
Today's Adventure: Counterspy agents launch an elaborate sting operation to trap the mysterious Manuel Rodriguez, a wealthy Mexican rancher suspected of brokering stolen atomic secrets and international espionage. Posing as crooks who have stolen a...
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Adam Graham (Podcast Host)
Welcome to the great adventurers of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. And in a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode of counterspy. But first I want to encourage you. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And today's program is brought to you in part by the financial support of our listeners. You can support the show on a one time basis at support.greatdetactives.net and you can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters or for as little as $2 per month. Just go to patreon.greatdetectives.net now from August 18, 1949, here is explosion in the desert.
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Pepsi cola. P e p s I. That's your smartest cola by. Pepsi cola. Present counter spy. Washington calling David Harding. Counterspy Washington calling David Harding. Counterspy Harding. Counterspy calling Washington. United States Counterfy. Especially appointed to investigate and combat the enemies of our country both at home and abroad. Tonight, the case of the desert explosion. Another Counterspy report to the American people brought to you each Tuesday and Thursday by Pepsi Cola. Pepsi Cola hits the spot. Two full glasses. That's a lot. That's right. You heard what they said. Two full glasses of sparkling Pepsi from one big 12 ounce bottle. You're getting an extra glass full. And what a delicious glass full. The most refreshing, delightful cola that ever tickled your taste. You can't top Pepsi. Tangy flavor. And that big, big bottle saves you money. Goes twice as far. Pepsi is America's big, big favorite. And America's biggest toll of value. So why take less when Pepsi's best? Whenever you reach for refreshments, remember why take less when Pepsi's best? And now to counterspy. Out in the desert mountains of Mexico, the heat has long since destroyed all life. Except high in the air, the ominous circling of great bloodthirsty birds of prey. And on the hard sun, cracked earth, a small group of men with one woman moving slowly to the base of a cliff. Very well. We stop here. Senora. Senora. Listen to me, Senora. And you men, you will listen too. You have all worked for me for some years. I pay you well. No one in Mexico can deny that. But you know, too, I will not allow anyone to betray me and live. This woman, this miserable wretch and her husband, one of my most successful operators in narcotics, tried to sell me out. Her husband, he is already there. And now this woman shall die here. No. No. Her death will be a lesson to all of you. Never to talk. Never. Seora, look above you in the sky. You see the birds, the birds of death. Do the rest of you understand? I see you do. Now, senora. Now, gentlemen, we shall leave. Some weeks later, at midnight, in a cafe in the Mexican city of Cordoba, a trim, alert eyed girl sat drinking alone as a young, roughly dressed Mexican entered at the front door and approached her. She glanced down into her open purse and drew confidence from the.25 caliber revolver nestling there. Hola, Wapa. Keep it clean, junior. In Mexico, Wapa means pretty. Pretty what? Pretty nifty, I know. American flying, too? No. No. Well, then you teach me. Teacher's not in the mood. You have a little temper, but I sit down and help you move to change. Senorita, you are as beautiful as the dogs of my native village. Take it easy, buster. You'll wear yourself out. Hola. More so. Dos revisits. Good to see you again, Pepe. You have news? He's taken a ranch house for miles outside the city. We Me. You'll call me Ella. Thomas. And the boss. Mr. Jones, I'm ready to work with you. The man we're after is Manuel Rodriguez. The Emanuel Rodriguez? Careful. The waiter. Now, Pepe, tell me what you know about Rodriguez. He is one of the richest, most fantastic, most powerful men in Mexico. And One of the cruelest. An international broker of secret information on his enormous ranch not far from here. He gives big girls. Yes. Hey, hey. When American dancing shows, come here. He invites everybody. Makes you guess for a week. People from all over the world. And when the meds on his ranch are said to be large poppy fields for opium. He's a big dope smuggler. That's cowboy. Most of his enemies disappear, he said. He takes him into the desert and murders them. Others remain silent out of fear. It'll be a great thrill to outsmart him. Tepe. You have a plan? First, you're to get an ordinary peon's job on the Rodriguez ranch. That ought to be easy at this time of the year. Yes. In my hand, under the table, in small packages. Take them. I have them. The drug in the blue paper will cause large blotches on your skin. Yes. Meal. Now, they're harmless. The drug and pink paper will make the pieces of your eyes dilate. Uhhuh. And the one in white paper? You'll run a quick high fever without any bad results. And then in two weeks, Mr. Jones and I will visit Manuel Rodriguez and his ranch. We will explain that we are agents of the United States of government. Counter spies? Why