked me out. How about the girl? Grabbed hold of her and put the same kind of cloth over her face. She said hers had a strange odor, sort of like oranges. It made her unconscious, but it didn't last long. Some park guards heard us, and the things disappeared as they came up. Were either of you hurt? I wasn't. But Ethel, the girl who was with me, was wounded in the throat. Hear that, Mr. Carter? Easy, Phil. Easy, Ed. What was the wound? It was a little hole in her neck about two and a half inches below her ear. And this. This is the thing that wounded her. Good boy, Ed. Now we're getting somewhere. May I keep this? Of course, Mr. Carter. Does it help you? It does indeed. This is our first real step forward. And you say that Moran still had the thing that made the hole in her neck? Yes, Betsy. It was a wicked little instrument. Scobby took it up to one of the medical supply houses to see if they could tell us anything about it. What did it look like, Nick? Well, it's about three and a half inches long. I should say about half that distance. It's the size of a lead pencil. Then it tapers down to a needle point. But just before you reach the point, there's a small swelling like a little bulb. About a quarter of an inch long. What's the idea of that? Well, if I'm not mistaken, once the point of this instrument has been stuck in the flesh, the little bulb holds it there so it won't come loose. You know, something like the bar, but a spear. In fact, that's how Moran happened to have this one. After he and his girlfriend have been attacked by these things. They found this still hanging in the flesh of her neck. Through the center of this needle is a hole the size of a hair at one end and slightly larger at the other. What is this gadget used for, Nick? Injecting something into the blood? No, Betsy, I don't think so. I feel sure it was used for taking something out. Oh, well, did you see that early this morning the police found the body of the other girl who was with Phil yesterday. Yes, I know. And she died exactly the same way Dora did. Patsy, the thing that puzzles me about this whole thing is this. The killers don't act like human beings. And yet they must be. Nick, this couldn't be a sort of repetition of Edgar Allan Poe's story Murders in the Room, or could it? No, no, no, no, Fancy. There are no monkeys or apes in this. Killers must be human beings. Unless. Unless what, Betsy? Well, there's one very obvious idea suggested by the fact that each body had a hole in the throat. That each body was practically drained of blood. That's true. Particularly as there was no blood found on the ground near the bodies. That's just what I mean. It certainly suggests. I mean, you can't help thinking of, well, vampires. Isn't that what you mean? Well, yes, of course I don't, Patsy. What is a vampire, actually? Why, it's a sort of huge bat which kills its victims by sucking the blood from their throats. Mm. Have they ever been known to attack men? Why, I don't think so. Except in stories. Could a bat leave footprints like a 10 year old boy? Of course not. Bats have claws. Well, I know it's silly, Nick. I don't believe in them. I know there are no such things. It's just that. I know, I know, Betsy. It's just that it looks so very much like what we've heard about vampires, that it's an easy if impossible solution. But, Nick, these girls were murdered. So there must be an answer. Of course, Patsy, of course. But I refuse to believe in the supernatural. I feel sure the answer must be that somewhere there exists a sect or creed that uses human blood in its rituals, religious or otherwise. You think the blood is the answer, not the killings? I do. I feel certain, Betsy, that these girls were not in the strict sense of the word, murdered. Not murdered. No, Betsy. They died because for some reason the blood was drawn out of their bodies. Is this the patch of woods where Phil Morgan and his girlfriend were attacked last night, Nick? Yes, Gabby and I think this is probably the best place for the test. Well, gee, this is dangerous business, Nick. Letting yourself be used as bait for these. These creatures. Suppose they get the best of you? Well, that's a chance I'm taking, Scubby. I had a long talk with my friend Ray Shipman Andrews yesterday. You know, he's an explorer and scientist. Has been all over the world. Probably knows more about the peoples of the Earth than anyone else. But he can't tell me the answer to this puzzle. He agrees with me that I'm on the right track. Oh, I don't like it, Nick. Even if these are human beings, they can still be fiends. If you say you're going to do it, I know better than to waste my breath arguing with you. Thanks, Hetty. Now you'll help me get ready for the test. Oh, sure, sure. What do I do first? I'll set this camp chair up here in the center of this little space under the trees. Yeah. Now, hold the lights while you sort out those ropes you have there. You'll find there are 12 lassoes. I want you to lay them on the ground around this camp chair so that the whole space is covered with them. Oh, you mean so that nobody can come near the chair without stepping in one of the lassoes. Oh, I get you. Like this. That's right, Scotty. Yeah. Then bring the free end of each rope here to the chair. Okay. I'll tie them together and then tie them to my wrist, and I can tighten them all at once with one pull when the