The Avenger 45-09-28 (17) Death in Mid-Air

Summary

Podcast Summary: "The Avenger 45-09-28 (17) Death in Mid-Air"

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Introduction

In the seventeenth installment of "The Avenger" series, titled "Death in Mid-Air," hosted by Harold's Old Time Radio, listeners are transported back to the Golden Age of Radio. This episode combines mystery, suspense, and classic heroism as Jim Brandon, a renowned biochemist by day and the vigilante Avenger by night, delves into a series of suspicious accidents at the Eldorf Circus. Accompanied by his trusted assistant, Fern Collier, The Avenger employs his ingenious inventions to uncover the truth behind the circus's recent tragedies.

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Plot Overview

Death in Mid-Air unfolds at the Menagerie, a small one-ring circus struggling to maintain its reputation amidst a spate of fatal accidents. The episode begins with the tragic incident of the aerialist Franciatti, whose seemingly accidental fall raises suspicions when coupled with two previous deaths. Inspector White collaborates with The Avenger to investigate these occurrences, suspecting foul play rather than mere coincidence.

As The Avenger and Fern navigate the bustling midway, they encounter various circus characters, including Baldwin, the manager and ringmaster, and Louis, the enigmatic balloon vendor. The investigation intensifies when Louis's suspicious behavior and the discovery of a rare liger in the menagerie come to light, revealing a motive rooted in greed and the desire to control the circus's assets.

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Key Characters and Their Roles

• Jim Brandon/The Avenger: A dedicated biochemist who uses his scientific prowess to fight crime. His signature invention, the diffusion capsule, grants him invisibility, aiding his quest for justice.

• Fern Collier: The Avenger's loyal assistant and confidante, providing both support and critical insights throughout the investigation.

• Inspector White: A persistent law enforcement officer working alongside The Avenger to solve the mystery of the circus deaths.

• Baldwin: The manager and ringmaster of the Eldorf Circus, whose desperation to keep the circus afloat leads him into conflict with Inspector White.

• Louis the Balloon Vendor: A seemingly benign circus employee whose ulterior motives and actions are central to the unfolding mystery.

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Investigation and Clues

The investigation becomes more intricate as The Avenger and Fern uncover inconsistencies surrounding the accidents. Inspector White's skepticism grows, especially after noting that "this is the third accident that's occurred in this circus so far this season. Two other aerialists met their deaths before Franciatti" ([08:41]). This pattern suggests a possible orchestrated attempt to sabotage the circus.

Key evidence emerges from the analysis of the acrobatic apparatus:

• The rope and trapeze used by Franciatti appear intact, but The Avenger questions the absence of safety nets and the waxing of ropes to reduce friction ([10:53], [11:06]).

• The presence of a rare liger in the menagerie, valued at over $50,000, provides a clear motive for financial gain ([16:37], [28:02]).

Louis's behavior further raises red flags. His reluctance to sell balloons during performances and his aggressive actions during the animal escape incident ([23:08], [25:18]) point towards a deeper conspiracy to eliminate competitors and acquire valuable assets.

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Climax: Confrontation and Resolution

The tension culminates during the performance of "The Great Gilberto," where The Avenger reveals his dual identity to apprehend Louis. Utilizing his invisibility, The Avenger confronts Baldwin, exposing the use of a balloon-inflating tank as a murder weapon ([25:12]-[25:23]). Louis's attempt to escape is thwarted as Inspector White's police force closes in.

Further revelations surface when The Avenger connects the dots between the animal escape and Louis's greed-driven motives. Louis orchestrated the accidents to devalue the circus, forcing them to negotiate and sell the prized liger to the Jungle Circus, thereby eliminating competition and securing his financial interests ([27:37]-[28:38]).

Baldwin acknowledges the cunning plan, leading to the resolution where the circus is saved, albeit facing the loss of cherished animals and performers ([28:46]-[29:33]).

