Episode 654 - Cold…Very Cold Cases (Let George Do It, Barrie Craig, & Johnny Dollar)

Summary

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Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)

Episode 654: Cold…Very Cold Cases
Aired: February 1, 2026
Featuring:

• “Snowblind” (Let George Do It)
• “The Girl on the Doorstep” (Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator)
• “The Classified Killer Matter” (Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar)

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Episode Overview

In this wintry edition of Down These Mean Streets, the host celebrates the cold grip of winter with classic radio detective stories set against icy backdrops. Listeners are invited to “bundle up” and enjoy three tales where detectives face not only mysteries, but snow, ice, and the chill of human nature. This episode revisits standout shows from the golden age of radio — featuring high-altitude murder, a sidewalk death with secrets, and insurance intrigue during a blizzard.

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Segment 1: Let George Do It – "Snowblind"

Aired: Mutual, December 26, 1949
Starts at: [00:57]

Summary

George Valentine and his loyal assistant Brooksie travel to a mountain ski town, responding to a cryptic letter from a worried wife. What starts as a supposed marital dilemma quickly twists into a tale of jealousy, betrayal, and murder on the icy slopes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• Letter of Distress:
  The episode opens with Mrs. Delamoras, fearing her husband, Dr. Morris, is in danger from another woman, Dorothy Graham. Her isolation in the mountains mirrors the characters’ emotional distance and the episode’s physical dangers.
  [07:51]

• Atmospheric Setting:
  The guests are beset not just by swirling snow, but a web of romantic entanglements. The ski lodge atmosphere provides both a picturesque and a perilous backdrop for the action.
  "There’s so little time with the good snow. It’ll be storming again later on. And you do enjoy it, don't you?" — Mrs. Morris, [12:42]

• Suspicion and Motive:
  Valentine quickly uncovers that the supposed threat may be a distraction from deeper motives: Mrs. Morris wants her freedom, her ski instructor lover (Hans) is ambitious, and Dorothy Graham, once Hans’s wife, is unbalanced and potentially dangerous.
  "You're no more worried about him or about her than the price of eggs in Sweden. The only thing that worries you is your boyfriend." — George Valentine, [15:24]

• Murder or Accident?:
  When Dr. Morris dies in a car accident, all eyes search for the hand behind the tragedy. Tension mounts as the threats of nature (blizzard, icy roads) mix with suspicions of sabotage.
  "Well, lady, I never know anyone to die so conveniently by accident." — George Valentine, [22:12]

• Revelation and Irony:
  Hans, cornered by Valentine, flees, convinced he'll be framed regardless, and unintentionally meets his end in the very fate he intended for another. In the end, it's revealed Dr. Morris’s death was truly an accident — Hans’s sabotage was for the wrong car.
  "Morris unexpectedly took his wife's sedan, not his convertible. He had an accident, pure and simple." — Brooksie, [32:31]

Notable Quotes

• "What else is to life except mountains and snow and women?" — Hans, [13:46]
• "You can't catch him. He won't be caught. Don't be angry. It's better this way." — Mrs. Morris, [30:29]

Memorable Moments & Timestamps

• Brooksie finds a gun and sleeping tablets in Dorothy Graham’s bag — [12:15]
• Confrontation with Hans; clues point to him — [28:20–29:53]
• The twist: Hans sabotaged the convertible, but the doctor drove the sedan — [32:23]

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Segment 2: Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator – "The Girl on the Doorstep"

Aired: NBC, February 16, 1953
Starts at: [35:38]

Summary

Barry Craig witnesses what appears to be an accidental death on an icy city sidewalk but is quickly drawn into a deeper plot involving big-city vice, a mysterious redhead, and organized crime. The hardboiled detective uncovers a murder staged as a slip-and-fall, and navigates both criminal and police suspicion as he closes in on the real culprit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• Fatal Ice:
  Craig observes a man (Walter Borley) fall and die after an encounter with a redheaded woman in an apartment lobby at 1 am. Initial appearances suggest a simple accident.
  "The pavement can be pretty hard when you slap it with the back of your head." — Barry Craig, [36:31]

• Disappearing Woman and Suspicion:
  The redhead vanishes; the building super says no such woman lives there, deepening the mystery.
  "There ain't no girl like that living in this building." — Super, [37:12]

• Murder and Motive:
  Police reveal the dead man, Borley, had criminal connections and was back to collect debts, putting mobsters Wheeler and Carson in the suspect pool.
  "Walter Borley went to the morgue; Lieutenant Rogers went back to headquarters. And Barry Craig bought a drink." — Narrator, [44:00]

• The Club and The Floor Show:
  Craig follows leads to the "Three Aces" nightclub–another snowy, dangerous stop—encountering the mobsters and the elusive dancer Nina West (the redhead). He’s knocked out, but recovers in time to foil a cover-up and precipitate Wheeler’s suicide.
  "Ever seen one of these before? Pretty shade of green, isn’t it?" — Barry Craig, [46:01]

• Climax and Resolution:
  Craig realizes Carson set up Borley, using Nina as bait and staging the murder. Nina, fearing for her life, seeks out Craig for help. Carson attempts to kill her but fails, thanks to Craig’s intervention; Carson is apprehended.

Notable Quotes

• "I wondered if there was a special license that a plain investigator like me could get that would make me like martinis and make blondes like me." — Barry Craig, [36:31]
• "The ashes on the sidewalk, for one thing — Borley couldn't have slipped on the ice." — Barry Craig, [61:07]

Memorable Moments & Timestamps

• Discovery of the forced lock at the apartment — [43:35]
• Craig is attacked at the club — [48:36]
• Wheeler’s suicide — [55:47]
• Final confrontation with Carson and saving Nina — [59:58–60:32]

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Segment 3: Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar – "The Classified Killer Matter"

AFRS Rebroadcast / Date not given
Starts at: [62:03]

Summary

Johnny Dollar flies into blizzard-stricken Chicago to investigate the murder of his acquaintance, insurance adjuster Frank Harvey. The case centers on a Cadillac for sale, a mysterious classified ad, a missing car, and a suspicious trail of evidence—in which an unexpected witness reveals the murderer’s identity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• Atmosphere of Confusion and Grief:
  Blizzards set the scene as Dollar arrives to help Ted Albright, the victim’s boss, and Chicago police piece together the story of Frank Harvey’s last moments.
  "Sorry about this lousy weather... It'll slow us up plenty." — Ted Albright, [66:41]

• The Setup:
  Harvey is murdered while showing his car to a ‘potential buyer’ he met through a classified ad. A woman’s compact is found in the car, leading to the identification of Alma, Albright’s wife, as a witness (and possibly more).

• The Wife’s Tale:
  Alma Albright, hiding in a hotel, is found by Dollar. She reveals she was in the car with Frank and the supposed buyer, who turned out to be a killer — not her husband. Fear of scandal kept her hiding.
  "Don't you realize what happened? I was out with a man who wasn't my husband." — Alma Albright, [78:39]

• Twists and Misleads:
  Police suspect a jealous husband plotted murder, but Dollar finds the real clue in the killer’s use of auto paint solvent, acetone.
  "There was a kind of a pink, sweet odor I noticed. Like nail polish remover, maybe?" — Alma, [85:08]

• Resolution—Psycho Killer in Plain Sight:
  Dollar’s investigation leads to Will Ziegler, the garage mechanic who tipped his hand by discussing the witness Alma and displaying the pink scent of acetone. Ziegler confesses — his motive is envy and desire for Harvey’s life.
  "Always did shoot off my mouth too much... Killing him. No, no. Doing it in the car that way. Spoil that great upholstery... That was a mistake." — Ziegler, [88:35]

Notable Quotes

• “A blizzard like this always cuts down the crime incidents, right, fella?” — Lieutenant Franchetti, [66:41]
• "Nothing gives a guy class like sharp clothes and a real fine car." — Ziegler, [86:53]

Memorable Moments & Timestamps

• Taggart the hotel clerk’s comic routine about helping the police — [71:08–72:21]
• Unmasking the killer based on acetone odor — [86:53–88:35]

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Host’s Closing Thoughts

[89:47]

The host closes with warmth, relating the perils of winter to the chilling stories covered and inviting listeners to seek out more shows both on this podcast and "Stars on Suspense." He signs off on a hopeful note (“staying warm and safe wherever you are”), carrying through the episode’s cozy yet suspenseful winter theme.

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Notable Quotes & Moments Across the Episode

• “Bundle up, grab a mug of hot chocolate and enjoy some cold cases from these radio gumshoes.” — Host, [00:57]
• “Murderers... do they just list their victims under buried assets?” — Host, segue to Barrie Craig, [35:38]

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Thematic Takeaways

• Winter as Adversary: The harsh weather in each story is an active obstacle—symbolizing danger, buried truths, and the uncertain nature of fate.
• Twists and Irony: All three cases subvert the obvious—accidents are murder, murder is an accident, and relationships are fodder for further betrayal.
• Classic Detective Tropes: Hardboiled narration, red herrings, and moral questioning (“help to stamp out prejudice”) remain hallmarks of the radio serial style.

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For Avid Listeners and Newcomers

This episode invites both nostalgia and first-time enjoyment for fans of classic radio mystery. The old ads, slick patter, and rich soundscapes combine with brisk plotting and character-driven suspense—a hallmark of the golden age of detective fiction.

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For full stories, atmospheric performances, and twisty mysteries, Episode 654 delivers a triple helping of cold-weather chills and thrills.

Transcript

[Podcast Host]

Get this and get it straight.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Crime is a sucker's road and those who travel it wind up in the gut of the prison of the grave. The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. The Adventures of Sam Spade Detective the Adventures of the Saint starring Vincent Price. Bob Bailey in the exciting adventures of the man with the action packed expense account, America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar.

