Episode 412 - Harry Bartell

Summary

Podcast Summary: Stars on Suspense (Old Time Radio) – Episode 412: Harry Bartell

Introduction

In Episode 412 of Stars on Suspense, hosted by Mean Streets Podcasts, listeners are treated to performances by the legendary radio actor Harry Bartell. Known for his extensive work during radio's golden age, Bartell showcases his versatility in two gripping episodes of the classic Suspense series: "Final Payment" and "To a Deadly Drug". This episode delves deep into themes of deception, morality, and the unforeseen consequences of one's actions, all brought to life by Bartell's compelling performances.

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"Final Payment"

Plot Summary

"Final Payment" is a taut thriller that follows Joe Thurston (played by Harry Bartell) and his acquaintance Sam Monroe (Peter Leeds) as they embark on what they believe is a flawless insurance fraud scheme. Their plan involves faking a car accident to claim a substantial insurance payout. However, as the narrative unfolds, the duo finds themselves entangled in unforeseen complications that test their morals and friendship.

The episode begins with Joe under trial, implying that their scheme has already gone awry. Through courtroom drama and flashbacks, listeners witness the meticulous planning and the eventual fallout when Sam sues Joe for a hefty sum, only to reveal ulterior motives that jeopardize Joe's life and relationships.

Key Points and Discussions

• Insurance Fraud: The central theme revolves around the allure and risks of financial deception. Joe and Sam's plan represents the lengths individuals might go to attain quick money, highlighting the ethical boundaries crossed in the pursuit of profit.

• Friendship and Trust: As the plot thickens, the fragility of trust between Joe and Sam becomes evident. Sam's betrayal serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of entangling personal relationships with illicit activities.

• Courtroom Tension: The courtroom scenes amplify the suspense, showcasing the legal intricacies and the psychological manipulation employed to secure a confession from Joe.

• Twist Ending: The revelation of Sam's alleged death is a pivotal moment that leaves both characters and listeners questioning the reality of the events, adding layers to the narrative's suspense.

Notable Quotes

• [07:21] Sam Monroe: "Your Honor, I just wish you'd call us when it happened, Mr. Thurston. You made a big mistake by not calling us."

• [10:12] Mary Thurston: "No one."

• [26:05] Judge: "No."

• [28:07] Joe Thurston: "Well, this is highly irregular."

• [57:18] Joe Thurston: "And they do what? Play games and listen to the radio."

• [86:14] Mary Thurston: "Ruth ran the ranch alone. A man started pestering her, and she hated him."

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"To a Deadly Drug"

Plot Summary

In "To a Deadly Drug," Harry Bartell portrays Cal Foster, an ex-GI and dedicated pharmacist who finds his life spiraling out of control due to a tragic mistake. Cal inadvertently fills a prescription incorrectly, handing over a fatal drug instead of the intended medication for a young boy named Tippy Smith. As Tippy and his mother, Mrs. Peabody, are already on the road, Cal grapples with the urgent need to rectify his error before the innocent boy succumbs to the overdose.

The narrative intricately weaves Cal's desperation to locate Tippy, his ethical obligations as a pharmacist, and the escalating tension as time ticks away. The episode underscores the profound impact of seemingly minor mistakes and the moral responsibilities that come with professions entrusted with people's lives.

Key Points and Discussions

• Medical Ethics: The core of the episode addresses the Hippocratic oath and the ethical obligations that healthcare professionals bear. Cal's predicament emphasizes the dire consequences of lapses in professional responsibility.

• Desperation and Redemption: As Cal endeavors to save Tippy, his journey reflects a quest for redemption, illustrating how individuals strive to amend their wrongdoings.

• Technological Limitations: The challenges faced by Cal in tracking down the young boy highlight the limitations of the era's technology and the reliance on human networks and ingenuity.

• Family Dynamics: The strain on Cal's relationship with his wife, Marian, adds a personal layer to the narrative, showcasing the ripple effects of professional failings on one's personal life.

Notable Quotes

• [32:44] Mr. Hirsch (Mary Thurston): "Cal, you promised. It's 6:30 and you promised."

• [35:22] Joe Thurston: "What it's going to do. We got a real good for you."

• [45:10] Joe Thurston: "A deadly drug."

• [56:15] Sam: "It's news when it happens. A drugstore mistake."

• [73:45] Joe Thurston: "She would rather have the law do its justice than take matters into her own hands."

• [82:26] Joe Thurston: "How far?"

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Conclusion

Episode 412 of Stars on Suspense masterfully showcases Harry Bartell's exceptional talent in bringing complex characters and intricate plots to life. Through "Final Payment" and "To a Deadly Drug," listeners are immersed in tales of suspense that explore the depths of human emotion, ethical dilemmas, and the unforeseen consequences of one's actions. Bartell's performances not only entertain but also provoke thought about the fragile interplay between right and wrong in desperate circumstances.

Listeners unfamiliar with the episode will find themselves captivated by the high-stakes drama and the moral quandaries presented, all within the timeless charm of old-time radio storytelling.

Transcript

[Joe Thurston]

Would you hand me that, please?

[Sam]

Thank you. Now, let's see.

[Joe Thurston]

Survey.

[Sam]

Survive.

[Joe Thurston]

Susanna. Suspect.

[Sam]

Ah, here we are. Suspense. Meaning held in doubt, expressing doubt.

[Mary]

The state of being uncertain, undecided or insecure.

[Sam]

State of anxious expectation or waiting for.

[Joe Thurston]

Information such as to keep one in suspense. Therefore delay acquainting him with what he.

[Sam]

Is eager to know. Suspense.

[Narrator]

Hello and welcome to Stars on Suspense with another Hollywood legend in radio's outstanding theater of thrills. Our leading man this week is Harry Bartel. A classic case of you may not know the name, but you probably know the voice. Bartel worked extensively during the golden age of radio as both an announcer and an actor. In the former role, he spent years pitching petri wine and chatting with Nigel Bruce on the New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. And in the latter, he racked up hundreds of acting credits on Escape, Gunsmoke, Johnny Dollar and Philip Marlowe, just to name a few. On the New Adventures of Nero Wolf, he played Archie Goodwin to Sydney Greenstreet's Gargantuan Gourmet for 10 episodes. His other big regular radio role came on Fort Laramie, where he played Lieutenant Sybert's the young, inexperienced officer assigned to Raymond Burr's Captain Lee Quinn. Harry Bartel is one of my favorite old time radio actors. And while he didn't have as large a list of film credits as some of his contemporaries, his body of radio work is an impressive legacy by itself. Today we'll hear two of his starring performances on Suspense, beginning with Final Payment. Originally aired on CBS on January 13, 1955. Bartell Co stars with Peter Leeds, and they play a pair of men who concoct what they think is a perfect insurance swindle where they'll fake a car accident to collect a big payday. Since the episode opens with Bartell on trial, you can probably guess their plan didn't pan out. Then we'll hear to A Deadly Drug Originally aired on October 25, 1955, and this is a great episode. Bartell plays a pharmacist who steps away from his counter for just a moment, a decision that could prove to be fatal for a young boy. Because instead of receiving the prescription Bartell filled for his stomachache, Bartel's wife gives the boy a powerful drug that could kill him by mistake. With the boy and his mother already back on the road, the pharmacist frantically tries to think of a way to alert them to the deadly mix. Up in time and we'll close with some of Harry Bartel's other radio work. First, he plays the legendary Doc Holliday in a July 19, 1952 episode of Gunsmoke. And we'll hear him as Archie Goodwin opposite Sydney Green street in the Case of the Disappearing Diamonds. An episode of the New Adventures of Nero Wolf from March 9, 1951. But first, it's Showtime for Suspense with Harry Potter, Harry Bartel in final payment. We'll kick things off right after these messages.

[Mary]

Why has Hollywood star Merle Oberon switched.

[Joe Thurston]

A new improved green shampoo? Because compared to dulling soap shampoos, this.

[Mary]

Wonderful new dream reveals up to 33% more sheen. Follow Merle's secret for shining hair, it.

[Mr. Hirsch]

New dream for Hollywood sheen. Improved dream for Hollywood sheen. Your hair can have that Hollywood sheen.

[Sam]

The very first time you use New.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Dream get wonderful new green shampoo.

[Joe Thurston]

Say, there's a girl in our neighborhood who's always been mighty fond of Brenda Starr follows her adventures regularly in the funny papers. So she was mighty thrilled when she found that Brenda is one of the characters in that new series of comic buttons that that Kellogg's Pep is putting out. So thrilled, in fact, that she started to in collecting Brenda's star buttons. And she already has five of them pinned right on her jacket. Of course, most of the fellows and girls in the gang think that it's more fun to collect different buttons. And that's why they want Cindy and Vitamin Flint, Heart and Superman and all the others. Of course. However you do it, it's doggone exciting fun. As you know. The best part is these comic buttons are so easy to get. You don't send in any money, not even the box stop. And you can't buy them anywhere. But there's one of these exciting prizes in every package of Kellogg's Pet the Sunshine Cereal. The crisp, tender whole wheat with that catchy sunshine flavor makes mighty good eating for breakfast. So crisp and fresh and toasty that, well, you want to pitch right in and eat hearty. And that's always a good idea on a cold morning. Yes, sir, Kellogg's Pep is mighty good for you. Mom knows that. So remind her to get plenty of Pee Pee the Sunshine Cereal. Kellogg's Pep.

[Sam]

Tomorrow at the beginning of another weekend.

[Mary]

Two whole days to relax and have fun. You'll be planning picnics and backyard barbecues.

[Joe Thurston]

Just be sure there's plenty of Pabst Blue Ribbon cooling in your icebox tomorrow morning.

[Sam]

Ask your dealer for a case in cans or bottles. Pabst Blue Ribbon is the finest beer served anywhere. Your taste will tell you why. And now a tale well calculated to keep you in Suspense. And now, tonight's presentation of radio's outstanding theater of thrills. Suspense. Tonight, the story of a perfect fraud that succeeded only too well. It's called Final Payment. So now, starring Harry Bartel with Peter Leeds, here is tonight's suspense play, Final Final Payment.

[Joe Thurston]

Silence.

[Sam]

Silence in the courtroom. There's another outbreak such as this.

[Judge]

I'll order the courtroom cleared.

[Sam]

Your Honor.

[Joe Thurston]

Yes, Mr. Sheridan?

[Sam]

I'd like to request a 30 minute recess. I. I assure you, your honor, we were certainly not prepared for anything like this.

[Judge]

I understand, Mr. Sheridan. And in view of the unusual circumstances.

[Joe Thurston]

I grant your request.

[Judge]

This court is recessed and will reconvene in 30 minutes.

[Joe Thurston]

All right, all right. What's everybody staring at Me. What's wrong? You can't possibly suspect a thing. Not a thing. But maybe. Was there something we missed? Something we didn't think about? The day it started? Chicago. The day I ran into Sam at the lunch counter. Maybe there was something then. Maybe that's when we made a mistake.

[Mr. Monroe]

Gee, Joe, it sure's been a long time, hasn't it?

[Joe Thurston]

10 years. You know, it doesn't seem that long. Hey, what happened to you? After the Italian campaign, One day you were there, the next day gone.

[Mr. Monroe]

Well, I was shipped back to the States and then out to the Philippines.

[Joe Thurston]

Did you see any action?

[Mr. Monroe]

Oh, some.

[Joe Thurston]

A little. You're not saying you haven't changed a bit? Put on a little weight maybe?

[Mr. Monroe]

Haven't we all? And some gray hair.

[Joe Thurston]

I'm a lot grayer than you.

[Mr. Monroe]

Well, maybe I haven't got as many worries as you have.

[Joe Thurston]

I guess you live right.

[Mr. Monroe]

I guess I do. Oh, you're married, Joe?

[Joe Thurston]

Oh, yeah. I got a couple of kids.

[Mr. Monroe]

Oh, that's wonderful.

[Joe Thurston]

I'm working with a construction gang right now. It isn't what I want, but it'll do.

[Mr. Monroe]

Temporarily, you mean?

[Joe Thurston]

Yeah.

[Mr. Monroe]

Gotta keep the family eating, huh?

[Joe Thurston]

Sure do.

[Mr. Monroe]

Bet it gets rough sometimes.

[Joe Thurston]

Yeah, sometimes.

[Mr. Monroe]

It takes a lot of sweat to keep a family these days.

[Joe Thurston]

You got a family, Sam?

[Mr. Monroe]

Oh, no, no. But I know the problems.

[Joe Thurston]

Hey, what are you doing in Chicago? You live here?

[Mr. Monroe]

No, just passing through.

[Joe Thurston]

What kind of work you doing?

[Mr. Monroe]

Well, Joe, right now, let's just say I. I'm in between jobs. Actually, Joe, I'm looking for a partner.

[Joe Thurston]

A partner?

[Mr. Monroe]

Mm. A partner to split a profit of $100,000 with me.

[Joe Thurston]

100?

[Mr. Monroe]

Say, Joe, I'll tell you what. I'm gonna be in town for another couple of days. Look, here. Here's the. Here's the phone number of the hotel where I'm staying. You know, it never occurred to me, but you might be interested in hearing about this deal.

[Joe Thurston]

Sam, I don't have an old spare tennis shoe I couldn't invest in a business, Joe.

[Mr. Monroe]

I said I'm looking for a partner to split $100,000 with. I didn't say anything about investing money. If you're interested, give me a call.