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Notable Quotes

• Inspector White on Suspicion: "In this town we're inclined to believe that one death may be an accident. Two deaths may be coincidence, but three deaths just may be murdered." ([09:33])

• Baldwin on Circus Struggles: "If Carver won't grant us another loan, well, the Eldorf circus is washed up." ([09:16])

• The Avenger's Confidence: "Nothing will happen to him. Oh, I'm afraid to. Look, Franciatti knows his business, friend." ([05:58])

• Investigative Insight: "Because the gas rose to the top of the tent, displaced the oxygen and formed a pocket or stratum up there that caused the aerialist to grow dizzy and fall." ([27:36])

• The Avenger's Declaration: "The Avenger is here as an invisible witness against you, Louis the Avenger." ([25:13])

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Conclusion

"Death in Mid-Air" masterfully intertwines suspense and detective work, hallmark traits of The Avenger series. Through meticulous investigation and the strategic use of his inventions, Jim Brandon uncovers a web of deceit aimed at usurping control of the Eldorf Circus. The episode not only entertains with thrilling performances and dramatic revelations but also underscores themes of loyalty, ambition, and the relentless pursuit of justice. For listeners new to the series, this episode exemplifies the enduring appeal of classic radio dramas, offering a captivating blend of mystery and heroism that stands the test of time.

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Closing Thoughts

"The Avenger 45-09-28 (17) Death in Mid-Air" stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of radio dramas from the Golden Age. Its intricate plot, well-developed characters, and engaging narrative ensure that it remains a favorite among enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Dive into this episode to experience a quintessential adventure where science meets justice in the most unexpected of places.

Transcript

[Jim Brandon]

The Avenger.

[Inspector White]

The road to crime ends in a trap that justice sets. Crime does not pay.

[Jim Brandon]

The Avenger, sworn enemy of evil is actually Jim Brandon, a famous biochemist. Through his numerous scientific experiments, Brandon has perfected several inventions to aid him in his crusade against crime as the Avenger. Most remarkable of these inventions is the highly secret diffusion capsule which cloaks him in the black light of invisibility. Brandon's assistant, the beautiful Fern Collier, is the only one who shares his secrets and knows that he is the man the underworld fears as the Avenger.

[Inspector White]

And now.

[Jim Brandon]

The Avenger. And death in midair. The circus is in town. A small one ring circus at Menagerie. Jim and Fern are on the midway.

[Inspector White]

You, Miss Fern. Go ahead, try again.

[Fern Collier]

Oh no, my aunt, no. I swear those wooden milk bottles move around back there. I can't help.

[Inspector White]

Well, how about trying something with a larger target, huh?

[Fern Collier]

Sir, are you implying that the fault lies with my aim?

[Inspector White]

Of course not. I merely think you'd have less trouble hitting the side of a bomb than a milk bottle.

[Fern Collier]

I'm insulted. Say, isn't it time for the show in the big ten?

[Inspector White]

Oh yes. We better get going.

[Fern Collier]

Oh Jim, these little one ring circuses are more fun than the big ones.

[Baldwin]

Uh huh.

[Fern Collier]

Oh look, Cotton candy. Let's get some.

[Inspector White]

Okay.

[Baldwin]

Two spools, please.

[Fern Collier]

Oh, thanks. Isn't it pretty? Just like a big handful of clowns.

[Louis the Balloon Vendor]

Hurry, hurry. The big show starts in just five minutes. Hit your tickets right over here for the biggest little circus in the country. Hurry, hurry, hurry folks, get your pick.

[Fern Collier]

Seems like we got here just in time, Jim.

[Inspector White]

Oh, there's no hurry, Fern. Unless I miss my guess, that barker doubles in brass as ring master. Look at his costume.

[Fern Collier]

Oh, very fetching. Oh Jim, do you know what we forgot to get?

[Baldwin]

No, what?

[Fern Collier]

A balloon.

[Inspector White]

Well, that's easily fixed. There's the balloon man's card on the other side of the big top.

[Fern Collier]

You mean that funny looking Goku?

[Baldwin]

Yeah.

[Inspector White]

Science has recently come to the aid of the balloon vendor. That novel rocket device is filled with gas. All the balloon man has to do is attach the balloon on top of it, turn the valve and presto. Your balloon is blown up to whatever size you want.

[Fern Collier]

Oh, I'll take a big red one. There's the man now. Hurry, he's moving away.

[Baldwin]

Oh, wait a minute. We want some balloons.

[Louis the Balloon Vendor]

Are you following me, mister?

[Inspector White]

Yes.

[Baldwin]

Two balloons please. Sorry, can't sell any balloons till after the show. Oh, why not? They aren't allowed in the big tent during the show to get loose get the way of the performers.

[Inspector White]

Oh, well, will you be stationed here after the show?