not? And that we have come to arrest you. Oh, very good. Now, another drink, eh? Yes. Now, what did you say your business was misunderstood, Mr. Joan? Oh, I didn't say, but I will. Mr. Rodriguez, Ms. Thomas and I are agents of the United States government counter spies on Mexican soils. We've just rented a place nine miles from your ranch here. The old Gomez place, huh? All is right. And the reason we're in Mexico? To recover a quantity of a new uranium compound worth over a million dollars. It was stolen from one of our atomic plants. And you think I have it, Mr. Jones? We think it's here on your rant. I do not enjoy jokes of this kind. We'd already recovered the stuff and shipped the criminals back to the States for punishment. But before we could leave, too, the uranium compound was stolen. Again and again I ask, do you think I have it? Well, you know how to handle it. Let me, Ellen. Oh, for Pete's sake, let me finish a sentence once in a while. Mr. Rodriguez, as Ms. Thomas says, you would know how to handle uranium. But the thief, we're afraid, does not. Incredible. You see, we're swept up along with some money, a watch, few papers out of a safe in my room. How did you learn that, Mr. Jones? One of our payans confessed that two weeks ago he and another man got drunk and ransacked my room. The peon with a guilty conscience, Mr. Jones, used a whip. That's how we found out about Pepe Ramirez. Pepe Ramirez? Ah, then he is working here. Follow me to his shaft case. Perfection. I must tell you, however, he is very ill. My ranch doctor is baffled. Have you seen him yourself? Is his skin badly blotched? Pupils of the eyes dilated? He running a high fever? How did you know his symptoms? Those are the early symptoms of uranium poisoning. That's quince is a theft on Pepe. Mr. Jones, through this door, please. Mr. Jones, do you mean that this miserable peon is hiding a million dollars worth of a new uranium compound? How else would he get uranium poisoning? Right here under my very nose. And check it down this. No. I know Rodriguez. I did not steal. These people want the truth. Better talk, Pepe. I'm sick. I'll make you sicker. Pepe, where did you hide the Uranus? One more chance, Pepe, or we beat it out of your good. The whip, Mr. Jones. No, I think he's cracking now. Please, I did not know he despun. That's better. Pull him out of there. No, please. Please. To rip out the mattress. Put on your gloves first, John. Gloves. A special glove. The only safe way to handle yourself. Now, the mattress. Matrix. Try the board. Yeah. Is there anything. Here we are. See that little bottle? Worth a million dollars. Maybe more to some government abroad. Yes, I can imagine. Now, may I offer you both some refreshments back in the house? No, thank you. We've got work to do at our own place. Perhaps I may call on you in the next few days. Business, Mr. Rodriguez, but purely social, if you don't mind, Ms. Thomas. Not at all, Roger. He fell for 2000%. A perfect trick. When he saw that little vile, his tongue hung out like a hound dog. A million bucks, he thought, right under his nose and he hadn't known it. Jonesy, behind us on the road. The car following 10 to 1 is Rodriguez. Following to see where we go with the bottle. Maybe find out if we really are counterspies or not. You think he was putting on an act that day? He's clever enough to swear he thought Pepe was really sick. Lucky those drugs you gave Pepe fooled the doctor. Nothing to do now but get back to the Gomez place and see what happens. With guns handy and backs to the wall a carto following. Maybe Rodriguez will pay that social call of his right away. He fell to you, hun. Yeah. You know that you and I don't get along. I'm betting he makes a try for this little vile. He won't stop at anything. If he thinks he can get away with it. He may start. Tried the ranch? Several times. Will you either go away or come in. I don't like the suspense. He may shoot. Stay away from the windows. Can't we pull something on him? We might. Yeah, let's try it. What? Get out our suitcases, start packing as if we're leaving. Maybe that'll hustle him into action. I was trying anyhow. My bag's in the closet. Ella. I think if we drive the rest of the night, we can make El Paso by daylight. Here we can down. We check with the boss when we get there. Need your briefcase? Keep it up, Emma. You know, it's a darn shame we got that call to leave so soon. I like this part of the cut. Now we find out the word. I'll go. Oh, hello, Mr. Rodriguez. Come in, Mr. Jones. You forgive this unexpected visit? Sooner than I planned. Ah, Ms. Thomas, how charming you look. Yes, and haven't I changed in the last two hours? Packing, Mr. Jones. I understood you were staying some days more. Well, we got a hurry. Call hall. This gives me no time to cultivate the acquaintance of Ms. Carver. I'll come back someday, Mr. Rodriguez. Perhaps you are not even leaving, either of you. You are not United States counter spies. You yourselves are the seeds of that uranium material. Mr. Rodriguez. You're all wrong. Further, you yourselves intend to sell it. We don't know anybody with a million dollars. Shut up, Ellen. You never Let me talk. Ms. Thomas, suppose you did know someone with a million dollars. We're American agents, Rodriguez. You are not. You're a