Molle Mystery Theatre 1944-06-20 Death Talks Out of Turn

Summary

Detailed Summary of "Molle Mystery Theatre 1944-06-20 Death Talks Out of Turn"

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Introduction

"Molle Mystery Theatre" transports listeners to wartime Washington, D.C., during the pivotal days before the Allied invasion of North Africa. Based on Richard Powell's novel Death Talks out of Turn, this episode delves into the suspenseful world of espionage, highlighting the tensions and uncertainties of wartime intelligence. Hosted by Jeffrey Barnes and featuring Lieutenant Andy Blake and his wife, Arabella Blake, the narrative intertwines personal drama with national security threats, reflecting the era's societal dynamics and the crucial role of vigilance.

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Main Characters

• Lieutenant Andy Blake: A dedicated Army officer stationed in Washington, D.C., grappling with his responsibilities and his tumultuous relationship with his wife.

• Arabella Blake (Mrs. Fielding): Andy's wife, a spirited and resourceful woman whose arrival in Washington sets the story in motion. Her investigative instincts play a crucial role in uncovering the espionage plot.

• Mr. Jones: A suspicious neighbor associated with the spy ring targeting the Blake household.

• Colonel Parker: Andy Blake's superior officer, representing military authority and the official response to the espionage threat.

• Additional Characters: Members of the Q Street boarding house, fellow spies, and military personnel who contribute to the unfolding drama.

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Plot Overview

[00:31] The episode begins with Lieutenant Andy Blake introducing the premise of "Molle Mystery Theatre," emphasizing the blend of mystery and wartime intrigue. [01:01] Jeffrey Barnes sets the stage for tonight's tale, warning listeners about the perils of sharing military secrets and introducing the central story of espionage in Washington.

Arabella's Arrival and Suspicion

[02:32] - [06:02] The calm of August 1942 is disrupted by Arabella Blake’s unexpected move into Washington. Her integration into the military environment, specifically as a secretary in the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, raises Lieutenant Blake's suspicions about potential espionage activities. Arabella's proactive nature leads her to secure a room at 5797 Q Street, a decision that Andy Blake finds unsettling.

Quotes:

• Lieutenant Andy Blake (02:32): "I don't think I like you working there. They've got too many things you want to shoot."
• Mrs. Fielding (04:09): "I heard somebody on a bus say that there was a vacancy at a place out on Northwest Chute street, so I went there and I took it."

Investigation and Confrontation

[07:00] - [16:44] Arabella's persistent curiosity and investigative skills uncover suspicious activities among the residents of the Q Street house. She notes peculiar remarks and interactions among the women, suggesting they inadvertently divulge sensitive military information. Her observations culminate in a confrontation with Mr. Jones, revealing the presence of a Nazi spy ring.

Quotes:

• Mrs. Fielding (13:28): "It's like this. There's 16 girls living in the house on Q Street. We all have jobs in industries or the government and we all like to chat."
• Arabella Blake (15:00): "Well, what else?"
• Mrs. Fielding (15:12): "Libby works in the State Department. Day before yesterday, she was asking Mrs. Fielding about what Darlon was like."

Capture and Imprisonment

[17:38] - [23:46] Despite attempting to alert Colonel Parker, Lieutenant Blake and Arabella are ambushed and kidnapped by the spy ring. They are taken to a secluded location along the Atlantic coast, where Mr. Jones and other operatives plan to exploit the stolen invasion plans for North Africa. Tensions rise as the Blakes confront their captors, leading to a climactic struggle involving grenades and gunfire.

Quotes:

• Mrs. Fielding (22:07): "Goggles means sand or dust. Mosquito bars means tropical or semi tropical countries. Put them together and they spell desert."
• Arabella Blake (23:21): "In a few minutes, the sub commander will see you coming out in a rubber boat. He'll tell his men that there are Americans in the boat. Ten rounds of rapid fire. Ten rounds."
• Lieutenant Andy Blake (23:44): "Star chance for the hundred One destroyer cannot cover the entire short wave ground."