[Baldwin]

Yeah, sure thing. Excuse me. I gotta wheel this cart around to the exit and help get the animals out for the show.

[Inspector White]

Oh, you double as a trainer, huh?

[Baldwin]

Yeah, sometimes. See, after the show. Better go in now if you want.

[Louis the Balloon Vendor]

To get a good.

[Inspector White]

We'll get the balloons later.

[Fern Collier]

Oh, come on, Jim. I don't want to miss the main event.

[Louis the Balloon Vendor]

Attention, please. Attention, ladies and gentlemen. We are now about to present the main attraction of our world fame show. I give you the great Francia, sensational artist of the tightrope. This illustrious star of the ozone will perform his thrilling, breathtaking giant stride on the tide rope and follow it with a complete revolution on the trapeze. Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the great franciati.

[Fern Collier]

Dustin. That tightrope and trapeze must be at least 60ft from the ground.

[Inspector White]

And there's no safety net either. Oh, I'm afraid to Look, Franciatti knows his business, friend. Nothing will happen to him.

[Louis the Balloon Vendor]

Ladies and gentlemen. Ladies and gentlemen. Quiet, if you please. Francia is ready to begin his perilous journey across the tightrope. There he goes. One step, two.

[Baldwin]

Three.

[Louis the Balloon Vendor]

He's balancing himself now for the thrilling, dangerous giant stride he set. Here he goes. He made it. And now watch closely, ladies and gentlemen. Watch Francia perform the most dangerous and daring stunt ever attempted. In midair, he will make a complete revolution on the trapeze and land back on the tightrope. He's ready. Here he goes. He's on the trapeze. He's swinging back and forth. He lets go. He somersaults. He missed the w.

[Fern Collier]

Inspector white over here.

[Baldwin]

Oh, thanks for phoning me, fern. It was an accident, though, wasn't it?

[Fern Collier]

It certainly looked that way to me. But I don't know what Jim thinks now.

[Baldwin]

Where is Jim?

[Fern Collier]

He's in that tent talking to Baldwin.

[Baldwin]

Who's Baldwin?

[Fern Collier]

The manager and ringmaster. They're waiting for you, inspector.

[Baldwin]

They coming along, friends?

[Fern Collier]

No, I'll wait here.

[Baldwin]

Okay. This shouldn't take long, Jim. Come inside, Inspector. Hey, what's on the fire here?

[Inspector White]

Inspector, this is Mr. Baldwin.

[Baldwin]

Yes, I know. How do you do?

[Inspector White]

I've just requested Mr. Baldwin to hold the circus over for a few days.

[Baldwin]

Inspector and I have refused to do it. Inspector, we're scheduled to open in Recaro tomorrow. And I don't see why we should have to cancel engagements because of an accident. Al. He's right, Jim. Unless you've got some mighty good reasons. We can't hold this Circus up here. Don't you realize they can be sued for a breach of contract if they don't fill their engagements?

[Inspector White]

If Franciati's death was a natural accident, yes. But if there's a reasonable doubt of that, the law is well within its right.

[Baldwin]

Say, what are you getting at, Brandon? Franciotti's death was accidental.

[Inspector White]

Oh, how can you prove it?

[Baldwin]

Well. Well, I was standing right underneath him. I ought to know what happened. He just missed the rope and fell, that's all.

[Inspector White]

I'll admit that's the way it looked, Earl.

[Baldwin]

Jim, why all this fuss then? Oh, he's just trying to put the squeeze on us to get some publicity for the police department.

[Inspector White]

Just a minute, Baldwin. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to remember that this is the third accident that's occurred in this circus so far this season. Two other aerialists met their deaths before Francotti.

[Baldwin]

That right, Baldwin? Yes, that's right, Inspector. But we've just had some bad breaks this season, that's all. That's the way it goes in this business. Sometimes we get through a whole season without a single mishap, and other times we don't. You know the old superstition about accidents happening in freeze. Well, Franciotti was the third. I tell you, he just missed the rope. That's the risk these aerialists take. Well, those previous accidents put a different light on things, Baldwin. Different light? Why, we got clearances in the towns where they happen. And you'll get a clearance here when we're satisfied about Franchiati.

[Inspector White]

You see, Baldwin, in this town we're inclined to believe that one death may be an accident. Two deaths may be coincidence, but three deaths just may be murdered.