pair of crooks. Now, suppose that vial contains the uranium compound. And you knew someone with a million and a half dollars. Wow. Shut up, Ella. Go ahead, Rodriguez. Can you prove it is the real uranium compound? Say we couldn't. Then in three days I can raise a million and a half. Cash. American dollars. And then you'll resell the material abroad for 10 million. That would be my risk. Take the deal, Jonesy. Okay, Rodriguez. We'll prove it's the uranium compound. Six drops, plus certain other ingredients can be set off by a cap attached to a fuse. Uranium is not set off that way. I told you. This is a new secret development. It can be used dozens of ways. It will show me. Now, if I let you know where the stuff is hidden, our lives won't be worth a nickel. Cautious, aren't you? Very. Well. Where and when we'll pick you up tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 and lead you to some deserted spot in these mountains around here. Good. Until tomorrow, Mr. Jones. Miss Thomas. Oh, you won't see me there. I'm going over to Gulf City and wait for a phone call from Jonesy and you. It shall come from me, Miss Thomas. One had better come from Jonesy too, Mr. Rodriguez, or I tell the Mexican police that you left him in the mountains with those man eating birds you've got around here. You are both very clever. Good night. Back to counterspy in just a moment. But first Pensacola catch the spot. Two full glasses. That's a lot, lot more value. Lots more. Why take less when Pepsi's best? More and more among fellows and girls. Among mothers and dads. You hear that sane and sensible question? Why take less when Pepsi is best? No budget, no allowance. Ever had a better friend than tangy sparkling Pepsi Cola. Because one big 12 ounce Pepsi bottle gives you two delicious drinks that's twice as much tangy taste. Twice as much delicious Pepsi to go just twice as far as. That's why more and more families say why take less when Pepsi's best? Yes, families like yours and mine, Families all over America. They're all saying why take less when Pepsi's best? Pepsi Cola so delicious. And each bottle makes two drinks. It is certainly the cola for the purchaser who thinks everybody's drinking Pepsi. Just compare it with the rest. So much more, so much finer. Why take less when Pepsi's best? Today, tomorrow always get America's biggest cola value. Take home a carton of six big, big Pepsi bottles. Insist on Pepsi at the store and say Pepsi at the fountains say Pepsi at the stand, say Pepsi whenever you reach for refreshment. Remember why take less when Pepsi's best? And now back to counterspy. It is hot, blazing noon in the desert mountains of Mexico. Rodriguez, we're 40 miles from any other human being. Now here's where I set up the experiment. It'll be fairly safe, I hope. Few drops of the uranium compound plus the other ingredients and a fuse. If you're ready, Mr. Jones. Look at those birds of prey circling above us in the empty sky. I guess we look like a meal to them. We call them birds of death. They are cruel, powerful, bloodthirsty. If you try to cheat me, Mr. Jones, I will break both your legs with bullets and leave you here alive for those birds. Cute ideas you have. Don't you light the fuse. Now. Run. We have eight seconds. It's the dog. I fell. Help me out with you Three seconds long. Come on. Behind these rocks just made it. Perfect. Mr. Jones, I apologize for my perspiration. I will have the money for you in 48 hours. Where? Your ranch house. Fine. And I'll be ready to show you where the material is. Until then, Mr. Jones, I'm driving away now. Come on out, ella. Coming. To the battle yard. That he? Luckily for us, his greed's making him blind. What if he followed us out here last night when we set up this fake uranium explosion? When he fell down, he was really scared. He never suspected it was fake. What the fall for this? Three cents worth of harmless powder, poison and uranium. Six charges of ordinary tnt. Stop worrying, Ella. We've got Rodriguez hooked. Come on, let's get to our ranch. French life may be great, Jonesy, but I don't like cooking. Only another day to wait for a vegetable. You want Mexican beans or Mexican beans? I'd rather have Mexican beans. Good. That's all we got. And then I put out the lights. Got it. Out the back window I saw somebody coming ahead of time. Get Jess beyond the doorway to the dining room. I'll stay here. You cover me with your gun. Bye. Mr. Jones? Yeah. I'm david harding, united states. Counters five. May I come in? Can't stop you, can I? You alone? Yes. Okay. Ella, come on in. Coming. Am I glad to see you. Hello, Ella. Sorry to put you two through this rigmarole, Dave, but Rodriguez around? Safety first is the best place. Motto. Oh, Peter. I mean, Mr. Jones. Can we use the short wave radio? All right. Here. Mr. Harding in the color. I want the Mexican secret police in Cordoba. What's the frequency? Channel 18. Hing to SX. Channel 18. Come in, channel 18. Channel 8. Hello, Pepe. Rodriguez has fallen for our cock and bull story about that stolen uranium. Now all we need is one break so we can get other people to talk to us about Rodriguez. You'd better stand by in case they need help. Now, Washington Hunting to channel one. Come in, Channel one. Channel one, Mr. Running. Go ahead, Edward. From now on, keep