Resolution and Aftermath

[24:40] - [27:32] A fierce exchange ensues, resulting in the destruction of the spy house and the thwarting of the espionage plot. Lieutenant Blake survives the ordeal with minor injuries, while Arabella's quick thinking and bravery play a pivotal role in their escape. The episode concludes with a reflection on the importance of vigilance and the vital contributions of women in wartime efforts.

Quotes:

• Mrs. Fielding (25:22): "I love you."
• Arabella Blake (27:14): "Well, all I can say is, if you're going to be a mouse, darling, heaven help the cat."
• Mrs. Fielding (27:41): "And, ladies, we can take over and do just as good a job as the men."

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Themes and Insights

1. Wartime Vigilance: The narrative underscores the necessity of being alert and cautious, especially concerning the protection of military secrets. Lieutenant Blake's initial suspicions and Arabella's investigative actions highlight the importance of individual responsibility in national security.

2. Women's Roles in War: Reflecting the historical context, the episode emphasizes the crucial contributions of women in various capacities during the war. Arabella Blake's active participation in uncovering the espionage plot demonstrates women's capability and essential involvement in supporting military objectives.

3. Espionage and Deception: The intricate web of spies and false appearances serves as a reminder of the constant threat of espionage during wartime. The character of Mr. Jones and the operations at Q Street illustrate the cunning and dangers posed by enemy agents.

4. Personal Sacrifice and Heroism: Both Lieutenant Blake and Arabella display courage and selflessness, risking their lives to protect their country. Their dynamic relationship adds depth to the narrative, showcasing personal bonds amidst global conflict.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Lieutenant Andy Blake (02:32): "I don't think I like you working there. They've got too many things you want to shoot."

• Mrs. Fielding (04:09): "I heard somebody on a bus say that there was a vacancy at a place out on Northwest Chute street, so I went there and I took it."

• Mrs. Fielding (13:28): "It's like this. There's 16 girls living in the house on Q Street. We all have jobs in industries or the government and we all like to chat."

• Lieutenant Andy Blake (23:44): "Star chance for the hundred One destroyer cannot cover the entire short wave ground."

• Mrs. Fielding (25:22): "I love you."

• Arabella Blake (27:14): "Well, all I can say is, if you're going to be a mouse, darling, heaven help the cat."

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Conclusion

"Death Talks out of Turn" masterfully blends suspense, drama, and wartime patriotism, offering listeners a captivating glimpse into the challenges faced by those tasked with safeguarding national secrets. Through the compelling characters of Lieutenant Andy Blake and Arabella Blake, the episode highlights themes of loyalty, courage, and the indispensable role of women in the war effort. The thrilling resolution serves as both entertainment and a reminder of the collective responsibility borne by individuals during times of conflict.

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Final Thoughts

This episode not only provides an engaging mystery but also serves as historical propaganda, emphasizing the mobilization of women in supporting roles critical to the war effort. By intertwining personal narratives with broader geopolitical concerns, "Molle Mystery Theatre" effectively captures the zeitgeist of the 1940s, making "Death Talks out of Turn" a memorable installment in the Golden Age of Radio.

Transcript

[Jeffrey Barnes]

M O L L E Mole, the brushless shaving cream with a special protective film that guards your face, presents the Mole Mystery. The.

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

Smart Mole, the brushless shaving cream which puts face protection first, brings you another in the series of programs which puts mystery and excitement first. Each Tuesday night at this time, you hear one of the great mystery stories, selected from either the famous classics or from the best of the Moderns by Mr. Jeffrey Barnes. Mr. Barnes, who has made a lifelong study of mystery fiction, is a connoisseur of fine detective stuff. Stories. Mr. Barnes.

[Jeffrey Barnes]

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Mole Mystery Theater. Tonight we bring you a tale of espionage in wartime Washington, set in the exciting days before the invasion of North Africa. It is based on a novel by Richard Powell and it is called Death Talks out of Turn. Now, before our Mole Mystery Theater play begins, may I remind you the Japanese say, while the Germans say.

[Arabella Blake]

In our.