[Baldwin]

Murder? You better tell your men the circus is staying here a while, Baldwin. I saw they were beginning to pull up stakes when I came in here. Well, all I can say is if you fellas hold this show up here for more than 48 hours, the Eldorf Circus will be ruined. We'll work as fast as we can. You can depend on that. Well, you'd better. Because if you can't back up your statements, Mr. Eldorf is the kind of man who will make you pay through the nose. Yes, Brandon, that's the rope. This is the trapeze Franchati worked on during his last performance.

[Inspector White]

Thanks, Baldwin. This rope looks perfectly okay, Inspector. Let's see if there are any weak spots on the trapeze. Yeah, take hold of that in. Got it.

[Baldwin]

Cool. There's nothing wrong with that, Jim. No, I told you Francia just lost his balance and fell. After all, he wasn't such a young man anymore after those first two accidents.

[Inspector White]

Why didn't your aerial office use a net, Baldwin?

[Baldwin]

They refused to. Using a net lowers an artist's prestige and cuts down his chances of hitting the big time. Hey, Jim, this rope's been waxed.

[Inspector White]

Oh, that doesn't necessarily mean anything, Inspector. Some aerialists wax the ropes to lessen the friction and the stride.

[Baldwin]

Yeah. Hey, Jim, how come you know so much about this circus stuff?

[Inspector White]

Well, believe it or not, Inspector, I traveled with a circus in Europe one summer. Worked my way straight across three countries that way.

[Baldwin]

Doing what?

[Inspector White]

Practically everything. I was beginning to show promise as a trick bicycle rider when I had to leave and go back to school.

[Baldwin]

Well, how does this case shape up to your professional eye?

[Inspector White]

I'm not convinced. Now, don't ask me why, but somehow this whole affair just doesn't look right. Let's take a little more time on it, Inspector.

[Baldwin]

And that's the situation we're in, Mr. Eldorf. I wired you to come because I know this delay will put your circus in a bad way financially. Yeah, it certainly does, Bolden. If Carver won't grant us another loan, well, the Eldorf circus is washed up. It's what I was afraid of. Where is Carver? Oh, he's outside having a look around. If he has it sized up is a poor risk. I can tell by his attitude. Mr. Eldorf, maybe I'm speaking out of turn, but I don't trust Carver. Why not, Boland? Well, if we have to close up, Carver can claim most of the circus as a payment on the loans he's already advanced you. Can't he? That's right. Then he stands to gain more by not lending us any more money, doesn't he? Yeah, he does. But I've done business with Carver for years. Surely he wouldn't. Well, Carver, what do you think? It'd be a shame to close this circus down for want of another small loan, wouldn't it? Maybe it would, Mr. Eldorf, but I can't lend you any more money on this outfit. Oh, why not? Because that menagerie is the only thing that's worth the amount I've already advanced you. Now, wait a minute, Carver. That's not meant. Words, Heldorf. This one horse seconds is through. The sooner you face it, the better it'll be for all concerned. You might have pulled through this season if it hadn't been for those accidents. The way things stand now, you don't suppose that anyone would Be deliberately forcing me into this position to get control of the circuit, do you, Father? I don't know exactly what you're getting at, Eldorf. Frankly, I don't care. As far as that loan is concerned, the answer is no. Those other notes are due at the end of the month. And if you don't pay up, offer clothes. Good day. Well, how do you like that? Well, it's like I said, Mr. Eldorf. Carver's out to get this circus. Well, I won't let him. I'll fight till the last dip. Well, what can you do? We have to have money to pay the artists and help every Saturday or they'll quit. Well, there must be some way we could sell the menagerie to that jungle circus outfit that keeps offering to buy it. No, Baldwin. The menagerie is what brings in the customers. Without that, we'd be nothing more than a fourth rate tent show. Well, what's the answer then? Well, we've still got to the end of the month. We'll hang on. Only you've got to see to it that no more accidents happen. One more and Carver's got us right where he wants it.

[Jim Brandon]

And now back to the Avenger. And death in midair.

[Fern Collier]

Jim, what sort of clues do you expect to find here in the menagerie? Don't tell me you even suspect these animals.

[Inspector White]

No, Fern, I'm merely trying to track down something that could have furnished the motive for those three deaths.

