Hard Boiled Old Time Radio Private Eyes 1948-07-29 Case Of The Bloodstained Pearls

Summary

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Podcast Summary: "Hard Boiled Old Time Radio Private Eyes 1948-07-29 Case Of The Bloodstained Pearls"

Show: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Date: January 23, 2026
Original Airdate: July 29, 1948
Starring: Michael Shane (Jeff Chandler)

Episode Overview

This classic radio drama episode follows Michael Shane, the sharp-tongued, streetwise New Orleans private detective, as he gets embroiled in "The Case of the Bloodstained Pearls." What starts as an oddball protection job for a cantankerous old man with a bag of "priceless" pearls spirals into murder, deception, and a classic noir meditation on greed, friendship, and delusion.

With snappy banter, hard-boiled narration, and twists worthy of Raymond Chandler, the story shifts from comic to tragic as Shane chases down a killer and uncovers the true worth—not just monetary—of the infamous pearls.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Client with the Million-Dollar Pearls

• Old Man Peters, a comically suspicious and bedraggled character, barges into Shane's office, desperate for protection. He claims to possess three pearls worth a fortune and insists his old friends are after him.
  • Quote (03:18 – Mr. Peters): “In the palm of my hand I hold three pearls worth a million dollars.”
• Shane humors him, but quickly realizes the “fortune” is more illusion than reality. To placate Peters, they visit Mr. Forrester, a jeweler.
  • Quote (05:55 – Forrester): “I've never seen anything like them. They're priceless.”
  • Privately, Forrester reveals to Shane that the pearls are fake, worth no more than five dollars.
    (07:16 – Forrester): “They are paste, Mr. Shane. Nothing but paste. At the very most, they are worth $5.”

2. Murder and Motive

• When Peters is killed in Shane's office (08:56), Shane is drawn into a deeper mystery. Someone believes—or wants Shane to believe—the pearls are real, and is willing to kill for them.
• Shane is haunted by the absurdity: someone murdered for a worthless bag of paste pearls.
  • Quote (11:48 – Shane, narration): “Anyhow, somebody thought enough of the pearls to kill the old man. Now I had them. And somebody was trying to kill me.”

3. Suspects and Showdown On the Houseboat

• The investigation leads Shane to Peters’ old houseboat and his eccentric housemates: Brown, Johnson, and Eve.
• Each appears amiable but holds secrets. Shane sizes them up via hard-boiled voiceover and crackling dialogue.
  • Quote (13:51 – Housemate): “Old George never got tired of hearing it.”
• Eve intervenes with deceptive charm, later revealed to be part of a murderous plot.

4. Danger and Doublecross

• Shane is attacked (14:28), surviving only by a desperate struggle. He collects a handful of red hair from his assailant, identifying him as Brown.
  • Quote (15:35 – Shane): “Yeah. I'd just given Mr. Brown's beard a trim the hard way.”
• Returning, Shane is offered coffee by Eve—only to realize too late it’s been poisoned (19:41):
  • Quote (19:41 – Eve, chillingly): “Your faith in me was a little premature, Mr. Shane. I poisoned your coffee.”
• Shane barely survives with police help, determined to confront all involved.

5. The Revelation & Irony of the Pearls

• Confronted, the group admits their involvement in the murder, each blinded by the temptation of the pearls' supposed value.
• Shane exposes the macabre tragedy: they killed for worthless fakes.
  • Quote (22:50 – Shane): “You hear that? That's what you shot the old man in the back for. A bag of phonies.”
• In a dramatic gesture, Shane pretends to toss the pearls in the stove, but later reveals he kept the real (phony) pearls to give to the police as evidence.
  • Quote (24:29 – Shane): “Well, the way Forrester acted when we picked him up tonight got me to wondering. I thought, why take a chance? So all I threw into the fire was a cloth bag.”

