Black Ghost 1930s Program 5 Is Ace the Black Ghost

Summary

Harold's Old Time Radio - Episode Summary

Episode Title: Black Ghost 1930s Program 5: Is Ace the Black Ghost
Release Date: July 19, 2025
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Description: Relive the thrilling moments of the Golden Age of Radio with classic tales of suspense and adventure. In this episode, the mysterious figure known as the Black Ghost terrorizes Cameron City, leaving the local sheriff and his posse scrambling to uncover his identity.

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Introduction

In the fifth installment of the Black Ghost series, titled Is Ace the Black Ghost, listeners are plunged deeper into the enigmatic mystery surrounding the elusive Ace Cameron. As tensions rise in Cameron City, alliances are tested, and secrets begin to surface, hinting that someone closer than expected might be the notorious Black Ghost.

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Setting the Stage

The episode opens with Sheriff Zach and his deputy Brandon discussing the whereabouts of Ace Cameron and their colleague Brandon, who is inexplicably missing.

• Zach (00:02): "Say, Zach, I wonder what's keeping Brandon. He promised to be here by eight o'clock."
• Brandon (00:09): "I dunno, Sheriff. He's a plum hound for work."

The conversation hints at a looming threat and sets the tone for the unfolding mystery.

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Introducing Larry and the Mystery Deepens

Larry enters the scene, revealing his recent journey to Cactus Flats to send a telegram, raising suspicions about his intentions and possible connections to the Black Ghost.

• Brandon (01:21): "What on earth were you doing in Cactus Flats?"
• Larry (01:23): "I had to send a telegram."

Larry's cryptic remarks about the Black Ghost suggest he knows more than he's letting on.

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Betty's Disturbing News

Miss Betty arrives with alarming news about a recent holdup where the Black Ghost fired shots, resulting in her father, Idaho, being injured.

• Betty (03:05): "Something terrible has happened. You remember last night when the Black Ghost shot poor old Idaho?"
• Brandon (03:17): "Well, I remember that all right. One of them dusted the tip my nose as it went by."

Her testimony provides critical information about the Black Ghost's latest actions and Idaho's injury.

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Suspicions and Revelations

As the sheriff and his posse discuss the case, doubts arise about Larry's involvement, especially when Betty questions the circumstances of her father's injury.

• Betty (10:05): "Mr. Brandon, I started to say you're keeping something from me. What is it?"
• Betty (10:39): "And dad is shot in the left arm and he didn't show up until late. Barry, you can't be."

Betty's observations point towards Larry's possible connection to the Black Ghost, creating a tense atmosphere of mistrust.

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Emerging Romance and Tensions

Amidst the chaos, a budding romance develops between Larry and Betty, adding emotional depth to the narrative.

• Larry (11:38): "Well, you know I do. I... I like you a whole lot."
• Betty (11:56): "That was sweet, Larry. I won't forget it ever. But I'm going with you. Don't you see? I've got to now."

Their interaction provides a personal contrast to the overarching mystery, highlighting individual motivations and vulnerabilities.

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Cliffhanger Ending

The episode concludes with a suspenseful chase as Larry attempts to capture the Black Ghost, only to miss him, leaving listeners eager for the next installment.

• Betty (12:26): "No, no. There he goes. Look. Look around the back fence."
• Larry (12:34): "Who was it? I don't know, but... but ain't that your house?"

The unresolved chase and lingering questions about Larry's true intentions set the stage for future developments.

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Key Takeaways and Insights

• Character Complexity: Larry's mysterious behavior and his interactions with Betty introduce layers of complexity, suggesting that appearances may be deceiving.

• Themes of Trust and Deception: The episode delves into themes of trust, as characters grapple with their suspicions about one another, especially concerning Larry's possible role as the Black Ghost.

• Emotional Stakes: Betty's concern for her injured father and her growing feelings for Larry add emotional stakes to the narrative, making the unfolding mystery more impactful.

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Conclusion

Is Ace the Black Ghost masterfully intertwines mystery, suspense, and personal drama, capturing the essence of the Golden Age of Radio. As Sheriff Zach, Brandon, Larry, and Betty navigate the treacherous waters of deception and hidden motives, listeners are left on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating the next chapter in the Black Ghost saga.

