Nick Carter 43-09-27 (025) The Glass Coffin

Summary

Summary of "Nick Carter 43-09-27 (025) The Glass Coffin"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Harold's Old Time Radio
• Host/Author: Harolds Old Time Radio
• Episode: Nick Carter 43-09-27 (025) The Glass Coffin
• Release Date: May 7, 2025

Introduction

"The Glass Coffin" is a gripping installment of the classic detective series "Nick Carter," brought to life by Harolds Old Time Radio. Set against the backdrop of a forgotten movie studio, this episode delves into a complex mystery involving jewel robbery, murder, and dark secrets from the past. Listeners are taken on a suspenseful journey as Nick Carter, accompanied by his trusty sidekick Patsy, unravels the intricate web of deceit intertwined with old Hollywood glamour and supernatural lore.

Setting the Scene

The episode opens with Nick Carter and Patsy arriving at an abandoned movie studio owned by Joseph Stone, a prominent figure in the film industry. The studio, once a bustling hub of creativity, has been locked up for the past decade following a series of unexplained incidents.

Notable Quote:

• Host (00:00): "Radio shows from the Golden Age of Radio... before television and the family all sat around the radio and listened to the shows of the time like The Shadow, Abbott & Costello..."

The Mystery Unfolds

As Nick and Patsy explore the deserted studio, they encounter Lieutenant Riley of the Metropolitan Police, who casts suspicion on the recent events—a failed jewel robbery and a subsequent murder. The star of Joseph Stone's new picture, Lulu Dore, becomes a focal point when it's revealed that her house was targeted during the attempted robbery. Although nothing was stolen, the incident raises questions about the studio's security and previous tragedies linked to a failed voodoo-themed film project.

Notable Quotes:

• Nick Carter (01:19): "The house of Lulu Dore, the star of Stone's new picture, was broken into last night while she was at a dance."
• Lieutenant Riley (02:13): "Come on, get out of here. I got my orders. Come on, Patsy."

Digging Deeper: Clues and Suspicions

Investigating further, Nick discovers discrepancies in the evidence. A murdered electrician, Boyd, was killed with a poisoned arrow from a blowgun—a weapon linked to a voodoo witch doctor from a failed movie project titled "Voodoo Curse." Bill Daley, the studio's electrician, reveals that natural disasters haunted the studio years ago, leading to its closure.

Notable Quotes:

• Bill Daley (03:00): "The blowgun and the arrow were mine... I tried to do a picture about a voodoo witch doctor... it practically drove me into bankruptcy."
• Nick Carter (04:02): "There's one thing I don't understand, Mr. Stone."

The Plot Thickens

As Nick and Patsy continue their investigation, another murder occurs—Bill Daley is found dead, stabbed with a similar knife used in the previous murder. This double homicide intensifies the mystery, revealing a possible connection between the robberies and murders. The discovery of empty crates and suspicious makeup leads Nick to suspect that the culprit is someone with insider knowledge of the studio and expertise in disguise.

Notable Quotes:

• Nick Carter (06:11): "These prints were made by leather-soled shoes, right, Riley?"
• Bill Daley (07:53): "Attack the tank so we can get the rocks. I'll get the makeup stuff."

Climax: Confrontation and Revelation

The tension escalates when the true antagonist, Bart Tyson—a former leading man whose career was ruined by a tragic accident—emerges. Disguised as various individuals, Tyson orchestrates the robberies and murders to cover his tracks and retrieve stolen jewels hidden within the studio. A dramatic showdown ensues on a catwalk, where Nick confronts Tyson. Using his detective skills and waterproof guns, Nick subdues the villain, revealing his motives tied to jealousy, greed, and lingering resentment from past failures.

Notable Quotes:

• Nick Carter (22:58): "And now your gun's gone."
• Lieutenant Riley (22:52): "It's Nicota the Dick."

Resolution: Unmasking the Culprit

With Tyson apprehended, the stolen jewels are recovered from an old glass tank, validating Nick's suspicions. The episode concludes with a reflection on the case's complexities and hints at future adventures, setting the stage for continued intrigue in the series.

Notable Quotes:

• Nick Carter (25:16): "Tyson was a consummate actor, and he had complete knowledge of makeup. He disguised himself as a different character... he played his role expertly."
• Patsy (26:31): "Except that from now on, I'm allergic to water anywhere except in drinking glasses."

Conclusion

"The Glass Coffin" masterfully blends classic detective storytelling with elements of suspense and the supernatural. Nick Carter's meticulous investigation exposes the dark underbelly of the movie studio, revealing themes of ambition, revenge, and the haunting past. Through clever dialogue and strategic plot developments, the episode keeps listeners engaged till the very end, showcasing Nick Carter's prowess as a master detective.

Closing Quote:

• Nick Carter (27:22): "You see, it started out to be a case of robbery, but it ended up with at least two murders and more excitement than I've had in a long time."

Upcoming Episode Tease

Listeners are left anticipating the next adventure as Nick and Patsy head west to the mining districts of Montana, promising more mystery and danger in "The Mysterious Gold Thieves."