6. Bittersweet Reflection

• Eve confides they attacked Shane to protect each other, and ironically, out of love for the old man.
  • Quote (24:59 – Eve): “We thought you killed [Peters] for them. We loved the old man so much. That’s why we tried to kill you.”
• The story closes with a wry, lonely undercurrent, more world-weary than triumphant.
  • Quote (25:44 – Shane, to Eve): “Good night, kid.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Delusion and Value

  • Mr. Peters (05:12): “I’ll never sell them. What could anyone give me half so beautiful as these pearls themselves?”

• On Human Nature

  • Michael Shane (18:29): “Everything they do, the perfume they wear, the way they dress, everything’s a promise. You fall for the promise and end up in the gutter. I understand people like that, honey.”

• On Friendship and Betrayal

  • Michael Shane (22:17): “Yeah, blood brothers. Until one of them found a bag of pearls. Then it was his blood.”

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:46 — Episode introduction and the premise of the case
• 03:18 — Peters reveals the "million dollar" pearls
• 05:55 — Jeweler Forrester (publicly) and (07:16 privately) stating pearls’ (lack of) value
• 08:56 — Old Man Peters is murdered
• 11:48 — Shane sets out to find the killer, now in danger himself
• 13:40 — Shane meets the old houseboat crew
• 15:35 — Shane survives an attack, collects evidence
• 19:41 — Eve poisons Shane’s coffee
• 22:17 — The housemates are confronted; murder is exposed
• 22:50 — The worthless pearls are “destroyed”
• 24:29 — Shane’s final reveal about the pearls and fate of the evidence
• 25:44 — Final exchange between Shane and Eve; episode winds down

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Tone & Language

• The episode flows with the snappy patter of classic noir: sardonic, clever, laced with irony and world-weariness.
• Shane’s inner monologue is sharp, cynical, and tinged with melancholy, even as the supporting cast brings whimsy, menace, or pathos as needed.
• The writing moves from zany and comic to poignant and tragic, in true hard-boiled fashion.

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For New Listeners

This episode is a pitch-perfect slice of Golden Age radio drama—fast-paced, twisty, full of crackling dialogue and deeper commentary on the illusions we chase. “The Bloodstained Pearls” serves both as a gripping mystery and a meditation on the dangers of greed and self-delusion.

If you love classic private eyes, razor wit, and vintage drama, this self-contained gem is not to be missed.

Transcript

[Eve]

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[Michael Shane]

I'd have sworn someone was standing right behind me. I started to turn and I heard something come down over me. Tried to duck. That ripping sound and blood running wildly down my arm. A knife. I tried to grab the arm. I couldn't reach it. The knife was coming down again.

[Narrator / Director Bill Russo]

The New adventures of Michael Shane, Private Detective. This is your director, Bill Russo, inviting you to listen to another transcribed episode with Michael. Michael Shane, that reckless redheaded Irishman back in his old haunts in New Orleans. We call it the case of the Blood stained Furrow.

[Michael Shane]

Okay, okay, I'm coming.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Open up. Open up. Come on, come on, open up.

[Michael Shane]

Next time, why not bring along an.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Axe, Close it all quickly. See? Quickly, man. Where's the key?

[Michael Shane]

Key?

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

I want you to lock the door.

[Michael Shane]

Now. Look, Pop.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Sid, I want you to lock the door.

[Michael Shane]

Mr. Shaney, let's just snap the double lock for now, huh? And hope for the best. Hey, hey, where you going? I want.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Look down on the street. I'm sure they followed me. A crafty, scheming lot will tell you that.

[Michael Shane]

Hey, who are you talking about, Pop?

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

My friends, that's who. My dear, faithful friends. Faithful friends. They boil me in oil to skin me alive. Cut me to ribbons to find out the height.

[Michael Shane]

Look, you better slow down. You're gonna burn out a berry.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Scallions, scarawags, cutroots, leeks, beetles and chicken inspectors.