time comes. Hey, this is quite a stunt, Nick. From what the young people told me, these creatures are weak enough so I should be able to hold several of them without difficulty. There we are. That what you want, Nick? Yes, yes, that's fine, Scully. Now, I'll sit on the chair. Hold the ends of the rope, style fits there. Now, if you'll take this bag of cornmeal. Yeah. Sprinkle it all around this space over the ropes and everything, and I'll be all set. Okay, Nick. Hey, what's this cornmeal for? I hope to get some footprints. That may also serve as a trail that we can follow afterwards. Oh, I wish I were sure you were going to be safe. I don't like this whole business. Neither do I. It has to be done. This is the only way I can see to do it. There. Had enough cornmeal spread around, Nick? Yeah. Fine, Scubby. All right, I'm all set. Now, remember, Nick, I'm going to be just outside the woods with a couple of Riley's men. One shout out of you, and we'll Come. A running fine skeptic. I hope I won't need you, but I'm glad to know you're there. Well, so long for now. Well, so long, Nick. I hope you come out of this okay. I will. Don't worry. Wish I felt as sure of that as I sound. Oh, come on. Come on, if you're coming. Let's get this over. But what really did happen? Well, after Scubby left me, I waited a while. Nothing happened. I waited some more. Still nothing happened. Then I heard some funny noises overhead. Suddenly a swarm of somethings dropped on top of me out of the trees. I tried to fight them off in spite of the fact that they were weak. There was so many of them, I could scarcely move. Tried to catch one of them, but I couldn't seem to get my hands on anything. Gosh, what a feeling that must have been. Yes, say so. And I felt a piece of that burlap over my face and smelled a strange, sickish sweet odor, like oranges. I felt dizzy almost at once and something get me in the back of the neck. And that's all I know. Did you see anything, Scabby? No, Patsy. After I left Nick, I waited for a few minutes and then I heard those queer noises. So I dashed in to find out what was going on. What did you find? Well, Nick was flat on his back, a burlap over his face, footprints all over the cornmeal and nothing else in sight. Did you try to follow any of the prints? Oh, no. They were all over the place. They seemed to go in all directions. Would have been hopeless to try to follow them so that the net result of the evening's expedition was just to exactly nothing. A fine thing. Nicholas Carter's office. Oh, yes, Lieutenant. What? How long ago? All right, I'll tell him. Yes, thanks. Goodbye. Who was it, Patsy? That was Lieutenant Riley, Nick. He said that they just found a third girl in the park. Murdered in the same way as the others, the same hole in the side of the neck and no blood left in the body. Now I know I'm right. These creatures don't want any blood except from women or girls. They won't touch men. That's why they did nothing to me after getting me completely at their mercy last night. Well, I'll try it again tonight, but with a different setup. How different, Nick? I'll dress myself as a woman. Oh, that's silly, Nick. If they want women's blood, they'll know fast enough you're no woman. And besides, there's another reason why you shouldn't do it yourself. What's that? Well, you acted as your own decoy last night. You were so busy defending yourself that you didn't have a chance to do anything about catching one of them. As I know. I know that's true. But there's no other way to do it, Scubby. There is one other way, Nick. A much better way. What's that, Patsy? Use me for bait. Nothing doing. PetsYou think I'm gonna risk your life? You risked your own life. I'm no better than you are. Well, that's different. No, Patsy. I won't let you, and that's final. It's not final, Nick. Three girls have been killed already and two others attacked. If I can help put an end to these killings by serving as bait for these awful things, I want to do it. But, Patsy, you. No, Nick. No buts about it. I want to do it. Patsy, I. Nick, you've just got to say yes. I'm serious. You and Scubby can stand by to protect me as well as to catch one of these. These creatures. Gosh, Nick, looks as if you got yourself a decoy. Whether you want it or not, if the lives of other girls can be saved, it's worthwhile for me to do it. All right, Patsy. If that's the way you feel about it, I'll use you. Thanks, Nick. Now, what are the plans? That's going to require some real thought, so let's put our heads together right now. Any mistake this time would be fatal. There. That's the last of the stakes you wanted, Nick. Good work, Scubby. Now we'll fasten six traps to each of the four stakes with this heavy wire. That'll keep them from dragging the traps away once they're caught in them. Won't the traps break their legs, Nick? No, Patsy, I think not. They're just about strong enough to clamp firmly on their ankles and keep them from getting loose without breaking any bones. Okay. And with the 24 traps in a double circle around you, one of them's bound to get something. How far away are you and Scubby going to be? Right at the edge of these woods, patsy. Only about 100ft away. You don't think our being here will scare them off, do you, Nick? Well, you're being around where I was last night didn't keep them away, did it? No, it didn't. You know, I don't