[Podcast Host]

Hello and welcome to down these Mean Streets with more old time radio detectives and crime solvers. And if you're listening in the US there's a good chance you're either still dealing with the aftermath of last weekend's snow and ice storm or you're getting a new round of snow on top of what's already on the ground. In my neck of the woods it's more ice than snow, about 2 inches of it coating everything and making it a pain pain to do anything outside. So after a week of slipping, sliding and slamming onto the hard ground, I'm over it and ready for the melting to start. But since it's still ice as far as the eye can see, I thought I'd dig out some radio mysteries where our heroes have to contend with winter weather as they solve their cases. First up, we have Bob Bailey as George Valentine with Virginia Gregg as Brooksie in Snowblind from Let George Do It. This one originally aired on Mutual on December 26, 1949 as a letter from a new client brings our heroes to a mountain ski town where they hit the slopes and try to prevent a murder. Then William Gargan stars as Barry Craig, confidential investigator in the Girl on the Doorstep. From the From February 16, 1953, Barry Craig is witness to a fatal slip and fall on the icy sidewalk that turns out to be more than an accident. And finally, we'll hear John Lund as Johnny Dollar in an Armed Forces Radio Service rebroadcast of the classified killer matter where the investigation of a friend's death takes Johnny to Chicago in the middle of a blizzard. So bundle up, grab a mug of hot chocolate and enjoy some cold cases from these radio gumshoes. We'll kick off with Let George do it right after these messages.

[Narrator/Announcer]

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[Character/Actor]

Dear Mr. Valentine, I'm writing to you about my husband, Herbert Morris, since I know he himself would never deign to ask anyone for help, particularly when it concerns a woman. But he is in danger. I can tell from his letters and the way he acts when he does. Herbert is a doctor. He can't leave his practice. And so he is alone down there in the city. Just as I am alone up here in the mountains.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Keep going down and besenval.

[Character/Actor]

Oh, he startled me. Hello, Hans.

[Narrator/Announcer]

What is it?

[Character/Actor]

What? Oh. Esgip Kind. There are no longer bears in this wood. You see, I have been studying. I have.

[Narrator/Announcer]

No, no, no. Not what I say, I meant. What is it?

[Character/Actor]

Oh. Oh. Oh, the letter. It's nothing. It's nothing. Hans.

[Narrator/Announcer]

It is snowing outside. Good powder.

[Character/Actor]

Oh, yes, I noticed it. Supper time. I can practice my Christie in the morning, can't I? You'll help me with it, won't you? Before any of the others, hans?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Of course, Mrs. Morris. A ski instructor is only to oblige. What is it you won't tell me?

[Character/Actor]

Oh, well, it's just. Well, it's a note for supplies I need up at the cabin. Oh, Hans, wait. I'll be in in a moment.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Isn't under a diamond?

[Character/Actor]

Yes, I know there are other women. That's what you said, isn't it? Yeah, but. I'll be just a moment.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Hans.

[Character/Actor]

Ick9.

[Narrator/Announcer]

No, no. Stop it. Stop it. It's a dead language like the people. Why bother?

[Character/Actor]

Don't say that. Harm you'll wait for me, won't you?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Whatever the lady says.

[Character/Actor]

Please.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Aren't you? How else could I do so? Hurry to order the bacon. There is dancing to be done. Hunter.

[Character/Actor]

Mr. Valentine, my husband is in danger from a woman. Her name is Dorothy Graham, and I believe she is at the Hotel Continental. I can be reached at our winter cabin several miles north of Sun Mountain Lodge. Sincerely, Delamaras.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Miss Graham checked out half an hour ago. Took all her baggage. I'm as sorry as you are. She was nice to hand her key to. All right, Wolf.

[Character/Actor]

She left half an hour ago and we already found out. Dr. Morris left for Sun Mountain last night. But wait a minute. Did she have any heavy baggage? I mean, like skis, maybe?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Nope. But she asked me for a railroad schedule in the name of a good sporting goods store. That help you any?

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Narrator/Announcer]

How about it, angel? Shall we join the broken legs?

[Character/Actor]

Sun Mountain?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Uh huh. In fact, if we make it fast, we might even catch the same ski special she does. Want a bet?

[Podcast Host]

Miss Dorothy Graham.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Miss Graham.

[Podcast Host]

Miss Dorothy Graham.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Miss Dorothy Graham.

[Character/Actor]

Oh, Porter. Porter, that's me.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Telegram, Miss Graham. Delivered to the train at the station.

[Character/Actor]

Oh, of course. Here. Thank you.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Thank you, Miss. Well, pardon me. May I?

[Character/Actor]

Chair's empty.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah, well, I. I guess everybody's a little friendly, headed for a vacation and all.

[Character/Actor]

I suppose so.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah. This is my first trip this year. You pretty good on the sticks?

[Character/Actor]

I don't ski.

[Podcast Host]

Oh.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Skate?

[Character/Actor]

No.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Well, then what are you doing on the train?

[Character/Actor]

Could you please. Oh.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Oh, look. Excuse me. You got a wire? You haven't had a chance to read it. I didn't notice.

[Character/Actor]

Would you please give me a match?

[Narrator/Announcer]

That's all.

[Podcast Host]

Oh, sure.

[Character/Actor]

Thank you.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Hey, you're burning your telegram.

[Character/Actor]

Yeah, I like fires and ashtrays, don't you? I feel excited. Excuse me, I. I think I'll get some sleep.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah. Brooksie burned the telegram without looking at it.

[Character/Actor]

I wonder who she thought it was from.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I don't know. Particularly since it was me. What? Sure, that's the wire. I sent her a fake one from her hotel. Just so it'd be easy to find her here in this crowd.

[Character/Actor]

While you were in the club car, I took a simpler way. I asked the porter which was Dorothy Graham's compartment.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You what?

[Character/Actor]

And I looked through her handbag. George, she only has a one way ticket to Sun Mountain, a lot of sleeping tablets and a gun.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Misses Morris, we came up here because you said your husband's in danger. We didn't come up here to ski.

[Character/Actor]

Please, Mr. Valentine, please, not now. But when will you talk about it? Ever since you met us at the station, you've been. There's so little time with the good snow. It'll be storming again later on. And you do enjoy it, don't you?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Oh, yeah, sure, of course we do. But I also like to know what's going on. Why'd your husband come up here unexpectedly? Why did Dorothy Graham. Why? She carry a gun? What's it all about?

[Character/Actor]

Well, I'm sure there's nothing to worry about. The gun or above her. Not now. You said she took a room back at the lodge. Well, Herbert's miles from here. He stayed up at our cabin.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Where's the next one? All day it doesn't take to climb up here.

[Character/Actor]

Oh, there. That's you, Ms. Brooks. I haven't got my wings yet. The lessons will help you. You fall down.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Come, Ms. Brooks. Bend your knees this time. Go ahead. Go to it, angel. Let's see you fall on something beside your face.

[Character/Actor]

Oh, here goes nothing.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Now, that's it. Lean, lean. No, now swing your arm.

[Podcast Host]

Your shoulder.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah. It's all a lot of fun, isn't it, Ms. Morris?

[Character/Actor]

Valentine, I will tell you, but not in front of heart.

[Narrator/Announcer]

It's all right, Mrs. Morris. Show her how it's done. There's not old. It's getting colder. Only the skis. Keep them together. Together. Swing now.

[Podcast Host]

That's it.

[Character/Actor]

All right, Hans. Watch me home.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Hey, she's not bad. Must have been practicing a lot. Yeah. But you, Mr. Valentine, you do not need lessons. Neither do you. Why not, Mr. Valentine? What else is to life except mountains and snow and women? Well, you left out a dog and a fire. Now, look, Hans, you know Mrs. Morris pretty well. You've been with us ever since we got off the train. Do you know her husband, the doctor? Yeah. Well, what's he like? American? I don't know. It's just this morning I meet him. I drive to their cabin for coffee. I brought her back to meet you, her friends. He's well, he drives a new red convertible. Is that bad? Expensive. It is. Her money. Oh, I see. Of course, the man is a doctor. No, no, I get the idea. You don't like him. No. Why should you say that? He's nothing one way or the other. Yeah, I understand. Ski instructor. Things don't get so much dull.

[Character/Actor]

I think that it hurt under my arm. I called.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Let's go inside.

[Character/Actor]

Oh, ouch. I was making it.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Neither do I. Mrs. What? Yes, your husband. It was Hans, right? Worried? Healing.

[Character/Actor]

Ms. Fulton, I did.

[Narrator/Announcer]

All right, all right. Here, keep the towel on.

[Character/Actor]

I wasn't just trying to stop you from talking.

[Narrator/Announcer]

He's outside now with Ms. Brooks, so forget it. All right, let's have it. Mrs. Morris, I don't like divorce cases. But that's what this is, isn't it?

[Character/Actor]

Well, I told you that my husband.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Oh, sure, that Herbert was in danger from a blonde. And I followed her and she's a weirdy all right. But you're no more worried about him or about her than the price of eggs in Sweden. The only thing that worries you is your boyfriend. The way you watch that Austrian ski boy out there is enough to.

[Character/Actor]

I Beg your pardon, Ms. Valentine. I love Hans very much.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Okay, I beg yours, only let's be honest about it.

[Character/Actor]

Herbert has been well stuffy about giving me my freedom, that's all. A friend in the city, his nurse, when she wrote me that Herbert had brought this Graham woman to town. I've been visiting, heard her, who tells.

[Narrator/Announcer]

All you had to do was hire somebody like me and trade the doctor for us.

[Character/Actor]

Never mind first impressions when you get to know Hans. It's just that he's been through so much in his own country.

[Narrator/Announcer]

And he's sensitive and proud and ambitious.