[Joe Thurston]

Maybe it was the night I called Sam at his hotel. I remember I called him right after work. And then I called Mary. Told her I'd met a friend and wouldn't be home for dinner. And there was that bar over on Halstead where we met. Maybe somebody in there remembered.

[Mr. Monroe]

It's a new twist on an old racket, Joe. A guy who pretends he's hurt, only he isn't.

[Joe Thurston]

The insurance companies are wise, Sam. You never get away with it.

[Mr. Monroe]

Wait, wait. Now, first I gotta know if you're interested, Joe. First I gotta know that, then I'll tell you the twist.

[Mary]

Well.

[Joe Thurston]

Yeah. Yeah. All right. I'm interested. Good.

[Mr. Monroe]

Now, this is the way it works. You and the family move to a small town. You buy yourself a moderately cheap car, get a job. You live there a couple of months, and you call on the insurance agent of a big company. You take out a small policy. A couple of months later, you increase this policy to $100,000 liability. In the meantime, I arrive in the same town, take up residence. Now, we both live there, maybe on the opposite sides of the town. You still with me?

[Joe Thurston]

Yeah. Go ahead.

[Mr. Monroe]

Okay. Then one day a year later, I step off the curb at a certain intersection. You're driving home from work. You hit me.

[Joe Thurston]

Hit you?

[Mr. Hirsch]

Yeah.

[Mr. Monroe]

I dodged a lot of tanks in Italy, but somehow I can't dodge the right fender of your car. I tell you to forget about it, you do. You don't even bother to tell the insurance company about it. Because I seem like. Like such a nice guy. Only I'm not a nice guy. Because a couple of weeks later, I got you in court and I'm suing you for a couple of hundred thousand dollars. You know, Joe, I figure by the time we settle, it'll be an even hundred thousand.

[Joe Thurston]

But when the insurance company comes, it'll be too late. I don't get it, Sam. They'll fight it. They'll.

[Mr. Monroe]

Oh, sure, sure. They'll have some notice before. And they'll come to you and give you a big thing on how they're gonna fight this chase.

[Joe Thurston]

That's what I mean.

[Mr. Monroe]

And you, Joe, you. You're gonna cooperate with them 100%. But then and now the twist. It takes place the day you go under cross exam. You go under cross examination, you're gonna break down and confess it was your fault.

[Joe Thurston]

Confess.

[Mr. Monroe]

But, Joe, the worst you can get is maybe a charge of criminal negligence, maybe a fine, your driver's license suspended for a year. But It's. It's worth 50. Geez, isn't it?

[Joe Thurston]

It's crazy.

[Mr. Monroe]

So crazy it could come off. Well, Joe, $50,000.

[Joe Thurston]

You know, if I thought for one minute.

[Mr. Monroe]

What can go wrong?

[Joe Thurston]

I don't know. I don't know. I gotta talk this over with Mary.

[Mr. Monroe]

Oh, no, no. You don't talk this over with anyone. You understand me?

[Mary]

No one.

[Mr. Monroe]

You're the only one besides myself that knows. We can't afford to take a chance, Joe, not even on your wife.

[Joe Thurston]

But if I just pick up stakes and take off of some small jerk water towel, Murray's gonna walk up some excuse.

[Mr. Monroe]

It doesn't matter. Anything better climate for the kids. You want to get ahead? Well, what do you say?

[Joe Thurston]

All right. Count me in. When I told Mary what I decided to do about the move and all, she raised some questions, but that was the end of it. I took the few dollars we had in a savings account and bought a cheap, and a week later we piled our belongings into it and headed for a small town in Indiana. Sam picked this town in Indiana because a big insurance company had a local office there. I got a job with a machine shop. The pay wasn't high, but it kept us in food and clothes, and there was enough left over to make payments on the insurance policy I'd taken out. Three months later, I called the insurance agent and told him I wanted to increase my liability policy to $100,000. Was it then? Was there some slip up that night Mr. Hirsch came to the house. Did something happen then?

[Sam]

Well, Mr. Thurston, I think we've got everything. All you do now is just sign right here.

[Joe Thurston]

Yeah, Mr. Hirsch.

[Sam]

Well, that does it, Joe. You're all set.

[Joe Thurston]

Sure makes me feel a lot better.

[Sam]

I'm sure it does. Well, I guess I'll be on my way.

[Joe Thurston]

Want to thank you very much, Mr. Hirsch.

[Sam]

Oh, my pleasure.

[Joe Thurston]

Wouldn't have been then. There wasn't anything. Then one day on a coffee break at a little cafeteria, I noticed someone out of the corner of my eye. He sat down on a stool next to me.

[Mr. Monroe]

Hiya, kid.

[Joe Thurston]

Sam.

[Mr. Monroe]

I got in town about a week ago. How's everything going, Joe?

[Joe Thurston]

Fine.

[Mr. Monroe]

You keeping up the payments on the policy?

[Joe Thurston]

Yeah.

[Mr. Monroe]

Good I'll contact you again right before.

[Joe Thurston]

We'Re ready to pull it off. Six months passed. Six months of waiting. I got a promotion at the machine shop. Mary seemed real happy. But every day I waited for some word from Sam. Maybe something had gone wrong. And then one night, I went to a union meeting. I sat and listened to the guys discuss plans for the company's annual picnic. Then we took five for a smoke.

[Mr. Monroe]

Pardon me, mister. You got a light?

[Joe Thurston]

Yeah, sure.

[Mr. Monroe]

Thanks. The time's ripe, Joe.

[Joe Thurston]

Are you sure?

[Mr. Monroe]

I'm sure. Now listen carefully and get this in your head.

[Joe Thurston]

Yeah, I'm listening.

[Mr. Monroe]

Day after tomorrow, 5:15. At the corner of 3rd Avenue and Wabash Boulevard. Yeah, I'll be on the southeast corner. I've clocked you the last week. You hit the corner at 5:15 exactly. Remember that.

[Joe Thurston]

5:15. Corner of 3rd Avenue, Wabash Boulevard. You'll be on the southeast corner. I got it. Good.

[Mr. Monroe]

Now go on home, buddy. The next time I see you, we're gonna have an accident. An accident worth 50,000. Buc.

[Sam]

You are listening to Final Payment. Tonight's presentation in radio's Outstanding Theater of Thrills, Suspense. This Sunday night on CBS Radio. Cornell Wilde stars as Charlemagne. In a Radio hall of Fame dramatization. Spotlighting great moments in French history. Edward Arnold is your host. As the Radio hall of Fame brings to light stirring events of bygone days. With pomp and splendor and high drama. That Sunday night on most of these same stations. And now we bring back to our Hollywood soundstage. Harry Bartel and Peter Leeds. Starring in tonight's production of Final Payment. A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense.

[Joe Thurston]

I got to think. I gotta go back over everything to remember. If there was a slip. I gotta remember the instructions. Sam gave me instructions that night at the union meeting. I memorized them. I memorized them. I know I did. Thursday was like a nightmare. Could hardly concentrate on what I was doing at work all day long. I was nervous. Then it was five to five. Time to wash up and get moving. Punched my time card, put it back in the rack. Walked out to my car in a parking lot and started. I drove east on Wabash Boulevard. My watch said 5:13. Traffic was light. Third Avenue was six long blocks away. My hands were so wet from perspiration. I could hardly grip the steering wheel of the car. I kept in the right hand lane. Four blocks away. Kept the car going slow. Then I had to stop for the light at the corner of 4th Avenue. Looked at my watch again. It was 5:14. The light changed. I moved ahead. I was just supposed to keep driving. And then I saw him standing alone on the curb at the corner of Third. He stepped off. I didn't see him. Is he hurt bad? Is he gonna be all right? Somebody, please call an ambulance, quick. Oh, gee, mister, I'm sorry. I'm awful sorry.

[Mr. Monroe]

Oh.

[Sam]

Oh, there, there.

[Joe Thurston]

I.

[Mr. Monroe]

Hey, hey, I can stand up. This has no broken bones. I. I guess I'm okay, fella.

[Joe Thurston]

Just shook up a bit.

[Mr. Monroe]

Worry about it?

[Joe Thurston]

Sure, but you ought to see it.

[Judge]

Oh, look.

[Sam]

Look, I'm okay. See?

[Joe Thurston]

The cop came. He took our names. No one had actually seen the accident, so there were no witnesses. We both told the cop that we didn't know who was wrong. Then the ambulance arrived and they took some down to the emergency hospital for a general checkup. He said he had a headache. He made it look good and sound good. My car hadn't even touched his head when I got home. I told Mary about the accident.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Accident?

[Joe Thurston]

Where, Joe? Down the corner of 3rd Avenue, Wabash Boulevard.

[Mr. Hirsch]

What happened?

[Joe Thurston]

Some guy stepped off the curb and didn't bother to look where he was going. Stepped right in front of the car. Oh, Joe. Don't worry, honey. I guess I'm lucky. Guy wasn't even hurt. Shook up a bit, that's about all.

[Mr. Hirsch]

But, Joe, you never can tell. Did you get his name and address?

[Joe Thurston]

Look, look, honey, I said never mind about it. It's all taken care of. The police were there. There isn't a thing to worry about.

[Mr. Hirsch]

But I do worry about it. Joe, did you get in touch with the insurance company?

[Joe Thurston]

Insurance company? What for? I didn't even scratch a paint on the car.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Oh, that isn't what I meant. I mean about if he should suddenly find something wrong, and then he'd sue yourself.

[Joe Thurston]

Oh, don't be silly, honey. I told you he was a real nice guy. He told me. Get it?

[Mr. Hirsch]

Well, you never can tell about these things.

[Joe Thurston]

What are you doing?

[Mr. Hirsch]

I'm going to call the man from the insurance company.

[Joe Thurston]

I said to forget it. Do you hear me?

[Mr. Hirsch]

Joe, I don't understand.

[Joe Thurston]

I'm sorry, honey. It's just. Look, the guy was a nice guy. He knows it was his fault. He's not going to cause me any trouble. Let's have dinner. I'm hungry.

[Mr. Hirsch]

All right, Joe. We'll forget it. If you say so.

[Joe Thurston]

A week later, the insurance company got served with the papers. Sam filed a suit against me for $200,000. Naturally, as soon as the insurance company received the papers, they Called me on the telephone. They were upset, real upset.

[Sam]

I. I just wish you'd call us when it happened, Mr. Thurston. You made a big mistake by not calling us.

[Joe Thurston]

Yeah, I know, Mr. Hirsch. I guess I ought to have my head examined. My wife told me to call. I guess I should have. But, you see, when it happened, he seemed like such a nice guy. He told me not to worry about it. Even when the ambulance carried him away, he told me to forget it.

[Sam]

Well, sure, that's an old trick. A lot of them pull it.

[Joe Thurston]

What do you mean, an old trick?

[Sam]

Well, a lot of people try to beat the insurance companies that way. You'd be surprised.

[Joe Thurston]

Well, what's gonna happen?

[Sam]

Well, I think we got a good case. We've got no witnesses, but then, neither is he. The police report gives a pretty comprehensive picture of the thing the way it was reported. So in the final analysis, it's your word against his.

[Joe Thurston]

I see. Well, that's good, isn't it?

[Sam]

Well, it means we've got at least a 50. 50 chance. Maybe better. You see, when they got him to the hospital, he put up a big fuss about being examined. Why? Unless he'd already figured cashing in on this thing. Things like that make me suspicious, Mr. Thurston. Very suspicious.

[Joe Thurston]

The lawyers got together and agreed on an early date for the trial. The attorney for the insurance company, a Mr. Sheridan, met with me a number of times, make me go over and over the details of. Of the accident. Then the day the case arrived, according to Sam, I was supposed to break down and confess it was my fault. While I was being cross examined, Sam didn't show up in court. His attorney said he'd been indisposed, but he would deliver the brief without his client's presence. And that kind of upset me. I depended on Sam to be there to give me reassurance.

[Sam]

All right, Mr. Thurston, now, in your own words, tell the court what happened on that day.

[Joe Thurston]

Well, I.

[Sam]

Go ahead. Take your time.

[Joe Thurston]

Well, I was driving home from work. I was going maybe 30 miles an hour, maybe a couple of miles one way or the other. I.

[Sam]

You were driving home?

[Joe Thurston]

Yes, sir. And I was in the right hand lane. And this fellow, Mr. Monroe, he stepped off the curb and right into the path of my car.

[Sam]

He stepped into the path of your car?

[Joe Thurston]

Yes, sir, that's right. I. I guess he wasn't looking.

[Sam]

Is that all?

[Joe Thurston]

Yes, sir, that's all.

[Sam]

Your witness.

[Judge]

Any cross examination, Mr. Green?

[Sam]

Yes, sir.

[Joe Thurston]

Proceed.

[Sam]

Now, Mr. Thurston, I have a few questions I'd like to ask you.

[Joe Thurston]

Yes, sir.

[Sam]

Try to answer these questions as honestly as you can. I object, your honor. That is not.

[Judge]

Objection sustained.

[Sam]

Now, according to your earlier testimony, Mr. Thurston, you were going east on Wabash, is that right?

[Joe Thurston]

Yes, sir.

[Sam]

Mr. Thurston, do you know if there is a stop signal at the corner of 3rd Avenue and Wabash Boulevard, the intersection where the accident occurred?

[Joe Thurston]

Yes, sir, I think there is.

[Sam]

There is. Mr. Thurston, do you remember if the light was green or red as you approached the corner?

[Joe Thurston]

I think it was green.

[Sam]

I see. Now, according to your testimony, you said you saw Mr. Monroe step.