think they're afraid of anything. They take what they want when they want it. And I'm going to Be close enough so that I can reach Patsy. And nothing flat when the time comes. There. Well, that takes care of all the traps, Nick. Now, anything else? No, I. I guess that's all. I will just have to wait. Nick. Yes, Betsy? There's just one thing that scares me a little. Listen, Betsy, if you'd rather not. No, Nick. No. Listen. What if one of those. Those things should get that piece of burlap over my face before I could scream and let you know that they're here? How would you know I needed help? I've already thought of that, Betsy. And here's what I want you to do. As soon as we leave, you start talking quietly to yourself. Recite poems, tell yourself stories, anything you want. But don't stop talking, no matter what silly things you may have to say. Then, if for any reason at all we do hear you, stop talking, we'll come rushing in after you. And that way, silence will be a signal that can't fail. Oh, Nick, you're wonderful. I might have known you'd have an answer. I feel better already. Anything else, Patsy? Anything at all? No, Nick. I'll be all right. The center of a circle of traps. I've got one of the watchman's big electric lanterns with me. The instant we hear you scream or hear you stop talking, we'll turn the light on. Okay, Nick. You. You leaving now? Yes. Yes, we'll be going now. Good luck, Patsy. So long, kid. Have fun. So long. I hope it will be fun. Better start talking, Patsy. Okay, Nick. Well, this is it. The sun that brief December day Rose cheerless over hills of gray and darkly circling Gave at noon a sadder light than waning moon Its fleece was white as snow and everywhere that Mary went. Is she wearing that leather collar you got for her, Nick? Yes. I had it made so it covers her neck and her back and her chest. I'm sure it's excellent protection. Now, I wonder how much longer the poor kid will have to keep this up. She's been going for almost an hour now. She's recited Paul Revere ride 10 times. Yes. You don't get some action pretty soon. Now I'll begin to get. Come on, somebody. Quick. Hurry up. Hey, you can see them, Nick. The little men. Come, Patsy. Hold on. Hold on, Patsy. Nick. Nick, she's down. Yes, but the little men are leaving. They're running away. Oh, Patsy. Patsy. How do you feel? Patsy? Patsy, are you all right? Patsy, are you all right? I think so, Nick. Just this dizzy head off. Good. Take care of us, Guppy. Yeah, We've got two of those creatures. Not traps. Are they dead, Nick? They look so. No, no, they're just unconscious. The treatment was too rough for them, maybe. Well, what are they? Can you tell? They look like little men. That's all I can tell now. Some sort of pygmies, obviously. Members of one of the yellow Asiatic races, I should say. Well, Patsy, what you've done is solved the case. How do you feel now? All right, I guess. Let's get back to the office. We'll phone my scientist friend to meet us there. Between us, we ought to be able to find out what this is all. You feeling all right now, Patsy? Yes, Gabby. Oh, I still get the shivers when I think of all those little hands clutching me all over. Mr. Anders and Nick getting anywhere? I don't know. I've been in the inner office there with those two creatures for almost an hour now. And Anders talk their language, Patsy? More or less. Nick says they speak a dialect that is some variation of an East Asiatic tongue. Anders knows one that is close enough so that he can talk to them. So they can talk anytime. Except when they're hunting. Well, Nick, what's it all about? Did you get anything out of them, Nick? Well, it turns out that they're not men, but women. Women who belong to some tribe on the outskirts of China. Call themselves Turks. There are a hundred tribes in those deserts we know nothing about. This tribe of Tuk must be one of them. Did you find out why they killed those girls? Well, Mr. Anders here knows more about that than I do. Well, it seems that in the Tuck tribe, according to the tribal laws, when a woman's husband dies, she has to kill herself to provide him with female companionship in whatever heaven he goes to. Now, the only way she can avoid this is to draw the blood from a female animal and sacrifice it to her husband. This he'll accept instead of her. And it must be done within six months after his death. But these women being here in the city, couldn't get any animals, so they had to use these girls instead. As far as they were concerned, it made no difference. Any female animal would do for them. There were several widows in the group, and the end of six months time was drawing near, so they had to work fast. They didn't want to hurt the girls, but they had to have the blood for the sacrifice. But what are they doing here in this country if they come from somewhere? Over in East Asia, they say that John Bailey, an explorer, made up a band of 10 men and 20 women. And took them on a world tour. Doing their native dances and their native costumes. And chanting their weird little songs and rituals while he lectured about them. Since the war started, he's been touring the United States. Playing in theaters, nightclubs. Anywhere else they could book them. They've been at some nightclub away uptown for the past two weeks, they say. Is there any way we can stop any further killing? Yes, indeed. We'll round