[Fern Collier]

Those jungle bred lions are ferocious looking beasts, aren't they?

[Inspector White]

Yes, they're dangerous.

[Fern Collier]

The cheetahs are cute though.

[Inspector White]

Say, there's a liger. I didn't know there were any of those in captivity in this country.

[Fern Collier]

What's a liger, Jim?

[Inspector White]

Well, it's a very rare animal, Fern. Part lion and part tiger. I know there are a few of them in foreign zoos, but I'm certainly surprised to see one in a broken down circus. They're worth a lot of money.

[Fern Collier]

Well, I like the looks of my Scotty better. Hey, Jim, what's all this I hear about you arranging to have a friend of yours appear on the trapeze for matinee?

[Inspector White]

Oh, who told you about that?

[Fern Collier]

Louis, the balloon vendor. He said Mr. Baldwin told him about it. I never knew you were acquainted with any trapeze artist.

[Inspector White]

Well, Fern, it's a kind of a secret. I wonder if I should trust you with it.

[Fern Collier]

I'll never forgive you if you don't.

[Inspector White]

Well, don't breathe a word of this, but the great Gilberto, who will perform this afternoon Is none other than yours truly, Jim.

[Baldwin]

No.

[Inspector White]

It's the only way, Fern. We're pressed for time on this case, and so far we have no solid evidence against anyone.

[Fern Collier]

But, Jim, why should you risk your life?

[Inspector White]

Oh, now, don't worry. I won't be taking any risks.

[Fern Collier]

I'm going to tell the inspector. He'll put a stop to this.

[Inspector White]

The inspector knows all about it and he agrees that it's a good idea.

[Fern Collier]

Jim, please don't. Something sure to happen to you. Why, you're a rank amateur at that sort of thing, Even if you did play around at it one summer.

[Inspector White]

Your concern is very flattering. But believe me, Fern, I'll be all right.

[Baldwin]

Now, come along.

[Inspector White]

I want you to get a good seat in the grandstand because this will be the one and only performance of the Great Gilberto.

[Louis the Balloon Vendor]

And now, ladies and gentlemen, I give you our star attraction this afternoon, introducing one of the greatest aerialists in this country, the Great Gilberto. Ladies and gentlemen, the Great Gilberto will ride his bicycle across the entire length of the tight wire.

[Fern Collier]

I just know something awful is going.

[Louis the Balloon Vendor]

To happen to him.

[Baldwin]

Now, Fern, Jim knows what he's doing. Look, he's on the bicycle, ready to go.

[Louis the Balloon Vendor]

The Great Gilberto begins his perilous ride. Watch closely. He's on his way. Now a quarter of the way across. Now daring all laws of gravity, he's reached the halfway mark.

[Inspector White]

He achieved.

[Baldwin]

His bicycle is wobbling.

[Louis the Balloon Vendor]

Look out below. He's falling.

[Baldwin]

Fern. Fern. It's all right, Jim. Safe. Yes. He.

[Fern Collier]

Look, he's hanging in midair.

[Baldwin]

Yes, he had two wires attached to his safety belt. They hold him up until the net is stretched below him. Then he'll cut the wires and jump into the net.

[Fern Collier]

Why don't they hurry with it?

[Baldwin]

It's almost ready. There, you see?

[Louis the Balloon Vendor]

Get ready to jump. The net is ready.

[Fern Collier]

Jim's cutting the wires.

[Baldwin]

There he goes.

[Louis the Balloon Vendor]

He made.

[Fern Collier]

You're sure that you're all right, Jim?

[Inspector White]

Fit as a fiddle, friend.

[Baldwin]

Now, just where did all this get us, Jim?

[Inspector White]

Inspector, there was nothing wrong with that wire and nothing wrong with the bicycle. Whatever happened up there happened to me. I got dizzy and lost my balance.

[Baldwin]

That was quite apparent.

[Inspector White]

Oh, here comes Baldwin. Look out for fireworks.

[Baldwin]

So it was you, huh, Brandon, Just what were you trying to prove by that fiasco?

[Inspector White]

One thing, and I did prove it.

[Baldwin]

Baldwin. What was that?

[Inspector White]

You'll find out later. Right now, I want you to take a message to Mr. Eldorf for me.

[Baldwin]

What message?

[Inspector White]

Tell Eldorf he can pull up stakes after this evening's Show?