[Michael Shane]

These friends of yours trying to find.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

None of your business. You just keep that nose of yours out of our fairs.

[Michael Shane]

Hey, hey, hey. Remember you came to me. Oh.

[Eve]

Oh, yeah.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Oh, it's just. It's all so infuriating. Makes my blood boil. Swear it does. Three dear friends. For six years we've shared the same little houseboat, same skimpy fair. We've watched 2,000 sunsets. We've talked 10,000 hours of the night away. And now, Mr. Shane, what are your rates? Forgotten a man's life and possessions.

[Michael Shane]

I kind of think I might be a little too rich for your blood, old timer.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Oh, a little too rich for my blood? You do indeed. Well, well, well, Mr. Shane. I suppose you've come to that remarkable decision just by looking at me coat. These patch pants, cardboard marshals. Too rich for my blood, huh? Let's Shed a tear for me, poor old man.

[Michael Shane]

Pete, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, but I hate feelings.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Why the feelings? I come here on business. My life's in peril. My possession's in jeopardy. Despite your outrageous rates, I'll pay you out of my meager safe.

[Michael Shane]

And just what are these possessions you want me to protect?

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Wait, wait.

[Michael Shane]

Hey. Leave those window shades alone. As stock, love. As it is in here.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Star with nothing. Absolutely nothing. And now, Mr. Shane. Now this is what I want you to protect. The contents of this little leather bag. Yes. Here's what this pitiful old man wants you to protect.

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

Mr. Shane. Yes.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

This is what they killed me for. In the palm of my hand I hold three pearls worth a million dollars.

[Narrator / Director Bill Russo]

In a moment, we'll return to Mike Shane and the case of the blood stained pearl.

[Michael Shane]

It had started like any other day. A widow named Mrs. Karpelis had hired me to track down one of her boarders who'd run away with her copper Samov. And I fear the good widow's heart. A guy had called to ask my rates for getting divorce evidence against his blonde wife. And then an old man named Peters came in. The kind of old guy you might see in Jackson Square, sleeping on the grass with a newspaper over his face. Only this old man had a million dollars worth of the biggest pearls I'd ever seen in my whole life.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Well, how do you like them, Mr. Shane?

[Michael Shane]

Why, you could use them for snowballs, Mr. Figus. Where'd you get them?

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

I found them three weeks ago in a little cove along the Mississippi. Not so many years ago, this part of the river was one of their favorite haunts of pirates. Aquafete. This might have been part of his treasure. Lost in the sea, washed up by the tides.

[Michael Shane]

Yeah.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Give them back to me. Give him here. Give me here. You've held them long enough.

[Michael Shane]

Yeah, they're all yours, Pop. Hey, did you ever have them appraised by a jeweler?

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

I wouldn't trust them out of my sight. Even my own friends would kill me for them.

[Michael Shane]

Well, how do you know they're worth a million bucks?

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

I've gone to the library, looked up pearls in all encyclopedias. I've compared them with the descriptions of the very finest. There is no comparison. Mine are the most beautiful pearls of them all and they take them from me. Imagine that, mon friends.

[Michael Shane]

Now if you were smart, you'd sell no good jewelry and forget them. Never.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

I never sell them. What could anyone give me half so beautiful as these pearls themselves?

[Michael Shane]

I bet you a Million dollars all stacked up real neat. Is kind of beautiful. Besides looking at an encyclopedia. What's that? For all you know, these pearls came out of a popcorn box and you're all upset about nothing.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Oh, you think so? You think so, eh? Nothing. Well, all right. Let's go to a jeweler. I saw one down the street.

[Michael Shane]

Oh, yeah, Mr. Forrest.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Mind you, I won't sell them no matter what the price. But let him look at them, Mr. Shane. Let him tell you what they're.

[Michael Shane]

Well, Mr. Forrester?

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Well, go on, tell us, Mr. Shane, what they were. He thinks they might have come out of a.