Notable Quote:

• Narrator (27:10): "Next week, at the same time, another curious experience of Nick Carter entitled the Flying Duck murders or Nick Carter and the mysterious gold thieves."

---

This detailed summary encapsulates the essence of "The Glass Coffin," highlighting key plot points, character developments, and pivotal moments, enriched with notable quotes and timestamps to enhance the narrative for those who haven't experienced the episode.

Transcript

[Host]

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[Nick Carter]

All right, Patsy, out you go. This is it.

[Patsy]

This is what, Nick?

[Nick Carter]

A studio of magnificent pictures, of which Joseph Stone is the owner and director.

[Patsy]

Well, there goes another illusion. I thought movie studios were all bright lights and glamour. This place looks like a stage set for the deserted village.

[Nick Carter]

Well, it's been locked up for the past ten years or so. That's funny. The gate's locked.

[Patsy]

And that's our cue to turn around and go home again. You've got a nice, tasty jewel robbery waiting for you to solve back in town, and you should be working on that instead of being way out here at the end of nowhere playing around a forgotten movie studio.

[Nick Carter]

I guess I'll have to pick the lock.

[Patsy]

Okay, if you must, patient Patsy will bear with your little games.

[Nick Carter]

This is no game, Patsy.

[Patsy]

Why, what do you mean?

[Nick Carter]

The house of Lulu Dore, the star of Stone's new picture, was broken into last night while she was at a dance. She was wearing her jewels, including the famous emeralds. Fortunately, though, nothing was stolen. There. There we are. All right, Betsy, go ahead.

[Patsy]

Think it's funny there isn't a gatekeeper.

[Nick Carter]

Around that does, doesn't it? Well, I guess they haven't got a full staff for the studio considering they moved back from Hollywood just to do this one show.

[Patsy]

Why did they do that, Nick?

[Nick Carter]

Oh, Dora hit her run of the pay contract for the show she's doing on Broadway and couldn't go west.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Hey, there. Where do you think you're going?

[Nick Carter]

Oh, so there is a door. Gateman. I am looking for Mr. Stone's office.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Well, you can't see him.

[Nick Carter]

I'm afraid you don't understand. I'm Nicholas Carter. Mr. Stone's expecting me.

[Lieutenant Riley]

I'm taking my orders from Lieutenant Riley of the Metropolitan Police. He says to admit no one.

[Nick Carter]

Riley? What's he doing here?

[Lieutenant Riley]

Investigating the murder.

[Patsy]

Murder? I thought you said robbery, Nick.

[Nick Carter]

What murder?

[Lieutenant Riley]

Come on, get out of here. I got my orders Come on, Patsy.

[Nick Carter]

Let's find Riley or Joe Stone.

[Joe Stone]

He.

[Lieutenant Riley]

You can't do that. Come back here.

[Nick Carter]

All right, I'll explain to the police. Hurry, Patsy.

[Patsy]

What is this, Nick?

[Nick Carter]

But I plan to find out right now. Then I take it this fellow Boyd, who's been killed is a fairly unimportant chap, eh, Mr. Stone?

[Bill Daley]

Well, yes, he. He was just a darn good electrician.

[Nick Carter]

Doesn't seem to be any connection between his murder and the attempted robbery of Ms. Doray.

[Bill Daley]

Well, no, there doesn't.

[Nick Carter]

Is Lieutenant Riley here now?

[Bill Daley]

Yes, yes, he is, over on Stage five. It's that building over there. Do you want me to come with you?

[Nick Carter]

Yes, I wish you would, Mr. Stone. There may be points I'd like to ask you about.

[Bill Daley]

I'd be glad to help, of course, if I can help.

[Nick Carter]

There's one thing I don't understand, Mr. Stone. You say Boyd was shot in the back with a poisoned arrow From a blowgun. It's an odd weapon. Should be fairly easy to trace.

[Bill Daley]

You don't have to trace it very far, Mr. Carter. The blowgun and the arrow were mine.

[Patsy]

Yours? Yes.

[Bill Daley]

You see, 11 years ago, I tried to do a picture about a voodoo witch doctor who used the blowgun in it. I don't suppose you remember the picture, Mr. Carter. It was called the Voodoo Curse.

[Nick Carter]

Oh, yes. Yes, I do. You had a bit of trouble over it, I believe.

[Bill Daley]

A bit of trouble? It practically drove me into bankruptcy. I'd imported a real voodoo witch doctor from Haiti, and he put a curse on the whole studio.

[Nick Carter]

Oh, come now, Stone. You don't really believe that.

[Bill Daley]

I don't know what I believe anymore. Eleven years ago, we had fires, we had explosions, we had mysterious thefts, we had just about everything. Got so that everybody was scared to work here. I had to close the studio. And now we have a murder.

[Patsy]

Why should the witch doctor put a hex on you?

[Bill Daley]

Oh, I had an argue with him, though. With salary of some sort. He swore he'd break me and he almost did. Here. This is stage five here.

[Joe Stone]

Well, well. Nicholas Carter.