them all up and turn them over to the federal authorities for detention. Until they can be deported back to their own land. Too dangerous to be allowed to run loose in a civilized country. Nick and I think we owe you a Debt of gratitude, Ms. Boyne, for what you've done. It was nothing. I was glad to do it. Well, the women and children who want to use the park wouldn't call it nothing, Betsy. But I didn't do it for them, Nick. I did it for you. This has been another of the strange adventures of Nick Cotter, Master Detective. Which are brought to you regularly at the same time by WO R Mutual. What's your story going to be about next week, Nick? Instead of a preview of next week's story. I want to talk seriously for a moment. About a problem that confronts every owner and driver of an automobile today. A gasoline black market. At the present time, there simply is not enough gasoline available. To supply the needs of our armed forces. And the unlimited wants of civilians as well as gasoline is more and more necessary in prosecuting this war. Gasoline and its by products for every branch of our ever increasing armed forces. Must be filled first. And gasoline rationing is the American way of seeing that each of us gets his fair share of that limited supply which remains after war needs have been satisfied. But gasoline rationing can be made to work Only if you and I and every one of our fellow Americans. Calls the rules and plays fair. The rules are very simple, and they're very easy. One, write the license number of your car. And ink on each of your gas coupons. Two, never buy gasoline without giving up the proper amount of gas coupons. And three, never buy or accept gas coupons that are not rightfully yours. The black market on gasoline thrives on people who think it's smart to get more than their fair share. Even at the expense of their neighbors. So play fair with your fellow citizens by playing square with gasoline rationing. When you get more than your share, someone else has to go without. In the strange adventure you have just heard. Nick Carter was impersonated by Lon Clark. Patsy by Helen Choate. Scubby by John Kane original music was played by Lou White. The entire production was written and Directed by Jock McGregor. Next week at the same time, listen to another curious experience of Nick Carter entitled Murder Takes Time for Nick Carter and the Mystery of the Old Clock. This story is a copyrighted feature of street and Smith Publications Incorporated. The Return of Nick Carter is produced in the studios of WOR and is broadcast over most of these stations every Saturday evening at seven o' clock Eastern War time. This is mutual, Blackie. That saw is making too much noise. The gods are sure to hear us on these. Bite your tongue. Bite your tongue, Brennan. We've been looking so far. What happens if they catch us trying to cut our way into the cottage? It'll be a long time before either of us see the outside of these prison walls. That's what happens. Who care to see them? If we can't do this, Blackie, well, sh. God's coming back down. I'm already down. That was almost the end of that thought it be. Maybe we'd better not go through with this. It's too late now, Brennan. Besides, this is something I have to take care of personally. Sorry, people. Like if things go wrong, you never get out of that uniform you're wearing. You'll be number 685-9437 for the next 10 years. Oh, I don't know. If I'm a good boy. They might give me a different number just to break the monotony. There, we did it. That's three bars sawed through. I think I can crawl through the window now. Thanks for the help, Brandon. I'm the one who should be tanking you. Well, they'll thank me yet. I haven't done anything so far. But you think you can do it, don't you? Well, so far I've done everything I said I would. Here goes. And I'll bet this is the first time on record anyone ever broke into a state penitentiary. And now back to Dick Kalmer as Boston Blackie. Enemy to those who make him an enemy, friend to those who have no friend. All men of Dill Blocks 5 and 6, roll call for breakfast in five minutes. Five minutes. Something nerve they got killing us an exercise yard. Who's exercising, Kevin? I don't know. All I know is it ain't us. You see him around anywhere? No. Now, I'll let you know when I do. I promised you, didn't I? Well, this is the day. The day I got to take care of that rat. That's what I promised myself. And nobody's going to stop Me? Oh, I wouldn't say nobody, Kevin. Unless you call me a nobody. Boston Blackie and in prison. Well, what do you know? Hi, Kevin. Who's your friend? Friend is me. The name's Joe. What's it to you, Blackie? Don't make me answer that. So the great Boston Blackie finally wound up in stir. Well, what do you know? Beat it, Blackie. Sorry, Kevin. I went into too much trouble getting in here. Relax. We've got talk to make, you and I. Wrong boy, Blackie. Me and the friend Joe are talking to each other, and we kind of like it that way. I'd keep moving if I was you, Blackie. You heard what Kevin said. Don't get tough with me, Joe. I don't like it. In fact, I don't like you. You walk away somewhere. In fact, don't walk. Run. Go away. I want to talk to Kevin. Blackie, I wouldn't talk to you if we were the only two cons inside these walls. Now get out of my sight before Matty Ennis finds you here. Hey, Kevin, what's Matty