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Notable Quotes:

• Betty on the Hold-Up (03:05): "Something terrible has happened. You remember last night when the Black Ghost shot poor old Idaho?"

• Larry Revealing His Plan (07:07): "Well, he doesn't know that I had a high powered rifle. Figuring on the old fashioned kind. When he makes another mistake, it's liable to be his last one."

• Zach's Determination (08:33): "Well, I reckon about all we can do now is to wait till he throws another party and then fight out with him."

These quotes highlight critical moments and character motivations, enriching the narrative and providing deeper insights into the unfolding drama.

Transcript

[Zach]

Say, Zach, I wonder what's keeping Brandon. He promised to be here by eight o'. Clock.

[Brandon]

I dunno, Sheriff. He's a plum hound for work. Lord knows when he got to bed last night. When I looked in his room this morning, he was gone. I reckon he'll be here though, pretty soon.

[Zach]

I haven't seen Ace Cameron around today, have you?

[Brandon]

No. I seen Miss Betty at the bank, but didn't get no chance to speak to her. You know, was a funny thing, Sheriff. Ace Cameron letting her hang around last night and him knowing that the place was going to be held up. Mmm.

[Zach]

Yeah, I been thinking about that. Seems to me. Wait a minute.

[Larry]

Hello, Jeff. Hi.

[Brandon]

Hello, Larry.

[Zach]

Well, fits a fiddle, Brandon. Whoa. Looks like you've been riding some.

[Larry]

Yeah, some. Yeah, I just got back from Cactus Flats.

[Zach]

Cactus flats? Well, that's 30 miles from here. You mean you rode over there and back and this time on one horse?

[Larry]

Oh, sure. Star don't mind 60 miles. He calls that a picnic.

[Brandon]

What on earth were you doing in Cactus Flats?

[Larry]

I had to send a telegram.

[Brandon]

Send a telegram?

[Larry]

Yes. Cactus Flats is the nearest telegraph office and I had to send a wire or something.

[Brandon]

Well, don't be so dad. Hammered mysterious about it.

[Larry]

Well, I don't mean to be mysterious, Uncle Jack, only I'm not sure it's going to work. But if it does work, Mr. Black Ghost will stop ghosting for quite a spell. Anyhow, I won't tip my hand yet a while till I find out how my Ace in the hole works out.

[Brandon]

Well, what have you found out?

[Larry]

Well, I checked on Ace Cameron's horse at the livery stable and that Black was rode plenty last night. You sure that ain't not a chance for me to be mistaken. He was rode last night. Has anybody seen Ace Cameron today?

[Brandon]

No, no, not me.

[Zach]

Well, he ain't been at the bank and he ain't been at the diamond stud all day.

[Brandon]

Well, he's got two, three mining claims up on Jupiter Creek. Maybe he rode up there today.

[Larry]

No, I checked up on that.

[Brandon]

His daughter, Ms. Betty was in the bank a while ago.

[Larry]

Well, don't it look kind of funny that A's hasn't showed up, Uncle Zach?

[Brandon]

Well, not necessarily. He rides out in the hills pretty often.

[Larry]

Well, just the same, I'm paying him a visit at his home tonight.

[Zach]

Have you had a look at Cassidy's Canyon?

[Larry]

No, I ain't had time, Sheriff, but I'm gonna go over it inch by inch.

[Brandon]

Well, I hope you have better luck than I did. I've rode owed oh.

[Zach]

See who that is, Brandon.

[Larry]

Yeah, all right. Oh, good evening, Miss Betty. Come in.

[Betty]

Thank you. I've been looking for you all day, Mr. Haynes. Something terrible has happened. You remember last night when the Black Ghost shot poor old Idaho? He rode by the door and shot several bullets into the saloon before he got away.

[Brandon]

Well, I remember that all right. One of them dusted the tip my nose as it went by.

[Betty]

Well, dad had just stopped in the office behind the bar before the holdup, and the door was shut. And he didn't know a thing about the hold up until he heard the shooting. Just as the Black Ghost rode away, he threw open the door and a bullet went right through his arm.

[Zach]

His arm?

[Brandon]

That's too bad, Miss Betty.

[Larry]

Which arm was it, Miss Betty?

[Betty]

His left arm, just above the elbow.

[Larry]

Mm. And when did you find it out?