[Joe Thurston]

No, excuse me. I didn't see him. I meant I kind of saw him.

[Sam]

And yet, Mr. Thurston, you either saw him or you didn't. Now, which is it? Or perhaps you can explain to the court how you can kind of see a person step off.

[Joe Thurston]

Well, what I meant to say, either.

[Sam]

You saw him or you didn't. Which is it, Mr. Thurston? Mr. Thurston?

[Joe Thurston]

Thurston. Well, I.

[Sam]

May I remind you that you are under solemn oath to tell the truth. Is it possible you didn't see him and the light had turned red, Mr. Thurston? Is that the way it was? Yes or no?

[Narrator]

No.

[Joe Thurston]

No. I didn't see him.

[Judge]

What did you say, Mr. Thurston?

[Joe Thurston]

I didn't see him. I said I didn't see him.

[Sam]

Why didn't you see him, Mr. Thurston? Where were your eyes when they should have been watching the street in front of you while you were driving? Where were your eyes, Mr. Thurston?

[Joe Thurston]

I don't know.

[Sam]

Yes, you do. You know very well where they were. Now, tell us. On the light. On the traffic in front of you. They couldn't have been on the light. You told us yourself you didn't know whether the light was green or red. You said you didn't see the plaintiff. Well, then, where were your eyes?

[Joe Thurston]

Somewhere else, I guess.

[Sam]

Where? Mr. Thurston, you tell us. Where.

[Joe Thurston]

I buy a paper every night. It was on the seat next to me. Maybe for just a second. I took my eyes off the road and looked down at the paper.

[Sam]

You took your eyes off the road to look down at the newspaper on the seat beside you, and it was during that time that the light changed to red, the plaintiff stepped off the curb and you hit him. Am I right, Mr. Thurston? Isn't that the way it was?

[Joe Thurston]

Yes, that's what happened. I didn't see him. I didn't mean it.

[Judge]

I can't hear you, Mr. Thurston, speak up.

[Joe Thurston]

I didn't see him. I didn't mean it. That's what happened. It was my fault. But I couldn't help it. I swear, I couldn't. Nothing. There wasn't a slip in the whole setup. It was perfect. I know it was. Now the recess is over. Every. Everybody. Everybody's against me. I can feel it. Even Mary. But she'll understand. I know she'll understand.

[Sam]

Your Honor, I am sure you realize that under the circumstances of what has just happened, the defense would like to request a stay on the verdict. At this time, we would like to probe a little more thoroughly into what to us appears to be a definite reversal of opinion on the part of the defendants. Something. Your honor, if I may interrupt, Mr. Green. Your Honor, his request may not be necessary in view of some news I've just received.

[Joe Thurston]

Well, this is highly irregular.

[Sam]

My client's absence in this courtroom has been most conspicuous. I can now tell you the reason. This morning he was rushed to the veterans hospital. I have received some news from the hospital. He suffered a severe brain concussion, and when he fell, his head struck the pavement. Your Honor, my client died an hour ago. No.

[Joe Thurston]

No. Sam didn't die. It's a trick. You're lying. He couldn't have died. I didn't hit him that hard. You lied to try to trick me. Now, that isn't the way he had it planned. He wasn't hurt. He said he wasn't. This isn't the way it was gon. I'm waiting for another trial. My trial. Manslaughter. I shouldn't be here. This isn't the way it was gonna be. Sam didn't tell me he had a steel plate. In his.

[Sam]

Suspense in which Harry Bartel and Peter Leeds starred in Dick Petticini and Phil Cole's final payment next week, the story of a man who insisted upon finishing the murder he had never committed. We call it the case history of a murderer. That's next week on suspense. Suspense is produced and directed by Anthony Ellis. The music was composed by Lucian Morowic and conducted by Wilbur Hatch. Featured in the cast were Vivi Janis, Barney Phillips, Victor Rodman, John Larch and Byron Cain. America listens most to the CBS radio network. And now, tonight's presentation of radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense. Tonight we bring you transcribed a story of a prescription filled in error. We call it To None, a deadly drug. So now, starring Harry Bartel, here is tonight's suspense play To None, a deadly drug. Sometimes it can happen. A prescription handed a druggist, a slip up somewhere, a dead person. When it does occur, it's news because it is almost unheard of. A druggist is a careful man, tempered in the tough crucible of pharmaceutical college. Filtered by a board of examiners sworn as is a physician to protect those he serves from wrong and harmless. It almost never happens. But when it does, it can ruin a man. And it can ruin his wife. Manxville is on U.S. 99 near the junction of three main arteries. It's a small town, but it supports two drugstores. One is Foster's Pharmacy. It's owned and run by a young ex GI pharmacist named Cal Foster. Next to his wife Marion. He loves his pharmacy more than anything on earth. Cal has a soda fountain, but he lets a kid named Joe handle that. Cal's heart is with the gleaming scales and the sparkling bottles. That's where he was the evening it happened. Typing a label for a prescription while Marian waited impatiently.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Cal, you promised. It's 6:30 and you promised.

[Joe Thurston]

Okay, honey. I shaved. Did you get my jacket from the cleaners?

[Mr. Hirsch]

Yes. It's a half hour drive to the club and it's 6:30 already. Are you listening?

[Joe Thurston]

I'll just be a second. Mrs. Peabody lost her digitalis bottle. She's about to have a heart attack worrying about it.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Oh, she's as healthy as a horse. And you said you'd be ready at 6:30.

[Joe Thurston]

We'll just deliver this on the way to the dance. Oh no, it's not far. And she's a nice old gal for a hypochondriac. Look, why don't you hang up the clothes sign on the door? I'll have another customer for sure. I'll just stick this label on her bottle and put on my jacket. Oh, too late.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Tell her you're closed.

[Joe Thurston]

I can't do that, darling. Yes, ma' am.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Hello. Can you fill a prescription for me? For my son?

[Joe Thurston]

Well, I think so. Let's see. Tippy Smith Elixir. Phenobarbital tincture. Belladonna. What's the matter, fella? Stomach ache?

[Mr. Hirsch]

No, I'm okay. He isn't either. He just doesn't like medicine, that's all. But the minute we get back on the road, he'll be miserable.

[Joe Thurston]

Well, this will make him feel better. A San Francisco doctor wrote this.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Yes, I meant to have it filled there, but I gotta wire. My husband's due back from Japan. He's a Navy man what was packing the car to go and meet him. And getting tip out of school and everything. I forgot. And now he's got the stomach ache again. And I'm trying to make another hundred miles tonight.

[Joe Thurston]

Well, we'll fix him up.

[Mr. Hirsch]

How much will it be?

[Joe Thurston]

Let's see. About $1.75. Just take a minute.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Gosh, he's a rugged guy. A kid has to be rugged for this sort of life. He's lived in half a dozen towns since he was born. No wonder he gets a stomachache. Well, he must get bored on the road. Oh, he sure does. But we listen to the radio and think up riddles and name cars. He knows every make of car on the road. Where are you headed now? Oh, the ship's coming in to Sen. Tippy. Leave the comic book alone. You have a dozen in the car. Okay. Hey, Mom? Yes? I don't really need the medicine. I feel all right. Well, you're going to take it just the same.

[Joe Thurston]

All right, now, just make up a label. You can get it back on the road. Let's see. 15 drops of glass of water every four hours. 7 and 11pm 3 and 7. You can start now if you want. It's almost seven. And then you won't have to stop on the road for a glass of water.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Oh, that's a good idea. I don't think it is. It isn't time, anyway. Well, it's almost time. Oh, no. Hey, mom, while we're driving, we can play the game like the other time. You know, when I lose, I'll take the medicine. Oh, all right.

[Joe Thurston]

There we are. Oh, excuse me just a minute. Hello.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Oh, that horrible foe. I'm trying to get him to a dinner dance for the first time in two years. It's like getting a date with Marlon Brando. Well, at least your husband's home. Night. I know. Must be awful. Oh, here, I'll put on the label and you can go. How much did he say it would be? 175 out of two, as they say. Oh, and it looks as if Tippy's brought a comic book after all. With his dirty hands all over it. The comic book, Tippy is on me. Oh, thank you. Thanks. Thanks a lot. Good luck. Have a good trip.

[Joe Thurston]

Yes, Mrs. Pe. I'm sorry. And I won't forget to drop it off. Goodbye. Oh, what a character. Where's our customer?

[Mr. Hirsch]

I gave her the medicine and she left.

[Joe Thurston]

You gave it to her? What do you mean?

[Mr. Hirsch]

Well, I sold it to her. I mean, I pasted on the label and sold it to her. You what?

[Joe Thurston]

Look, Marian, don't you ever, ever label a bottle in this store. Do you understand?

[Mr. Hirsch]

Well, Cal. Don't look at me that way. That gold my eye.

[Joe Thurston]

I mean it, Marian.

[Mr. Hirsch]

I'm sorry if I usurped any of your prerogatives, Pastor. I didn't know it took a registered pharmacist to lick a label.

[Joe Thurston]

Well, in my store it does. Okay, let's forget it. Where's my jacket?

[Mr. Hirsch]

In the back here. Are you sure you don't want to wear your white coat so people will know you're a druggist? A pharmacist, I mean.

[Joe Thurston]

All right, that's enough of that. Okay, we all set? Safe lock. Files closed. Lights out. Let's roll, doll.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Has the stern disciple of Hygeia forgotten something?

[Joe Thurston]

Ooh, Mrs. Peabody's. Did you? Tell us. She'll murder me. Just a second, Marion.

[Mr. Hirsch]

What?

[Joe Thurston]

What bottle did you give that woman?

[Mr. Hirsch]

What is it, Cal?

[Mary]

What do you mean?

[Joe Thurston]

That woman. We've got to stop her. Where was she parked? Where'd she go?

[Mr. Hirsch]

What is it?

[Joe Thurston]

The bottle that's left on the sink. It's the kid's medicine. You gave her the digitalis.

[Sam]

Now, where are they?

[Mr. Hirsch]

Well, no, Cal. I took the bottle that was there.

[Joe Thurston]

There were two bottles there, Marian. And two labels. The belladonna's left and the digitalis label. Do you understand?

[Mr. Hirsch]

Oh, Cal.

[Joe Thurston]

Did she say where she was heading?

[Mr. Hirsch]

To meet her husband. To meet his.

[Joe Thurston]

She. I know, but where?

[Mr. Hirsch]

I don't think she said.

[Joe Thurston]

Think.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Think what? She started to tell me. And then the boy. Tippy, it was.

[Joe Thurston]

Come on, come on.

[Mr. Hirsch]

He picked up a magazine. I can't remember, Gal. Maybe she didn't say.

[Joe Thurston]

Oh, Lord. Digitalis.

[Mr. Hirsch]

If he takes it, what'll it do?

[Joe Thurston]

And that dosage would probably kill him.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Mom? Yes? You think Dad'll know me? What do you mean, will dad know you? Will he? Well, of course he'll know you. Why wouldn't he? You said once he wouldn't. I didn't. Well, that time he called from Japan. You said he wouldn't know me now. Well, you did. Oh, Tippy, that's just something people say. Of course he'll know you. Oh, and you and he have lots of fun together before he leaves again. Turn on the radio. Okay.

[Sam]

And for Marge and Jim and the guys and dolls at the Manville Driving and Kids. Now, you watch that movie now, you hear me? And for the cats in the upper valley. And for Matilda, from her mother on her 16. For sweet 16, honey. Sweet 16 to you. And for Donny.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Oh, we don't want that, Pippy. Try something else to play.

[Sam]

The kind of crazy wax stealing, that's.

[Joe Thurston]

What it's going to do. We got a real good for you.

[Sam]

So from Al, your DJ pal at krnx, the voice of the Valley. Here we are with Perfidia.

[Mr. Hirsch]

How's your stomach? Well, it doesn't hurt a bit. I feel just fine. Boy, it's a nice night, isn't it? Do you like to drive, Mom? Huh? When I get older. I'll help you with the driving. Jimmy drives for his folks sometimes. He's three years older than you. And anyway, that's too young. Hey, look at that lake over there. Mom. Tippy. What? Stop it.

[Mary]

What?

[Mr. Hirsch]

You're trying to make me forget about the medicine, aren't you? You said we could play the game before I had to take the medicine. Oh, all right, we'll start now. How many out of state license? 5. We won't see five in an hour. 2. Oh no, you'll see two right away. 3. All right, now when I see three, you have to take your medicine. And what do you know. You see that car ahead? Yeah. Oh, mom, that isn't fair. Not the first car. We didn't really start yet. Oh, yes we did. See Ohio.

[Mary]

Aw.

[Mr. Hirsch]

One down, two to go. No more out of state. Uh oh, that doesn't look like a California plate to me, is it? Oh, yes it is, Mom. Oh, you're right. Well, still two to go. Oh, the things I have to do to make you take a perfectly harmless little medicine. I don't like that junk. I'm beginning to believe that.

[Sam]

All right, Art, now let's stop that record our goofy engineer he put there. I wanted arty shows for Fidia. Which one's that? Is that Perez somebody or something? It sounded like a free holy spinning there or something. Well, anyway, folks, for you guys and dolls, this is Olad, your DJ pal, and I've got time for a couple of more phone requests here before the 7 o' clock news. Here's a call. One of the buttons there. Let me get the. Hello? Hello? Who's this?

[Mr. Hirsch]

Mom? Yeah? How far do we have to go tonight? Oh, about 100 miles. When will we get to San Diego? Tippy, what's wrong? Oh, nothing. Does your stomach ache again? Oh, no, honest, Mom, I'm okay. It doesn't hurt at all.