[Michael Shane]

What was it?

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Popcorn box. Tell him. Go on, go on, tell him.

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

I've never seen anything like them.

[Eve]

Mm.

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

They're priceless.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Ah, you hear, Mr. Shane?

[Michael Shane]

You hear? You hear?

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Now give them back to me. Give me here. Give me here. Yes, of course, my beautiful little ladies. Now Mr. Shane knows your worth.

[Michael Shane]

Yes.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Now he won't mock you anymore.

[Michael Shane]

What would you say they were worth, Mr. Forrester? Well, I wouldn't even try to give.

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

You an estimate, Mr. Shane.

[Michael Shane]

Thanks, Mr. Forrester. Come on, Pop, back to my office. Okay, Pop, Have a seat.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Now, you take me seriously, Mr. Shade.

[Michael Shane]

These people who you think are trying to take the pearls from a man.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

I don't think, I know. They kill me for it.

[Michael Shane]

Yeah, yeah. All right. You say you live with them on a houseboat, huh?

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Yeah, off Pier 22 on River Highway.

[Michael Shane]

And did you tell them about the pearls?

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

No, of course not. But I know they're spying on me continually, every day.

[Michael Shane]

Excuse me.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

All right.

[Michael Shane]

Yeah?

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

Mr. Shane, this is Faust Arjuna. Yeah, I thought I'd better call you as soon as you got back to your office.

[Michael Shane]

Why?

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

Is the old man still with you?

[Michael Shane]

Yeah.

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

Then don't let an uz talking to you.

[Michael Shane]

What's that?

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

I didn't want to break his heart. I could see what the pearls meant to him. And as long as he never tries to sell them, well, why should we hurt him?

[Michael Shane]

You mean?

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

They are paste, Mr. Shane. Nothing but paste. At the very most, they are worth $5.

[Michael Shane]

How do you like that, Shane?

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

I wish you'd hurry. I don't have all day.

[Michael Shane]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, thanks. Thanks for calling. Goodbye.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Now, Mr. Shane. Now we can talk business.

[Michael Shane]

I've already gotten a business, but go on, Mr. Peters. So old man Peters hired me to protect his $5 worth of imitation pearls. I overcame the real Shane long enough to tell him he could pay me at the end of the month. By which time I was sure he'd be out of my hair. He left the office, and I forgot about him. Then one night, he caught me in one of my less happy moods. The office rent was two weeks overdue. Three of my checks had bounced. I was stretched out on my couch, feeling jollier than words can say, and the phone started ringing.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Yeah, it's me again. Peters.

[Michael Shane]

Look, Peters, I wish you'd stop calling me.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

What kind of a detective are you anyhow? I'm threatened for a day and night, and you wish I'd stop calling.

[Michael Shane]

Oh, what is it now?

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

I know who's been following me. I saw today for the first time.

[Michael Shane]

Look, this is not good. It's bad for you, and it's bad for me. You. You come up to my office, I'm gonna break it to you gently.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Break what to me?

[Michael Shane]

You just come on up, Pop.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Don't you want to hear who was following you?

[Michael Shane]

Tell me when you get here. We'll trade little. Okay, pop. Okay. Do you always have to knock like that? Look, if you break the glass, you're gonna have to hock all your pearls to pay for it. Come on in, Shane. Hey.

[Eve]

Hi.

[Michael Shane]

Hey. Hey, pop.

[Eve]

What's wrong?

[Michael Shane]

Old man Peters was dead before he hit the floor. I don't know how he ever lived to reach my office. There were four bullet holes in his back as he fell, his left arm flung out wildly, his left fingers doubled into a fist. I bent down to see what was in that fist. It was his most priceless possession. A bag of phony pearls. Before calling the cops, I put the pearls in my pocket. Because now I was gonna make it my business to find out who'd killed the old man. After the cops finished questioning me, I really felt beat. I went home to my hotel room, arranged my weary bones around the lumps in the mattress, drifted off to sleep. Then I had to drift right back again. Yeah. Yeah, yeah.