Ennis want with this guy? Only his heart, Joe. If any two guys in this world hate each other, it's Matty Ennis in Boston Black. Who? Only maybe I'm in there, too. I hate them both as much as they hate each other. Listen, Kevin, Ennis is just a guy that I want to talk to you about. Talk to me about rat poison? I'd like it better. And you keep out of my sight or. Oh, the alarm. Some fool's trying to make a break for us. A jerk. Something big. All right. Call in for inspection. Inspection? Some nerve they got. What for? Something screwy somewhere. That's all I know. The mother's saying something. Can you make out what it is? No, but they're passing the word down this way. Hey, fella. Hey, what's up, boy? Shut up. Listen, we'll find out what's happened. They found Matty Ennis murdered in his cell. They found Maddie Ennis murdered in his cell. Look, Warden Ross, if you'll just get hold of Inspector Faraday of the Homicide squad. He'll identify. We have a call into Faraday already. Blackie. That's what your name is. We'll just have to wait. But it might help if you told us what you're doing here in prison uniform. I can't tell you that, Warden Ross. But believe me, I didn't break into prison to kill Marty Ennis. And I have a permit for the gun that you found on me. You don't have a permit to break into this penitentiary, Blackie. What did you do it for? And how? Suppose we settle for the how. I got over the wall and sawed my way into the corridor and sell bought five. Where we all night? Out in the corridor? No, a hidden washroom. I knew I'd be safe there because all the prisoners had been checked into their cells for the night. You're still luckier than smart, Blackie. I've heard about the crazy things you've done, but I want you to know that this is the. Maybe this is your friend Parody. I hope so. I want to get out of here. There's no point in my being here now. Hello? Hello, Warden Ross? This is Faraday, Homicide. I got your message. What's the matter? Well, first of all, a man broke into this prison last night. I guess we have a bad connection, Warden. I thought you said broke in. I did say break in or broke in. Connection's good. It's the situation that's bad. Somebody broke into Langley Penitentiary? Yes, last night. And wasn't caught until this morning in an emergency checkup. Prisoners. There's only one man who tries such a wacky thing and get away with it. Boston Blackie. Well, that's exactly who this fella claims he is. Would you know his voice if you heard it over the phone? Yes. Put him on. Just a minute. Hey, Blackie wants to talk to you. Thanks. Hello, Parody, old pal. Put the warden back on. Wants to talk to you, Warden. Okay. Well, Inspector, is the Boston Blackie? Yes, it's Blackie, all right. What do you want to do with him? Get rid of him. Have enough trouble on my hands as it is. Okay, let him go. He's all right. Only don't tell him I told you so. Tell Paraday I can hear him. It'll spoil his day. I'll spare that guy's face one of these days. What's this about other trouble? A convict was found murdered in the cell this morning. That so? Anybody I knew? You might remember him. It was Matty Ennis. Matty Ennis? Yes, and Blackie broke into prison last night. Don't let Blackie go. Don't let him go. Why not? Why not? Because Boston Blackie promised he'd get Marty Ennis one of these days, that's why not. And it looks like as usual, Blackie's kept his word. This way, Blackie thing. You're a special prisoner. I guess there's no time limit to you in the visitor's room. Only don't break out Will you? That's new wire we just put up. Okay. God, I'll remember that. Who was the ones to see me? Oh, some girl. You didn't say that right. If it's a girl, it's Mary Wesley, and she's some girl. I gotta look at it. You're not kidding. You can say anything you like, Blackie, but just don't invite her in. I won't. Hi, Mary. Blackie. Oh, Blackie, how did you get into this mess? Why, this isn't a mess I'm in, it's penitentiary. Oh. Well, how do you like me in this number? Or do you think I'd look better in a snappy 547925 instead of this English drape? 573-5210. Oh, now, Blackie, don't try to be funny. I heard you broke into this place. Now, why did you do anything like that? Well, I'll tell you a secret. It promised not to tell it to any member of the police force or your ladies. You know I won't tell anyone. Well, in that case, what's the use of bragging? Oh, Blackie, I'm sorry. I'll tell you why. Do you know who Johnny Brennan is? Yeah, he owns that restaurant we go to on Ralph Avenue. That's right. Well, his son Kevin is serving five years for being mixed up with a gang of young west side hoodlums. And now he's in a worse jam than ever and doesn't know it. Well, he couldn't be in more trouble than he is right now. He is, though. His father found out through the underworld grapevine that Kevin was going to be framed for the murder of Matty Ennis. Matty Ennis? Well, he was found dead right here in prison this morning. I heard it on the radio, but I. I didn't hear them mention Kevin Brennan. No, but they'll mention him soon. Kevin, Brennan and Ennis are adjourning cells. And as soon as they find out Kevin hated Ennis, it's gonna look bad for the. Well, why didn't Kevin's father write his son and tell him about the brain? No, Brennan tried to ward Kevin, but his son wouldn't see him. Brennan wrote letters, but Kevin returned