[Character/Actor]

Mr. Valentine, I'm sorry I misled you, but I didn't expect everyone to come galloping after us to the mountains. Oh. Oh, it's you.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Give kind Bernard these emergency.

[Character/Actor]

Oh, darling, I'm much better now. I thought you were hurt.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah, yeah, the bear, he is slow, but the road is always bad. Dangerous. And now there's more.

[Character/Actor]

My ankle's only a little swollen, don't you think?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Oh, Lipshen. How shall we then dance? You should have a bandage. I will go bring it myself. A little tape. No, never mind. Where do you keep your first aid kit? My cabin just out there, beyond Mosquito. Why me? Your keys. I need some fresh air. Drop that thing. Come on, sister. What's a big idea, blondie? You got a rotten name. But no, no, let me go.

[Character/Actor]

I didn't mean to hit you. I mean, I didn't, did I?

[Narrator/Announcer]

I heard the key step the door.

[Character/Actor]

I'm sorry.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah, maybe you thought it was somebody else, huh? But you've been sitting here all keyed up, waiting for the door to open. Just like you were keyed up on the train. Cried all the way up here. Only bought a one way ticket. Well, there's only one guy you could have come up here to murder. And Hans Kevin to that impartial Mr. Valentine.

[Character/Actor]

What's happened?

[Narrator/Announcer]

What's happened? Doris, what are you. Where did you come? Doris? Yeah, Buster. Stand there with your mouth open. You don't know how lucky you are to be able to open it. But please, Mr. Valentine, it has been years. She is my wife. No, no, no. I have not known few years. Please, you need time to think of answers. No, please. There is a road. Is there cabin to hear beautiful new car Dr. Morris like the sheriff, his car accident into the canyon is. George Valentine. In just a moment. Several weeks there will probably be. What's the big trek all about? No country. But how will your trust Climate tailored. It gets the best out of your car. That's because Chevron supreme is specially tailored to the different altitude and temperature zones. It's tailored also to the season. So try a tank full of this Climate Hill gasoline tomorrow. Right away you'll notice how much better your car performs. Faster start, smoother pickup in traffic, pain free power on hills. In fact, you can't buy a better gasoline for today's high compression engines. Ask for premium quality Chevron supreme at independent Chevron gas stations and standard stations where they say and mean we take better care of your car. Now back to tonight's adventure of George Valentine. You're hired by a wealthy married woman who has a sentimental eye on a handsome ski instructor. Marriage ski instructor at that. Yes, it's a quadrangle. Or rather it was until Dr. Morris crashed to his death while driving on the dangerous road from the cabin to the lodge. So when the sheriff asks you all to meet him at the Morris cabin, you think it best for you to do the riding up that dangerous road. And when you arrive at the cabin, you wish the sheriff would hurry up with his investigation. Hello? Yes, we're all up here at the Morris cabin, Sheriff, but. Well, I just hoped you'd be here too, that's all. No, no, I. I just want to know more about the accident, that's all. So does his wife. No, Sheriff, there's no reason I can tell you yet for wanting you here fast. But it's just the weather, I guess. Sure we're okay? Well, Mr. V. He's still down there in the canyon where the car hit. He phoned from the ranger station.

[Character/Actor]

Have they reached your body?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yes.

[Character/Actor]

Was there anything unusual about the accident? Oh, Mr. Valentine. Why do you act the way you do?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Is Hans starting a fire? That storms getting worse?

[Character/Actor]

Yes. And Ms. Brooks has gone upstairs with. With Dorothy.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You don't care much that your husband died, do you?

[Character/Actor]

I love him. That's what you mean.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Why Wouldn't he give you a divorce?

[Character/Actor]

Kobe didn't really get stubborn about it until.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Until you met Hans.

[Character/Actor]

Hans is difficult to understand, to appreciate.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Unless you're a woman. Sure. Well, I'm not. She're a woman. Sure. Well, I'm not. Sure. A woman. Sure. Well, I'm not. So how's this for size? Your husband dug around in Hans past until he dug up a wife, Dorothy, that Hans had deserted. Of course, Herbert didn't tell you about it. He wanted to bring her up there and let the situation explode itself. Well, it almost did. Dorothy decided to take matters into her own hands and kill the darling boy. That's what she thinks.

[Character/Actor]

Mr. Valentine, he's. He's told me about her. She's not normal. She's unbalanced.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah, I wonder what made of that word.

[Character/Actor]

It's a tragic situation. Their marriage isn't even legal.

[Narrator/Announcer]

They're married. Oh, no, not that too.

[Character/Actor]

What do you mean?

[Narrator/Announcer]

I mean, it's all just too neat. Dorothy's no real stumbling block by herself, is she? Dr. Morris? He was the only real obstacle. Well, lady, I never know anyone to die so conveniently by accident.

[Character/Actor]

What else did the sheriff tell you?

[Narrator/Announcer]

You see, you too can't help thinking. Was it really an accident or was Herbert really murdered? Well, Mr. Valentine, I was just trying to persuade your lovely assistant. Oh, yeah, sure. Somebody dies, so it's a great time to dance. Where's Dorothy? Upstairs, I suppose.

[Character/Actor]

She's all right. George.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Long faces for the dead. Black free pants around the arm. Sentimentality, isn't it? In this household? Maybe you're right, buster. I talked to the sheriff on the phone. What did he say? Quick on the draw. What's the matter? You nervous? Well, why not? The man is on top of the world. A split second of ice and he has slipped into the abyss. Even at the wheel of a fine convertible. A man. Skipper, I know the doctor was driving alone, if that's what you're trying to remind me of. I go around in circles myself. My wife appearing from all these years. The accident and your unpleasant remark. Yeah, be sure to remind me of the word accident. But if you were driving alone on a dangerous road and the accident would be easier if someone had tinkered with your car earlier.

[Character/Actor]

George.

[Narrator/Announcer]

What? Is that what you call a shot in the dark? No, an unpleasant remark, that's all. Hans, it keeps bothering me how much you envy that man. It's convertible. You can't seem to forget it. All of the things Stella Morris's money would give to Hans.

[Character/Actor]

You were up here earlier this morning, you said. So both you and Mrs. Myers would have had a chance.

[Narrator/Announcer]

No angel. She wouldn't have known how. So you. You shoot at me because I am poor. Because you cannot understand the simple envy of people who are persecuted. I'm not interested in what makes you tick, buster. Now the reason I'm even more anxious than ever now to hear the sheriff's final report on that car is because I've been as insulting to you as I know how to be. And yet you haven't once offered to do the normal thing. To knock off my block. Then, of course, I shall oblige. Saved by the bell.

[Character/Actor]

Stop it. Stop it, please, both of you. Dorothy, you shouldn't have come. I'm feeling much better now, Ms. Brooks.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Ready to join the party, huh?

[Character/Actor]

No, no. I'd like to see my husband alone, that's all.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Whatever you wish.

[Character/Actor]

Oh, no you don't. You've already tried once. Yes, I came up here to kill him. But I have no gun now.

[Narrator/Announcer]

That's right.

[Character/Actor]

I am strange, aren't I? Can you imagine me wanting to kill you?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Hallo, Emstagon?

[Character/Actor]

No, it's the same me. Isn't he wonderful, Ms. Brooks?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Okay, okay, go ahead. We'll be back in a few minutes. Come on. I can't stand it how that guy can wind women around his little.

[Character/Actor]

But she's liable to try.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Liable to kiss him. Sure. What she say upstairs? Anything?

[Character/Actor]

Just what we thought. He deserted her a couple of years ago after he got into this country by being her husband. But she's so mixed up. George is her I'm worried about.

[Narrator/Announcer]

She's no threat to him anymore. Why would he touch her?

[Character/Actor]

George? Maybe he could be deported if they're.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Married and middle aged sucker up there and only follow after him. No angel. When the doctor died, it left nobody to interfere with Casanova's march to success.

[Character/Actor]

Accept us and we might be wrong.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Come on out here. What I'm afraid of, angel, is we won't ever know whether we're right or wrong. Weather is cold. Come on. Stay under the eaves. The garage is out.

[Character/Actor]

You won't find any evidence except for the sheriff.

[Narrator/Announcer]

It's my only chance before this snow covers everything up. Look out now. Let me take your arm.

[Character/Actor]

Ground's frozen.

[Narrator/Announcer]

At least maybe I can get that guy nervous enough to.

[Character/Actor]

George. What's the matter?

[Narrator/Announcer]

What's this stuff on your jacket? On the inside of your arm here.

[Character/Actor]

What? I couldn't have rubbed against anything.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Not there. Somebody else took your arm. Like this. Who was it?

[Character/Actor]

But I don't. Well, Dorothy did for a moment when she came downstairs just now to steady herself.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Dorothy? Sure, sure. And she wanted to talk to him alone about it. Oh, brother, am I a sucker. Come on back to the house fast.

[Character/Actor]

But George, what is it?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Mirror of grease, Angel. Axle grease. And it came off a car. Mr. Valentine. Where is she?

[Character/Actor]

Here, George.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Here.

[Character/Actor]

George.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Mr. Valentine, I was just going to call you. We were talking and she seemed to start to fall asleep.

[Character/Actor]

Dorothy, can you hear me? It's those pills she takes. She must have taken all of them.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah. Now she tried to kill herself when she was alone. Mrs. Morris. Mrs. Morris?

[Character/Actor]

She's not quite asleep yet.

[Narrator/Announcer]

George, get some baking soda, will you? Whatever you do, make it fast.

[Character/Actor]

I'll get it. That's it. Dorothy. Can you walk?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Now? Here's the keys to my car. As soon as you can, get her wrapped up in a blanket and down to the lodge as fast as you can. Drive. Only leave the windows open. But the road, it's worse all the time, even with change. He's got a license, buster. Tony, I might be a little careful, Angel.