[Nick Carter]

Hi.

[Joe Stone]

O' Riley and Patsy. Well, what might you be doing here?

[Patsy]

He's come to help you, Lieutenant.

[Joe Stone]

That's very obliging of him, I'm sure. Say, was that a crack?

[Patsy]

Why, of course not.

[Nick Carter]

Well, let's get to work. Riley, where was the body found?

[Joe Stone]

Right over there by that door nick, where the chalk marks are.

[Patsy]

Hmm.

[Nick Carter]

I wonder what he was doing way over here.

[Bill Daley]

He was setting up the stage, as I told you.

[Nick Carter]

But all his equipment's over there, clear across the set. Riley, how was he pacing when he died?

[Joe Stone]

He was lying on his face with his head towards that door, Nick.

[Nick Carter]

Shot in the back, wasn't he? Yep.

[Joe Stone]

We figured from the angle of the arrow that the blow gun fella must have been sitting up there on that catwalk when he killed him.

[Nick Carter]

Mr. Stone, what's behind that door that Boyd was heading for?

[Bill Daley]

Well, special electrical equipment, I believe, for special effects.

[Nick Carter]

Would Boyd have known that?

[Bill Daley]

Yes, of course. He worked on this stage years ago. He probably would have remembered.

[Nick Carter]

That's it then. He was going into that room to see if he could find some special equipment he needed. Matter constable is being way over here.

[Joe Stone]

And you think there was something in there the killer didn't want him to see? You, Nick.

[Nick Carter]

Right, Riley, let's go in.

[Patsy]

There's Larknick.

[Nick Carter]

Oh, Stone, give me your keys, will you? Keys?

[Bill Daley]

I have no keys for these rooms.

[Nick Carter]

Did Boyd have any?

[Bill Daley]

Well, I believe he had borrowed the caretaker set.

[Nick Carter]

Riley, did you search the corpse?

[Joe Stone]

Of course I did, Nick.

[Nick Carter]

No keys.

[Joe Stone]

No keys.

[Bill Daley]

I can get a locksmith out from the village.

[Nick Carter]

What, you have no duplicates?

[Bill Daley]

The place has been locked up so long, I never expected to come back. Was trying to sell it as a matter of fact.

[Patsy]

Pick the lock, Nick. This seems to be your day for doing that.

[Nick Carter]

Just what I'm going to do, Betsy.

[Bill Daley]

I'll get you more light.

[Patsy]

Oh, he doesn't need light. He can see in the dark. Practically.

[Nick Carter]

Now you don't have to see to pick a lock. There, there and there. That's it.

[Patsy]

Now we'll get a look at what your killer didn't want Boyd to see. Here, Here's a light switch.

[Nick Carter]

Oh, wait, wait, wait. Don't crowd in like that. Uh huh.

[Jake]

Look.

[Joe Stone]

Footprints.

[Patsy]

Footprints in the dust. Golly, Nick, there goes your theory. Boyd was here before he was killed and took out whatever it was he wanted. Well, it was a cute theory while it lasted.

[Nick Carter]

Maybe it's still a cute theory as you call it.

[Joe Stone]

All we have to do now, Nick, is to measure the prints and see if they're boids or not.

[Nick Carter]

They're not.

[Patsy]

How do you know?

[Joe Stone]

Yeah, you haven't even seen the body.

[Nick Carter]

These prints were made by leather soled shoes, right, Riley?

[Joe Stone]

Well, yeah, you're right, but.

[Nick Carter]

And Boyd was wearing rubber soles.

[Patsy]

How do you know he was, Nick?

[Nick Carter]

Correct me if I'm wrong, Stone, don't all technicians on a soundstage wear rubber soled shoes to kill any noise that the soundtracks might pick up?

[Bill Daley]

Well, you're right, Carter. They do.

[Nick Carter]

Those leather sole prints mean that it wasn't Boyd, but our friend the murderer who used the keys he took from Boyd to get in here.

[Patsy]

You lead to that crate. Let's see what's in it.

[Nick Carter]

Don't walk on the footprints. We need them as evidence. I'll wager you'll find the crate empty. The murderer didn't just walk over to it, look in and walk out again. Oh, no. He took away everything he didn't want Boyd or anyone else to find.

[Patsy]

You're right, Nick. The crate is empty.

[Joe Stone]

I shall research the room, Nick.

[Nick Carter]

What's the point in that? There was anything here. It's gone by now. Murderer seen to that. I wonder what was in this crate. I wonder.

[Patsy]

Oh, Nick, the poor kid.

[Bill Daley]

What is it, Carter?

[Nick Carter]

Another murder?

[Lieutenant Riley]

Another?

[Patsy]

Good Lord.

[Nick Carter]

Can you identify him, Stone?

[Bill Daley]

Why, it's Bill Daley, our camera punk.

[Patsy]

Camera punk? What's that?

[Bill Daley]

Oh, it's studio slang for assistant to the camera.

[Joe Stone]

You people. I'll run. Too fast for me. What's up?

[Nick Carter]

Here, see for yourself, Riley.