[Betty]

Well, I didn't know a thing about it until I got back last night.

[Zach]

Got back? From the Black Ghost. Oh, what?

[Brandon]

You chased the Black Ghost?

[Betty]

You see, after you left, I jumped on the first horse I found at the hitch rack out in front and took out after you. But he was the slowest horse I ever rode in my life. And by the time I got to the mouth of the canyon, you all had disappeared. So I rode on back home.

[Brandon]

Was your dad there then?

[Betty]

Why, no. He didn't come in till late. He said he had to saddle his horse with one hand and ride out to the Smead place. You know, Mr. Smead is a horse doctor, and that's the nearest thing to a doctor we have here. And, of course, dad had to have his wound dressed.

[Larry]

Yes, of course. Uncle Zack, how about that new hat?

[Brandon]

Looks like you might win it, son.

[Betty]

What on earth are you talking about?

[Zach]

Oh, nothing, Miss Betty. Only these two Jaspers had a bet on that Brandon's horse could catch the Black Ghost.

[Betty]

Well, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. I'm just dying to know what happened out there. Nobody seemed to know.

[Larry]

They didn't stay long enough to find out, Miss Betty. Where the Black Ghost has got them fellas buffaloed is just too bad.

[Brandon]

Yes, siree, Bob. The Black Ghost disappears in a puff of smoke, and then the posse disappears in a cloud of dust.

[Betty]

Tell me about it, Mr. Brandon.

[Larry]

Well, ain't very much to tell. But as he rode out of the canyon, I took a crack at him and I hit him. And then? Then he sprinted up and got out of range just about the time the sheriff and the posse come up. And then the posse found out on each side and I tried to run him down and he just brought out his bag of tricks and disappeared right off the face of the earth.

[Betty]

Oh, that must have been thrilling. I'd do anything to just be that one time.

[Larry]

Well, to be perfectly honest with you, I didn't enjoy it like I thought it would. I was plum scared.

[Brandon]

Yeah, you acted scared all right. The way you went fanning through that puff of smoke trying to find him. That's a lot more than I'd have done.

[Larry]

Well, like I told you, Uncle Zach, curiosity's gonna be the death of me yet. You see, I hadn't never seen a Black ghost before. And when he just turned pale right in front of my eyes and then faded into the moonlight, why, I got awful curious to see how it was done.

[Betty]

Well, you're living up to your reputation all right, Mr. Brandon. Me?

[Larry]

Why, I ain't got no reputation.

[Betty]

I mean the reputation of the Texans. Remember once before my mother died, she told me about the Texans. She called them soft spoken and easygoing and she even called them lazy. But above all, she said that they were modest.

[Brandon]

Now, I call that a mighty fine compliment, Miss Betty. And though I ain't claiming no honors that away, I do hail from Texas and I've known some mighty fine boys down there.

[Betty]

Well, this is not catching the Black Ghost. What on earth are we going to do in Cameron City? And how on earth can he be caught if he disappears that way every time he's chased by a posse?

[Zach]

Well, now, don't you worry. We'll get him.

[Brandon]

Sure. Don't you worry your pretty head over the Black Ghost. Sooner or later he's going to make a mistake.

[Larry]

Yes, sir. And I'm thinking he's already made it.

[Betty]

What do you mean?

[Larry]

Well, he doesn't know that I had a high powered rifle. Figuring on the old fashioned kind. When he makes another mistake, it's liable to be his last one.

[Betty]

Mr. Haynes, do you think the Black Ghost can be some man living here in Cameron City?

[Zach]

Well, I don't know, Miss Betty. I've been trying to figure it out for a long time, as you know. But I'm at the end of my rope and I know it. Every gold shipment that goes out is nabbed by this feller. Why, I remember last month we had some gold hidden in a beer keg. Bout 5000 in dust. And just two people knew where it was. That is just two that we knew of. And that was your Paul and me. Then we give it to the stage driver to take out. That was only three that knew it was being shipped. And told Gome if he didn't stick up the stage and Jacob's Pass and get away with the dust. That was when he shot old Haynes.

[Betty]

Yes, I remember. Oh, how can a man be like that? Shoot people just because he can? I can't believe he's any of the men I know here in Cameron City.