[Jeffrey Barnes]

Language, they both mean one American war secret means a thousand dead Americans. So if you know any military information, information, for instance, such as troop movements, keep it a mystery and help keep our boys alive. And now to our Moray mystery presentation. Death Talks out of Turn. I want you to meet Lieutenant Andy Blake, who is here in the studio to tell you his own story. Lieutenant Blake.

[Arabella Blake]

Thank you, Mr. Barnes. It was October 1942, and wartime Washington was quite restful until my wife Arabella arrived. I'd been commissioned in the army several months before and had reported in Washington, leaving Arab behind to join me later. I thought that when Arab arrived, my troubles would be over, but I must have been nuts. Five months of married life should have taught me better. Anytime Mrs. Arabella Blake wraps a guy in cotton wool, he better not strike a match for it's likely to be gun cotton. Like most of Arab Zach, her arrival in Washington was unannounced. I was finishing up my work in the Pentagon building one evening, only half conscious that something was blowing the back of my neck.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Even if there are eight girls to every man in Washington, Andy, when I kiss a man, I expect to get his attention. What?

[Arabella Blake]

Arab, where did you come from?

[Mrs. Fielding]

Darling, I have a job in Washington as a secretary. And guess where? In the office of the Chief of Ordinance.

[Arabella Blake]

I'm not sure I like you working there. They've got too many things you want to shoot.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Oh, Andy, you're glad I'm here, aren't you?

[Arabella Blake]

Glad you're here? Why, gosh, when you came in, I, I. Oh, look, Arab, I never could say these things properly.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Oh, you need to be stirred up, Andy. You've been here two months and you're still a first lieutenant. No citations, no ribbons, not even a badge for pistol marksmanship.

[Arabella Blake]

The way I handle guns, I'll get a badge and a military funeral at the same time. Meanwhile, we've got to find a place for you to stay.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Oh, I have a room already, Andy.

[Arabella Blake]

What?

[Mrs. Fielding]

It's not half as hard to find a room as they say.

[Arabella Blake]

There must be a cat somewhere. How did you get this room?

[Mrs. Fielding]

I heard somebody on a bus say that there was a vacancy at a place out on Northwest Chute street, so I went there and I took it.

[Arabella Blake]

I didn't know people in Washington talked out loud about vacant rooms. I thought they whispered.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Well, I was sort of eavesdropping.

[Arabella Blake]

I suspect I won't approve of this.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Well, while I was eavesdropping on people talking on buses, I heard a man say, we're having trouble renting that vacant room at 5797 Q Street. None of the girls have been exactly right.

[Arabella Blake]

Well, what's so suspicious about that remark?

[Mrs. Fielding]

Well, I didn't like the way the man said it.

[Arabella Blake]

What was he like?

[Mrs. Fielding]

Short and fat, I think. Bald Gave me the creeps. Andy, I'm sure he's a spy.

[Arabella Blake]

Oh, I don't believe it for a minute, sweetheart, but I'm going to have a look at that room of yours.

[Mrs. Fielding]

There's the house where I live, Andy, with 16 other girls who all work for the government. How do you like it?

[Arabella Blake]

I don't think I like it at all.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Maybe you're right. You know, before I rented the room, they asked me a lot of questions to see if my job was important enough. Wanted to know if I had any connections with people in the army and Navy.

[Arabella Blake]

Come on, Arab, we're getting out of here fast. Don't get out of the car. You're not going back into that house.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Well, I've got to get my thing anyway. If you won't help me investigate, I'll do it by myself.

[Arabella Blake]

Say, wait a minute. You can't do this to me, Arab.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Oh, I can't, can't I? You just watch, Andy Blake.

[Arabella Blake]

I was still angry enough at Arab the following morning not to call her at her office. Oh, I had some vague idea of letting her suffer until she called me. But like most of my other ideas about Arab, this one didn't work out either. I soon found out it was I who was apologizing to Arab.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Of course you were wrong, Andy, dear.

[Arabella Blake]

Look, Arab, I wish you'd give this thing up. There probably aren't any spies at the house at all. And if there are, all we have to do is report it to my superior officer, Colonel Parker. Let the army handle it. They're better equipped.