[Joe Stone]

Good gosh. Another murder. And it looks from his position as if he was just coming out of that door over there.

[Patsy]

That's funny. Both he and boy.

[Nick Carter]

Any idea what he was doing around here, Stone?

[Bill Daley]

Yes, I. I sent him over here myself about an hour ago to look in that warehouse. See if there was any of that old photographic equipment we could remodel and use. Priorities, you know. Daley was very clever at that sort of thing.

[Joe Stone]

That's her mean looking knife he's got sticking in his throat. Nick.

[Bill Daley]

Knife.

[Nick Carter]

Good Lord.

[Patsy]

What is it, Mr. Stone?

[Bill Daley]

That knife. It's from that same voodoo picture.

[Nick Carter]

There seem to be a few too many of those old props hanging around. Are there any more?

[Bill Daley]

Yes, there's a complete stock of weapons. Everything we used in that confounded picture.

[Patsy]

The voodoo curse.

[Nick Carter]

Yes, I rather think I'd like to see that film, Stone. Is there a copy of it around here any place?

[Bill Daley]

Well, as much as we have a shot of it. It was never finished, you know.

[Nick Carter]

But you run it off for me.

[Bill Daley]

Certainly I will. I'll go arrange it now.

[Nick Carter]

Thanks.

[Joe Stone]

Well, Nick, what do you think?

[Nick Carter]

I'm not sure. Any opinions yourself? Yes.

[Joe Stone]

My money's on Stones doing it.

[Patsy]

Stone. Why in the world would he do it?

[Joe Stone]

Well, I don't know. I haven't figured out the reason for it yet. But he acts kind of funny. Nervous, sort of. And he keeps talking about the place maybe being haunted.

[Patsy]

Oh, good heavens, Riley. Who wouldn't be nervous with all this murder going Around. I know I am.

[Joe Stone]

Take the weapons, Nick. They all belong to him.

[Nick Carter]

But other people could have access to them, Riley. After all, Stone hasn't been here for over 10 years. And there's something more important you've overlooked, Riley.

[Joe Stone]

What's that, Nick?

[Nick Carter]

How did Stone manage to throw that knife at Daly while he was with us?

[Joe Stone]

How do I know? We were all so busy looking at that star room on the set. He could have sneaked up. By golly, I'll bet that's how he did do it.

[Nick Carter]

Oh, that's Stone beckoning to us. You want to go to see the movies rally?

[Joe Stone]

I got better things to do, Nick. I'm going to search this joint.

[Nick Carter]

How about you, Betsy?

[Patsy]

Sure thing. Why do you want to see it?

[Nick Carter]

I'm not sure, Patsy, but I've got sort of a hunch that the answer to all our questions lie hidden in that old picture.

[Patsy]

Did all movie projectors make this racket 10 years ago?

[Nick Carter]

Most of them, Patsy.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Now, listen, you don't believe in our voodoo magic, eh? Well, if you've been here long enough.

[Nick Carter]

To see some of the things I've seen.

[Patsy]

Really, Ross, there's something uncanny about these natives. Call a coincidence, if you like. Who's the woman? Gosh, she's good looking.

[Nick Carter]

That's Lula Dore, the star of the picture.

[Patsy]

Stone shooting here now, their voices sound funny and teeny.

[Nick Carter]

Yeah, they certainly do.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Easy enough to scoff when you've just.

[Nick Carter]

Come down from the States.

[Lieutenant Riley]

But it is magic.

[Nick Carter]

There's no other way to explain some of the things that happened.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Magic mumbo jumbo, you mean. You'll never convince me it's anything else. I suppose this is another of those wild dances.

[Patsy]

Now there's a really good voice. Who is he?

[Nick Carter]

Don't tell me you don't remember him, Patsy. His name was Bart Tyson. Great leading man 10 years back.

[Patsy]

Oh, I remember his name.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Of course, this is rather better than most of the dancers I've seen, Patsy.

[Nick Carter]

I've heard that voice very recently.

[Patsy]

Picture must be almost over now, Nick. Have you discovered anything?

[Nick Carter]

I'm not sure yet.

[Patsy]

Gosh, they had some pretty fancy photography in those days. I. I thought all that underwater swimming stuff was comparatively new.

[Nick Carter]

Oh, no. Stone was the first person to use it.

[Patsy]

How did they do it? Look at that man swimming. It couldn't be faked.

[Nick Carter]

It isn't. It was taken through some sort of a glass tank.

[Lieutenant Riley]

That native has been underwater for 20 minutes. No human can hold his breath that long.

[Nick Carter]

That's what I've been telling You, Ross.

[Lippy]

They're magic bees. Natives.

[Nick Carter]

Magic.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Maybe you're right. Maybe you're right.

[Patsy]

That voice. I've heard it somewhere before myself. I never heard Dyson act before. Hey, don't we see the ending?

[Nick Carter]

No, that's all they made. Patsy, the picture wasn't finished.

[Patsy]

Did you find out what you wanted to?

[Nick Carter]

I'm not quite sure.