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

Hello, this is shane. This is Mr. Tompkins.

[Michael Shane]

Yeah, Tompkins.

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

Hey, watchman down at the office building.

[Michael Shane]

Oh. Oh, yeah.

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

I thought I better call you.

[Michael Shane]

What happened?

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

Somebody broke into your office a while ago.

[Michael Shane]

Huh. When was this?

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

Well, must have been between my rounds. I heard something. I came and looked. Everything short was torn to pieces.

[Michael Shane]

Fine, fine.

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

I hope they didn't get anything of value, Mr. Shane.

[Michael Shane]

No. That's what makes it so wonderful to be poor. Good night. I hung up and started going back to sleep. Just before I made it, I suddenly started thinking about the little bag of phony pearls that was right now in the rear pocket of the pants hanging over my Dresser. All of a sudden, I wasn't nearly as sleepy as I thought. I reached for my cigarettes under my pillow. And then I heard the tiniest sound. Someone was trying to fit a key into my door. The tiny grating sound continued. A couple seconds more and the door would open. I started for my gun on the dresser. Heard the lock snap back. I ran to the dresser.

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

Doc.

[Michael Shane]

I stumbled over a chair. I heard a quick movement in the hall. I grabbed the gun and raced to the door. Hall was empty. Nothing but closed doors with numbers on them. The only sound was a guy in one of the rooms whimpering in his sleep. A nice peaceful scene. Five seconds ago I'd been close enough to death to smell it. Who had it been? Who had old man Peters been afraid of? That was an easy1. His three pals on the houseboat. I remember how I'd laughed to myself when he told me they'd kill him for the pearls. Funny thing, I wasn't laughing anymore. I had the pearls now.

[Narrator / Director Bill Russo]

In a moment we will return to Mike Shane in the case of the blood stained pearls.

[Michael Shane]

It all started when a little old guy named Peters came to my office with a wild story of three pearls worth a million dollars. Forrester, a jeweler, said they were worth five bucks at the outside. Yeah, they were paste. Anyhow, somebody thought enough of the pearls to kill the old man. Now I had them. And somebody was trying to kill me. The next morning when I went down to my battered old office, I found a telegram among the ruins. Would like to see you this evening regarding the death of our friend George Peters. There was an address. It was dark by the time we got there. The cab had worn out three maps and his smiling disposition. Five miles out of town, right in the middle of nothing. A rotting wooden pier sticking into the water maybe 20ft. Feet at the end of it, a battered old tug.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

That'll be 275.

[Michael Shane]

Okay. Here you are. Sure sorry I dragged you out this far. Ain't half as sorry as I am, friend. Oh, wait for me, will you? I'll be right back. Drop dead.

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

Hey.

[Michael Shane]

Hey. Wait.

[Eve]

Hey.

[Michael Shane]

Great. In the darkness, the lights of New Orleans seem a thousand miles away. I started down the wooden pier. There were lights somewhere on the tug. There didn't seem to be anything living around here except the mosquitoes. I hopped on with a tug and started looking for somebody. And I heard someone singing. I followed the sound, found a stairway leading down into the hold of the ship. The old guys were sitting on orange crates near a big pot bellied coal stove. The one who was singing looked like Moses. Must have looked complete with a flaming red beard. With you. Thank you, Brown. Just hearing it makes me feel a little better. Who are you?

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

What do you want?

[Michael Shane]

I'm Michael Shane.

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

Shane.

[Michael Shane]

Mr. Shane. Brown.

[Narrator / Director Bill Russo]

Mr. Brown was just singing poor Mr. Peters favorite song.

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

Old George never got tired of hearing it.

[Michael Shane]

What can we do for you, Mr. Shane? I got a wire asking me to come down here.

[Eve]

I sent the wire, Mr. Shane.