[Sam]

You what?

[Mr. Hirsch]

I want us to play the game. It does hurt, doesn't it? Oh, I think we better stop at the next place and give you those drops.

[Sam]

You are listening to. To none A Deadly Drug. Tonight's presentation in radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense. Listen in twice every weekend for exciting dramas of Gunsmoke on CBS radio. Listen Saturday in the daytime when United States Marshal Matt Dillon fights to hold the frontier against spoilers and outlaws. And listen again Sunday night on most of these same stations for an entirely new story of Gunsmoke in America's early West. Make Gunsmoke a listening habit and you'll readily appreciate the sentiments of critics who have given this thrilling realistic program their generous applause. Gunsmoke at the star's address. And now we bring back to our Hollywood soundstage Harry Bartel starring in tonight's production. To None, A Deadly Drug. A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. There are certain things a druggist learns in the school of pharmacy. Certain things that have nothing to do with chemistry or toxicology or physiology. He learns the code of ethics and he reads the oath of Hippocrates. And he knows that it applies to him as well as to the physician. To none will I give a deadly drug, even if solicited, nor will I counsel such. To none a deadly drug. Yes, there are certain things a druggist learns in the school of pharmacy. But no one tells him how to track down a woman with a common name driving an unknown car on any one of three heavily traveled routes toward an unknown destination. For that, he gets the sheriff.

[Joe Thurston]

No, she didn't say where she was heading. You're sure she didn't tell your wife while you were in the back there? Marion? Can't remember. Is she okay? She kind of just sits there. A little shocked maybe. Foster, I just don't see how you expect us to stop this woman. We got no license number, no make a car. Last name is Smith. You don't know where she's heading. And with the traffic that we have here, we've got to stop her. What time is it? 10 to 7. You said the first dose was at 7. That's right. Hello?

[Mr. Hirsch]

Mr. Foster?

[Joe Thurston]

Yes.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Ready on your call to San Francisco.

[Joe Thurston]

Oh, thank you. Hello? Dr. Peters?

[Sam]

This is Dr. Peters.

[Joe Thurston]

Doctor, this is Cal Foster. I got your number from a prescription. I'm a pharmacist in Manxville. Foster's Pharmacy.

[Sam]

Yes.

[Joe Thurston]

You treated a child named Tippy Smith, about 12 or 13. A Navy man's son. You wrote a prescription for belladonn, phenylum, barbital.

[Sam]

I think I recall. Go ahead.

[Joe Thurston]

Well, my what? I made a mistake. He got digitalis instead. The same dosage. Digitalis.

[Sam]

A well built, rugged boy, blonde hair. Pretty mother.

[Joe Thurston]

Yes, that's right as I remember.

[Sam]

Is he alive?

[Joe Thurston]

We can't find them. They're on the road. That's why I called.

[Sam]

Well, I'll do anything I can. Did you tell us in that dosage.

[Joe Thurston]

Do you know anything about them? Where they might be going to make a car?

[Sam]

No. Well, they were new in the city their first visit to me. Look, I'm at home, but her address will be in my files downtown.

[Joe Thurston]

Just a minute, please. Sheriff, if we get her address, can we find a license number? Well, sure, from Sacramento if it's a California license, and if it's current. But it'll take time. It's too long, and that's for sure. We've got to try. Doctor. Doctor, will you get her address?

[Sam]

I'm on my way. I'll call back.

[Joe Thurston]

I don't know what we can do until we find that license number. Can't you set up roadblocks? Call the State Highway Patrol? Where are we going to set up those blocks? Well, she's only been gone 20 minutes. How far has she driven? 12, 15 miles maybe. But which road? We don't even know where she's heading. Husband's ship was coming. And where would the Navy ship con? That's easy. San Diego, Long Beach, San Pedro, Port wanaimi. She's on 399 or 99 or maybe 466. Now, we don't know. So I call the Highway Patrol for an all points bullet. I want a roadblock for a woman and a kid. No car description, no license number. We don't know what road they're on. They're gonna laugh at me. It's too late anyway, Foster. We only got three patrolmen who could even get in the vicinity. You gotta forget the roadblock. Well, we've got to do something. We can't sit here and let this kid kill himself in five minutes. All right, what do we do?

[Mr. Hirsch]

They're probably playing their game, Mrs. Smith and Tippy.

[Joe Thurston]

What?

[Mr. Hirsch]

Their game.

[Joe Thurston]

What game?

[Mr. Hirsch]

They were going to play a game before he had to take his medicine. When he lost the game, he had to take it.

[Joe Thurston]

Foster, you better do something for your wife. All right, now, look, Marion, snap out of it, do you hear?

[Mr. Hirsch]

They were going to play a game. He gets bored on the road, so they play games and listen to the radio. And they do what? Play games and listen to the radio.

[Joe Thurston]

Sheriff, the radio. Krnx. We can call him. Yeah, yeah. You know, that might work at that. That's the only station most people can get in the Valley on their car radios anyway. Here, give me the phone. Come on, come on. Operator, give me krnx, the radio station. That's right.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Quick, you can dial that number, sir.

[Joe Thurston]

Look, this is Sheriff Gibson. I haven't got time now.

[Mary]

Get it.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Just a moment, sir. The line's busy, sir. It's their disc jockey. He takes phone requests. It's always busy when he's on.

[Joe Thurston]

Look, this is an emergency. I want you to break in.

[Mr. Hirsch]

I'll try again to.

[Sam]

Hello. This is Al, your DJ pal. What's your musical pleasure?

[Joe Thurston]

This is Sheriff Gibbs. I want you to make an announcement.

[Sam]

Oh, yeah, sure. It's Sheriff Gibbs. Sheriff Gibbs, kids. And he wants to make an announcement.

[Joe Thurston]

You.

[Sam]

You running for sheriff again, sheriff?

[Joe Thurston]

Listen, joker, this is Gibbs and it is an emergency.

[Sam]

Oh, yeah, yeah, I know. He says it's an emergency. Cats. There's one in every crowd. Kids. Somebody's. Somebody's always gotta get in the act. Now, look, fella, just let me ask somebody.

[Mary]

Kidding.

[Sam]

Come on, now, I got phones going here.

[Joe Thurston]

Hello?

[Sam]

Al, will you shut up?

[Joe Thurston]

This is Cal Foster at the pharmacy. I just sold the wrong medicine to a woman named Smith for her son. They're on the road now. We can't contact them. He's supposed to take it at 7. We think they might be listening.

[Sam]

You serious?

[Joe Thurston]

Of course I'm serious. I want you to announce that the medicine just sold to a Mrs. Smith at Foster's Pharmacy in Manxville is the wrong medicine. It's deadly. She's to call me immediately.

[Sam]

Well, yeah, yeah, I got it. But listen, if you think I'm sticking my neck out for a lawsuit on account of a phone call, you're nuts. But you're nuts. How do I know you're Foster?

[Joe Thurston]

I sold you $10 worth of wheat germ last week. You remember a wheat germ?

[Sam]

Yeah, I guess you did. Well, kid, I guess you're kind of curious. You heard one side of a pretty strange conversation. Now then, your old pal is going to stick his neck way out. Make an announcement. If I'm not on the air tomorrow, it means I was wrong. The guy that called first really was the sheriff. Sheriff of Manxville, I hope. Because if he asked me to make an important announcement and if it's a bonus.

[Mr. Hirsch]

For heaven's sake, find some music, will you? Anything but silly chatter.

[Joe Thurston]

Or turn it off.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Okay. Hey, where are we? Oh, somewhere on US 99. Going to meet your dad, man. What do you think I see on that car up ahead? Oh, no. It's a California plate. Oh, no, it isn't. It's orange and black. It's New York. That's two plates, one to go. I'll go slower, will you, Mom? Slower, so I won't catch up on any more out of state cars.

[Joe Thurston]

Mm. Mm.

[Mr. Hirsch]

You're gonna take your medicine.

[Joe Thurston]

Well, Foster, it's almost seven. We'd have heard by now. I guess they weren't listening to the radio. I guess not. That announcement, that took guts. I sure hate to see it get wasted.

[Mr. Hirsch]

I gave him a comic book. I did call it. I didn't mean to hurt him.

[Joe Thurston]

Darling, nobody thinks you meant to hurt him. Here, sit down. Now, take some of this. It'll make you feel better.

[Mr. Hirsch]

No, no, I'm all right. I've got to think. I've got to think.

[Joe Thurston]

Maybe she didn't say where she was going.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Tippy was looking at the magazine. I was by the cash register. She was about to tell me, and then she saw Tippi. The ship's coming into. Into San San sand. Something.

[Joe Thurston]

San Pedro, San Diego. She'd take 99, either one. Well, can you send out that information for a roadblock? Yeah, if there's a highway patrol officer on 99, he might try. Without a description. But one officer trying to handle all those cars? I don't know. Well, how about the places she'd stop? She has to get water for the kid for the medicine. Where would she stop? There are 10 restaurants to a mile down there. She's probably around Starrett by now. See, I could tell which one she'd pick. Oh, the kid might have taken it by now, anyway.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Mom? Yes? Suppose I'm well by the time you see the other license plate. Suppose my stomach doesn't ache anymore. Yes. Do I still have to take it? You sure do. You don't want to be sick to meet your dad, do you? Uh, Mom? Hmm? Look what I found in the glove compartment. Your old earring. Oh, that's interesting. Look at her, Mom. Look at it. What's going on here? Why the sudden interest of my old jewelry? Oh, nothing. Why, you little sneak. That car that passed, it has a Texas plate. Well, almost fooled you. Okay. It's the medicine for you. It's past seven anyway. I need a glass of water for it. Oh, we'll stop at a restaurant. There's one. Oh, it looks pretty scroungy. Look for a nice one. Okay, I'll look. I'll just bet you will. Name. Name the restaurant, Sheriff. All of them, please.

[Joe Thurston]

Well, let's see. There's Tepets, and then Just about a block. Cappy's, Lasky's, The AM Cafe.

[Mr. Hirsch]

I remember that. Oh, she wouldn't take a boy in there. It's dirty.

[Joe Thurston]

Yeah, Pastarit. I think it's a green bowl. Yeah. And the Valley cafe. Look, there's 50 of them.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Please, please.

[Joe Thurston]

Further on. Let me see. I think that what's it merits.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Yeah.

[Joe Thurston]

And then Tiny's.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Oh, I remember Tiny's. The big place with all the glass and the big neon chicken on the highway.

[Joe Thurston]

That's the one.

[Mr. Hirsch]

That's okay. I'll. Give me the phone.

[Joe Thurston]

Oh, honey.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Well, that's where I'd stop. It is. Operator. Yes, ma' am. How about some ice cream after the medicine tip? Okay. I want chopper, please. All right. And what would you like? Oh, a dish of vanilla for me and a glass of water from my boy's medicine, please. Oh, I'm okay now, mom. Honestly. Just like my little boy. They all hate medicine. Oh, this one's impossible. Thank you. 15 drops. You want to count them? Tip? I might get an extra one in by mistake. Oh, no. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. Okay, pal. There it is. Mom. Mm, it smells funny. You drink it or I'll tell your dad what a baby you were about it. All right, stop. Stop it. I'm sorry. Are you Mr. Smith? Yes. What?

[Mary]

Take.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Take the phone.

[Joe Thurston]

Take the phone, please.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Phone? But how? Hello? Oh, no. No, it couldn't be. Oh. Oh, yeah. Yes. Thank you. Mom, are you sick? Sick? Oh, maybe a little. Maybe just a little bit.

[Sam]

It's news when it happens. A drugstore mistake. Because it almost never does happen. Stories of mistaken prescriptions in the profession of pharmacy are practically non existent. When it does occur, it can ruin a man. Because this profession is hard on its own. When one falls short, it can ruin a man or it can mold him.

[Mr. Hirsch]

What'll happen to this cow? This store? It's your life.

[Joe Thurston]

I don't know. I started from scratch once before.

[Mr. Hirsch]

I know, but it's not fair. It wasn't your fault at all.

[Joe Thurston]

It's my pharmacy, darling. Anyway, don't worry.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Will they take your license?

[Joe Thurston]

I don't know yet. That isn't what matters. It's the people.

[Mr. Hirsch]

The people?

[Joe Thurston]

The people we know. My customers. They come in blindly. They put their lives in my hands. And that's what'll hurt even if I keep my license. Hello, Mrs. Smith. Where's Tippy?

[Mr. Hirsch]

In the car. He's tired.

[Joe Thurston]

I don't know what to say.

[Mr. Hirsch]

There's nothing to say. And there's nothing for you to say either. Mrs. Foster. I didn't really come all the way back to talk.

[Joe Thurston]

Why did you come back, Mrs. Smith?

[Mr. Hirsch]

Why? Well, you could give me Tippy's Medicine.

[Sam]

Suspense, in which Harry Bartel with Charlotte Lawrence and Eve McVeigh starred in tonight's presentation of To None, a deadly drug. Next week, the story of man's assault against nature. We call it the Mountain. That's next week on Suspense. Suspense is produced and transcribed by Anthony Ellis. Tonight's script was written by Hank Searles. The music was composed by Rennie Garaghan and conducted by Wilbur Hatch. Featured in the cast were Virginia Eyler, Sammy Ogg High, Aberback, Larry Thor, Jack Crucian and John Stevenson. When people are in trouble, what do they do? If the trouble is serious and they want help fast, they call the police. Every Friday night over most of these same stations, CBS radio picks up the threads of a startling story of people in trouble who call the police. And just as often of police who call on people seen to be in trouble. Working out of the 21st Precinct, there's fast moving drama and intimate glimpses into the dangerous as well as human side of police work. Friday nights on CBS Radio when you're invited to hear the 21st Precinct.