[Bill Daley]

Well, Mr. Carter, did you like the picture?

[Nick Carter]

Oh, a very interesting Stone.

[Patsy]

Oh, that Lula Dory certainly is beautiful. Isn't she, Mr. Stone? I've never seen her in pictures before. Has she done anything else?

[Bill Daley]

No, nothing. Until now that she's starring in my new show on Broadway.

[Nick Carter]

That's funny. Think with her looks and her voice, she'd be a sensation.

[Bill Daley]

That's what I've always claimed. But, well, she got scared off after all these things happened during the filming of this one and, well, she's stuck to Broadway ever since. And when Tyson, her leading man, was hurt, she rather felt.

[Nick Carter]

Oh, I was wondering what happened to Tyson. From what I could gather from this show, he should have been a natural for talking.

[Bill Daley]

Oh, he was. But we had a bad explosion and his whole face was terribly scarred. That's why we could never finish this picture. He never could act in pictures again.

[Patsy]

Oh, what a shame.

[Nick Carter]

Well, Stone, thanks for showing us the film. Mind if we scout around after Riley?

[Bill Daley]

Oh, no, not at all. If you need me, I'll be on stage three. We're going to start shooting soon.

[Nick Carter]

Good.

[Patsy]

What's funny about Dora? She seems to be cropping up in our lives all over the place.

[Nick Carter]

Yes, she does, doesn't she? Patsy, will you find a telephone, get hold of Scubby, find out what you can about Bart Tyson and what's happened to him since the accident.

[Patsy]

Okay. Nick, where'd you be?

[Nick Carter]

If I don't see you before, I'll meet you at Stone's office at noon.

[Patsy]

Right.

[Nick Carter]

Or.

[Joe Stone]

Nick. Nick Carter.

[Nick Carter]

Oh, Riley. Just looking for you. You found anything yet?

[Joe Stone]

We found all the weapons from that voodoo movie. All except the ones we'd already found, that is.

[Nick Carter]

How'd you know you found them all?

[Joe Stone]

Stone had an inventory. We checked on it.

[Nick Carter]

Well, if your theory about Stone's correct, Riley, he could have falsified that inventory.

[Joe Stone]

Why should he?

[Nick Carter]

Well, perhaps he had a couple of weapons hidden somewhere and doesn't want us to know anything about them.

[Joe Stone]

Nick, the more I think about it, the less I like that guy.

[Nick Carter]

Find anything else?

[Joe Stone]

Not a blessed thing.

[Nick Carter]

Search the whole lot of you.

[Joe Stone]

All but stage nine over there, that's locked up tighter than a drum. I can't pick locks the way the great Carter does.

[Nick Carter]

Okay, I'll take care of those. Riley, why don't you go on down to Stage three? They're going to start shooting the picture pretty soon. And I'd feel a lot more comfortable if someone were on guard there. We've had enough murders for one day.

[Patsy]

I suppose you think this is a gag, having us get all dressed up like merry villagers or something.

[Nick Carter]

It's not a gag, Patsy. It's insurance.

[Patsy]

What do you mean?

[Nick Carter]

Just what I said. When we're dressed up in our regular clothes, everybody in the lot knows who we are. But anyone seeing us dressed up like this will think we're actors and never look at us twice.

[Patsy]

I never thought I'd live to see the day when people wouldn't stare at Nick Carter, master detective, all dressed up in knee pants.

[Nick Carter]

Quiet. Did you check with Scubby?

[Patsy]

Yep. But just as Stone said, Tyson was hurt in that explosion and then just sort of vanished. Hasn't been heard of since.

[Nick Carter]

That takes care of that. Well, here's Stage nine. The only place that hasn't been searched either by Riley or me.

[Patsy]

What do you expect to find?

[Nick Carter]

I don't know.

[Patsy]

It's funny. This door isn't locked. Everything else on the lot has been.

[Nick Carter]

Yes, Riley distinctly said it was locked when he tried it. Now, keep your eyes open. There may be a reason for it being open now.

[Patsy]

Golly, it's dark inside.

[Nick Carter]

Here, here, take this flashlight. Okay, I've got another.

[Patsy]

Hey, Nick, look. There's an old makeup table. I wonder what kind of makeup they used in those days.

[Nick Carter]

Patsy, we haven't time to stop for you to look at makeup.

[Patsy]

Look here. This makeup isn't old at all.

[Nick Carter]

What's that?

[Patsy]

No, this is the very latest type of movie makeup, and it's all new stuff.

[Nick Carter]

Well, good for you, Patsy. Yes, there's something funny about this.

[Patsy]

Definitely, Nick. Well, this panchromatic makeup wasn't developed until Technicolor came in. They didn't use this type of makeup back in the days when this studio was in use. Somebody must have been here since. And none of the actors are making up way over here.

[Nick Carter]

Right, Patsy, I'll make a detective out of you yet. Now, let's see if we can find anything else.

[Patsy]

Oh, I'm getting creeps, Nick. I don't like you here, Patsy.