[Michael Shane]

Mm. Where'd you come?

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

My niece, Mr. Shane.

[Michael Shane]

Why'd you send for him, Eve?

[Eve]

To his side of it.

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

His side of it?

[Eve]

Mr. Peters died in your office, according to the papers, Mr. Shane.

[Michael Shane]

Well, that's right, Eve.

[Eve]

Papers also say they can't seem to find a motive for the crime. He wasn't robbed. They say they found his wallet and his wife.

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

That's all they found.

[Michael Shane]

Was there something else to find, Mr. Bryant?

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

You see.

[Eve]

Yeah.

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

I think you better go, Mr. Shane.

[Michael Shane]

Well, I've got some questions to ask, too. Last night, somebody. A long, long trail. Hey, will you tell this guy to shut up?

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Get out, Mr. Shane.

[Michael Shane]

Get out of my sight. I can take a hit as well as the next guy. Besides, there was something in old Brown's eyes when he turned on me. Or maybe it was the crazy red beard. Anyhow, all of a sudden, I wanted to be in the open air again. With the cab gone, there was nothing between me and New Orleans but a long, long trail. A winding, like the man said. I started hiking down the road. Must have walked two miles before I came to the gas station. It was all locked up for the night. But there was a phone booth outside. I called for a cab. Then as I hung up, I'd have sworn somebody was standing right behind me. I started to turn. I tried to duck. I heard a ripping sound. A knife. I tried to grab the arm, and instead my fingers closed around the blade. I felt the blade cutting into the flesh. There wasn't any pain, just a warm wetness. I couldn't reach the knife. I found his wrist with my teeth. A bit down hard. Then knife hit the ground. Then I grabbed for the guy. My fingers closed around a handful of hair. He tore himself free, running off down the road. I just flopped down on the ground. After a while, I lit my cigarette lighter to take inventory of the wreckage. That was some mess. One hand looked like second quality hamburger. The other hand was okay. It still held a fistful of hair. Red hair. Yeah. I'd just given Mr. Brown's beard a trim the hard way. The cab Showed up about an hour later. Instead of going to the city, I headed back to Pier 22. I was just groggy enough and mad enough to want the rest of that red beard. I marched down the gangway again. This time there was only Eve putting a coffee pot on the stove. She heard me and she turned.

[Eve]

But Mr. Shane.

[Michael Shane]

Where is he? I'm gonna kill him. Where is he?

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

You're hurt. Look at you.

[Michael Shane]

Never mind that. Just tell me where I can get my hands on that bearded old goat.

[Eve]

You gotta let me help you now. Here, sit down, please.

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

Yeah.

[Michael Shane]

Here. I'm in there. Better? Only for a minute.

[Eve]

Let me get your coat off now. Good heavens, Mr. Shane, just look at you.

[Michael Shane]

Nice old man you're. Mr. Brown. Hey, hey, easy with the coat. Here, he'll take the arm. Right with you.

[Eve]

Mr. Brown didn't.

[Michael Shane]

Yeah, he sure did. I've got half his red beard to prove it.

[Eve]

I was afraid something like this was gonna happen. I don't know what to say.

[Michael Shane]

You better say it with Mercurochrome and bandages. Hey, didn't think it was this bad myself.

[Eve]

Mayor, I think they'll hold you till you can get to a doctor.

[Michael Shane]

Yeah, yeah. Regular Florence Nightingale, aren't you? I mean, I bet you Florence never wore blue jeans and a green sweater.

[Eve]

You still look pretty weak, Mr. Sheen. I'll get you a cup of coffee.

[Michael Shane]

Yeah, good idea. Course I like my mama's way better, huh? When I got hurt, she used to kiss it better.

[Eve]

I'll get the coffee.

[Michael Shane]

I was talking about Mama.

[Eve]

How much sugar?