[Character/Actor]

Don't Worry, Doc.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Oh, Mr. Valentine, it is ridiculous. We should go with them. They can do better than we can. Besides, you're not leaving this room. Not yet. Now let's see. A glass, maybe. How did you give her those pills and whiskey? I don't know what you're talking about. She tried to murder me. She's upset. She tried to kill herself. Yeah, yeah. This class won't do it. Uh huh. That's number one. Number what? Evidence. Things you show to a jury just in case she can't testify or doesn't know herself what happened, Mr. Valentine, really. Oh, yeah, sure. I'm way out on a limb, buster, but I'm building a ladder fast. Now let's see. No coat, no purse. No you don't. I'll pick that up. Yeah, here we are. Handkerchief covered with grease. Man's handkerchief. Yours. Give me that. I said stand still, buster. You can't give a gun an argument.

[Podcast Host]

Sure.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Your initials. A guy tampers with a car, he gets a little greasy. Dorothy got this down below, didn't she? In your cabin near the lodge. Wonder what else she stumbled into. Might have had this before. What? Identification card. You were in the Luftwaffe, huh? What's this long word? Machinist something. Mr. Valentine, this. This is what you call circumstantial, is it not? There they go in the car. Yeah, let's see. What?

[Character/Actor]

Pliers.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Oh, now don't get so. No, I, I, I use those on ski binders. Or maybe this is the type that comes out of the toolbox of a red convertible. Stop it. Stop it. Mr. Valentine. You are so ready to accuse me. So ready to invent what. What a crazy woman's story would have been. Yes. Yes. Now you are watching me. Now you are. Look. You see him? Let go of that. Ah, so there, my suspicious friend. Now you are looking at a gun. Thank you, Stella.

[Character/Actor]

Well, I, I didn't mean to. I just opened the door. They didn't need me to go with them and I. I wanted to.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Forgive me. Perhaps you will join me sometime.

[Character/Actor]

What?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Of course I'm leaving. Your own sedan is still in the garage. How could I stay in a country with such a suspicious man?

[Character/Actor]

Hans, I've been listening. There isn't any real evidence against you. Nothing to prove you caused the accident.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Nothing. Except me. I know what police can make people say to confess. Whether it's true or not. Well, I won't be caught to find out. There is no one who can catch me alive to accuse me of things I don't. Get your hands off me. If I run, it doesn't make me guilty. It makes me free, that's all. Free to get the things I want. Well, Mrs. Morris, there goes your ski boy.

[Character/Actor]

I know him, Mr. Valentine. You can't catch him. He won't be caught. Don't be angry. It's better this way.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah, well, I'll just get on the phone.

[Character/Actor]

No, please, you can't.

[Narrator/Announcer]

What?

[Character/Actor]

The phone. The car. I was talking on the phone when the storm put it out of order. Ms. Brooks will reach the lodge all right. But by then no one will be able to get back here. But Hans could get out. It would take a day for the snowplows to reach us. He could be in Mexico, in a town. He could.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Hey, wait a minute. Who are you talking to on the phone?

[Character/Actor]

The sheriff.

[Narrator/Announcer]

The sheriff?

[Character/Actor]

A minute ago I. I told you the truth. All the evidence said it was definitely an accident.

[Narrator/Announcer]

An accident?

[Character/Actor]

The sheriff was just as suspicious as you were. But he says there's no question about it. Herbert just skidded on one of those corners and went over. That was all it was.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Oh, now wait a minute.

[Character/Actor]

You've been Wrong all along, Mr. Valentine, about that accident.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Look. That's Hans. Come. Well, he's dead all right.

[Character/Actor]

There was no other way out for him. He would have been caught.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I see what you mean. I remember how your husband was on his way to you. Your bad Ankle? He was a doctor.

[Character/Actor]

He was considerate. I would have been warmer, more comfortable if he brought my car. The sedan.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah, which left nothing here in the garage for Hans to escape in. But the car he himself fixed as a death trap. A brand new red convertible.

[Character/Actor]

Talk about irony. George, Dr. Mars unexpectedly took his wife's sedan, not his convertible. He had an accident, pure and simple.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah, but Hans never imagined that. He fixed up the convertible. The dock crashed in the canyon, so Hans took it for granted. His plan at work. Dorothy any better?

[Character/Actor]

Mm, no. She's been telling me a little more about Hans, his background. There were lots of women he stepped over, I guess.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Well, I won't say women are suckers.

[Character/Actor]

George, he was good looking. I can see how it happened.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Maybe.

[Character/Actor]

But George, the way he skied. So graceful. He's so beautiful.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Well, what do you think I've been doing all afternoon?

[Character/Actor]

All I said is I could see how it happened. George, your ankle. A plaster cast. But you were just on a bunny slope. A child couldn't get hurt. How did you.

[Narrator/Announcer]

How did this happen? I'm lucky you couldn't see that. One of the worst night driving hazards, especially in wintry weather, is the one eyed car. And you probably don't think highly of that car's owner. But when were the lights on your own car last checked? For your own safety, friend, make it a point to get your car lights checked at regular intervals at standard stations and at independent Chevron gas stations. A light check is one of their many protective services and it's a speedy service. So why not play safe and have it done tomorrow? While you're there, ask them to inspect your windshield wiper, both the arm and the blade. If the arm is faulty, they can replace it quickly so you won't have to risk its failing when you need it most. And remember, in stormy weather, a worn wiper blade is almost as bad as none at all. They sound like small items, lights and windshield wipers. But they're very important to your personal safety and they're part of the protective service offered to you at independent Chevron gas stations and at Standard stations where they say and mean, we take better care of your car. Tonight's adventure of George Valentine has been brought to you by Standard of California on behalf of independent Chevron gas stations and Standard station throughout the West. Robert Bailey has starred as George. Let George do it is written by David Victor and Jackson Gillis and directed by Don Clark. Virginia Greg appeared as Brooksie. Larry Dobkin was heard as Hans Lorene Tuttle. As Stella, Gene Bates as Dorothy, and Joe Duvall as the clerk. The music is composed and presented by Eddie Dunstetter, your announcer, John Hen. Listen again next week, same time, same station, to Let George Do It. This is the Mutual Don Lee Broadcasting System. William Gargan stars as Barry Craig, Confidential Investigator.

[Podcast Host]

I wonder if murderers, like other people, worry about their income taxes when they make a killing, for example, do they always report it? Or do they just list their victims under buried assets?

[Narrator/Announcer]

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

[Podcast Host]

Barry Craig speaking. I'd been to a movie. It was about a private eye who pinned a wreath on a murderer. After an hour and a half of swallowing dry martinis, wrestling amorously with youthful blondes, and wearing a succession of the best pressed suits ever seen off a tailor's dummy, I decided to walk home. I wondered if there was a special license that a plain investigator like me could get that would make me like martinis and make blondes like me. It was close to one in the morning. The air was raw and cold with the tang of metal in it you get in New York. The afternoon slush had hardened to ice underneath your feet, and I decided you'd probably need more than a license. What When I saw her halfway up the block, an apartment house lobby spilled some light out into the street, enough light so I could see that she was young, redheaded, with that pale, almost transparent skin redheads sometimes have. The guy with her had his back to me. It was an old scene. He was probably making a play for a nightcap up in her apartment. She shook her head and moved into the doorway. He moved after her, maybe for a good night kiss. It was none of my business. I started walking. He must have tried for more than a kiss and wound up with a slap in the face. He came stumbling backwards out of the doorway, hit the ice on the pavement, and went down. I heard the door slam behind her. Either she hadn't noticed him fall or she didn't care. He wasn't moving when I got to him. The pavement can be pretty hard when you slap it with the back of your head. I tried shaking him, but he wasn't playing. I lifted his head, thinking maybe that might help bring him to, and then I eased it back onto the pavement. I couldn't be sure if the skull was broken, but by that time I was sure of something else. He'd quit breathing. Not a nice way to wind up a date with a pretty redhead I thought she might want to know about it. There were a dozen names on the bellboard in the small lobby. Any one of them could have belonged to the redhead. I pushed the supers button. I tried the inside door, it was locked. A well run apartment house. Supers probably need their sleep as much as anybody, but they frequently don't get it. Now what do you want? I'm sorry I had to wake you. There's been a small accident. Yeah, what kind of an accident? Somebody slipped on the ice in front of the building. What are you a lawyer? No, no, nobody could have slipped in front of the building. I put plenty of ashes on the ice. It ain't slippery. Well come on and look for yourself. Okay, but if you think you got a case. I don't know the man. It's none of my business. Well if he thinks he's come on and he's not thinking of suing anybody, maybe he ain't. But if you've been a super as long as I have, you know they're always looking for a chance to stick an insurance company. You still think he's looking for anything? Why the. The guy's dead, ain't he? Yeah. Well that's terrible. Uh huh. You better call the police. Tell them to send an ambulance down too. On the chance we're not such good diagnosticians. Okay, sure. And while they're doing that, I. I might as well break the news to the redhead, huh? He'd brought her home, said goodnight to her when it happened. You mean some girl in this building? Yeah, maybe 20. Pale skin, red hair, pretty. You, you couldn't mistake her, mister. Maybe you couldn't. But there ain't no girl like that living in this building. The skin on my back crawled a bit when he let me have it. Then I shrugged it off. Maybe she was staying with some people in the building. The super wouldn't have to know about that. Maybe. Yes officer. He's laying out in front just like he fell. Yeah, well there's some guy here who's seen it. Name's Craig. Yeah, we ain't tried moving him. Okay Officer. Well I'll be right over. Good. About that redhead. Look, I've been super here for seven years. I know every family in this building. They all been here for years. Well she might be staying with one of them. There was some burglaries in the neighborhood the last couple of weeks. I checked on all the door keys. Today there was nobody staying with nobody. Well, it might have been a sudden. She wouldn't have had no Key? She didn't have to have one. She could have pushed a button and. No. No, huh? I was too close. She'd have to wait for somebody to click the door catch down in the lobby. I'd have seen her. Maybe she ducked out again. Uh, so what does that mean? I don't know what it means. Except maybe it's going to be quite a while before she finds out what happened to her date. It didn't take long for the police to arrive. Or the ambulance. They move pretty fast. They always do. They've had experience. And on this trip, they also had Lieutenant Rogers of Homicide. Barry. Yeah, Lieutenant? You're not curious enough. The police doctor said the guy was dead, didn't he? He's dead. What should I be curious about? About why I came down on an accident case. I figured maybe it was on account of your college education. What would that have to do with it? I wouldn't know. I never went to college.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You're being a big help.