[Mrs. Fielding]

That's perfectly safe. Silly. Why bother them with this when we can check up and find out? Yes, but then the army can step in and take over.

[Arabella Blake]

I don't want to be a hero. I just want to do my job in the army and let it go at that.

[Mrs. Fielding]

But, Andy, we can do it together and have so much fun.

[Arabella Blake]

I tell you, I'm not going to get.

[Mrs. Fielding]

All right, Andy Blake. If you won't help me, I'm just going ahead and solve the whole thing myself. So there.

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

Go ahead, you dope.

[Arabella Blake]

I'll call you up sometime.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Yes, do, Lieutenant. After all, we do have something in common. A marriage certificate, I believe.

[Arabella Blake]

The more I thought about the situation, the more worried I became about Arab. So that night, much against my better judgment, I drove over to Q Street and parked my car near the house. Where I could watch was a quiet street. So it was doubly startling when suddenly a woman screamed from the direction of Arab's boarding house. Something shut the scream off fast, as though a hand was placed over the woman's mouth. I ran across the street and plunged into the garden. Fifty feet away, a man was dodging behind a tree. I sprinted towards him. He was short and fat, but that was about all I could see. He turned suddenly and waited for me. Waited in an odd crouched position, his fingers stroking the air in front of him. Almost like a pianist testing the keys. My memory groped for a picture I'd seen once. A picture done on rice paper. There had been a short, fat man in the same hunch position. In the background, the artist had painted a tiny, white capped mountain. But even as he moved toward me, still in this hunch position, a woman's voice came from a few feet away.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Stop. At this Moment, I am Mrs. Fielding, Lieutenant Blake. I own this house, and your pretty wife has been brooding with me for a week. I think you should beg the lieutenant's pardon, Mr. John.

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

I beg your pardon, Lieutenant. You came at me so fast, I failed to note your insignia.

[Arabella Blake]

A woman screamed. Was it you, Mrs.

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

Fielding?

[Mrs. Fielding]

Something ran through the bushes. A rabbit, perhaps, or a cat. I am nervous.

[Arabella Blake]

Would you like me to see you into the house?

[Mrs. Fielding]

No. No, I don't think so. Thank you.

[Arabella Blake]

Then good night.

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

I have not apologized properly for my foolish actions, Lieutenant. But you are also very foolish. Never run at an enemy that way. Come more Slowly. Look. Look at my hands. I can break a small club with the edge of my palm. Can you do that, Lieutenant?

[Arabella Blake]

I wish I'd known that stuff when I was a kid in the Pine Tree patrol. You see, we had little scout hatchets, and I was always chopping myself instead of the wood.

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

You do not understand. I was assuming that the club was the man's neck. Your mistake, Lieutenant, is hitting a man with a fist. The fist is broad. It spreads the impact over too much space.

[Arabella Blake]

I've been getting along all right with fists so far.

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

What do you think will happen when an American soldier has to fight a judo expert?

[Arabella Blake]

The American might shoot the jack.

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

We will. Hope it turns out that way. I'm glad to have met you, Lieutenant Blake. My name is Jones.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Mr. Jones lives next door.

[Arabella Blake]

If you pardon me, Mrs. Fielding, I'll be running along now.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Good night, Lieutenant Blake.

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

Just remember my advice, Lieutenant. Be careful how you honor the man. Or better yet, don't run at him at all. And then you will be sure of being safe.

[Arabella Blake]