[Joe Thurston]

Sam.

[Sam]

Around Dard City and in the territory.

[Mary]

On west, there's just one way to.

[Joe Thurston]

Handle the killers and the spoilers and that's with the U.S. marshal and the smell of gun smoke.

[Mary]

Gun Smoke Starring William Conrad. The Scott story of the violence that moved west with young America. The story of a man who moved with it. Matt Dillon, United States Marshal. Hey, all you pretty travelers, you listen to me. You gotta get welcome to Dodge City proper like. Hey, you there, mister.

[Sam]

I said you.

[Joe Thurston]

You're addressing me, sir.

[Mary]

I reckon I am.

[Joe Thurston]

You a preacher? Not exactly.

[Mary]

You dress like a preacher.

[Joe Thurston]

If you'll excuse me.

[Mary]

Back up, fancy pants.

[Joe Thurston]

You ain't no preacher. I figure I'm making you dance some for the folks. You think you can hurrah me, dude?

[Mary]

I said dance. Dance. Or the next shot will take off one of your toes.

[Joe Thurston]

I don't think I'd like that, Doc.

[Mary]

No? All right, Thorn.

[Joe Thurston]

Put up the gun, Marshall. You got a wild and woolly town here, Marshall.

[Mary]

You move aside. I'm going to make this grinning dude.

[Joe Thurston]

Kick up his heels for us.

[Mary]

I'd say that might be quite a trick, Thorne. Unless he's changed a lot since our last meeting. Have you documented?

[Joe Thurston]

Not for the good, Matt.

[Mary]

I was afraid you. Pacey face Tenderfoot. I said shut up. Phone.

[Mr. Monroe]

He's drunk, Doc.

[Joe Thurston]

He's dead. You just don't know it yet.

[Mary]

I'll take it good. If you'd meet me later at my office.

[Joe Thurston]

All right, Matt. You.

[Mary]

Well, that's sure a lot of talk.

[Joe Thurston]

Now, I'm gonna shoot that dude's boot heels.

[Mary]

Fire one shot and I'll pistol quick. Be a thorn.

[Joe Thurston]

What's that? You're kind of forgetting who's holding a gun, ain't you?

[Mary]

I wasn't forgetting. Oh, my wrist. You broke my wrist. I doubt it. Now let's go to jail. You can't put me in jail. I'm. Phone. Finley. Move.

[Sam]

Oh, you wait till I tell Big.

[Joe Thurston]

Jack about this and I will too.

[Mary]

Do that. He might be grateful to me for saving your neck. You pull some fool stuff, stunts. But you've never been closer to dying than just a minute ago. Do you mean from that fancy pants?

[Joe Thurston]

Well, I could handle six like him.

[Mary]

That makes you a lot of men. I can name a dozen pretty good gun hands who can't handle one of it. What? That's Doc Holiday. There you are.

[Joe Thurston]

Salute, Matt.

[Mary]

Salut, Doc. That sounds worse. Doc.

[Joe Thurston]

Yeah? I got orders to go to Arizona. Air is dry there.

[Mary]

Better my lungs going.

[Joe Thurston]

Thought I might. Wyatt invited me to visit him. He and Virgil and Morgan of the law down there. Some little mine in town called Tombstone.

[Mary]

Well, it sounds peaceful. Anyway, it isn't.

[Joe Thurston]

It will be by the time Wyatt Earp gets through. He is the peacemakingest man I ever met. Outside of you, Matt. Who is the Talahead down at the depot, anyway?

[Mary]

Oh, Thorne need us to spoil Kid.

[Joe Thurston]

Kid couldn't be much younger than you.

[Mary]

Sure, but Thor never grew up. His father has coddled him and protected him and gotten him out of scrapes ever since he was a pup. He's never had to be a man. Not with Big Jack Whit nursing.

[Joe Thurston]

Big Jack? Big Jack Finley.

[Mary]

Now, you know him?

[Joe Thurston]

I've heard of him.

[Mary]

Well, that figures. He owns about half of Kansas. Star in a box. Runs more cows than he can count.

[Joe Thurston]

Swings a lot of weight and dodge too much. Mr. Dillon. Mr. Dillon. Somebody said that Doc Holliday had come into town today and he. Oh, excuse me.

[Mary]

It's all right, Chester. Why don't you shake hands with him?

[Joe Thurston]

Don't mind if I shake with my left hand. It's a kind of habit.

[Judge]

Yeah, I know.

[Joe Thurston]

Mr. Dillon has the same habit. He would. How about dinner tonight, Matt?

[Mary]

Sure, sure. How long will you be in Dodge?

[Joe Thurston]

Not long. Just till I Finish a chore.

[Mary]

Oh. That chore have anything to do with Big Jack Finley?

[Joe Thurston]

Might say so. It's gonn. All right, Dylan.

[Mary]

Turn him loose. You forgot to close the door, Mr. Finley. You're going to turn my boy loose? I'm going to have to do it for you. You got a rid of habeas corpus. Rich Thorn didn't commit no crime. Charges are drunk and disorderly, disturbing the peace and attempted assault with a deadly weapon. I was. You still need a writ. But man, Judd Nathan does what I say and you know it. Don't you think I can get a writ? I'm sure you can and will. You always do. Then what's the point, Dylan? It's just a lot of useless red tape. It's a law. Close the door on the way out. All right, Thorn.

[Joe Thurston]

Didn't I tell you Big Jack would get me out? When are you going to learn you.

[Mary]

Can'T save the speech?

[Joe Thurston]

The law can't touch a Finley.

[Mary]

You ought to get smart, Marshall. Like you?

[Joe Thurston]

Sure, like me. Hi, Big Jack.

[Mary]

You okay, son?

[Joe Thurston]

Fine.

[Mary]

Anything else, Mr. Finley? Why yes. My boy here is a little boisterous sometimes. I know. High spirited, you understand. Uhhuh. So? So I want to put a stop to all this nonsense of yours. Arresting him every time he kicks up his heels a bit, I go on. Well, I'm offering you a job. Let's say protecting my interests. 200amonth and no work. Naturally, I see we understand each other. Perfectly. No work. Of course. All I have to do is just shut my eyes whenever Junior here breaks the law. I said we understand each other. There's no need to elaborate on it, Dylan. There's a big need. Only. How do I explain to a person like you that some men don't wear a price tag? How do I explain how I feel about a so called respectable citizen making the law has private doormat.

[Joe Thurston]

Hey.

[Mary]

You're nothing but the stupid gunman I've always thought you were. I understand you took the part of Doc Holiday against my son. I kept Thorne from committing suicide. Yeah. You sided with a notorious killer against an important citizen of this community. Now I'm telling you, Dylan, I don't want him in Dodge tomorrow. Doc may be a gunfighter, but he's clear with the law, Finley. And a better man than your son will ever be. What? That hurts, doesn't it?

[Sam]

Cute.

[Mary]

I'm serving notice, Marshall. You run that killer out of Dodge City or I'll do it myself. Big Jack Finley, cattleman and self made king of Southern Kansas. No better or worse than most of the men carving empires out of the West. Until love for his son blinded him to the fact that that Thorn Finley had gone bad. From here on, I knew the war was on between Big Jack and me.

[Joe Thurston]

So Big Jack Finley's going to run me out of town? No.

[Mary]

Unless I do it first.

[Joe Thurston]

Oh, I do something.

[Mary]

Naughty man. You threaten a man's life.

[Joe Thurston]

And just between friends, man.

[Mary]

Anything else, Doc? Not murder.

[Joe Thurston]

Murder? I can give him an even break.

[Mary]

With you, that's still murdered. Don't you think you better tell me about it?

[Joe Thurston]

Mm. What if I don't tell you now?

[Mary]

Then my job's to warn Finley and try to protect him.

[Joe Thurston]

You're a tough man to be friends with, man.

[Mary]

It applies to you too, doesn't it?

[Joe Thurston]

Guess maybe it does at that. Doesn't realize how I put you on the spot by spouting off my good intentions. Sorry.

[Mary]

Forget it. Forget it. You want to talk to me?

[Joe Thurston]

All right. Remember a girl named Ruth Davis died.

[Mary]

In a riding accident a few months ago. Always wondered if it wasn't suicide. She lost her brother two weeks before.

[Joe Thurston]

Then, no accident, no suicide.

[Mary]

You sure?

[Joe Thurston]

Sure. You know, Ruth and her brother ran the ranch alone. A man started pestering Ruth, and she hated him. Her brother kicked the man off the ranch. This fella, Dry Ghost, Ruth's brother made it look like a robbery.

[Mary]

You have any proof of this? Yeah.

[Joe Thurston]

Ruth was afraid to go to the law, so she sent a letter to me. Here, Read it yourself. She says the man was Finley and says she expects him to try and.

[Mary]

Shut her up for good. That doesn't mean it's big Jack.

[Joe Thurston]

I went to see Ruth's folks. They had her belongings. Among them, I found this.

[Mary]

Watch chain.

[Joe Thurston]

Engraved JF on the clasp. Jack Finley. You see why I've got to kill him. Then forced Ruth's horse over that cliff. Sure, but do you still think she died accidental?

[Mary]

No, but who's responsible is something for a court to decide. Court?

[Joe Thurston]

With Finley's money and influence, he wouldn't spend five days in jail even if he was convicted, which he wouldn't be.

[Mary]

He doesn't own the court.

[Joe Thurston]

Maybe not, but it's still the most powerful man in the state. Against a dead girl whose only friend is Doc Holliday. How do you think a judge will decide?

[Mary]

Doc, I'm gonna ask you a favor.

[Joe Thurston]

Make it one I can give.

[Mary]

I got an idea.

[Sam]

But.

[Mary]

But you must let me handle it my way. Give the law a chance. All right, Matt.

[Joe Thurston]

I can wait.

[Mary]

Thank you. I'll keep this letter in chain for a while.

[Joe Thurston]

All right. But if the law fails, I'll brace Big Jack Finley when he walks out of the courthouse.

[Mary]

And you'll be bracing two men, Doc Finley, and come at it.

[Joe Thurston]

Morning, Marshall.

[Sam]

Looks like it'll be a fine day.

[Mary]

Well, you're up kind of early just to bring me a weather report, aren't you, Judge Nathan? Oh, well, I. I want to see you now. Go right ahead. You mind if I finish shaving?

[Sam]

No, no, please do.

[Mary]

Just thought I'd chat with you about the. About the Finley? Yes. It seems that Big Jack's very upset by your attitude. I'm not surprised.

[Joe Thurston]

Feels you're a little rough on his boy.

[Sam]

I am.

[Mary]

Then his boy's a little rough.

[Sam]

Yeah, well, Ralph Thorn is high spirited.

[Mary]

Like yesterday. Yesterday he was just plain high. Tell me, Judge Nathan, how do you like being on Finley's payroll?

[Sam]

What?

[Mary]

You know, you used to be a pretty decent person.

[Sam]

Oh, you. You can't talk to me.

[Mary]

Yes, I can. I'm sending a copy of Thorne's record to the governor.

[Sam]

Governor?

[Mary]

And with it I'm sending a list of the rich you've issued to get him out of jail and a copy of the court records.

[Joe Thurston]

I've only tempered my justice with mercy, that's all.

[Mary]

Thorn's been arrested for 18 offenses, convicted of 10, spent no time in jail and paid a total of $15 in fines. I'd say you've been very merciful.

[Joe Thurston]

You said you were sending this to the governor.

[Sam]

You haven't actually mailed it yet.

[Mary]

No. You got an op.

[Joe Thurston]

Not that I don't feel justified in.

[Sam]

Any decisions I've made.

[Joe Thurston]

But such a report might cause undue.

[Mary]

Talk at the Capitol and ruin your political hopes. Well, my conditions are simple. Get off Finley's payroll now.

[Sam]

Very well.

[Mary]

And give me cooperation operation from here on, no matter who's involved. Do that and I shelve the report.

[Joe Thurston]

Mr. Dillon, troubles are making.

[Mary]

What kind of trouble, Chester?

[Joe Thurston]

It's big Jack Finley, Mr. Dillon. He's rounding up his crew at the Alfaganza. They're gonna ride Doc Holliday out of town on a rail.

[Judge]

Did you cut yourself, Shav?

[Mary]

We will return for the second act of gun smoke in just a moment. But first, don't forget. Starting Monday, CBS Radio's tremendous news staff will start bringing you the complete coverage of the Democratic convention in Chicago. As you found during the replacement Republican convention, CBS radio never misses. So starting Monday, stay with CBS Radio all day and evening for the Democratic convention. Now, the second act of gun smoke.

[Sam]

Doc.

[Mary]

Doc, wake up. Doc, it's Matt. Oh.

[Joe Thurston]

What'S up?

[Mary]

Trouble. Lots of trouble. Big Jack Finley's organizing a little citizens committee of his own. Handpicked men coming to escort you out of town.

[Joe Thurston]

On a rail.

[Mary]

Yeah, that's the general idea. Here, take the shotgun.

[Joe Thurston]

Yeah, I'll hide it under the covers. Modest like.

[Mary]

I'll wait against the wall here. Good.

[Joe Thurston]

That'll put them in a crossfire if.