[Podcast Host]

What do you want me to be helpful about? I came down because when the report came in, your name was mentioned. So you decided I was involved. Aren't you? No. You've got my story.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

You just happened to be walking. You just happened to notice the redhead and the corpse and so on. That's right. It's hard to believe.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Why?

[Podcast Host]

Because I'm an investigator. I don't have a right to witness an accident? Not an accident. That happened to Walter Borley. Borley. That's the corpse. That's the corpse. I've heard the name before. Sure you have. Waller. Baldy's a big man or was in the Midwest. In New York. He's just dead. It could be a coincidence.

[Narrator/Announcer]

He came here to collect the debt.

[Podcast Host]

Owed by who? He'd run a string of boogie joints here for years. He sold out maybe six months ago, went to Detroit. But he had trouble getting paid, so he came back. You never get paid now. Who'd he sell out to? We've got a couple of guesses. Any names attached? Mark Wheeler, Joe Carson. Neither of them are redheads.

[Narrator/Announcer]

No.

[Podcast Host]

Barry, the boys went through the building. No redheads on the premises. It's a pity. I've got a thought, though.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yes?

[Podcast Host]

Take a walk through the building. All right.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Any particular direction?

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. Along the hallway here. Should lead to the back door.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Oh.

[Podcast Host]

Which should be locked. Well, let's see. What is it? The super is going to have to do some explaining. There have been burglaries. The super's okay. Take a look at the lock. The lock? It's been forced. Yeah, that's happy news. For local locksmith, perhaps. But where does it fit in? I don't know. Might tell us how the girl got out of the building. But that's not the problem, is it? It's how she got in that bothers me. How much does it bother you? Not much, I guess, because it still remains an accident. Doesn't. Walter Bali went to the morgue, Lieutenant Rogers went back to headquarters and Barry Craig bought a drink. Here's your poison, Craig. Thanks. Say, Mac. Yeah? Suppose a man had an opinion about a horse, where would he go to do something about it? There's a cigar store on 3rd. The owner would be glad to listen to your opinions. Or the clerk over at the Armstrong Hotel. No, no, no. That's for small opinions. I've got a king size opinion, real big. Tell you, Craig, I wouldn't be surprised if you was to get a phone call first thing tomorrow. Well, that'd be too late. I get nervous carrying big bills around. Who knows, I might lose them before morning. Say, Craig, there's a new hotspot opened over on the west side. Someplace in the forest. They call it the Three Aces. Got a wonderful floor show. Three Aces. Carson would be one Wheeler, another could be the third.

[Narrator/Announcer]

If I bend to one doctor, I.

[Podcast Host]

Bend to a dozen. Never did me any good though. Some days I can't hear a thing. Okay, Mac. Doesn't matter much about that third ace anyway. He's been trumped. The Three Aces was over on the west side. Someplace in the 40s they weren't letting the knight die without a struggle.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Everything is satisfactory, sir.

[Podcast Host]

Sure, except for one thing. I'm lonely. I'd like to have a man to man conversation with someone. Someone named Joe Carson, say. Or maybe Mark Wheeler. I'd even talk to Walter Borley.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I'm very sorry, sir, but I've never heard of.

[Podcast Host]

Ever seen one of these before? Well, Pretty shade of green, isn't it? Nice picture of Andrew Jackson on it. Go on, have a good look.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Oh, thank you, sir.

[Podcast Host]

You're welcome.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I. I will see if one of the gentlemen you mentioned happens to be around.

[Podcast Host]

You do that.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yes, sir. Mind if I sit down?

[Podcast Host]

No.

[Narrator/Announcer]

How do you like the floor show?

[Podcast Host]

Not bad. One of these nights I'll come back and look at the floor.

[Narrator/Announcer]

That's very funny.

[Podcast Host]

So? So.

[Narrator/Announcer]

The waiter tells me you wanted words with my partner or me.

[Podcast Host]

The waiter's right.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You wanted those words.

[Podcast Host]

Quite a few bucks worth. I figured it was the only way I'd get them I don't like to see men throw money away.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I'm Carson.

[Podcast Host]

Fine. Speaking of floss shows, one of the regular girls is out tonight, isn't she? Which one? Well, we never got around to throwing names, but she describes easy, around 20, red headed with a very white skin. Yeah, now you mention it, she's not.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Working the show tonight.

[Podcast Host]

Too bad. I was looking forward to seeing her. Well, that can be arranged. Well, arrange it.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Okay. Only one thing.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah? She might not be in the right mood. See that door next to the bandstand? Yeah, I see it.

[Narrator/Announcer]

If she's in the right mood, somebody.

[Podcast Host]

Will open it for you. Thanks. Don't mention. Took him maybe five minutes to find out if a girl was in the right mood. If that's what he was finding out. Either way, at the end of five minutes, the door next to the bandstand swung open. Somebody outside the door had done the swinging. I didn't have a chance to see who. I wasn't sure that I was playing it the right way, but I couldn't think of anything else. Nobody paid any attention to me. I crossed to the door and looked through it. The little I could see was a stretcher, dirty hallway. But if you're a confidential investigator, you're not too fastidious. I walk through the doorway and shut the door behind me and turn, but not fast enough.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Back to Barry Craig in just a moment. And now back to William Gargan starring as Barry Craig, confidential investigator.

[Podcast Host]

I didn't know how far I'd gone and how long I'd been away. But it took a while coming back. And even then I didn't try opening my eyes or moving my head. I had a feeling it was going to hurt. You had him sapped.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Why? Look, Wheeler, he came here asking for us. He fed me a phony routine about a redhead with white skin. Nina? Yeah, Nina being part of the floor show. I don't care.

[Podcast Host]

You don't know all of it yet.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I've been through his pockets. You know who he is? Look, Carson. A private eye named Craig. Now what would you have wanted me to do? Invite him in to go over our books? That might have been safer than what you did do. Ah, I just got a call from one of the newspaper boys down at headquarters. Borley was brought in a few minutes ago. Borley at headquarters? Wasn't his idea. The department they took him to was the morgue. I don't believe. You sure of this? I'm sure of it.

[Podcast Host]

Well, what's bad with that news?

[Narrator/Announcer]

It ain't no secret he'd come to town to collect off us. With him dead, who do you think the cops are gonna be looking for? Maybe I shouldn't have started nothing with this character here.

[Podcast Host]

But wait a minute.

[Narrator/Announcer]

When did Paulie get it? Around one.

[Podcast Host]

It's two now. If what you handed me is true, the cops should have already been visiting.

[Narrator/Announcer]

According to what the press was told, Borley died in an accident. So what are we worrying about? Cops have handed out phony releases before. I don't get it. Either you want to make trouble or.

[Podcast Host]

Or you know better than the press.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Where were you around 1 o'?

[Podcast Host]

Clock?

[Narrator/Announcer]

That's a funny question coming from you. What do you care? Forget it.

[Podcast Host]

Maybe I'm getting jumpy, but how does.

[Narrator/Announcer]

This guy fit in? And Nina? Nina ain't been around the club all night. Which means she don't fit in him. I don't know. Maybe he heard about Bali too. I've been thinking of that. Maybe we don't take no chances on.

[Podcast Host]

Maybe he's out cold.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Never know what. Okay, Cossim, get a couple of the boys in. Now you're talking. Sure I'm talking. But it could be talking myself into the chair.

[Podcast Host]

So far I'd been doing fine with my eyes shut. But that wouldn't last much longer. Carson's boys would be glad to shut them again for me if I opened them at the wrong time. So I had to open them at the right time.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Keep an eye on Sonny Boy. Yeah, Sonny Boy. Pretty soon, no Sonny Boy.

[Podcast Host]

Wheeler was the nervous type. Floor pacer. Seven steps to the door, about turn. Seven steps to the desk, about turn. And the same routine repeated. The time he gave me a quick look was when he passed me on the way to the door on the fourth step. The fifth step would have to be my play. It would have to be fast and reasonably quiet. But how fast I could get off the floor, I didn't know I'd find out. Step to the desk, turn. Now back. The fifth step. Remember. 2, 3, 4, 5. That's my forearm locked around your throat. Things you learn in the army. Increase the pressure an ounce, Wheeler, and that's all. Want a broken neck? That's nice. Now turn the gun around in your hand. Hold it by the barrel. Yeah. Poke it backwards toward me. That's the way. Thanks. Gun butts make a funny sound hitting a man's head. I didn't stop to laugh like mad. Carson and a couple of pals would be dropping in at any minute. There was a window behind the desk. I Could have stopped to raise it, but I was in a hurry. And besides, I wasn't anxious to save a penny for the three aces, so I went through it fast and wasteful. The alley wasn't any cleaner than the hallway had been, but it was darker and it didn't lead to a dead end. Lieutenant Rogers. What? Oh, hello, Barry. I hope I'm not intruding. That's a nice hope. I need a little help. In a lot of hurry. Important? I don't know. It could be. Even a giraffe couldn't stick out as.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Much neck for you as I do.