There was something about Mr. Jones I didn't like. I wanted to find out more about him. So I circled around the block, cut through a garden and ended up at the back door of his house. The door was unlocked. I stepped inside and listened. There was no sound. Then I started my search using a flashlight. There was nothing downstairs, so I went up to the second floor and entered a huge study. I found a newspaper clipping there that had been torn out violently. The story was about a recent broadcast picked up by the FBI from a station inside Germany. A man calling himself Gustav Eins had told the German people that if only Himmler and his Gestapo were kicked out, all of Germany's troubles would be over. I had heard of those broadcasts. We believed the stations to be backed by the German military leaders, the old Junkers. There was nothing else in the study, so I snapped off the flashlight and peered out of the window. I could barely see the house across the street. But as I watched, something stirred in the garden below. A figure was stealing toward Mrs. Fielding's house. The figure stepped across a starlit space and I stopped breathing. The prowler was Arab. Well, I knew Mrs. Fielding and Jones were inside the house and that if Arab was planning to eavesdrop again, they would be sure to catch her. I had to get her attention. My hand grabbed a straight wooden chair and slammed it through the window. I stuck my head in the opening and let out a yell. Suddenly, I heard a door slam downstairs. The fat man must have run out of the house next door. The minute he heard the crash. I could picture him creeping up the stairs, feeling the air ahead of him with those clutching fingers. My best chance was to wait for him to make a noise. I pressed back against the wall of a room and waited. Somewhere in that house, death was moving toward me. My breathing was getting louder. Like a guy in the last stages of asthma, I tried to hold my breath. Now a sound of breathing was coming up the stairs. Somebody else's breathing. The fat man was somewhere near me. I felt around me in the darkness until I finally found a weapon. A small statuette. I flung it in the direction of the breathing and grabbed from my flashlight. The beam showed the fat man in the center of the room struggling to get his gun out of his pocket. The statuette had missed. I could see the gun coming from his pocket. But I stood there, frozen. Then another voice spoke somewhere within the room. The most welcome sound I have ever heard. It was Arab.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Drop that gun, Hunter. Keep that light in his eyes.

[Arabella Blake]

Don't worry, I will.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Now, just hold that pretty pose, mister.

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

You'll haven't made it.

[Arabella Blake]

Sounds like a light.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Of course, darling. Now let's get out of here.

[Arabella Blake]

Hurry.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Darling, your timing was perfect. Now we've got to move fast. Hurry up or we'll be followed.

[Arabella Blake]

Oh, I know this is only going to mean trouble, Arab, but what's the program?

[Mrs. Fielding]

First we go to your room.

[Arabella Blake]

You mean we're finally going to be alone?

[Mrs. Fielding]

No, I don't think we'll be alone.

[Jeffrey Barnes]

All right, let's have it.

[Mrs. Fielding]

It's like this. There's 16 girls living in the house on Q Street. We all have jobs in industries or the government and we all like to chat.

[Arabella Blake]

You mean the girls talk Military secrets?

[Mrs. Fielding]

Well, I don't mean any of the girls consciously tells anything. But they do give out little things that added together may mean a lot.

[Arabella Blake]

I'll turn in the report the first thing in the morning.

[Mrs. Fielding]

But, darling, you won't have time because, well, I've elected you as the baby.

[Arabella Blake]

How do you mean?

[Mrs. Fielding]

All week I've been keeping a diary. And tonight at dinner, I babbled about how I was going out with an army lieutenant. I told him I'd have to be ever so careful of what I said. For you had told me you were horrified by all this loose talk. And I said you'd written down all the bits and pieces I'd been telling you all week and that you'd invited me to come up to check your notes tonight. I made sure that Renee Fielding and Mr. Jones overheard the address.

[Arabella Blake]

Well, meet the widow, Blake. At times I think you only married me because you thought I'd make a good looking corpse. Well, while we're waiting here in my room for your Mr. Jones, where are those notes of yours?

[Mrs. Fielding]

Well, here's the one about Jane who works in Special Service. After finishing breakfast, she suddenly pulled a word in Arabic on us.

[Arabella Blake]

What's suspicious about that?

[Mrs. Fielding]

Jane has no interest in anything geographic. She happens to work in Special Service. And that's the branch that puts out guidebooks for soldiers.

[Arabella Blake]

Well, what else?

[Mrs. Fielding]

Ruby works for the Office of Petroleum Coordinator. She made an interesting remark the other morning about invasions taking a lot of oil.

[Arabella Blake]

Arabic Oil. Go on.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Libby works in the State Department. Day before yesterday, she was asking Mrs. Fielding about what Darlon was like.