[Michael Shane]

You really got a one track mind, Eve. Two lumps. Well, as long as you don't want to discuss Mama, let's get back to old man Brown. Where is he now?

[Eve]

I don't know. I haven't seen him since you left. Here's your coffee.

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

Thanks. It's good and hot.

[Michael Shane]

You know, I'm glad you're not in on this.

[Eve]

In on what?

[Michael Shane]

This whole business. Peters, pearls, Brown.

[Eve]

I don't understand you.

[Michael Shane]

Of course you don't understand. It takes a particular kind of woman to understand. Now, I've been in this racket so long, I can spot a wrong name like that.

[Eve]

That's remarkable.

[Michael Shane]

Oh, nothing remarkable about it, Eve. They'll say something or look at you in a certain way. You get to know you, you get to feel dinky.

[Eve]

Coffee's getting cold, Mr. Shane.

[Michael Shane]

Yeah, yeah. Everything they do, the perfume they wear, the way they dress, everything's a promise. You fall for the promise and end up in the gutter. I Understand people like that, honey.

[Eve]

But you don't understand people like Mr. Brown, do you, Mr. Sheen?

[Michael Shane]

What's yet I understand a bag of pearls explains everything.

[Eve]

Brown with his ferocious red beard. Know what he was Milkman in Chicago.

[Michael Shane]

Should have stayed there.

[Eve]

Trapped in a dull, monotonous job year after year, finally pensioned off so he could crawl into a corner and die. Yeah, my uncle and poor Mr. Peters, they were like that too. Wasting the last precious years but always dreaming of escape. I didn't hear now miss keeping his old house boot on the Mississippi. It proved every penny they had to buy it was worth it. Look, I don't feel how happy these three old men were. Can't imagine how fond they became of each other. Something wrong, Mr. Shane?

[Michael Shane]

Sick stomach. What?

[Eve]

Your faith in me was a little premature, Mr. Shane. I poisoned you cough.

[Michael Shane]

I started for the gangway and then the gangway subdivided, like something under a microscope. And there were two gangways, then there were four, and then there were gangways everywhere. I hung onto all the railings, tried climbing all the stairs. And then barring my way was Eve's uncle, Mr. Johnson. Only it was a whole row of Mr. Johnson's and Mr. They were all holding ancient guns. I remember brushing past, brushing through the cold air. I remember falling to my knees just as I heard all the ancient guns go off. Last thing I saw in all the world, the headlights of the taxi cab I told to wait. My last thought was how funny. Most taxicabs had only two headlights, but this one had half a million. Looks like he's coming out of it dank. Yes, he's a lucky boy, Shane. You must have cornered the market on four leaf clovers. You had enough poison in you. Take it easy, Mr. Shane. You're gonna be all right. Who's this Eve talking heavy double crossing, Dave? Oh, the cab driver who brought you here gave us the address. Now look, you go to sleep, kiddo. I'll pick him up. Oh, oh, wait for me. Hand me my pants, Doc. Mr. Shane, I absolutely won't be responsible for why pants? After what I've taken from those three, I wouldn't miss a payoff if it took my last cops. But Mr. Shane, will you hand me my pants, Inspector?

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

Yeah?

[Michael Shane]

Since I'm the guy that ran through the meat grinder, would you let me finish it off my way? What do you mean, Shane? On the way out to the house fort, I want to pick up a jeweler named Forrester. So we picked up Forrester. The poor guy was so scared to hear us Pounding on his door at 2 in the morning. I thought he'd never lived to make the houseboat. It was almost three when we got there. But even Brown and Johnson was still up, sitting around the red hot coal stove like they'd been expecting us right along. Eve jumped up as we clattered down the gangway.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Mr. Shane.

[Eve]

Mike, you're all right.