[Podcast Host]

All right. We're in a hurry with a police escort to get where? The three aces. One's been trumped. But the game's not over yet.

[Narrator/Announcer]

The men have got their instructions. Front and back of the clubs covered.

[Podcast Host]

We go in, if you don't mind. I don't mind.

[Narrator/Announcer]

V. Three aces.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Good evening, gent.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, I'm back again. I brought company with me, though. Lieutenant Rogers, Homicide. I save it for your lawyer. Take us to the office. I will ring. No, no. We want a personal guide. That way we can be sure it'll be a surprise.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Move, huh? Yes, sir.

[Podcast Host]

That quiet authority always gets them. Ah, the badge. Don't be modest. A couple of square inches of tin isn't that impressive. I. I don't know what Mr. Wheeler will. Nobody passed the law. You have to know anything. Now knock. If a man answers, tell him you're checking the wine list or something.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Y.

[Podcast Host]

Yes, sir. Open the door. No. Yeah. I'll explain the reason why to you. If anybody inside has the idea trouble's coming and is preparing to blow down anyone in the doorway, you'll be the one.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I won't.

[Podcast Host]

Sure you will.

[Narrator/Announcer]

All right. Mr. Wheeler.

[Podcast Host]

Oh, well, buster. That's Wheeler. Yeah, we met earlier. I had the pleasure of knocking him down with the butt of a gun. He got up? Yeah. Sat down behind his desk and proceeded.

[Narrator/Announcer]

To blow his brains out.

[Podcast Host]

Looks that way, but I'm stupid. What do you mean? I don't know why he killed himself. You'd escaped.

[Narrator/Announcer]

He knew you'd come to the police.

[Podcast Host]

He was throwing the bookie racket. He still had a skin. His own boys like that are very fond of their skin. It'll be a hard thing to prove anything. Looks like suicide.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Sure.

[Podcast Host]

Just like Borley's passing on. Looked like accident. It was an accident. No, Trev, not an accident at all. The police guard around the club got us nothing but a handful of small crooks. Carson was conspicuously among those missing. We asked lots of people for his home address and lots of people didn't know it. We got the whole department on it. Barry. They'll turn him up. Maybe, maybe not. He couldn't have made it out of the city. He didn't have to. Meaning the setup back at the club goes for suicide. You will never be able to prove otherwise. As for the accident that you call murder, there's only one way you can tie him to it. The girl. We did dig up a name for him.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Nina West.

[Podcast Host]

Pretty name. A pretty girl. Right now, very possibly a dead girl.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You can't be sure.

[Podcast Host]

Put yourself in Carson's place. She's the one who can send him to the chair. With her dead, you've got nothing. Not even. And get this, Trav. Not even a motive that would stand up in court for his killing her. I went out and took a look at what had happened to the night. The sky was getting lighter. The winter sun would be snaking over the tops of the buildings in an hour or two. Not handing out much warmth, but a promise anyway. I started walking. I didn't try to think because the only thoughts I had on tap weren't very pleasant. Nina west wasn't the kind of girl your mother hoped you'd marry. But she was young, pretty. I didn't think she'd known what was going to happen to her date. If she'd lived, maybe someday she'd have walked into my office in the old building on Madison Avenue and asked me to find a lost dog for her. And suddenly walking wasn't fast enough for me. I needed a cab fast. I needed to go someplace fast. Only a hunch, but it was the one chance we had. The one chance Nina west had. If she'd gone where I had to get to within minutes. My office. Hang around. I might need you. I didn't bother with the elevator. I used the stairs. They're faster. It sounded good to me. The hunch. Say the girl hadn't known what Carson was letting her in for. She found out late, Borle. Already dead. I slowed down, heading down the hallway to the office. Might be smarter not to announce an arrival. She'd have realized she was in trouble, gone home. No, Carson knew where that was. But I'd barged into the club. Carson was busy with me. She might have heard him use my name. Maybe. Maybe she'd think of my office, because a girl like that wouldn't go to the police. The lights were on in the office. I hadn't left them on Someone was inside. Someone or a couple of someones. Had Carson tried her home, found her out. Tried half a dozen other places she might have gone that he knew of. And then wound up with the same conclusion I had. There was no way to play it fancy, which was just as well. I'm not the fancy type. I hit the door hard and went to the floor. She screamed, but the shots drowned her out. I wound up against the desk. Costing to one side of me. The girl cut between it and got the bullet. Cost it meant for me. He didn't have another try.

[Narrator/Announcer]

No, don't.

[Podcast Host]

The gun.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Drop it. See?

[Podcast Host]

Thanks. The rest is going to be for the fun of. Didn't last very long. He dropped his hands. You can't hit even a Carson with his hands down. Unless you're a Carson yourself. I didn't qualify. We got a deposition from her before she went into surgery. Carson's all washed up, Barry.

[Narrator/Announcer]

But the kid's got a good chance.

[Podcast Host]

Fine. Yet it laid out beautifully. Nina was told of Bali. Take her home to the building where you saw them for a gag. Carson told him Carson broke into the building through the back door and was waiting in the lobby with the inside door propped open. He slugged Bali across the back of the head hard enough to break the skull.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Pushed him backwards. Then he and the girl scrammed through the back door. The perfect murder.

[Podcast Host]

Except for.

[Narrator/Announcer]

For what, Barry?

[Podcast Host]

The ashes on the sidewalk, for one thing, Paulie couldn't have slipped on the ice. The other thing, the girl got into the building. Only one way. Somebody had to be waiting there to let her in. That made the word accident smell.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Let's go home, huh?

[Podcast Host]

Sure. Hey, look. Came the dawn.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You have been listening to William Gargan in another exciting transcribed mystery drama from the adventures of Barry Craig, confidential investigator. For your listening enjoyment, John Lund has Johnny Dollar. Did I wake you up, Dollar? Well, how could you? It's only four in the morning. Sorry. This is Ted Albright. I'm Eastern Indemnity's new branch manager in Chicago. Congratulations and good night. Wait a minute, Dollar. I need you out here right away. It's about Frank Harvey, one of your claim adjusters. Then you do know him. I worked on a lot of cases with him. Yeah, well, you won't work on any more. He's been murdered. I'll take the first plane out. Mind if I cut in to say something, fellas? It won't take too long. Since a word to the wise is sufficient. And in the English language there is one word which is important to Just about everyone in the world. That word is security. Security has several different meanings, however. Usually we think of it in connection with the protecting of our military installations and defense industries. But it means more than that. There is a security which applies to every man, woman and child in America. The security which comes from being in good health, having a good education and being well taken care of in case things get a little too tough to handle by oneself. This kind of security is the problem of the president's newest cabinet member, the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare. This department ties together the work of several governmental agencies. First, there is the United States Public Health Service, which strives to make certain that the general health of the people in our country is in the best of condition. Then there is the Food and Drug Administration, which guarantees that the food we eat is pure and safe to eat. The Social Security Board, which takes care of old people, children and the blind who need assistance, also comes under the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, as does the United States Office of Education. This office does research on the educational possibilities, changes and opportunities and passes on its information to the various state boards of education. As you can see, the Department of Health, Education and Welfare is one of the most important agencies in our government assuring us, as it does, of a normal and healthy way of life. Expense accounts submitted by special investigator Johnny Valor to home office Eastern Indemnity and Insurance Company, Hartford, Connecticut. The following is an accounting of expenditures during my investigation of the classified killer. Matter Expense Account Item 1, $71.30 Airfare and Incidentals between Hartford and Chicago. I was greeted at the airport by Ted Albright and one of Chicago's winter blizzards. Sorry about this lousy weather. $. It'll slow us up plenty. Oh, no. Hurry. It'll give you time to fill me in on Frank Harvey. Well, I can send you everything I know in about a half a minute. Wasn't even a town when it happened. The wife and I were visiting her folks in Milwaukee. The police traced me there at 2 this morning. What do they tell you? All lousy drivers think they own the whole rope. Yeah? What did the police tell you? Well, Frank was apparently at the office until a quarter of seven last night. That's when the night elevator man signed him out in his book. He left the office alone. Later, a truck driver found his body half buried in a snow drift out on Manheim Road near the northwest city limit. He's been shot three times at close range. And that's all I know. Well, not very much, is it? Watch what you're doing all the stupid morons. Everybody thinks he can drive a car. You're kind of on edge, aren't you? Well, who wouldn't be? This thing happening to Harvey, driving back to Chicago in the middle of the night, no sleep. Oh, I'm sorry, $. I guess it all piled up on me. I suppose you want to go right to our offices here. No, I'll check with the police first. You want to drop me offshore? By the time we got down to 11th and State, the snow plows were out in full force. I went up to Homicide, where I met Lieutenant Franchetti. A blizzard like this always cuts down the crime incidents, right, fella? Homicide, particularly. There'll be a rise in death from natural causes and yaki dak, but not much were artifact. Yankee tax. Yeah. Antifreeze. Favorite cold weather drink of the bums on West Madison. They drain it from the radiators at park cars. It's pretty lethal. Get in here. Oh, thanks. You want to know what we got on Frank Harvey, do you? That's the general idea. Well, we picked up a little more dope since we talked to Albright. Looks like Harvey was murdered while trying to sell his car. How do you figure that? We've been running out classified ad in one of the evening papers for the last couple of nights. Here's a copy of it. Thanks. For 53 Cadillac convertible, perfect condition, all accessories reasonable. How does this tie in? According to one of the mechanics in the garage where Harvey kept his car. He met a prospective buyer there last night. He heard him discussing the car, and then Harvey and the man got in, drove off. That was about five to seven. Mechanic give you a description? Yeah, pretty detailed one. Didn't catch his name, though. Ziegler's checking over the mug books right now. That's the mechanic's name? Yeah, Will Zigbet. So far he's drawn a blank. Anyway, at 8:37 last night we clocked in a call from a truck driver phoning from a pay station out on Mannheim Road. He found Harvey in a snowbank. He was shot to death, huh?