[Baldwin]

You mean the case is solved, Brandon?

[Inspector White]

It will be by that time.

[Louis the Balloon Vendor]

Mr. Elsdorf will be glad to hear that.

[Baldwin]

I'll go tell him. Is that true, Jim? Do you know who's behind all this?

[Inspector White]

Not yet, Inspector. But all I've got to figure out now is why I lost my balance up there. Then I think I'll have the solution to this mystery.

[Baldwin]

Hello, Mr. Brandon.

[Inspector White]

Oh, hello, Louie.

[Baldwin]

How's the balloon business? Oh, not so good. Hey, you on your way to that meeting in the cook tent?

[Inspector White]

Yes. You coming?

[Baldwin]

Yeah, sure thing. Wait a minute. I'll park this balloon machine inside a big tent. Be with you in a minute.

[Inspector White]

Say, know what this meeting's being held for, Louie?

[Baldwin]

Sure, Ms. Brandon. About half the performers want to leave the show. They're fed up with all the bad luck we've been running into. They could fence over this way.

[Inspector White]

How about you, Louie? You going to stick?

[Baldwin]

Well, I don't know, Ms. Brandon, and I hate to leave the animals. Course, a fellow's got to look out for the future on this business. Oh, here we are. We have clearance to the show from then on. There's no reason to believe we can't meet our schedule and make some money. Now, is everybody satisfied to stick until the end of the month? At least to give me a chance to make the proper replacements?

[Louis the Balloon Vendor]

I'm not.

[Baldwin]

I'm leaving this outfit tonight.

[Louis the Balloon Vendor]

This show won't last the season out.

[Baldwin]

And you know it. Bald. Listen, Slim, that's just an ugly rumor somebody started. Fellas, you're suckers if you let them talk you into it.

[Inspector White]

If you wait until the end of.

[Baldwin]

The month, you're killed for the season. With other 10 shows, Slim is right.

[Fern Collier]

We'd be better off to quit.

[Baldwin]

Not. Wait a minute. All right, take your time and talk it over, Louie. Yes, sir. Come along with me over to my office and get some paper. Then you can come back here and give everybody a chance to vote by ballot. Okay, Mr. Boland. Mr. Brandish.

[Inspector White]

Yes, Baldwin?

[Baldwin]

Would you be kind enough to collect the ballots and deliver them to my office when they're ready? Certainly. All right, then. Come on, lawyer.

[Jim Brandon]

Well, where's Louis with them ballots? Does Baldwin expect us to wait here all day?

[Fern Collier]

This Shaw's had a jinx on it ever since we started listening.

[Louis the Balloon Vendor]

What's that?

[Inspector White]

Why, it's the animals.

[Baldwin]

They're on the loose.

[Inspector White]

Let's help roll them up.

[Fern Collier]

Come on, Jim. Are all the animals accounted for?

[Inspector White]

Yes, Vern.

[Fern Collier]

I heard some shots. What happened?

[Inspector White]

Oh, Louie shot a lion and one of the hippos.

[Fern Collier]

How in the world do those animals get loose, Jim?

[Inspector White]

Simple enough. Somebody deliberately opened the cages.

[Fern Collier]

Who would do a thing like that?

[Inspector White]

I don't know who did it, but I think I know why it was done.

[Fern Collier]

You do?

[Inspector White]

Yes. Someone wanted to make sure the circus wouldn't continue its tour.

[Baldwin]

Who?

[Fern Collier]

All the circus people were in the cook tent.

[Baldwin]

Not all, Fern.

[Inspector White]

Baldwin, Louis and Eldorf the owner weren't there.

[Fern Collier]

Mr. Carver hasn't left yet. I saw him over near Baldwin's office about an hour ago.

[Baldwin]

Brandon. Brandon, have you seen Mr. Eldorf around anywhere?

[Inspector White]

No, I haven't. Baldwin. Say, this. This animal break leaves you in a bad spot, doesn't it?

[Baldwin]

I say it does. Louis went completely off his head and shot two valuable animals.

[Inspector White]

Yes, then he took his life in his hands to save that liger.

[Baldwin]

That crazy fool Zeldorf will probably fire him for this.

[Inspector White]

Oh, there's Zeldorf, going into the office now.

[Baldwin]

Well, I might as well give him the bad news. You'll have to decide what's to be done, Fern.