them unopened. So Mr. Brennan asked you to see his son, and Kevin wouldn't talk to you either. I got here a little late. And don't say we should have gone to the police about the frame. Because after that, if Ennis was murdered, that would have made Kevin the number one suspect. But, Blackie, you're still in jail. Oh, but I'm special prisoner, Mary. I even chose my own cell, the one Ennis was murdered in. Oh, fine. Well, if you see any ghost, tell him goodbye for me. It's what's next to the late Matty Ennis's cell that interests me, Murray. Kevin Brennan has the next apartment and I want to try to get some information out of him. Well, I should think you'd want to get out of here. That this place must be must get you down. It does. But I'm not going to stay down until I turn Enesqu Kill her up. Hello, Brennan's Restaurant. Mr. Brennan, this is Mary Wesley. Mary, did you see Black up at the prison? Yes, and he tried to kid about it. But he's in trouble and you've got to get him out of it. Now look, you've got to go to Inspector Paraday with me and explain why Blackie broke into prison. Wesley, with any stead. I can't do that. But if I say I ask Blackie to go and honest up me son from being suspected of his martyr, they'd throw the book at me by I can't go. Blackie didn't say he couldn't go when you asked him to break into prison. That was different. This could mean me by slight or Blackie's. Well, I tell Faraday myself, but he won't believe me and, and, and Blackie won't talk. Now, you've got to do it, Mr. Brennan. Please don't ask me to do that, Ms. Wesley. It'd be like killing me own boy. I'll go to see Inspector Faraday with everyone, but I can't tell him why I asked Blackie to go to penitentiary. Hey, Kevin. Kevin Brennan. I want to talk to you. Shut up, my dear, I'm busy. Kevin, do you know how Mariannis was killed? He was stabbed. What about it? That means someone had to get close to him. Who could get closer to him than you? This cell I'm in is the one Ennis was in. It's the last in the row. You're the prisoner nearest to him. So what? I didn't kill him. Now keep your talk in your own cell, will you? Listen, Kevin, I want to tell you something. You're not say. Shut up, didn't you, Blackie? Who's that? Me. That's me. It's Joe, my cellmate. And we're having a nice friendly little game of cards. So for the last time, shut up and let us alone, will ya? Not a chance, kid. You're gonna listen to me I tell you something? Maybe make you shut up. Oh, the tough character again, huh? What do you know, Joe? You ain't funny, Blackie. The kid don't want you to talk to him, so don't start taking it personally, know what I mean? I hope so. I'm still unhappy with myself for not taking a poke at you in the yard. Maybe I'll make myself glad about me tomorrow though. Tomorrow? Well, you got a date. Like maybe the kid didn't like Maddie Ennis, but I did with my friends. I don't like guys who kill my friends. Which is one more reason that I don't like you. Now back to Boston Blackie. Because he is not on speaking terms with his father. Because he refuses even to read his father's letters. Convict Kevin Brennan is unaware that he is to be framed for the murder of Mattie Ennis, a fellow inmate of Langley Penitentiary. So Boston Blackie breaks into the jail to see Kevin, but before he can force young Brennan conversation, Mattie Ennis is murdered. Because Ennis and Blackie are sworn enemies, Inspector Faraday feels Blackie has something to do with the killing. And Blackie is held in the penitentiary pending investigation. As we return to our story, Mary Wesley and John Brennan are in Inspector Faraday's office. Please. Now, Inspector Faraday, before you go up to the penitentiary, tell me that you know Blackie didn't kill Mr. Ennis. I don't know anything of the kind, Ms. Wesley. Sorry. Be Inspector. Why? Why would Blackie kill Ennis? Why, Mr. Brennan? Because Blackie said he would someday. Well now, Blackie says a lot of things that he doesn't mean. He meant this, Ms. Wesley. Ennis was sent to jail for a hundred thousand dollar robbery in which two little girls were killed in the getaway. We couldn't pin a murder app on Ennis and Blackie said he'd take care of Ennis himself. That was just an idle threat, Inspector. Blackie hasn't been idle a day in his life, Mr. Brennan. But I have more against him than that threat. Ennis swore he'd get him someday because Blackie broke that case. And I have an idea. Ennis and Blackie met. Ennis went for Blackie when Blackie broke into the prison. Only Blackie. Blackie was too quick for him. Well, that would be murder and self defense, Inspector Faraday, you can't. I know what it is, Ms. Wesley, but it's still murder. You don't think I like to see Blackie in a jam, do you? Well, I. I Hope not. But he is in a jam, Ms. Wesley. Why did he break into Langley Penitentiary if not to kill Ennis? That's what has to be answered before he has a chance to get out of this mess. Well, I could tell you why he did it. And I'm supposed to believe you? Howdy, Pete. Do you think Blackie broke into that jail to kill Ennis? He might have, Mr. Brennan. Ennis was caught after that robbery, but we never found the money. Maybe Blackie went after Ennis to force him to tell where he'd stashed the dough. Well, I remember the Ennis robbery, Inspector. Ennis had an accomplice who wasn't caught. You don't remember enough. Ennis