[Arabella Blake]

Darlon's more important in North Africa than Bataan or Laval.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Gene's boyfriend is a second lieutenant in the 1st Armored Division. It was last reported at Indio, California. Jean said the next letter she got from him would have an APO number.

[Arabella Blake]

Say Indio's a desert training center.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Mary Arden says that she has to type requisitions for goggles and mosquito bars all day.

[Arabella Blake]

Goggles means sand or dust. Mosquito bars means tropical or semi tropical countries. Put them together and they spell desert.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Ginger works for Transportation Corps. And she was talking about shipping locomotives for narrow gauge railroads.

[Arabella Blake]

North Africa again, Andy, what is all.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Of that up to?

[Arabella Blake]

It adds up to the fact the joint allied operations against the enemy in North Africa is already underway. And that Jones and Mrs. Fielding know about it. Holy smokes. I'm gonna call Colonel Parker. The line's dead. The wire must have been cut.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Come here, Andy, quick.

[Arabella Blake]

What is it?

[Mrs. Fielding]

There, in the front yard. If you look closely, you can see the shadows of two men standing beneath that tree. They're here. Andy Jones and someone else.

[Arabella Blake]

But it's impossible. Well, we can't be trapped right in the center of Washington.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Andy, we've got to make a break for it. I'll go first. Out the back door. I've got my gun. If anybody tries to stop me, I'm going to shoot.

[Arabella Blake]

If anybody's going to draw them off, I'm going to. Give me the gun.

[Mrs. Fielding]

No, darling. I'm the one who can shoot, so I'm going first. One of us has to get away, and this is the best chance. Andy, if anything happens. I'm sorry. I used to steal all the covers from you and use up all the bath towels after a shower. Goodbye, darling.

[Arabella Blake]

Wait a minute. Why, that little idiot. Why did she leave now?

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

Arab.

[Arabella Blake]

Arab, where are you?

[Jeffrey Barnes]

This is Jeffrey Barnes, bringing down the curtain on the first act of tonight's Morley Mystery Theatre play and reminding you that even now, after two years of war, there are still a few people who think something like this.

[Arabella Blake]

Listen, we're winning the war. It'll be over in no time.

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

What's the use of working yourself to death? Yes, ladies and gentlemen, there are some people like that. And yet no one can tell us when the war will be over because no one knows. But everyone knows that we're now in a crucial moment of this war. And we must break every war production record to keep arms flowing to the front. In order to do this, hundreds of thousands of women are needed in war useful work because they are the only adequate source of labor to replace men who are entering the service. Women must work as men must fight. And since lack of experience is not a handicap, women can get more useful jobs in transportation, communications, retail trades and other necessary services. So, ladies, if you can spare the time for a part time or full time job time to work along with millions of fine American men and women, go to your United States Employment office and tell them that you are available. Your United States Employment Service can tell you where you are needed most. And now, here's Jeffrey Barnes. And that too, of death talks out of turn.

[Jeffrey Barnes]

Lieutenant Andy Blake and his enterprising and charming wife Arabella have become involved with a Nazi spy ring in wartime Washington. And as the second act of our play opens, Lieutenant Blake has come to report the emergency to his superior officer, Colonel Parker, who will take the steps necessary.

[Arabella Blake]

Colonel Parker, wake up. Colonel Parker.

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

Hey, what is it?

[Arabella Blake]

Oh, Lieutenant Blake, come in. It's that Q Street business I told you about, Colonel. My wife was right. They pieced together a lot of North African and invasion data and. Your voice down, Lieutenant. Well, sir, I think these people in the Q Street house have also got my wife. They kidnapped us just now in front of the place where I live.

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

Don't worry, Lieutenant. We'll have the house on Q Street in the bag in 10 minutes.

[Arabella Blake]

Yes, but I'll have two companies of.

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

Guards turned out to search Washington and get orders through to watch all roads.

[Arabella Blake]

But I want to do.

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

I'll keep in touch with you, Lieutenant. The best thing for you to do.