[Mary]

It comes to that.

[Joe Thurston]

There's enough of them. We're in a spot.

[Mary]

Likely we are.

[Joe Thurston]

You're risking your neck to save me some bruises. One I owe you, friend.

[Mary]

Matt, it's my job.

[Joe Thurston]

Still one I owe you.

[Mary]

There he is. All right, stop right there. I'll shoot the man who takes another step. You think you're going to stop us, Dylan? I think so. Me and Doc.

[Sam]

Doc.

[Mary]

Show him, Doc.

[Joe Thurston]

Sure thing, Marshall. Look, boys. Surprise.

[Mary]

Scattered on.

[Joe Thurston]

I sure do love surprises, Dylan.

[Mary]

I've got a dozen men with me. Well, sure, about six of them will die, Finley, if you don't crawl out of here fast.

[Joe Thurston]

And guess who'll die first. Big Jack.

[Mary]

You there, Moncreat. I always figured you for some brains. Get your boss out of here quick.

[Joe Thurston]

Sure talking sense, Big Jack.

[Mary]

Shut up, Moncrief. You showing yellow. Oh, but, man, there's nothing here for us to die over. Listen to him, Finley. That Greener Doc is Holding has 18 buckshot in each barrel.

[Joe Thurston]

He get slaughtered if he triggers that thing.

[Mary]

And I'm getting edgy, Finley.

[Joe Thurston]

And me, if I get a coughing spell, I'm liable to shoot without meaning to. All right.

[Sam]

All right.

[Mary]

This is twice you have made a Finley back down. You'll never get a third chance. Let's get out of here.

[Joe Thurston]

Matt. When you gonna arrest him?

[Mary]

When I'm ready. Not long, I hope.

[Joe Thurston]

Not getting impatient to see that man. I got your message, Marshall. I hope it's important.

[Mary]

It is. Moncrief. How long you been foreman for Big Jack? 15, 16 years. You know him pretty well. Would he be the kind to kill a girl?

[Joe Thurston]

No, of course not.

[Mary]

Guess he'd kill a man if he got mad enough that he wouldn't kill no girl. Marshall, I have proof that he did a girl and her brother. But it doesn't set right. I'm hoping you can help. What's your proof, Marshall? A letter that names Finley is the man Ruth Davis wrote it for. She died.

[Joe Thurston]

Ruth Davis.

[Mary]

And this watch chain was found with her belongings. It's engraved on the.

[Mr. Hirsch]

I know.

[Joe Thurston]

I was with Big Jack, when he bought this chain in Chicago, was right.

[Mary]

After his wife died. Big Jack wear it all the time.

[Judge]

You.

[Mary]

Rode the right hunch, Marshall.

[Joe Thurston]

Thorne is your man, just like you.

[Mary]

Figure he had a yen for the Davis girl, but he kept it quiet. Guess he didn't want it known she throwed him over. But the watch chain.

[Joe Thurston]

Big Jack gave that to thorne on his 25th birthday.

[Mary]

Whole ranch can testify to that. Good. All right. Thank you, Moncrief.

[Joe Thurston]

You gonna try and arrest Thorne?

[Mary]

Why? If Big Jack believes Thorne killed that.

[Joe Thurston]

Girl, it'll break his heart.

[Mary]

Broke her neck. If he don't believe it, then he'll protect Thorne.

[Joe Thurston]

And Marshall, there's not enough lawmen in the state of Kansas to make Big Jack give up his so. Yeah.

[Sam]

What it. Oh, it's you, Marshall.

[Mary]

And John Holiday. Doc, this is Judge Nathan Holiday.

[Joe Thurston]

Oh, yes, I've heard of you. I've heard of you too, judge. Wonder which has heard the worst. What's that? Why, I.

[Mary]

Judge, I'm here on business. Oh, of course.

[Sam]

Come in, won't you? In my study here, so we won't be disturbed. Now, what is it, Marshall?

[Mary]

I want you to swear out a warrant for Thorne Finley's arrest charge. Murder. You sure you want to go with me, Doc?

[Joe Thurston]

I'm sure.

[Mary]

All right. Hold up your right hand.

[Joe Thurston]

Oh, no, Matt. You wouldn't make me a lawman.

[Mary]

If you go, you go as my deputy. I'm not letting you make the US A private fight.

[Joe Thurston]

And with my friends, if they hear I wore a star. All right, Matt, it's your show.

[Mary]

You swear to uphold and enforce the laws of this community, the state of Kansas and the United States to the best of your ability as deputy marshal, so help you God.

[Joe Thurston]

All of that.

[Mary]

All of that.

[Joe Thurston]

I swear.

[Mary]

Here, pin on this batch.

[Joe Thurston]

All right, man. You know, I have a feeling this badge is going to cramp my style something terrible.

[Mary]

Better breathe. Our horses going up through this path. We still got a good ride ahead.

[Joe Thurston]

How far?

[Mary]

About 10 miles.

[Joe Thurston]

What do you think, Matt? Will they fight? Well.

[Mary]

Stay in your horse, Marshall. Grab some clouds. Keep those hands high. El Queen's on the other side of the pass behind you. That's being smart, Dylan. Queen will drop you if you touch a gun button. You're handy at this bushwhacking, aren't you, Thorn? If.

[Sam]

Doctor.

[Mary]

He's all right.

[Joe Thurston]

My slug seems to have bounced off his thick skull.

[Mary]

Good.

[Joe Thurston]

Let's pull your teeth. Better. You do it with your left hand. Reach down and across slow.

[Mary]

Pull your gun out with your Fingertips.

[Joe Thurston]

And toss it away.

[Mary]

Nervous?

[Joe Thurston]

Just cautious.

[Mary]

Or maybe this Queen doesn't exist. Exist, huh? Thorn Queen.

[Joe Thurston]

Queen's one of Dad's men.

[Mary]

But I pay him extra to work for me. Any more questions? I guess not. There's my gun. The rifle.

[Joe Thurston]

Next.

[Mary]

I. I got a pen knife in my pants pocket. You know why Holliday came to Dodge? Yeah.

[Joe Thurston]

Yeah, I guess you do. You wouldn't be riding with him. Well, he's not gonna tell any stories to my dad or anyone else.

[Mary]

You can't kill us. Yes. Not planning on killing you. And what have you got planned?

[Joe Thurston]

A Queen's kind of a magician. He's gonna make Holiday just disappear.

[Mary]

Folks won't care much about one of his kind. I would. I'd care so much I'd hang you for it.

[Joe Thurston]

No.

[Mary]

No.

[Joe Thurston]

With Holiday gone, it's your word against mine. And you won't be able to approve a thing, Dylan.

[Mary]

You sure of that?

[Joe Thurston]

I'm sure. Otherwise I take care of you along with Holiday. Now get down and start walking back to town. It's like I told you. Law can't touch of fin.

[Mary]

It was no time for heroic, so I walked. When I reached a turn, I cut back through the rocks. But it was too late. They were gone with them the horses, guns and Doc Holliday. Two miles up the road I found my horse turned loose. And with a mind full of cold hate, I raced onto the Star. In a box on the front porch of the ranch house was one of Kick Jack men.

[Joe Thurston]

Hold it right there.

[Mary]

Out of my way, mister. I'm in no mood to shake hands.

[Joe Thurston]

Where you heading, law man?

[Mary]

You don't hear well. Where's Holiday? How should I know? Get off my wrench. And where's that prize son of yours?

[Joe Thurston]

What?

[Mary]

Trot him out. I want him. Do you now?

[Joe Thurston]

What on earth for?

[Mary]

To put that gun away. Oh, no. This is just in case the marshal loses his temper. I've lost it, Junior.

[Joe Thurston]

Sure, Dylan.

[Mary]

I've had all I'm going to stand from you. You just think you have. Where's Holiday, Thorne? Where'd Queen take him?

[Joe Thurston]

Holiday?

[Judge]

Why?

[Mary]

Haven't the faintest idea.

[Joe Thurston]

Where is Queen, Dad?

[Mary]

Riding fence line. Woody Marshall. We don't know where your friend is. You're under arrest. Lord what, sir?

[Joe Thurston]

Ask him to show the warrant.

[Mary]

Here, read it. Finley.

[Joe Thurston]

Oh, no, no, that's not possible.

[Mary]

The judge wouldn't issue a warrant without proof. He has proof. Thorne. This is a lie. Thorne couldn't be guilty of murder.

[Sam]

No.

[Mary]

Take a look at his face, son. Daddy's trying to frame me.

[Joe Thurston]

Don't let him get away with this.

[Mary]

No, I won't. I won't. Get out. Dylan, man, open your eyes. This is not going to happen. Did you heard me? I don't believe you, your warrant or your proof. I believe my son. So get off this ranch. Get out of the state. You let me see you again, so help me, I'll kill you myself. Against me. You're back in the law. You can't. I'm into my own law. So do I. Doc Holliday, you're supposed to be dead.

[Joe Thurston]

Queen was supposed to be the one who's dead. I carry a knife in my boot just for men like him.

[Sam]

Thorne.

[Joe Thurston]

God help me, you are guilty. He sure is. And if he knows any prayers, he'd better get him over with.

[Mary]

No, doc. He goes back with us as our prisoner. You're wrong, Marshall. I'll take care of my son.

[Joe Thurston]

Dad. No.

[Mary]

You rot. Lying murderous. I should have strangled you. I threw myself at Fenway. Buck beside the floor, rolling away from Thorne as he raised his gun to fire. Then in the doorway, the blood stained, terrible figure of Doc Holiday went into action. His pale hands blurred over his h. Ruth Thorn.

[Joe Thurston]

Ruth.

[Judge]

Stage is ready to leave.

[Mary]

M. Holiday.

[Joe Thurston]

Thanks, Chester.

[Mary]

You sure you want to stay around a while, Doc?

[Joe Thurston]

Yeah, we're good friends, man. But you're a peace officer. I guess I'm not a very peaceful man.

[Mary]

You could be, Doc.

[Joe Thurston]

No, I'm not gonna change. And you shouldn't. Law needs men like you. No, if I stayed, there's too good a chance to. I might cross you. Yeah, then I'd have to meet you over gun barrels. And it's one thing I'm afraid of. So long hat.

[Mary]

Good luck, doc.

[Joe Thurston]

My, I never would have thought Doc Holiday was scared of meeting anyone in a gunfight.

[Mary]

You don't understand, Chester. Doc's afraid because he might beat me. Gun smoke under the direction of Norman McDonald stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U. S. Marshal. Tonight's story was specially written for gunsmoke by Herb Purdom with music composed and conducted by Rex Corey. Featured in our cast where Harry Bartel is Doc Holliday with Lee Millar, Nestor Piva, Ralph Moody and Tom Tully Parley Bear is Chester. Join us again next week as Matt Dillon, U.S. marshal Vice President to bring.

[Sam]

Law and order out of the wild.

[Mary]

Violence of the west in gun smoke. Sunday evening we invite you to join lovely Doris day Spring Byington playing a December bride and Audrey totter as Millie.

[Joe Thurston]

They're here.

[Mary]

On most of these same CBS radio stations. This is Roy Rowan speaking. This is the cbs, CBS Radio Network.

[Joe Thurston]

Ladies and gentlemen, the ringing of that phone bell brings you mystery adventure. Nero Wolf's office, Archie Goodwin speaking. Willie Inch, did you say? Just a second. Do you want to talk to a fellow named Willie Inch? Which I doubt. No, he says he's got to see you. Got to?

[Judge]

Who is he?

[Joe Thurston]

Mr. Wolf doesn't recognize your name, Mr. Inch. He wants to know who you are. Just a second, I'll tell him. Mr. Inch says he's a sneak thief. He says you never heard of him, but he's heard of you. Should I tell him to get lost?

[Judge]

Wait a minute, Archie. Ask him what he wants.

[Joe Thurston]

An inch. Mr. Wolf wants to know what you want to see him about. A phony murder rap. This is a phony murder rap.

[Judge]

It has to be, wouldn't it, Archie?

[Joe Thurston]

How do you mean, phony?

[Judge]

I mean, did you ever hear of a sneak thief committing murder? If it could possibly be avoided, yes. I'll you tell Mr. Angel. Listen to his story.

[Joe Thurston]

Ladies and gentlemen, it's that renowned genius who is the bulkiest, bulkiest, most ponderous.

[Sam]

And most brilliant detective in the world.

[Mary]

Yes, none other than that chair born.

[Sam]

Mass of unpredictable intellect, Nero Wolf. Created by Rex Stout and brought to you in a new series of adventures.

[Joe Thurston]

Over this NBC network in the person of Mr. Sydney Greenstreet. When Mr. Wolf and I talk about this little difficulty, he calls it the Case of Archie Goodwin and how he got hooked. However, I call it the Case of the Disappearing Diamonds. I prefer my title. He prefers his. Anyhow, it started with an improbable character named Willie Inch.

[Judge]

That'll be our sneak thief, Archie. Let him in.

[Joe Thurston]

Okay, boss.

[Judge]

Okay.

[Joe Thurston]

Inch? Yeah, Come in. In there. I'll follow you. Mr. Wolf, this is your client, Mr.

[Judge]

Inch.

[Joe Thurston]

Yeah.

[Judge]

Tall fellow. Must be over 6ft 6. Sit down where, Archie?

[Joe Thurston]

Here, Mr. Inch. This ought to be comfortable.

[Judge]

Well, Mr.

[Joe Thurston]

Inch. Look, Mr. Wolf, they're gonna claim that I killed a woman I never even touched. And I'm gonna fry for something I never even done.