had an accomplice, all right, and he wasn't caught right after the robbery. But he was caught a little while ago. And according to the records I went over this afternoon, it looked as if he wanted to be picked up. Yeah, the clever Joe Atherton walked right into a track. Joe Atherton? That was Maddie Ennis's partner? Yes, Thought it did. Joe Atherton is Ms. Unset Me. So What? Nothing. No wonder Kevin has turned against me so. What do you mean, turned against you? I have his last letter, written several months ago, telling me not to bother writing to him anymore. He had a friend, Joe Atherton, who was going to show him the right way to make good. He didn't want to be bothered with any more of my preaching. That's typical of all youngsters who get in with hardened criminals. Mr. Brennan, it may not be too late to straighten your son out. I'll see if I can have him moved away from Atherton. And will you see if you can have Blackie moved out of the penitentiary? Inspector Faraday, getting out of jail is strictly up to Blackie, Ms. Wesley. When I get there, he's got to tell me what he was up to when he broke into jail. That is, if he hasn't broken out by now. Inspector, you have no idea how cute you look behind that chicken wire. Just like a setting hen. You're gonna be looking at me through bars if you don't start talking. Blackie. Listen to the setting hen cluck. Blackie. You gonna tell me why you broke in here, or aren't you? I read any good books lately, Inspector. All right, then. You can stay in here till you're 95. Well, that's a relief. I thought you might have them keep me here for life. Look, Blankie, why did you kill Marty Ennis? Oh, Inspector, come now. Maybe I'm a Bad boy. But I'm not that bad. You're plenty good. Good enough to break in here without getting caught. Good enough to find Ennis and try to force him to tell you where he stashed 100,000 he got in that robbery. Good enough to beat him to the punch when he tried to kill you. Will you be good enough to tell me what I'd want with that hundred thousand? You're not the richest man in the world. No, but I wouldn't go to Ennis to find that money if I wanted it. I'd try to find his accomplice who wasn't caught, and beat it out of him. His accomplice is right here in this prison. Is he? Yes. Then in a cell right next to where Ennis was killed. Kevin Brennan didn't work with Ennis. No, but Joe Atherton did. And Atherton and Brennan share the same cell. But I don't think that's news to you. I think you know it. Keep your badge on, Inspector. Keep your badge on. How do you know Atherton and Ennis were partners in that robbery? Because we got a description of the accomplice who got away when we grabbed Ennis. And Atherton fits that description. He fits something else, too, Inspector. Go back to sleep and dream that the Ennis murder is solved. See me later and I'll make that dream come true. Hey, Joe, you asleep? No. No, Kevin. What's the matter up there? Bugs in your bunk? No, I'm just thinking, that's all. Yeah? What about Blackie? He went to an awful lot of trouble to get in here to talk to me. Maybe I should let him have his say. What for? Cause he's an all right guy. He did get to say something about Matty Ennis to me. And about me getting into trouble because of him. I'm beginning to think you're beginning to go off your nut. Go to sleep. I did a lot of talking about hating Matty Ennis. Yeah, I know. I know, kid. Want people to think you're a tough guy, don't you? I don't know. Now, that was your idea. And maybe I shouldn't listen to your ideas. One more crack like that, I'll pull you down out of that bunk of yours and slap you around. We'll try it and see what happens to you. You think you're real tough, huh? Well, we'll see. I'll get you to cut it out. You don't. Okay, let's see if you left Brennan. My turn, Petty. Oh, you have a cigar. Keep your Mouth shut. Now, come here. And you keep your mouth shut. Hey, what's going on in there, Brennan? You, Anthony. What are you up to now? Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Guard. Sounded to me like you two were fighting. Maybe you'd both like a little solitary, huh? No, we weren't fighting, Guard. Just. Just swatting flies. Swatting flies. Yeah. Yeah, that's right. Yeah. Yeah. Just what implied? Sure. I was just trying to exterminate an insect. Hello, Warden. You sent for me? Yes, I did, Blackie. Come in. Sit down. Thanks. That's one of the best things I do. Lucky you don't know that Ennis was stabbed with a spoon shaped into a crude knife. Probably by some convict who had access to an emery wheel in the machine shop. That sounds normal enough. After dinner yesterday, we checked the silverware the prisoners used. We do that for every meal. Boom was missing. Search couldn't find it. We know it was missing from the bench where young Brennan ate. Joe Atherton eat that, too, didn't he? Yes, but it was bad blood between Anderson, Brennan, Atherton, and it's got on pretty well, Blackie. Young Brennan worked in the machine shop. Didn't happen. You see, you keep overlooking one fact, Warden, and that is that Brennan cellmate Athleton had the same opportunity to kill Ennis as the kid did. Exactly the same. Your point, of course, is that Athleton had no reason to kill Ennis and Kevin did. Well, let's make believe that Athleton had no reason. You know of. What are you getting at, Warden? Would young