[Brandon]

But he is, though, Miss Betty. He's just gotta be hard to believe. I know, but this feller knows everything and he works all by himself.

[Larry]

Well, I reckon about all we can do now is to wait till he throws another party and then fight out with him.

[Zach]

No, it just can't be done that way, Brandon. He can disappear at will. You know that. Anywhere he wants to. Why, just up and drift, and that makes a tough.

[Larry]

All right. Well, I got an Ace in the hole. Meantime, I'm gonna keep my good ear to the ground.

[Betty]

Well, I'd better be going. I've got to see how Dad's getting along. He had a little fever this afternoon.

[Larry]

Oh, could I walk home with you?

[Betty]

Well, I'll be glad of company, Especially Texas company, Uncle Zack.

[Brandon]

That's the talk, Miss Betty. Well, good night. And tell Ace I hope he's around in a few days.

[Zach]

Yeah, and I. If I can do anything, Miss Betty, you just let me know.

[Betty]

Thanks, sheriff.

[Larry]

So long, Uncle Zach.

[Brandon]

Good night, Jeff.

[Zach]

Good night.

[Brandon]

Good night.

[Larry]

Look out for them steps.

[Betty]

Oh, thanks. I declare, you act like I'm a piece of glass.

[Larry]

Not glass. Diamond, maybe.

[Betty]

You Texans must have immigrated from Ireland.

[Larry]

Yes, some of us did, Mr. Brandon. Larry's my name, Miss Betty, if you don't mind using it.

[Betty]

No, I don't mind. I like it. And you call me Betty.

[Larry]

Oh. Oh, gosh, ma', am, I couldn't. I mean. Well, if you want me to. Miss Betty.

[Betty]

Not miss, just Betty.

[Larry]

All right? Yes, ma'. Am.

[Betty]

Mr. Brandon, I started to say you're keeping something from me. What is it? Just now when I told you dad had been wounded, you all look so funny.

[Larry]

Oh, now you're just imagining things.

[Betty]

No, I'm not. You were so careful to ask about Dad's arm, whether it was the right or left.

[Larry]

Well, it would have been kind of hard on him if it'd been his right, I knew.

[Betty]

But just the same, I think I understand. You shot this black ghost in the left arm, didn't you?

[Larry]

Well, yes, ma'. Am.

[Betty]

And dad is shot in the left arm and he didn't show up until late. Barry, you can't be.

[Larry]

Oh, now, listen, please, ma'. Am, Honest, I It just couldn't be he. Well, sure it couldn't. Well, no, there ain't a thing to worry about, Betty.

[Betty]

And dad rode his horse last night?

[Larry]

Yes, ma'. Am. And a black horse he was. Rode plenty too.

[Betty]

But he went to the doctor.

[Larry]

Yes, ma', am, that's what you told me. But you know, Uncle Zack says your dad's the finest man he ever knew. And he says it just can't be.

[Betty]

No, of course not. But why did he stay out so late? Why wasn't he there during the holdup? If it could be, then, well, they'd have to arrest him.

[Larry]

Yes, ma', am, but we'll just cross that bridge when we get to it. I'm going on a little trip tomorrow before daylight. And I'm gonna do some tall looking. Maybe I can find out for sure.

[Betty]

Larry, take me with you, please.

[Larry]

Do what? Take you along. A girl.

[Betty]

Larry, do you like me a little bit?

[Larry]

Well, you know I do. I. I like you a whole lot. Wise, I reckon that. Well, I never even dreamed anybody could be like you. Except.

[Betty]

Except who?

[Larry]

My mother.

[Betty]

That was sweet, Larry. I won't forget it ever. But I'm going with you. Don't you see? I've got to now.

[Larry]

Oh, but listen now, I'm going over to Cassidy's Canyon and that's where the Black Ghost disappeared last night. He must be hiding now, or I can't take yet. Why, it might mean a fight. Might mean shooting.

[Betty]

I'll be waiting for you at daylight.

[Larry]

I tell you, I can't do it. Just ask me to do anything else for you, anything, and I'll do it. But I can't take you. Dog gone. Are you hurt?

[Betty]

No, no. There he goes. Look. Look around the back fence.

[Larry]

Get out of the way. Oh, missed him. Dog gone.

[Betty]

Who was it?

[Larry]

I don't know, but. But ain't that your house?