[Inspector White]

Come on over to the midway. I've just hit on something. I think we can close up this case in short order.

[Fern Collier]

Jim, now that you've called the Inspector and ordered half a dozen men to surround this tent, what are you going to do?

[Inspector White]

Fern, we have a whole hour before the main show begins. And within that hour the criminal will enter the big tent and encounter the Avenger.

[Baldwin]

What with that noise? There must be something wrong with that machine.

[Inspector White]

Yes, there's something wrong with that machine, Louis. It's an instrument of murder. Turn that gas off.

[Baldwin]

Who's in this tent?

[Inspector White]

The Avenger is here as an invisible witness against you, Louis the Avenger.

[Baldwin]

Ha. What good is an invisible witness?

[Inspector White]

As good as the evidence he can produce.

[Baldwin]

What evidence?

[Inspector White]

That balloon inflating tank you have there. That is all the state will need to prove your crimes against you.

[Baldwin]

Take the evidence then. No mere voice can deliver me into the hands of the law. I can escape.

[Louis the Balloon Vendor]

You won't get command this time, Avenger.

[Inspector White]

By all means, flee. Louis. The Inspector's men await you.

[Fern Collier]

It's Sam. Gosh, Jim, the show was good tonight. Too bad this is their last performance here.

[Inspector White]

Oh, they're anxious to move along, Fern, and catch up with their schedule. Well, the crowd's all cleared out of the tent now. Shall we go?

[Baldwin]

Ah, just a minute, Jim.

[Inspector White]

There's a few things I've got to.

[Baldwin]

Get straightened out here.

[Inspector White]

What's bothering you, Inspector?

[Baldwin]

That gas Louis released in the tent here when he wanted to get rid of an aerialist. If he released it before the performance, why didn't it affect everyone in the tent?

[Inspector White]

Because the gas rose to the top of the tent, displaced the oxygen and formed a pocket or stratum up there that caused the aerialist to grow dizzy and fall.

[Baldwin]

But what was Louie's motive, Jim? After all, if the circus closed, he lost his job.

[Inspector White]

Yes, Louie was after that liger in the menagerie. That rare animal is worth more than $50,000. Eldorf picked it up in South America a year ago, but had no idea how valuable it was.

[Baldwin]

And when Louis joined the circus at the beginning of the season, he recognized his value.

[Inspector White]

That's right. So Louis began making offers to buy the menagerie through an outfit called the Jungle Circus. He couldn't bid for the liger alone because that might give away its value.

[Fern Collier]

But Mr. Eldorf was sentimental about the menagerie and he wouldn't sell.

[Inspector White]

Yes, and his sentiment will pay big dividends in this case. After all this publicity, that liger will be worth a dollar a look, Jim.

[Fern Collier]

Up until the time the animals escaped, you didn't know who the criminal was. But if you all said it was Louis.

[Inspector White]

Louie risked his life to get that liger back in its cage. But he shot the two other most valuable animals needlessly and ruthlessly. That meant one thing. He knew the value of the liger.

[Baldwin]

But why did he arrange that break?

[Inspector White]

So that he'd have an excuse to shoot some of the animals and strengthen his chances of buying what was left of the menagerie, including the liger. His motive all the way through was to force the circus out of business.

[Baldwin]

Where? Well, that ties it up, Jim. Then I'll run along to headquarters and file my report. Good night, the both of you. Good night, inspector.

[Fern Collier]

Jim, there's just one other little thing that I don't understand.

[Baldwin]

Oh?

[Inspector White]

About the balloons. Right.

[Fern Collier]

Why wouldn't Louie sell them to people until after they came out of the big tent?

[Inspector White]

Because if those balloons were brought into the tent, they might get loose. And if that happened, they would fly up only as far as the gas pocket and remain suspended there. That would have given the whole scheme away. Satisfied?

[Fern Collier]

Perfectly. Oh, come on, Jim. I want to see Mr. Baldwin before he leaves.

[Inspector White]

Baldwin?

[Baldwin]

What for?

[Fern Collier]

I've decided to manage the great Gilberto. I want to see if I can get him from bookings.

[Jim Brandon]

All characters, names, places and plots used in the Avenger program are fictitious. Any similarity to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

[Inspector White]

This is a thought. A thought? A thought remember.

[Baldwin]

Listen for another adventure of the Avenger.