[Nick Carter]

I think we're getting warm. This is one of the first real clues with. Hey, recognize that?

[Patsy]

Wait. Well, that must be the glass tank they used to take that swimming Sequence in the voodoo movie.

[Nick Carter]

Right you are. I wonder why they left it half full of water this way.

[Patsy]

When they finished taking that scene, they probably just walked off and left it here.

[Nick Carter]

Maybe.

[Patsy]

Don't forget they closed this place in a hurry.

[Nick Carter]

What are you doing, Patsy? This water is fresh.

[Patsy]

What?

[Nick Carter]

It'd be stale if it been here 10 years. Stale and smelly.

[Patsy]

Say, I'm beginning to think maybe Stone's right and there is a hex on this place.

[Nick Carter]

Too bad that voodoo picture wasn't in Technicolor. Those colored stones at the bottom of the tank would have showed up beautifully.

[Patsy]

They are beautiful, aren't they?

[Nick Carter]

Yes, you bet. Hey, Patsy, look here. Those aren't just colored stones. Douse your lights, Patsy. Quick, we've got corners.

[Bill Daley]

Tuck back here behind this crate on the clink this morning. With this snooping, why the boss always.

[Jake]

Swipes such important rocks? Why didn't he settle for just a small frog?

[Bill Daley]

Big time, that's why. He's got enough though to pay all the bills until that stuff cools off. And when it's safe to handle it, he'll smuggle it out of the country and sell it for plenty.

[Jake]

What's he leave it lying around here for, hidden in the old equipment?

[Nick Carter]

Now we know why anybody'd ever come back here.

[Jake]

Gosh, when that punk went into that storehouse, I bet he saw the works.

[Bill Daley]

He did. The boss spotted him, Gordon, and just had time enough to get that knife and come back and nail him. And the kid was dashing back the stone to spill the beans.

[Jake]

Gee, the boss is sure lucky.

[Bill Daley]

He ain't lucky, he's smart. He had Lippy planted up on that catwalk just in case somebody got an idea to go into that electrician's storeroom and somebody did that takes brains to know that.

[Jake]

Well, we better get going, huh, Jake?

[Nick Carter]

Yeah.

[Bill Daley]

You start drilling the tank so we can get the rocks. I'll get the makeup stuff.

[Jake]

Why is he moving everything out now?

[Bill Daley]

Hey, figures it'll cooled off by now. And with the stuff he's going to lift from that Dora game this afternoon.

[Nick Carter]

Who's that?

[Jake]

Hey, look over there, Jake. Two guys only come here.

[Nick Carter]

Run for it. Let her go, you lonely rat.

[Bill Daley]

Get away.

[Joe Stone]

Let her go. I gotta get rough. Hey, what's the matter now?

[Jake]

Guess that'll hold him. Gosh, it took three of us to knock him cold. He a fighter or something?

[Bill Daley]

Hey, hey, I know him.

[Lieutenant Riley]

It's Nicota the Dick.

[Jake]

Nick Carter. Hey, and a good looking doll.

[Lippy]

Well, it's a good thing you Called me in time. What are we gonna do with them now that we got him, huh? We can't just leave them lying around. Somebody's bound to notice them.

[Joe Stone]

Hey, the fish tank.

[Lippy]

Yeah, that's right. We'll throw them in there. Then when they're good and drowned, we'll drain the tank and get them and the other stuff out at the same time.

[Jake]

Good idea, Lippy.

[Nick Carter]

Okay.

[Jake]

Here, Pete, you lift the lid. You shove the girl in. Lippy.

[Patsy]

All right.

[Jake]

Jake and I will dump that Carter guy in.

[Bill Daley]

It'll be a real pleasure to do something like this to a copper.

[Jake]

Yeah. Come on.

[Bill Daley]

Ready?

[Joe Stone]

Go ahead.

[Bill Daley]

Put Carter in first.

[Lippy]

Okay, here he goes. Happy swimming, Carter.

[Jake]

Now dump the dam in, Chick.

[Joe Stone]

In you go, lady.

[Lippy]

Ah, that's okay. Hey, listen, guys. Suppose they get out?

[Bill Daley]

We'll see that they don't get out. Stokey, huh? Put the lid down on the tank.

[Jake]

Okay, Jake.

[Bill Daley]

And I'll put this padlock on and they're as safe as if they was in jail.

[Lippy]

That's good work. Hey, look, boys, they're coming too.

[Jake]

So what? Who cares now?

[Bill Daley]

Yeah, who cares? Lippy, turn on the water.

[Lippy]

Okay, here she comes. Jake.

[Bill Daley]

Get those two baby spots set.

[Nick Carter]

Up there, will you?

[Joe Stone]

This what you want?

[Nick Carter]

That's better.

[Bill Daley]

Now open number two a little more.

[Gordon]

Okay.

[Bill Daley]

All right, this is the take.

[Nick Carter]

Ready?

[Patsy]

Ready. Lights.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Camera.

[Nick Carter]

Right.

[Bill Daley]

Action. Ms. Dory, it was when I first.