[Arabella Blake]

Now is to go home and try to get some sleep. Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. But I couldn't get some sleep. I kept thinking that Arab might be merely a small huddled shape somewhere. I got into the car and drove back toward Q Street. Suddenly, a block away, my headlights gleamed on a small white sports shoe lying by the side of the road. It was Arabs. I stopped the car, leaped out and bent over to pick it up. It was too late when I saw the club swinging for my head. Sometime later, I came to lying in the back of a car with my arms and legs securely bound with rope. The car turned into a driveway and someone pulled me out.

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

Well, Lieutenant Blake, you must have a hard head. I didn't expect you to be conscious so soon.

[Jeffrey Barnes]

Where's my wife?

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

If you're quiet, you will see her in just a minute. Oh, still, Lieutenant, while I untie your legs. If you will notice, Lieutenant Blake, you are now in a very lonely section along the Atlantic coast. The house here was once used by roadrunners during Prohibition. But it has been well stocked with ammunition for just such emergencies as this. Come on, Lieutenant. Your legs are untied. We're going in. Joey. Joey Ranchi. I see you got the little Boy Scout. You may sit in that straight chair, Lieutenant. I think we will leave your hands tied. You've caused too much trouble. Jerry, tie up his legs again.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Andy. Andy, are you all right?

[Arabella Blake]

Oh, nothing wrong but paralysis of the brain. That and the company we find ourselves in.

[Mrs. Fielding]

You are amusing, Lieutenant.

[Arabella Blake]

You're pretty killing yourself, Mrs. Fielding. But how are you and Jonesy and this mug going to get out of this? Our army and navy isn't asleep, you know.

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

Your Defense command has no chance. Give us the German army and the navy and the air force, and we, the Gestapo, will rule the world.

[Arabella Blake]

Chief, it is late. We've got to get moving.

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

Lieutenant, you will see how well the Gestapo works. Our submarine is waiting off the coast. All I have to do is signal her and we will be picked up. I'm so sorry to disappoint you, Lieutenant. I know you're thinking I will signal with a light and one of your destroyers will see it. But you are wrong. Our signal light is an infrared ray. Can only be picked up by a photoelectric cell.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Andy, is there really one of our destroyers out there?

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

Of course there is, Mrs. Blake. I've seen one in the last few minutes. But it will do you no good. You Americans are too stupid.

[Arabella Blake]

So you have the plans for our invasion of North Africa, Herr Jones. And now you're going to signal them to the command of that submarine. But what's to prevent the submarine commander from taking all the credit himself, huh? All right, you work for Himmler, but who does the sub commander work for?

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

Admiral Canaris of the German naval intelligence, of course.

[Arabella Blake]

But do you think that sub commander and Admiral Canaris will give you a build up? Do you know what's going to happen to you?

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

Why, no, of course not. What do you mean?

[Arabella Blake]

In a few minutes, the sub commander will see you coming out in a rubber boat. He'll tell his men that there are Americans in the boat. Ten rounds of rapid fire. Ten rounds. Jonesy, you'll be.

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

Stop it. Stop it, I tell you. We'll see who gets the credit. I won't give the plans to the sub commander. I'll use the short wave set.

[Arabella Blake]

But the destroyers can pick up that.

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

Star chance for the hundred One destroyer cannot cover the entire short wave ground. We'll take a chance. Joey, get the code book in the lower right hand door. Get paper and pencil. First sentence, Jones to Ulich. Second sentence for Himmler only. Third sentence. Two United States forces sail from east coast ports of embarkation. Fourth sentence. Objective North Africa, absolutely confirmed. Encode that. Joy, quickly. There will be more. Okay, chief. Ah, there it is. I'll give you the message, Joyce.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Randy, why did you talk onto using.

[Arabella Blake]

The short wave, but with them using a short wave radio, our men will be able to locate the target this house and start shooting any minute now. There it is. Come on, boys, lay it in the lap. Watch this one, Jonesy. Come on, boys.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Like one.

[Arabella Blake]

Coming out.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Five.

[Jeffrey Barnes]

One, two, three, go.

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

Julie, the knees.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Grab on the table.