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Three bullet wounds. Two slugs still ending. Third one's missing.38 caliber. The land and groove marks are clean enough to identify the gun. Who ever find it? What about the car? It's missing. Put out an APB with a description of the man and the general pickup on the car. No luck so far. How do you see it, Lieutenant? Well, my guess is somebody figured out a cheap way to get himself a good automobile. Well, that's it, darling. Looks Pretty routine from here on in. Nothing much you can do to help. No, maybe not, Lieutenant, but I'd like to stick around. Why, sure. Nothing else? You can probably. Excuse me. Hotel? A franchise. Yes, sir. Oh, good. The address again. Manheim Road. Yeah, I got it. Thanks. Would you like to take a ride, Della? Where to? Manheim Road. I just found Harvey's car. It took us some 45 skidding minutes to make our way through the storm out to a beer and hamburger joint on Manheim Road. A precinct car and a handful of reporters were already there when we arrived. A detective sergeant filled us in on the background. The owner of this place came out about an hour ago to open up, Lieutenant. He saw the car parked out there in the parking lot and phoned in.

[Podcast Host]

Huh.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Spank. Harvey's car all right. Been out here a long time. All that snow piled on it.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah, no doubt about where Harvey got shot. Not with all those blood stains on the seat. Uh huh. You sure that mechanic said it was a man Harvey drove off with last night? Does something give you a different idea? There's a woman's compact back here on the floor. Expense Account, Item 2, $3.80 Cab Fare Back to your offices and downtown Chicago. We got nowhere talking to the beer joint owner. And there weren't any more physical clues in the car to tell us anything. But I figured maybe Ted Albright could. Just doesn't make sense. $why not? Well, you said the garage mechanic saw Frank drive away with a man. How'd a woman get into the picture? Well, I thought maybe you could help us with that. Me? How? Well, you were Frank's boss. You must have got to know him pretty well. Oh, sure, sure. But what's that got to with do with this woman? Well, did he have any girlfriends? Anybody in particular that he went around with? No, not that I know of. I'm sure he didn't. A young, single guy making a good salary, driving a 53 Cadillac convertible. And he didn't have any girlfriend? Well, I didn't mean it that way. Sure he did. But there wasn't anybody in particular. I knew of no women involved in any recent adjustments either. Oh, you've been going through Harvey's claim files, huh? Yeah, I thought it might be a good idea. Didn't come up with anything though. What about life insurance? Yeah, I talked to him about that. All he was carrying was 10,000 gr. Mother was a beneficiary. No motive there. It looks like the police were right and somebody was just trying to get himself a car. Chief Would you get it, darling? Yeah, sure. Hello.

[Character/Actor]

Say, is this the insurance company where.

[Narrator/Announcer]

That fellow worked who was killed? That's right. Who's this? Well, what I want to know is you guys willing to pay something for finding the guy who done it. Do you know something about it?

[Character/Actor]

I know plenty, mister.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah, plenty.

[Character/Actor]

But I ain't telling nothing without getting paid for it.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Not that I don't believe ever a patriotic citizen should ought to do his duty. But if there's a few bucks lying around, well, fella's got to make a living these days, you know. Yeah, sure. Suppose we get together and talk it over. Well, now, I wouldn't want to do that, mister, unless I was pretty sure of making a deal. Not that I ain't on the side.

[Character/Actor]

Of law and order, you understand, but.

[Narrator/Announcer]

It ain't too easy for a guy to get along these days, what with the high cost of living and all. If you have information, you've got a deal. Now, where do we go get together?

[Character/Actor]

It ain't that I want to chisel.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You for anything, mister. Always willing to do my duty as a honest citizen.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, yeah.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Where do we get together? Well, now, my name's Tagard. Spelled it with two GS. I'm the room clerk at the Biloxi Hotel. Where's that? Well, it's at Wells and Grand.

[Character/Actor]

Now, I ain't trying to chisel or anything, mister, it's just that I.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Be right there. Expense account, item three, $1.25. Cab fare to the Biloxi Hotel. Expense account, item four, $20 to help the room clerk, Martin Taggart, combat the high cost of living. Two principal items of which were obviously garlic and bourbon. That's your name right there, wrote on the register. Miss Alma Carter, she calls herself. She checked in here around 9:30 last night.

[Character/Actor]

That's right.

[Narrator/Announcer]

All kind of scared and frightened looking. Noticed some stains on her coat, too. Look like blood to me. Oh, not that it's any of my business. I just give them their rooms and collect their money. That's all I'm paid for. All right, let's have the rest of the tag. Well, when she come out here in the lobby every couple hours or so to listen to the news broadcast on the radio there. And when she wanted me to go out and buy the papers for her three or four times, well, I started wondering about things. Very shrewd.

[Character/Actor]

Yeah, well, when I heard the news.

[Narrator/Announcer]

About that woman's compact being found in the car, that kind of clinched things, I figured then I'd better put Through a call to you. She's in room 14. That's right, room 14. You'll find it right straight down. Thanks.

[Podcast Host]

Yes?

[Character/Actor]

Who's there?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Ms. Carter, I'd like to talk to you.

[Character/Actor]

Who are you?

[Narrator/Announcer]

My name is Dollar. Insurance investigator.

[Character/Actor]

Insurance? All right, thanks. What's this all about, Mr. Dolly? Knocking on a perfect stranger's room saying you have to talk with me.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Let's get one thing straight first. You're wrong about our being strangers.

[Character/Actor]

Wrong? I've never seen you before.

[Narrator/Announcer]

No, but I've seen you. Or at least your picture.

[Character/Actor]

My picture?

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Narrator/Announcer]

On the desk of the Chicago manager for Eastern Indemnity. On.

[Character/Actor]

On the desk?

[Narrator/Announcer]

That's right. Mrs. Albright. You know many great men have attained the highest office in our land. The presidency of the United States. Can you guess the name of this man? He was president longer than anyone else. Probably no other president since Lincoln had as many friends and enemies during his administration. Many beneficial measures became law such as unemployment compensation and Social Security. During a serious banking crisis, he reassured the people by declaring, all we have to fear is fear itself. When he was 63, a brain hemorrhage put an end to one of the most controversial administrations in our history. If you don't have his name by now, here's one more clue. He was the first to broadcast the so called Fireside Chat. Who was he? Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States. His life is part of your American history heritage. And now with our star, John Lund, we bring you the second act of yours truly, Johnny Doll. Under the proper circumstances, Mrs. Ted Albright could have been a very attractive woman. Under the circumstances in which I met her, she didn't come even close to making the grade.

[Character/Actor]

Do you know who I am? You know. I'm Ted's wife.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You were with Frank Harvey last night?

[Character/Actor]

Yes.

[Narrator/Announcer]

When he was killed?

[Character/Actor]

Yes.

[Narrator/Announcer]

What happened? Mrs. Albright?

[Character/Actor]

Can I have a cigarette, please?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah, sure, sure.

[Character/Actor]

Yes, thanks. I ran out a couple of hours ago. Didn't help my nerves any.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Character/Actor]

Thank you.

[Narrator/Announcer]

That helped all right. What happened, Mrs. Albright?

[Character/Actor]

Well, Frank was going to give a prospect to ride in the car last night. He asked me if I'd mind going along.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Pretty friendly with Frank.

[Podcast Host]

Will you?

[Character/Actor]

Pretty good friend.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Your husband know that you had this date with him?

[Podcast Host]

No.

[Character/Actor]

Ted thought I was visiting my folks in Milwaukee.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Go on.

[Character/Actor]

Frank picked me up the main entrance of the insurance building about 7.

[Narrator/Announcer]

This other man was in the car?

[Character/Actor]

Yes, the front seat next to Frank. I got in and sat between him and the door.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Did Frank introduce you?

[Character/Actor]

He mentioned the man's name, yes, but it was in kind of a mumble. I didn't get it.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Okay. What happened then?

[Character/Actor]

Trolling. Murder.

[Podcast Host]

Frank.

[Character/Actor]

If he'd mind driving out to his house so he could have his wife look at the car. He didn't give the exact address. Just told Frank to drive up Mannheim Road.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Go on.

[Character/Actor]

We were driving along a lonely stretch of road. When the man told Frank to pull over to the side and stop. He had a gun in his hand. Frank asked him what the big idea was. And the man laughed in a kind of crazy way. Pulled the trigger.

[Narrator/Announcer]

What happened then?

[Character/Actor]

Everything's kind of a blur after that. I think I screamed, tried to get out of the car. I know I fell to the ground and I got to my feet and started running.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Did the man chase you? I don't know.

[Character/Actor]

I just kept on running. And then I saw that old shack down the road. I ran behind it and hid. I think I fainted. Then sometime later, I got a lift. A passing motorist, he took me into town and I. And I came here.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You've been here ever since?

[Character/Actor]

Yes.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Why didn't you call the police when you got into town?

[Character/Actor]

Don't you realize what happened? I was out with a man who wasn't my husband.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Involved in a murder.

[Character/Actor]

I couldn't tell anyone. My only chance to avoid being involved in a scandal. Can't you understand that?