[Patsy]

Opened your letter that I knew at last. As I opened the.

[Bill Daley]

No, no, no, no, no. Lula, darling, mean what you say. Remember, your lover has returned. Now this is your big moment. Now relax. Take it easy.

[Nick Carter]

Now.

[Bill Daley]

Now, come on, once more. Right. Action. Come on.

[Patsy]

It was when I first opened your letter that I knew at last. As I opened the envelope, even before I read the words that you'd written there, I realized that what I'd hoped for so long had at last.

[Lieutenant Riley]

What's the matter with those lights?

[Nick Carter]

Why aren't they.

[Joe Stone]

Turn on those lights. I'm in charge here.

[Nick Carter]

There'll be no confusion.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Quiet, everybody.

[Nick Carter]

Qu?

[Joe Stone]

The masked man.

[Nick Carter]

Who are you to tell me?

[Lieutenant Riley]

I'm the doctor on this. This is a hold up.

[Joe Stone]

Look here, you. You can't pull a hoard up.

[Patsy]

Quiet.

[Lieutenant Riley]

I said quiet. If you don't want a bullet in your teeth.

[Joe Stone]

Quiet, quiet, quiet.

[Lieutenant Riley]

The man's mad. That's better. Now, nobody will get hurt if you just keep quiet and do as you're told. Turn on that spotlight.

[Joe Stone]

Okay, boss.

[Lieutenant Riley]

That's it. Now, all of you line up against the wall there. Come on, get moving. I don't want to shoot, but I will if you make me and shut up.

[Joe Stone]

You can't tell me to shut that order.

[Lieutenant Riley]

You, too, Riley. Now, don't forget that although you can't see me with this spotlight shining in your eyes, I can see you very clearly. Now, each one of you, in turn, will step forward and put your valuables on that table in center stage. And don't try to hold out on me, or it'll be bad for you. All right. We'll start with the star performer, Ms. Lulu Dore. Please, Ms. Dory. If you think I can't see you trying to hide behind the drapes over there, you're wrong. You're in this, too. Your jewels, please.

[Patsy]

No, no. Not my emeralds.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Surely you won't.

[Nick Carter]

Surely I will.

[Lieutenant Riley]

It's those emeralds I'm particularly interested in. You don't think I care for the little wristwatches and pocketbooks I'm going to get from the rest of these people, do you?

[Patsy]

But you can't mean to take my.

[Lieutenant Riley]

One more word out of you, and I'll come after them myself. And if I do it and where.

[Nick Carter]

You are, Tyson, I've got you covered.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Mick Carter.

[Joe Stone]

Praise be. Is that you?

[Lieutenant Riley]

Come and get McCotter.

[Nick Carter]

Watch him early if you can.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Turn the lights on, Patsy.

[Patsy]

Right, Nick. Here they are.

[Joe Stone]

There he goes, Nick. I missed him, Donna. Did you see where he went, Nick?

[Bill Daley]

There he goes, Mr. Carter. Climbing up the.

[Jake]

Congrat.

[Bill Daley]

The catwalk.

[Joe Stone]

Tyson.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Come down from there or I'll shoot. You haven't got a gun, Nick Carter, yours is too wet to shoot after your little swim. But I've got my gun here.

[Nick Carter]

You missed me, Tyson. But I won't miss you. You may not know it, but my guns are absolutely waterproof.

[Joe Stone]

Nice work, Carter.

[Lieutenant Riley]

You shot the gun right out of his hand.

[Nick Carter]

And now your gun's gone.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Tyson, come on down. Yeah, come up here and get me. You haven't caught me yet.

[Patsy]

Look at him run. He should make a misstep or lose his balance up there and fall off.

[Joe Stone]

And get a. Tyson. Tyson, stop.

[Host]

Stop.

[Joe Stone]

Look out, you don't slip there, Nick.

[Patsy]

He's passed his belt.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Watch out, Tyson.

[Nick Carter]

You say you want us to drop you at headquarters, Riley?

[Joe Stone]

If you will, Nick.

[Nick Carter]

Okay. You men got the rest of Tyson's gang all right?

[Joe Stone]

He did. They're coming right behind us.

[Patsy]

Was Tyson badly hurt from his fall?

[Joe Stone]

No, not much. Just a broken ankle. He'll be all right. All right. That is, until he gets to the electric chair.

[Patsy]

Oh, Nick, when I think of how Close we came to drowning. I'm scared all over again.

[Joe Stone]

Hey, how did you say you got out of that tank, Nick?

[Patsy]

Believe it or not, Lieutenant, he cut a piece of that heavy glass with a diamond in his ring.

[Joe Stone]

What do you know?

[Nick Carter]

But.

[Joe Stone]

But look, if it was as easy as all that, well, what took you so long doing it, Nick?

[Nick Carter]

I had to wait until the thugs got out of the room. Then I just cut a nice little circle out of the glass right beside where the padlock was, reached out and picked the lock. All very simple.

[Joe Stone]

Simple for you, maybe, not for me. And yes, here. You found the jewels Tyson had stolen in the bottom of the tank, eh?