[Arabella Blake]

It's Eric. Joey, hurry up. They've got their bracket now. No change, no change.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Hurry up, Joey.

[Arabella Blake]

Hold on to your hat.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Arab. Darling, I brought. Hold your hand.

[Arabella Blake]

Oh, I wish I could think of something deathless to say.

[Mrs. Fielding]

I love you.

[Jeffrey Barnes]

I love you.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Andy, wake up, darling. You've got to.

[Arabella Blake]

What happened? What am I doing here?

[Mrs. Fielding]

You threw a hand grenade at Jonesy after the explosion that wrecked the house. Just as he fired his.45 at you and missed.

[Arabella Blake]

What about the grenade?

[Mrs. Fielding]

Didn't go off.

[Arabella Blake]

It didn't?

[Mrs. Fielding]

You aren't wounded really. Only a little burned. It was the explosion of the house that got Jonesy.

[Arabella Blake]

Where's Rennie and the other guy?

[Mrs. Fielding]

They got away in the rowboat. Submarine must have picked them up.

[Arabella Blake]

And why didn't the grenade go off?

[Mrs. Fielding]

They don't go off unless you pull the pin, dear.

[Arabella Blake]

I never even fired a BB gun. How would I know? You had to pull a pin, Andy.

[Mrs. Fielding]

You must have thrown it like a baseball. You hit him right in the head.

[Arabella Blake]

I did?

[Mrs. Fielding]

You can throw grenades that well, darling, we'll have some special ones made just for you without Pins.

[Arabella Blake]

But I saw a flash and there was an awful noise.

[Mrs. Fielding]

45 makes an awful racket when it's shot off right in your face. You just got some powder bearings.

[Arabella Blake]

What about the submarine?

[Mrs. Fielding]

I think our destroyer got it. Andy was out there putting over depth bombs while you were out. The noise just stopped this minute.

[Arabella Blake]

And we've got to get right back to Washington and make a report. To think this all started because a few people forgot and talked about their work. If they'd only kept their mouths shut, none of this would have happened. Arab. Nor could you have overheard any of it and got us mixed up in it.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Andy, darling, I won't ever try to stir things up again. From now on, I'll be quiet like a mouse.

[Arabella Blake]

Well, all I can say is, if you're going to be a mouse, darling, heaven help the cat.

[Jeffrey Barnes]

Hello, ladies and gentlemen, our Monet Mystery Theatre play tonight has introduced us to a very lovable little lady who delights in solving problems.

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

As a matter of fact, she's right here, Mr. Barnes, and wants to tell our audience about another problem. Ladies and gentlemen, Mrs. Arabella Blake.

[Mrs. Fielding]

Thank you, Dan. You know, ladies and gentlemen, believe it or not, after my experience in Washington, I did settle down. But later, when Andy went overseas, I became aware of the problem Mr. Seymour's referring to and, well, I knew that when Andy heard about it, he'd think I was up to something. But I went out and got myself a job. And, ladies, I didn't have any previous experience, just that short while as a secretary in the Ordnance Department, but I had plenty of time and. And I guess a sort of appreciation for the privilege of being allowed to live while a momentous history of today is being made. You know, we women know how to work, all of us do. And oftentimes we can take over and do just as good a job as the men. Friends, the need for women and more useful work is urgent. So tonight I want to ask each one of you ladies in the audience to consider the advantages of. Of helping your country now in this, the crisis of the war. At the same time, I want you to consider the extra income you'll have earned then. If you decide that you can take a war job, go immediately to your local United States Employment office and tell them you're available. Ladies, our country's need for woman power is serious. Our country's need is now.

[Lieutenant Andy Blake]

And now, Jeffrey Barnes to tell you about next week's story.

[Jeffrey Barnes]

Next week, we welcome to our Morley Mystery Theatre two of the most unusual detectives you've ever met. Ms. Rachel Murdoch, a delightful old lady of 70 and her Persian black cat, Samantha. Our story was written by D.B. olson, and its title is the Cat saw murder. So, Mr. Evans, we invite you to be with us next week for that mystifying adventure thriller, the Cat Saw Murder.