Brennan be foolish enough to kill a man everyone knows he hated in a way that had to be traced to him? I doubt it. Look, can you arrange a baseball game between the convicts for tomorrow morning? Yes, of course, but why? You want to know what the score is, don't you? I guarantee I'll be able to tell you when Joe Atherton comes to bat. Your attention. All prisoners, your attention. Okay, Warden Ross. Okay. You men are allowed in the exercise yard today, pending your best behavior. I'm allowing this baseball game because I don't think it's fair for all of you to suffer for the actions of two or three. I think it's a good idea for us to take our minds off Matty Ennis for a little while. But you ought to be allowed out here only as long as you behave yourself. All right, I'll unply the first few innings. Let's play ball. Come on. The warden said play ball. Stop yapping out there on the mountain. Pitch to me. All right, I'M go, man. Blackie, I didn't know you were a catcher. I've caught more than baseballs in my time, Gordon Ross. I didn't know you were an umpire. I'm not. Who's going to argue with the warden? I see what you mean. Come on, come on. Stop that falling out there. Let's play ball. Come on, pitcher, burn one in. You're too good for this guy. You're too good for him, pal. This is one you're not going to feel in that mid of yours. Blackie, I'm going to slam this one over the wall. And don't you wish you could go over the wall after it, you say. Here comes the pitch, boy. You can't get it. You can't. Hey, got it, Purple. That's the next batter in there. Lucky hit, kid. Lucky hit. Just keep finding the middle of this old mid here. Burn it down and they'll never see it. Pitch it to me, boy. Pitch it to me. Gonna never reach you, Blackie, in a plaster. The first one a mile. Well, look who's up. Joe Atherton. Suckers up, kid. Throw him a hook and he'll break his neck. Break yours, I get half a chance. Wouldn't surprise me at all. Especially after what you did for Matty Ennis. Lucky, don't fool with me now. What do you mean? Nice pigeon, kid. Nice. Go. And a guy needs a paddle, not a bat. Now, one more in the same place, boy. The next one goes right in your head, Joe. Try to pitch your brains then. That's something that would be impossible for me to do to you. No brainer. You are sure? You see, Athena turned back to look at me and my boy puts another one right over. You put one over on Matty Ennis, too, didn't you? You killed him so you'd get the money he'd stashed away after you got out. Lucky, after the game, I'm gonna fix you. Shut up. You're not gonna do anything now. Come on, kid, one more. Get this sucker out of here. Oh, a sucker, huh? You didn't think I knew that you were Ennis's partner in that hundred grand robbery, did you? Who told you? Oh, the Blinon kid, huh? I should have framed him better. Okay, Blackie, you talked me into striking out, but you know too much. And I'm gonna. Not with that bat. John Warden, look away. Thank you. He could excuse you if he hit you with that bat. Sure, but I had first Gordon Ross. This character killed Ennis here and was going to frame Young Brennan for the murder. A baseball game is a swell spot to tag him to. He had two strikes on him from the time I broke in here. Well, Inspector Paraday, are you satisfied we have Matty Ennis's killer? What I heard Atherton say to Blackie at home plate was enough to convince me. Yes, Warden Ross Atherton's our man. You don't mind if I wait in this office of yours till my men get here to pick him up, do you? No. Well, you can wait here if you want a Faraday, but I'm leaving. I've had enough of this penitentiary to last me for a hundred years. Blackie, I ought to send you here for 100 years and a day for not telling me why you broke into this place. I couldn't tell you, Faraday. And if I did, you wouldn't have believed me. Besides, if I told you Kevin Brennan was going to be framed for killing Matty Ennis, what would you have done when Ennis was found dead? Why wouldn't have accused Kevin Brennan? Because I have to have proof before I accuse anybody of anything. Oh, is that so? You accused me of killing Ennis. Did you have proof? Well, no, but that was different. I can accuse you of anything and be right most of the time. Pal, you're so far from ever being right, the fellows called you Lefty. Yeah, you would have picked on young Brennan. All right, all right. So I would have arrested him and made a mistake, so he would have been released. I suppose you never made a mistake. I made a mistake not figuring out who had a motive to kill Ennis before breaking in here. If I'd known Ennis's accomplice was in prison, too, I could have saved myself a lot of trouble. I guess you think it's my fault for not telling you. I didn't even know you were working on the case. If I told you what I was gonna do, you'd have worked on me. But I've had enough of this case and enough of this jail and too much of you. That's. I'm getting out of here. It's all right for me to go now. Isn't one worth. Yeah. Yes, Frankie, there's nothing to keep you here. Now, Faraday here wants to prefer charges against you for breaking into jail. I can do that, too, Blackie. I could prefer charges. I know what you could prefer, Faraday. But I know you prefer not to have me in prison. Just how far would you get on your cases with your body in your office and your brains in jail? Sa.