[Narrator/Announcer]

No, I can't. And I don't think Frank Harvey could either. After Mrs. Albright told her story to Lt. Franchetti and a police stenographer. She was booked and held as a material witness. Then Franchetti sent out a pickup for Ted Albright. Looks like it's boiling down duller. Jealous husband hires a gun to knock off his wife's boyfriend. It's a classic pattern. Yeah, maybe. What about that garage V now? Ziglit. Yeah. You have any luck with the mug book? Yeah. Came up with three that he said looked pretty close. All ex comms long records. We're running them down now. How does Mrs. Albright's description of the killer fit? Not too close. I showed her the mugs, and she said no, not then. She would. Why? Well, once we get the guy, he'll put the finger on her husband. That'll be a stinking mess. Well, it's not exactly reminiscent of a rose right now. It looked like routine police procedure from then on in. So one of Franchetti's men drove me to the Palmer House and I checked into my room. I was Looking forward to a hot shower, but I didn't quite make it. Johnny Dollar, this is all right, Dollar, I've got to talk to you. Where are you? Down in the lobby. Come. Come in. Where's Alma, $? Have the police got her? Yeah, Material witness. Dear God in heaven. I got a pickup out for you, too.

[Podcast Host]

For me?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Well, why should. Hey, wait a minute. Did the police think that I killed Frank Harvey or hired someone to do it? But that's incredible. It's insane. You knew Alma was seeing Frank, didn't you? Hike. Well, I suspect, yes. I wasn't sure. I'm pretty sure she was out with Frank last night. That's why you went up to Milwaukee. To check on her story about going to visit her parents there. Yes, I did. But I didn't get there until almost 10 o'. Clock. And that's the first I really knew she wasn't there. Don't you see, $? That's my alibi. The police won't think so. I don't care what the police think. It's Elm I'm worried about down there in some stinking, rotten cell. There's gotta be some way of getting this mess straightened out. I know what the first step is. What's that? You're gonna turn yourself in. Expense account. IO5 $2.25. Cab fare from the Palmer House to police headquarters at Leventon State, where I dropped off Albright and care of Lieutenant Franchetti and then went out to the garage where Frank Harvey had kept his car. I found the man I wanted in a paint booth at the rear of the second floor floor. Zegler. Your name is Ziegler. Say, Mac, I'm looking for Will Ziegler. Is that you? Yeah, that's right, Mac. What can I do for you? My name is Dollar. I'm an insurance investigator. Yeah, that's. So I'd like to ask you a few questions. Oh, hey, I get it, Max. Insurance investigator. Yeah, that guy Harvey. He was in the same racket, wasn't he?

[Character/Actor]

You know, the guy who got killed.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah, that's right. Yeah, it was rough guy getting himself bumped off that way. Real rough. I was standing right there when he and the joker had done it. Drove off, you know. Yeah, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. Yeah, sure, Mac. Be glad to tell you what I can, but I already gave that lieutenant. What's his name? Franchetti. Yeah, yeah, I already gave him all the dough. I picked out two or three guys from that rogues gallery book that looked like the joker I seen. Had you ever seen that man down here before? I couldn't swear it, Mac. I don't think I ever seen a guy before.

[Podcast Host]

No?

[Narrator/Announcer]

What about Ted Albright? Who? Ted Albright. He was Harvey's boss. Ever see him down here? Albright? Albright. Ah, the name don't mean anything, Mac. Could be he's a customer here, but I never run across him. Okay, let's get back to this man who drove off with Harvey. All right. Did you notice anything strange about him? Anything different, Peculiar? No, that's the trouble. Like I told that lieutenant, you never can tell about them kind of jokers. What kind? You know, them psychos like that guy is. Oh, you figure he's a psycho? Oh, sure has to be. I got it all figured out. Yeah? How's that? Look, look, here's a guy sees an ad in a paper car for sale. So he figures he'll meet the guy who run the ad, drive out on some lonely stretch of road, bump them off and make away with the car. Just don't make sense. Why not? Any guy who's in the hot car business don't go through all that trouble and letting people see him. Besides, he picks out some nice looking jalopy parked on the street, picks a lot, jumps the ignition, he's off clean. Get what I mean? Yeah, I get what you mean, sure. But this guy don't do it that way. He puts himself in a spot where I can see him. And even worse, when Harvey picks up that name in front of that insurance building, he don't back out of the deal. He bumps Harvey off with one perfectly good witness sitting right there beside him. The guy has to be a psycho. Seems to make sense. Sure, I got it all figured. Look, when that lieutenant. What's his name? Franchetti. Yeah, Franchetti. When? When he picks up them three guys I put the finger on. All he's got to do is find out which one's the psycho. That'll be the guy he's after. Look, I got to get back on the job, Mac. Guy wants it by 5 this afternoon. Hey, I hope I help you out, Mac. Let me know if we get that title. Yeah, I'll let you know. Expense account item 6, $1.85. Cab fare back to police headquarters, where I had a talk with Alma Albright.

[Character/Actor]

You tell me. Ted's been arrested, Mr. Do.

[Narrator/Announcer]

That's right.

[Character/Actor]

Why'd you have to do that to him? He didn't have anything to do with it.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I'm not too interested right now, in what happens to you or Ted.

[Character/Actor]

No, I don't blame you.

[Narrator/Announcer]

That man who killed Frank do you have any idea what kind of work he did?

[Character/Actor]

Work?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yes. Did he say anything about what he did, who he was or where he lived?

[Character/Actor]

No. Oh, no, nothing. All he and Frank talked about was a car.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Was there anything peculiar about his hands or his clothes or anything like that?

[Character/Actor]

No, no, nothing. I. Wait a minute. His clothes?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah. What about him?

[Character/Actor]

There was a kind of a pink, sweet odor I noticed. Like.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Like nail polish remover, maybe?

[Character/Actor]

Yes, that's it. Nail polish remover. How did you know? Does that have anything to do with Frank's death?

[Narrator/Announcer]

I'm not sure. Expense account item 7. A $85 cab fare back to the garage. Ziegler had finished the paint job and had punched out for the day. Expense Account, Item 8. $2.95 Cab Fare to a rooming house out on the west side of town. Hey.

[Character/Actor]

Hi, Mac.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Come on in.

[Podcast Host]

Come in.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Thanks. Well, what brings you out this way, Mac? Something turn up about that joker who bumped your insurance friend? I wanted to talk to you about that theory of yours. Theory? Oh, oh, oh, you mean about the guy being a psycho?

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah, I think you've got something there. Oh, yeah, sure. Sure, I have. It figures. Say, look, I was just getting some clothes together to take down to the cleaners. You mind if I go ahead with it while we talk? No, no, Go right ahead. Thanks. Hey, about that psycho routine. Yeah? That's the only thing that makes sense about the whole business. You know, him knocking off your girl, your friend with the girl in the car and all. I thought of another angle about the girl. Ziegler. He might have had some plans about her too. Hey, that's right. Never thought of that. It's ties in, though. No telling what a cycle will do where a pretty girl's concerned, huh? How do you like this jacket, Mac? Some class, huh? Sent me back a C note. You kind of go for classy clothes, don't you, Ziegler?

[Podcast Host]

Oh, yeah.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah, I like them fine, big cars too. Oh, you ain't just whooping, Mac. Nothing gives a guy class like sharp clothes and a real fine car. What did you think of Frank Harvey's job? That, Mac, that was the end. A real dream boat car like that, clothes like these I could really have the dame standing in line waiting for him. Yeah. You always take that many clothes to the cleaners at one time? Oh, yeah. You gotta take good care of rags like this, you know? Should be cleaned after every time you Wear them? Do they have any trouble removing the acetone odor from them? Acetone? Yeah, the solvent you use in your auto paint. Oh, yeah, yeah, that stuff really clings. That's what Mrs. Albright said. That right? Who's she? The girl you and Frank Harvey picked up in front of the insurance building last night. Oh, yeah. Yeah. She noticed it, huh? That's what she said. Nice looking babe, that Mrs. Albright. Real nice. Just the kind to fit in with classy clothes and a dreamboat car like Harvey's, huh? Oh, man, you're saying it. A doll like that, a car like that, a guy'd really be sitting on top of the world, huh?

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Narrator/Announcer]

How'd you know, Mike? That acetone stuff tip you, huh? It helped. Your crack at the garage about picking up the girl was the real tip. Yeah, that's right. I shouldn't have known about that, should I?

[Character/Actor]

How do you like that?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Always did shoot off my mouth too much. Well, you want to ride in with me or wait till the cops get out here? Might as well ride in with you, Mac.

[Character/Actor]

I'll get my coat and hat, huh?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Don't try it. Secret. Okay, okay, Mac. I quit. I always get excited at the wrong time. Like I did with Harvey. Oh, that was too bad. Killing him. No, no. Doing it in the car that way. Spoil that great upholstery. Couldn't even use the job job after that. That was a mistake. Expense account item 9, $17.50. Food and hotel bill. Expense account item 10, $68.40. Plane fare and incidentals, back to Hartford. Expense account total 1, $91.15. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar.

[Podcast Host]

We just heard. Let George do it. Barry Craig and Johnny Dollar. That will do it for this week's episode. Thanks for joining me. I hope you're staying warm and safe wherever you are. I'll be back next Sunday with more Old Time Radio detectives. But in the meantime, you can check out Stars on Suspense, my other Old Time Radio podcast. New episodes of that show are out on Thursdays. If you like what you're hearing, don't be a stranger. You can rate and review the show in Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. And if you'd like to lend support to the show, you can visit buymeacoffee.com meansts OTR. I'll be back next week with more Old Time Radio crime fighters. But until then, good night and happy listening.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Now here is our star, Vincent Price. Ladies and gentlemen. In a prejudice filled America, no one would be secure in his job, his business, his church, or his home. Yet racial and religious antagonism are exploited daily by quacks and adventurers whose followers make up the irresponsible lunatic fringe of American life. Refuse to listen to or spread rumors against any race or religion. Help to stamp out prejudice in our country. Let's judge our neighbors by the character of their lives alone and not on the basis of their religion or origin.