Sky King 47-12-04 — "A Message in Code"

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Date: November 4, 2025

Episode Overview

This classic episode of the "Sky King" radio series, titled "A Message in Code," immerses listeners in a mystery woven with stolen pearls, coded messages, and a climactic showdown. Set against the evocative backdrop of San Francisco’s Chinatown and involving a cast of resourceful characters, Sky King and his companions untangle a jewel theft that quickly spirals into murder, international intrigue, and a clever use of knitting instructions as a crucial clue.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. The Case of the Stolen Necklace

• Characters: Sky King, Martha Bell, Miss Ogden, Mr. Channing
• [01:20] Miss Ogden confronts jeweler James Kirk Channing about her stolen pearl necklace.
• Channing brazenly admits to the theft, creating a battle of wits:
  • “If you and I were the only two who knew you had that pearl, at least then conclusively it must have been one of us who stole it. Obviously it wasn’t you—” (Sky King, 01:37)
• Channing stakes everything on the lack of evidence and witnesses.

2. Seeking Help in Chinatown

• [03:40] Sky, Martha, and Clipper head to Chinatown to consult the wise Mr. Wong Nguyen.
• The group exchanges light-hearted banter, showing off their camaraderie as they experience Chinatown’s unique sights.
  • "Oh, just the same as usual, Martha. No difference, no change. Same old genius." (Clipper, 03:43)
• Mr. Wong reveals that Channing has a “slippery” reputation:
  • “One of extreme slipperiness, young sir.” (Mr. Wong, 08:38)

3. A Trail of Intrigue—and Murder

• [09:59] Mr. Wong directs the group to Hoy Sam, another Chinatown contact.
• Hoy Sam promises to gather information about the thief, requesting the group return at 5 o’clock:
  • “Hoy Sam not know, yes. No, sir... Let me quick. You come back five o’ clock.” (Hoy Sam, 12:51)
• Upon their return, the group finds Hoy Sam’s shop suspiciously dark. They discover Hoy Sam has been murdered—presumably to cover up the necklace’s whereabouts.
  • “He’s shot. Good heaven. Is he dead, Sky?” (Martha Bell, 15:17)
• A mysterious note on Cartagena steamship letterhead is found near the body—bearing a coded message.

4. Unraveling the Code

• The group puzzles over the cipher, suspecting it relates to the necklace.
  • “It’s a cool idea for a cipher...Here, take a look.” (Martha Bell, 17:15)
• Martha cracks the code: it's knitting instructions, not a traditional cipher!
  • “R1 means row one, K2 means knit two, P2—purl two... That’s all there is, Sky, if somebody’s knitting...” (Martha Bell, 18:24)

5. The Search Aboard the S.S. Cartagena

• [20:00] Armed with the clue, the team and local police board the Cartagena.
• Police Sergeant expresses skepticism at Martha’s focus on knitting as the solution:
  • “There may be 20 women in the Cartagena, all with knitting in their cabins or in those handbags they carry around. You expect me to arrest a whole bunch of them?” (Sergeant, 19:36)
• Martha is confident she’ll recognize the right knitting.
  • “Because I’ll know that missing fit when I see it. Are you trying to tell me that I won’t?” (Martha Bell, 19:47)
• They search all female passengers’ belongings, but initially turn up nothing.

6. The Real Culprit Unveiled

• [22:57] Suspicion falls on an old woman in a wheelchair with knitting in her lap.
• Back in her cabin, she pulls a gun on Sky King and the Sergeant:
  • “Put them down or I'll fire.” (Old Lady, 26:16)
• In the struggle, it’s revealed that the “old woman” is actually the notorious jewel thief Gift Shafer in disguise:
  • “That’s no woman’s hair. I could say she isn’t. Of course she ain’t a woman that no woman would ever do a botched up job like that. And it’s wearing a wig. Wig? I’ll show you. Stop fooling me, will you? Here, what did I tell you? No man can fool a woman.” (Martha Bell, 27:30)
• The pearls are recovered and the criminal is arrested for smuggling, murder, and theft.

7. Justice Served and Lessons Learned

• [28:29] The team celebrates the recovery of the pearls. Martha gets special credit for her intuition.
  • “Anytime a man thinks he can fool a woman, he’s got another think coming.” (Martha Bell, 28:48)
• Sky King reflects on luck and the importance of doing the right thing.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Channing’s Shocking Admission
  • “Of course I stole it, Miss Ogden.” (Mr. Channing, 01:56)
• On Channing’s Reputation
  • “One of extreme slipperiness, young sir.” (Mr. Wong, 08:38)
• Hoy Sam’s Pidgin and Wisdom
  • “Hoy Sam not know, yes. No, sir, never. So we find out. Let me quick.” (Hoy Sam, 12:51)
• Martha’s Decoding Genius
  • “This isn’t anything but some knitting instruction. That’s what it said, young man.” (Martha Bell, 18:13)
• Revealing the Culprit’s True Identity
  • “No man can fool a woman.” (Martha Bell, 27:44)
  • “King, this bird is one of the most infamous jewel thieves in America.” (Sergeant, 27:50)
• On Teamwork and Recognition
  • “Martha was the one this deal.” (Sky King, 28:46)

Key Timestamps

• 01:20 — Miss Ogden accuses Mr. Channing; he admits theft
• 03:40 — Sky and friends arrive in Chinatown, visit Mr. Wong
• 09:59 — Hoy Sam agrees to help
• 15:17 — Group discovers Hoy Sam’s murder
• 17:22 — Coded message is found
• 18:24 — Martha explains the code as knitting instructions
• 20:00 — Search begins aboard the Cartagena
• 26:01 — Confrontation with “old lady” in cabin
• 27:30 — Martha reveals the old woman is actually Gift Shafer in disguise
• 28:48 — Team celebrates solving the case; Martha is recognized

Tone and Style

The episode balances suspenseful mystery with lighthearted interactions and gentle humor—the hallmark warmth and wit of Sky King and his allies come through, while the intrigue keeps listeners guessing until the final, satisfying reveal.

Summary for New Listeners

This installment of "Sky King" delivers a quintessential radio adventure: crisp dialogue, lively characterization, and a clever blend of deduction and action. The story artfully weaves a tale of theft, misdirection, and justice, highlighting the strengths of teamwork and intuition—even when the key clue turns out to be knitting instructions! Whether you love classic mysteries, vintage radio drama, or just a well-told adventure, "A Message in Code" is a shining example from radio’s golden age.