[Judge]

All right, Mr. Inch. How did you kill her?

[Joe Thurston]

I didn't. I didn't. I never killed nobody in my life.

[Judge]

Mr. Inch, you say you're a thief. Can you prove it?

[Joe Thurston]

I got a record. Why?

[Judge]

I was wondering about that bulge in your pocket.

[Joe Thurston]

Oh.

[Judge]

Oh, here.

[Joe Thurston]

It's a. It's a silver cigarette lighter, ain't it? I guess it sort of dropped into my pocket as I was going by.

[Judge]

You see.

[Joe Thurston]

You see the way it happened Never mind, Ms.

[Judge]

Binge. Now tell me how you didn't kill the woman for whose murder you will fry.

[Joe Thurston]

Well, Mr. Wolf, sir, it was like this. There was a window half open, you see. And I happened to crawl inside the house. But hey, now, where is this? This? This is just between us, ain't it?

[Judge]

Possibly.

[Joe Thurston]

How do you mean?

[Judge]

Explain, Archie.

[Joe Thurston]

Mr. Wolf said possibly.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Oh, well, okay.

[Joe Thurston]

So I happen to find myself in the bedroom, see? So I happen to sort of roam around and I hear there's like a party going on. You know, people and music. So I lock the door. So?

[Judge]

Go on, let him tear it his own way, Archie. Well, Ms. Lynch.

[Joe Thurston]

So that's the mistake I make.

[Judge]

Mistake?

[Joe Thurston]

Maybe I leave my fingerprints on the door.

[Judge]

Sure.

[Joe Thurston]

So? So later a dame gets herself knocked off in the same room and they look for fingerprints and they find mine. I'm it. That's all I got. A record. So the chair.

[Judge]

I see. Pitiful case, isn't it, Archie?

[Joe Thurston]

Very, very mournful. Yes, sir.

[Judge]

I presume you came away with some souvenirs.

[Joe Thurston]

Oh, nothing. It wasn't worth the trouble, you know, just odds and ends. Junk.

[Judge]

Have you got the junk with you?

[Joe Thurston]

Yeah.

[Judge]

Let me see here. Cigarette case, platinum lighter, gold vanity case.

[Sam]

Gold.

[Judge]

That's all.

[Joe Thurston]

Positively junk. The man says.

[Judge]

I promise nothing, Mr. Inch, but it might be better if you told the truth.

[Joe Thurston]

Me?

[Judge]

You? Oh, well. One square cut emerald ring.

[Joe Thurston]

I just happened to find it. Here's something more.

[Judge]

Computer ashtray.

[Joe Thurston]

Look, the room is dark. I can't see. Piles of coats under beds and hats and handbags. I take what I find.

[Judge]

Why didn't you turn on the lights?

[Joe Thurston]

One of these big standing lamps, you know what I mean?

[Judge]

Go on.

[Joe Thurston]

I bump into it and it scares the living. I mean, it scares me, Joe. I turn the switch, it don't work. That sounds like the law, boss. The law.

[Judge]

Stay right where you are, Willie. May I suggest there is a way to find out, Archie.

[Joe Thurston]

Okay, okay. We don't want any. Good morning, Goodwin. You remember me, Your old friend, Inspector Kramer. Two gentlemen with me are also with the department. Pearly and Ostrakovich. May we come in? What do you want? You want a murderer and we want some rocks worth 250 grand. Does that answer your question? What makes you think you'll find all those goodies here? Come in, man. We know Willie Inch is here. Where is he? Just a second. We're coming with you, Goodwin. Okay, Inspector. Come along. The law. That's Willie Inch. Friskin. No weapons. Okay? Just put the cuffs on Him.

[Judge]

Inspector Kramer.

[Sam]

Oh, yes.

[Joe Thurston]

Hello, Wolf.

[Judge]

I want to tell you something about this man whom you and your men have so bravely captured in my office.

[Joe Thurston]

You don't need to tell me about him, Wolf. We know about him.

[Judge]

Do you indeed?

[Joe Thurston]

Yes, we know he killed Mrs. Florence Avery March and stripped a quarter of a million worth of diamonds off him. That's all we need to know. I didn't do no such a thing. Where's the ice, Willie? I never even seen none, honest. Take him away, boys. I'll make the charge when I get back to my office.

[Judge]

Wait, Mr. Wolf, sir.

[Sam]

Take him.

[Joe Thurston]

Look, I ain't done nothing, I tell you.

[Judge]

Speak to Kramer.

[Joe Thurston]

Yeah, we're gonna have a little talk now, aren't we?

[Judge]

If necessary.

[Joe Thurston]

How do you mean?

[Judge]

Explain, Arjun.

[Joe Thurston]

Mr. Wolf means you're going to have a little talk, if necessary. Very funny. I will now draw up a chair and show you why it's necessary in the first place. $250,000 worth of diamonds makes it necessary.

[Judge]

Archie, if you please. A bottle of beer.

[Joe Thurston]

Okay. Will the inspector name his poison? You know I never drink on duty.

[Judge]

Then just for me, Archie, please.

[Joe Thurston]

On my way. While I opened a bottle of imported beer, it occurred to me that I had something to be grateful for. At least I wasn't in Willie Inch's enormous shoes. And as I went back to the office, I had time to wonder why Mr. Wolf would stick his fat neck out for a no good like Willie.

[Judge]

Thank you, Archie, and sit down. Archie, Inspector Kramer has a theory that may amuse you.

[Joe Thurston]

Narrow Wolf's office. It's for you, Inspector. Hello, Kramer.

[Sam]

Yeah.

[Joe Thurston]

A gold cigarette holder, that's all. Okay.

[Judge]

Inspector, do you realize that you have already taken a great deal of my time?

[Joe Thurston]

Archie. Yes, inspector. The great Mr. Wolf just said I had a theory that might amuse you. Would you care to hear it? I can hardly wait. Okay. My theory is that both Wolf and you are received as a stolen property and possibly guilty of murder conspiracy. So far you got me in stitches. Willie Inch, with a record as long as your arm, robs the home of Mrs. Florence Avery Marsh. He strangles her with a silk scarf, takes the diamond she's wearing, grabs everything else that's lying around and then.

[Mary]

What is it?

[Joe Thurston]

A question. I'll tell you what he will do.

[Judge]

Archie, listen, listen.

[Joe Thurston]

Dan Inch brings the stuff here. The stuff that's piled on Wolf's desk and the diamonds. You want me to tell you where the diamonds are? They're in that safe right there.

[Judge]

Inspector Kramer, I know nothing about the diamonds, they are not in the safe and they are not in the house. Now, you can take my word for it, or you can get a search warrant and make a fool of yourself. I'm going to have lunch.

[Joe Thurston]

By 2 o' clock, the newspapers were full of the murder of Mrs. Florence unsavory march. The suspect was already in custody, caught at the home of Nero Wolf, well known private investigator. Some of the stolen jewelry had been recovered, but not the diamonds. Then we had a visit from Mr. Anson Stark, who had opened Mrs. March's door and found her dead. Stark was a big, athletic guy of about 30 or so, with the large, capable hands of a surgeon or a laboratory worker. He seemed annoyed at the inconvenience we caused him, but that was only natural. That's. That's the story, Mr. Wolf. I don't see how I can add.

[Sam]

Anything more to it.

[Judge]

You had known Mrs. March for several years, casually, when you broke the door open. Was it difficult?

[Sam]

Not very.

[Judge]

You were the first into the room.

[Sam]

There were three or four of us. We pushed in together.

[Judge]

You saw the body of Mrs. March immediately.

[Joe Thurston]

She was lying across the bed that was heaped with coats and hats and handbags.

[Judge]

You knew she was dead?

[Sam]

Of course not.

[Joe Thurston]

In fact, somebody else discovered that she.

[Sam]

Had been choked to death.

[Judge]

And who discovered that the diamonds were gone?

[Joe Thurston]

I don't know.

[Sam]

I didn't.

[Judge]

Were there many diamonds, Mr. Stark?

[Joe Thurston]

No, just a few.

[Sam]

But big ones.

[Joe Thurston]

She wore them on a pendant around her neck.

[Judge]

Mr. Stark, I want to thank you again for having me so patient.

[Sam]

I have been patient, Mr. Wolf.

[Joe Thurston]

I have my own business to attend to.

[Judge]

Which is?

[Joe Thurston]

Oh, I have a small but hopeful enterprise.

[Sam]

Electronics. Tubes for radio and television.

[Joe Thurston]

Mostly experimental.

[Judge]

Well, that reminds me, Mr. Stark, when you entered the bedroom, was the light on or off?

[Sam]

Let me see. Of course it was on. It must have been on. Why?

[Judge]

Just curiosity, Mr. Stark.

[Sam]

Oh. Anything more?

[Judge]

That's all, except thank you for coming. Here. Archie, will you take Mr. Stark to the door?

[Joe Thurston]

Mr. Stark departed like a man who's been delayed by a petty annoyance. Few minutes later the door buzzed and I went. Expecting anything? Anything but what was standing on the threshold when I opened up? A honey blonde. Or to put another way, a blonde honey. I said hello. No, more like hello.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Are you Mr. Wolf?

[Joe Thurston]

I'm his assistant, Archie Goodwin. And what can we do for you?

[Mr. Hirsch]

Well, I'm Valerie Ladd.

[Joe Thurston]

And I'm Archie Goodwin. Or did I tell you that?

[Mr. Hirsch]

Well, that's exactly where I came in. Well, I mean, where I thought you were. Going to ask me to come in?

[Joe Thurston]

Oh, come in, come in. I'm sorry.

[Mr. Hirsch]

How is he? Is he here?

[Joe Thurston]

Wolf. Does he know you?

[Mr. Hirsch]

No.

[Joe Thurston]

Is he expecting you?

[Mr. Hirsch]

No.

[Joe Thurston]

I see.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Of course, you don't see, do you? Well, this is it, Mr. Gooden. I'm a writer. I may not look like it, but that's what I am. And I want to do a profile, a character study of Mr. Wolf for a magazine. Oh, well, what's wrong?

[Joe Thurston]

Well, you see, there's a writer named Rex Stout.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Oh, I know he's written a lot about Nero Wolf, but. Well, can't I write about him too?

[Joe Thurston]

I don't know if he's gonna like it, but you can't be shot for trying. Come on. Mr. Wolf, this is Valerie Ladd.

[Judge]

Pardon me for not rising, Miss Ladd. It is not impolite. It is merely impracticable.

[Joe Thurston]

Miss Ladd wants to write about you for magazine.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Please, Mr. Wolfe.

[Judge]

Nonsense.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Mr. Wolfe. If I could just spend a few hours with you, that would be enough.

[Judge]

Would it indeed?

[Mr. Hirsch]

Oh, yes.

[Judge]

Have you written much, Ms. Ladd?

[Mr. Hirsch]

Reams.

[Judge]

You know, the habits of writers interest me.

[Mr. Hirsch]

The habits?

[Judge]

Yeah, the writing habits. For instance, do you use a pen or a pencil? Do you dictate? Or like most writers, do you do your own typing?

[Mr. Hirsch]

Mr. Wolf, if you knew the hours and days and years that I've pounded the typewriter.

[Judge]

Of course. Archie.

[Joe Thurston]

Yes, sir?

[Judge]

Why don't you take Ms. Ladd up and show her the orchid?

[Joe Thurston]

You never know about Nero Wolf. At least I never do. This was something I would have bet against a thousand to one. Couldn't understand, but I certainly couldn't complain.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Archie, look at this one. Oh, did you ever see anything so gorgeous?

[Joe Thurston]

Very pretty.

[Mr. Hirsch]

They're all just beyond belief. Yeah, but you're not even looking at them. Archie.

[Joe Thurston]

What?

[Mr. Hirsch]

Oh, Archie, are you always like.

[Joe Thurston]

What do you mean, like this?

[Mr. Hirsch]

Well, so. So distant and preoccupied?

[Joe Thurston]

Honey, you got me wrong completely. I was thinking. Oh, yeah? About telephone numbers.

[Mr. Hirsch]

It's a lovely thing to think about. What can you think about telephone numbers?

[Joe Thurston]

I was thinking how some girls have them and some don't.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Oh, I see. Archie, I apologize.

[Joe Thurston]

For what?

[Mr. Hirsch]

I did have you wrong. You're not a bit distant.

[Joe Thurston]

I can be a lot closer than this. Honey, what is it?

[Mr. Hirsch]

What's what?

[Joe Thurston]

The number.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Oh, it's. It's in the book.

[Joe Thurston]

Yeah, I wonder.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Sound as if you don't believe me.

[Joe Thurston]

Oh, I believe you, but here's a telephone book here. Let's look it up together, shall we?

[Mr. Hirsch]

Archie?

[Joe Thurston]

Yeah?

[Mr. Hirsch]

I I'm afraid I lied to you.

[Joe Thurston]

I was afraid of that, too.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Are you angry?

[Joe Thurston]

Well, I can take no for an answer, honey, even when it's hard to take.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Archie, I've changed my mind. I want you to have my number, and I want you to use it, too.

[Joe Thurston]

You know, honey, I'm beginning to take an interest in this dialogue. Let's have it.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Okay. Olympia, nine, three, six.

[Joe Thurston]

And a very, very pretty number it is. Valerie lad, two Ds. Olympia, nine, three, Six, five, nine. Honey. Blonde, gorgeous spells gorgeous there. What are we doing tonight? Olympia, nine.