[Nick Carter]

Yes, Riley. What Patsy and I thought were pretty colored stones turned out to be all the jewels Tyson had stolen during the last 10 years. All unmounted and dumped in with the pebbles in the tank.

[Patsy]

But what made you first suspect Tyson, Nick?

[Nick Carter]

Well, Patsy, it was his voice first. Remember I told you after we saw him in the movie that I knew I had heard his voice somewhere very recently.

[Patsy]

Oh, so that's why that voice sounded so familiar.

[Joe Stone]

Can you imagine that? The movie's tie turned crooked.

[Nick Carter]

Then there was the fact that Tyson had faded so completely out of sight after his accident. That looked fishy to me. No great star would have let his career be ruined without bringing a suit of some kind unless he had some plans of his own.

[Patsy]

And from what I learned from Scoffy, we realized he never had brought suit.

[Nick Carter]

Yes, and a suit like that would have made all the tabloids.

[Patsy]

But how did you know Tyson and the watchman were the same?

[Nick Carter]

I didn't, Patsy, until you found that makeup kit. That panchromatic makeup is often used to cover scars. And then I remembered the scarred gateman. It fitted. So did his voice. And the fact that he had the only remaining set of keys to the lot. And, of course, he had all the opportunity in the world.

[Patsy]

But I bet you didn't realize that the murders were tied up with the robberies. Not until we heard those crooks talking.

[Nick Carter]

I mean, the makeup kit told me that, too. Remember, Patsy, how you always claimed that all those robberies were done by individuals, not a gang?

[Patsy]

Yes, but I still don't.

[Nick Carter]

Well, Tyson was a consummate actor, and he had complete knowledge of makeup. He disguised himself as a different character, I imagine, for each robbery. Evidently, he played his role expertly, since he succeeded in giving the impression that different people were committing the various thefts.

[Joe Stone]

But, say, if that makeup was so good, why couldn't he have gone back to the movies instead? Of turning thief.

[Nick Carter]

Well, Riley, it was good enough for dim lights, but not for the sharp eyes of the camera.

[Joe Stone]

Oh, I see.

[Patsy]

Poor fellow. What an end for a great star.

[Nick Carter]

Yes, the explosion probably injured his mind, too.

[Patsy]

One more thing, Nick. How did he get to be caretaker?

[Nick Carter]

Oh, I asked Stoneland. He said he felt sorry for the man and had given him the job out of kindness. Oh, well, that's all over now.

[Patsy]

Except that from now on, I'm allergic to water anywhere except in drinking glasses.

[Narrator]

This was another strange experience of Nick Carter, master detective called the glass coffin or Nick Carter and the mystery of the Voodoo curse. Another of the curious adventures of Nick Carter which are brought to you regularly at the same time by wor Mutual. And now, Nick, will you tell us something about your story for next week?

[Nick Carter]

Well, next week we leave this part of the country and are going out west to the mining districts of Montana.

[Narrator]

Did you go too, Patsy?

[Patsy]

Yes, I went along, But Nick and Scobby did most of the work and had most of the excitement. I just stayed in the hotel and waited.

[Nick Carter]

Yes, that was the first case that Scubby and I really worked out together.

[Patsy]

And before they were through with it, Scubby very nearly went crazy, literally. And Nick just missed being buried alive.

[Nick Carter]

You see, it started out to be a case of robbery, but it ended up with at least two murders and more excitement than I've had in a long time.

[Narrator]

Well, I hope it's as good as it sounds.

[Nick Carter]

It's better, but more of that next week. So long.

[Patsy]

So long, folks. We'll be seeing you.

[Narrator]

And so long to you, Nick and Patsy. In the strange adventure you've just heard, Nick Carter was impersonated by Lon Clark, Patsy by Helen Choate. The story was written for Nick Carter by Nancy and Gene Webb. Original music was played by Lee White. The entire production was under the direction of Jock McGregor. Next week, at the same time, another curious experience of Nick Carter entitled the.

[Lieutenant Riley]

Flying Duck murders or Nick Carter and.

[Nick Carter]

The mysterious gold thieves.

[Narrator]

This story is a copyrighted feature of street and Smith publications Incorporated.

[Gordon]

My name is Humphrey Davis. I've been playing the part of lieutenant Riley in tonight's show. Just now, though, I'm speaking as myself. Actors, you know, appear at many war bond rallies. We like to know that what we can do may help in selling more bonds. But after all, selling more war bonds is everyone's business. You can talk to your friends about the third war loan campaign, just as any speaker might. You know the reasons why we must buy extra bonds. You know how purchases of extra war bonds back the attack. You know that they're a great investment. And you know that giving up something you were planning to buy for yourself and buying war bonds instead isn't really any sacrifice. And as you think of these things, how about doing more in this third war? Loan yourself, because you can't do too much for the men who are fighting for us every minute somewhere in the world.

[Narrator]

The Return of Nick Carter is produced in the studios of WOR and is broadcast over most of these stations every Monday evening at 9:30 Eastern. War time. This is Mutual.