[Michael Shane]

Yeah, yeah. That coffee, it was better than tonic. You ought to bottle it, Eve. You really have something there, Mr. Brown. Your beer doesn't look quite so flowing tonight. Okay, Inspector, take over. I'm arresting all three of you on the charge of murder. Murder? Before you take them away, I want to show em this. Now, kiddies, here's a bag of pearls. I had them on me all the time.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Mike.

[Michael Shane]

Now here's what you killed old man Peters for. Shut up. You and all that corny talk about friendship. The three old buddies sitting in the sun. Yeah, blood brothers. Until one of them found a bag of pearls. Then it was his blood. Don't you say that. I'm not through, baby. I'm just full of surprises. Like they say in the minstrel show, honey, you ain't heard nothing yet. Here's what you killed old man Peters for. A million dollars worth of pearls. Mr. Forrester.

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

Yes, Mr. Shane?

[Michael Shane]

Tell them what these pearls are really worth.

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

Why, they have taste. They're not worth $5.

[Michael Shane]

You hear that? That's what you shot the old man in the back for. A bag of ponies. And here's where the ponies are going. Right where poor old Peter should have thrown him in the first place. Right into the stove. Right into the fire. Don't be followed.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

What's wrong?

[Michael Shane]

The fire will destroy them. You stupid fool. I've got to save them.

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

Hey.

[Eve]

Hey.

[Michael Shane]

Get away from.

[Mr. Peters / Old Man Peters]

Hello.

[Eve]

Get out.

[Michael Shane]

Your bird. A million doll.

[Narrator / Director Bill Russo]

In a moment, we'll be back with a thrilling climax to tonight's Michael Shane adventure.

[Michael Shane]

Someone finally pulled Forrester's arm out of the fire. While we waited for an ambulance. Forres have blubbered out the whole story. How he'd killed Peters for the pearls. How he'd come into the hallway of my hotel that night and would have killed me for them. How he'd have killed a thousand times for such wonders as those priceless jewels. Now I'd destroyed them. I didn't hear much of it. I just flopped down, let my head fall on my chest. All that had happened was finally catching up with me. Then, as the inspector started up the gangway, I wait for him to come over. What Is it Shane? Here, Inspector. Give these to the museum or something.

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

The pearls. Hey. I don't understand.

[Michael Shane]

Well, the way Forrester acted when we picked him up tonight got me to wondering. I thought, why take a chance? So all I threw into the fire was a cloth bag.

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

Shane.

[Narrator / Director Bill Russo]

You know, there are times when I.

[Michael Shane]

Almost wish you'd joined the force. Yeah, with all my other troubles, that's all I'd need. Okay, kid. See you around, Mike. Yeah.

[Eve]

Yeah, Mike. Feeling better?

[Michael Shane]

Yeah. Feel beautiful.

[Eve]

You thought we killed Mr. Peters for the pearls? We thought you killed him for him. We love the old man so much. That's why we tried to kill you.

[Michael Shane]

You know, Eve, you can be arrested for that if I want to press charges at his.

[Eve]

Do you want to? At least it wasn't all wasted. At least I met you, Mike.

[Mr. Forrester / Inspector / Other supporting characters]

Yeah.

[Michael Shane]

Yeah, big deal. Well, I better be going. I'm pretty beat.

[Eve]

Must you go, Mike? Hmm? Cold air. This Dimona cut right through you.

[Michael Shane]

And if I stay, what would you do to keep me warm?

[Eve]

I'll make you a nice pie. Coffee?

[Michael Shane]

Yeah. Good night, kid.

[Narrator / Director Bill Russo]

This is your director, Bill Russo. Michael Shane is written by Larry Marcus and based on characters created by Brett Halliday. Music is composed and conducted by John Duffy, and Michael Shane is portrayed by Jeff Chandler. The Adventures of Michael Shane is a darn sharp production, transcribed in Hollywood and distributed exclusively by the Broadcaster's Guild. Next week, Mike Shane, against his will, gets involved in an exciting story of romance and intrigue. I hope you'll be listening.

[Eve]

Sam. Ra.