[Mr. Hirsch]

And I said that you were distant and preoccupied.

[Joe Thurston]

We were talking about tonight.

[Mr. Hirsch]

All right, Archie. Yes, I'd love it. Oh, these orchids. They're really beyond belief and you won't even look at them.

[Joe Thurston]

True. I'm too busy looking at you.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Well, how do I look, Archie?

[Joe Thurston]

Beyond belief, honey. Beyond belief. Well, there goes the good one. Luck again. It's a house phone, partner. Yes, sir. Okay. He wants us to come down, Archie. Yes, dear.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Even if he says no, we.

[Joe Thurston]

We still have a date, honey, though the heavens fall. When we entered the office, Mr. Wolf was frowning over a sheet of letter paper in his hand. He looked up and tossed the paper to me.

[Judge]

That is a peculiar thing, Archie. A sheet of letter paper just arrived. Since Ms. Ladd is interested in detection, show it to her.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Thank you. But some sort of code, isn't it? Q, W, E, R, T, Y, U, I, O, P. That's all. What do you suppose it means?

[Joe Thurston]

You're kidding, Archie. Oh.

[Mr. Hirsch]

What? Did I say something wrong?

[Joe Thurston]

No, no, no, no, Ms. Laird, I'm.

[Judge]

Sorry, but I'm afraid I haven't time for an interview just now. Goodbye, Ms. Laird.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Oh, but, Mr. Wolf.

[Judge]

Goodbye, Archie.

[Joe Thurston]

Say goodbye to Mr. Wolf and let's go, honey.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Goodbye.

[Joe Thurston]

That's the way things can be around here. Here's the door. And shall we. Shall we pause for station identification?

[Mr. Hirsch]

I'll wipe it off, Archie.

[Joe Thurston]

There. Thanks.

[Mr. Hirsch]

What happened, archie? Yes, indeed, Mr. Wolf. I mean. Oh, why did he suddenly want me to go?

[Joe Thurston]

Well, I'll tell you, though I don't know whether I should. That. That code message he showed you.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Yes?

[Joe Thurston]

Quirky up.

[Mr. Hirsch]

You remember.

[Joe Thurston]

Sure. Because I use a typewriter from left to right. It's the first bank of letters on any typewriter.

[Mr. Hirsch]

I see.

[Joe Thurston]

It was a test and you flunked it, Baby. You're no writer.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Archie, I. I can explain.

[Joe Thurston]

Sure, sure, sure. Tonight.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Tonight, Archie. You do believe me, don't you, Archie?

[Joe Thurston]

Oh, of course, baby.

[Mr. Hirsch]

Of course, Huck. Just that I Was there at the party. I mean, when. When poor Florence was murdered. Then I read in the paper about, well, how they caught the man at Nero Wolf. And I always wanted to be a writer. So I thought if I could get an exclusive interview and, well, that would be a good way to start my career, wouldn't it?

[Joe Thurston]

Yes. Yes, it would. Pardon me a second, will you, Valerie? I gotta make a phone call. There's a booth. It'll only take a minute or two.

[Judge]

Near Wolf. Speaking.

[Joe Thurston]

Archie, I'm at the Riviera with Valerie Ladd.

[Judge]

I'm happy for you, Archie.

[Joe Thurston]

I will remind you that I have not seen you since. Since Valerie left the house.

[Judge]

I was otherwise occupied. Archie.

[Joe Thurston]

With orchids.

[Judge]

With orchids. What do you want, Archie?

[Joe Thurston]

Look, with that typewriter gag, you practically told me she was a phony, didn't you?

[Judge]

Of course, of course.

[Joe Thurston]

Just for the record, how did you know?

[Judge]

Have you looked at her fingernails? She never touched a typewriter in her life. I wanted to be sure.

[Joe Thurston]

Okay, now. Now do you want me to tell you something?

[Judge]

You mean that your charming companion, Valerie, was at the party when Mrs. March was murdered?

[Joe Thurston]

How did you know that?

[Judge]

Simple, Archie. I got a list of the guests from Inspector Kramer. Among them was the name of Valerie Ladway.

[Joe Thurston]

Simple Ladway Lad. Yeah, sure. Okay. What am I supposed to do about it?

[Judge]

Just hang on, Archie. Just hang on.

[Joe Thurston]

I went back to the honey blonde, the beautiful phony Valerie Ladd Ladway, I mean. I went back to the table where she should have been, but she wasn't there. I sat down and waited. Looked at my watch. 1124, 1132. No, Ms. Ladway. 1145. I finally realized that not only Valerie, but her coat and bag were also absent. I called the waiter. Yes, sir? What happened to my friend? A young lady left some time ago, sir. Okay, give me the bill. She paid it, sir. She did? Yes, sir. In fact, she said you gave her the money for it. Yeah. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Well, I didn't know it, but she is certainly right. Oh, my God.

[Judge]

Well, Archie, this is most thoughtless of you.

[Joe Thurston]

Sorry, I. I lost my keys. My money too.

[Judge]

Your keys, Archie?

[Joe Thurston]

Yeah. Glad you were still up.

[Judge]

You lost Ms. Ladway too?

[Joe Thurston]

Definitely. I'm going to bed.

[Judge]

Good night, Archie.

[Joe Thurston]

You think it's funny, don't you?

[Judge]

Yes, Archie, yes. Yes, I do.

[Joe Thurston]

Good night, Mr. Wolf.

[Judge]

Archie.

[Joe Thurston]

Yeah?

[Judge]

Before you retire, one thing.

[Joe Thurston]

What?

[Judge]

Open the safe, will you? And leave it open.

[Joe Thurston]

Why?

[Judge]

Because there's nothing in it of importance and it's a valuable save. And I don't want it damaged. Good night, archie.

[Joe Thurston]

At about 2 o' clock in the morning, I thought I heard a noise. I got up, put on the rest of my pajamas, picked up my gun and went down to the office. The man had his head in the safe and everything was scattered all over. I stepped inside the door. Put your hands behind your back and stand up. Huh? Okay, now just what are you after? When I woke up, I was alone on the office floor. I did not feel good. The place looked as if a hurricane had struck it. Every file drawer had been empty. Felt a draft from somewhere got to my feet, trying not to joggle my head too much. There's the front door standing open. I closed it gently. Then very, very gently, I groped my way to the kitchen for ice water and towels. What? Oh, didn't you hear me scream? No.

[Judge]

Is it bad?

[Joe Thurston]

It's better.

[Judge]

You're angry, aren't you?

[Joe Thurston]

Nuts. What?

[Sam]

Aren't you?

[Joe Thurston]

I said nuts, Mr. Wolf. Nuts.

[Judge]

I'm sorry about what happened.

[Joe Thurston]

Yeah, you expected it.

[Judge]

But I didn't expect you to be caught by somebody behind you. You must have known there would be two of them.

[Joe Thurston]

Now how would I know that? How?

[Judge]

Think of Mr. Ladwave's delicate hands. Do you believe she intended to open the safe herself?

[Joe Thurston]

You think she stole my keys and so on? Well, let me tell you. Hey, wait. That guy was digging in the safe. That. Then who hit me in the head?

[Judge]

Ah, gee, someday you'll be the death of me. In the morning, will you tell Inspector Kramer I'd like to see him here.

[Joe Thurston]

Fuming and protesting. Kramer arrived about 1:30. When I let him into the office, Mr. Wolf was gazing thoughtfully at the ground floor plan of the house of the late Mrs. Florence Avery March. We'd gotten it from the original architects. Wolf looked up and almost smiled.

[Judge]

Thank you for coming to me, Inspector. You know how difficult it is for me to come to you.

[Mary]

Okay, okay.

[Mr. Monroe]

What's up?

[Judge]

I take it you haven't found a diamond.

[Joe Thurston]

No, not yet. We'll break inch down, though. Don't think we won't.

[Judge]

Oh, I'm sure. But this is what I want to ask you and it's quite serious.

[Joe Thurston]

Okay, okay.

[Sam]

All right.

[Joe Thurston]

What?

[Judge]

After the body was found, your men arrived at the house before anyone left, Right. And before anybody was allowed to go. Every person was searched thoroughly.

[Joe Thurston]

Nobody could have gotten a pin or a needle out of that place.

[Judge]

I know something about police methods and I believe you. Now, how thoroughly did you search the house itself?

[Joe Thurston]

Wolf, look, we've got that floor plan you're studying now. There are no hidden closets. Every square inch of that house has been examined. The diamonds aren't there. Willie Inch killed the dame and snatched the diamonds. What he did with them, we'll find out.

[Judge]

Possibly. Possibly. Goodbye, inspector.

[Joe Thurston]

At approximately 3:15, the postman arrived with an envelope for me. The envelope contained my keys, the bill from the Riviera and the money left after the check was paid. At approximately 5:07pm I discovered that Wolf had been using the telephone all by himself. He explained he was going to have a party. He had invited all of the guests who were at Mrs. Florence Avery marches, somewhat fatal partner, including Anson Stark, Willie Inch and Valerie Nero Wolf, the natural born ham. He made an entrance that would have been worthy of Queen Victoria in her heavier days. He sat in his oversized throne behind his oversized desk and beamed at the peasants. Valerie moved toward me.

[Mr. Hirsch]

I'm. I'm sorry, Archie, but you must know why I did it.

[Joe Thurston]

Why?

[Mr. Hirsch]

But you said I wasn't a writer. I wanted to prove that you weren't a detective.

[Joe Thurston]

Did you take the stuff while we were dancing?

[Mr. Hirsch]

I could have, couldn't I?

[Joe Thurston]

You could have bumped me on the head last night too, couldn't you?

[Mr. Hirsch]

Oh, watch.

[Joe Thurston]

Let it go. It was humiliating, though.

[Judge]

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sure you realize the purpose of this party. We want to know who killed Mrs. March and what became of her diamonds. Mr.

[Joe Thurston]

Inch?

[Judge]

Yeah? When you visited the room where the body was found, the room was dark.

[Joe Thurston]

The bulb was burned out. I tried to turn it on.

[Judge]

If there had been a body on the bed, would you have seen it?

[Joe Thurston]

Maybe with all those coats. Maybe not.

[Sam]

Sir.

[Judge]

Mr. Stark.

[Sam]

Yes? I said the light was on.

[Joe Thurston]

Perhaps I was wrong.

[Sam]

What of it?

[Judge]

You're engaged in the manufacture of tubes for radio and television.

[Sam]

I told you that.

[Judge]

Inspector Kramer?

[Sam]

Yeah. Why?

[Judge]

A light bulb was found in the waste basket in the room where Mrs. March died.

[Sam]

Yeah.

[Joe Thurston]

Like you said, we tried the bulb in the socket and it worked. So what?

[Judge]

One more question. Does anybody remember whether Mr. Stark was carrying a bundle or a package under his arm when he arrived at Mrs. March's party?

[Mr. Hirsch]

I do, Mr. Wolf. I think he had a box of flowers.

[Sam]

That's true.

[Joe Thurston]

I did bring flowers.

[Judge]

No, Mr. Stark. That box contained two parts of a light bulb and some adhesive. During the party, you strangled Mrs. March, put the diamonds into the light bulb, assembled the thing and screwed it into the lamp socket. Archie, stop him. Really, Archie, it was quite simple. Light bulbs are only a stem, glass bowl and a brass sheath. Yet nobody, including the police, would think of looking inside one. Mr. Stark could come back and collect his treasure anytime after the excitement had died down. What's the matter, Archie?

[Joe Thurston]

I got a headache.

[Judge]

Valerie Ladd led me. Poor girl. She and whoever the man was with her must have thought the diamonds were here. That bump on your head will be better in the morning. Bottle of beer, please. AR.

[Joe Thurston]

I'm going to bed.

[Judge]

Yes. Why must you place such confidence in women? Remember what happened to Mark Anthony and Samson And Archie Goodwin. Good night, Archie.

[Sam]

You have been listening to the new.

[Joe Thurston]

Adventures of Nero Wolf, starring Sydney Green Street. Tonight's transcribed story by Mind with Lord was based on the characters created by Rex Stout, produced and directed by J. Donald Wilson. This is an Edwin Fadiman production.

[Sam]

In the cast were Harry Bartel as.

[Joe Thurston]

Archie Goodwin and Gigi Pearson, Bud Easton Gray Stafford, Dick Ryan and Bill Johnstone. Next week at this same time, Nero Wolf and Archie will bring you the case of the Midnight Ride. Don Stanley speaking.

[Sam]

Three chimes mean good times on NBC.

[Narrator]

We just heard Harry Bartel in Final Payment to None, a Deadly Drug, Gunsmoke and Nero Wolf. That will do it for this week's episode. Thanks so much for joining me. I hope you'll be back next week for more old time radio thrillers. In the meantime, you can check out down these Mean Streets, my Old Time Radio Detective podcast. New episodes of that show are out on Sundays. If you like what you're hearing, don't be a stranger. You can rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. And if you'd like to lend support to the show, you can visit buymeacoffee.com OTR now, good night until next week when we'll hear more Hollywood legends starring in more tales well calculated. To keep you in.

[Joe Thurston]

Suspense, ladies and gentlemen, the chief hope of our enemies is to divide the United States along.

[Mary]

Racial and religious lines and thereby continuing conqueror us.

[Joe Thurston]

Let's not spread prejudice. A divided America is a weak America. Through our behavior, we encourage the respect of our children and make them better neighbors to all races and religions. Remind them that being good neighbors has.

[Mary]

Helped make our country great and kept her free. Thank you.