this channel open 24 hours a day. I may want instantaneous tech on fingerprints. I'm with Peters and Ella in Mexico in their ranch house. I flew in this morning when things got hot. We're getting the best line yet on our old friend Rodriguez, the espionage broker. I hope you learn him this time, sir. He's got a baited hook out for him. But with that man, I'm not going to waste for him to bite. I'm going to climb up down these throats. Very quickly. Abby. In Mama. So late at night? How'd you get off? What happened? I had a fight with Jones. You know my sandbar. I'll hit him with a paperweight. I think I've killed him. Please help me. Of course. Ella. Where did you leave him? Back in our ranch house. He's on the bloody Mr. Rudder. Because I don't know what I'm going to do. My dear Ella. I look after you. Look at police and they discover the murder and look for me if need be. I can hide you forever. What? Don't worry. We must go there at once. I don't want to go back to you. My dear. I was planning to buy that uranium compound. Now can't you and I get it for nothing? Come. Ella. It's dark in here. I know. I cut the light and telephone wires when I left. You have a candle? Yes. Yes. There's one beside you on the piano. Ah, that's better. And here's our friend Mr. Jo live. Thankfully he did alive. But not very much. Now the uranium compound. I know where it's hidden. Get it. Just a moment. Hidden behind a picture on the wall. What an obvious place. It was safe. You're the only one that even knew we had. Let me have it. Yeah. Watch how you handle it. Now. To arrange matters for you we will leave all your clones here. Except what you actually need. From the shallow grave of a woman I had to dispose of not far from here. I will. If would you not mind being impersonated by the bones of a dead woman? I don't get it. And we will smash this place up. Mirror, for instance. What are you doing? Planning your death. McTominay. I've got a gun. Rodriguez. You're apparent death in this house. Burned out by an accidental fire. Oh, why you hide on my ranch until we go to Europe Secretly. I doubt to finish up Mr. John. Going to kill him before you cut the pile. Of course. Without a bookend will do. That. Based counterfeit. The Mexican national police. Ridiculous. One charge violation of the international agreement covering the safety of atomic material and information. I was not in this alone. This woman. This man. Jones. By the way. Jones. Are you okay?
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Fine.
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Only tired of lying on the floor. Rodriguez. Meet Mr. Jones. Or let's call him Harry Peters. My assistant. But you have no evidence. No one will dare to speak against me. Rodriguez. You're a murderer. You kept people silent by fear. The. The gunmen and narcotics runners who worked for you were afraid to talk. Now that you're under arrest, they'll be free to tell everything they know. By the way, Mr. Harding, here's the uranium wrapped up in his pocket. He earned that, Ella. Let him keep it. It's only a few cents worth of harmless powder. I'm sorry, but illegal possession of uranium is the one charge we can't hang on. When your friends drop in. Be generous, but be thrifty too. Serve plenty of delicious Pepsi Cola. Pepsi's big 12 ounce bottle gives you not just one sparkling glass full, but two. Get a carton of six and serve 12 delicious drinks. Yes, Pepsi is America's biggest solar value. You get twice the tangy taste, twice the refreshment, twice the Pepsi. So why take less when Pepsi's best? Whenever you reach for refreshment, remember Pepsi Cola tips and spots. Two full glasses, that's a lot lot more value, lots more zest. Why taste less when Pepsi bets? Tune in every Tuesday and Thursday. Same time, same station. Two Counter Spy Listen next Tuesday for the exciting Counter Spy case of a bouncing bank robber. The quick shooting intruder who power plunged through a plate glass window, the ferry boat that whistled a strange message about the passenger who had jumped overboard and the roller coaster in reverse that carried a killer who was beyond the electric chair. That's next to the counterfeit case. So be sure to listen. Taste of a bouncing bank robber on counterspy. Tonight's CounterSpy program originated in New York, was directed by William M. Sweets and featured Don McLaughlin and Mandel Kramer with music by Jesse Crawford. CounterSpy is a Phillips H. Lord production for Pepsi Cola. Enjoy some Pepsi Ice cold tonight.
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Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway Ready to save. It's time for Cyber deals. Kick off summer with fresh savings that brighten the season. You don't want to miss these exclusive week long digital offers on your favorite products and that are only available when you shop online. Save on eligible items from Gatorade, Oreo, Frito, Lay and Dove. Only available now through June 16th on pickup or delivery orders. Only restrictions apply. See the website for full terms and conditions.
Adam Graham (Podcast Host)
Welcome back. I love that counterspy gives us these good sting stories where they are laying traps for criminals. And it's also nice to get a story that is much more Peters driven and Peter centered because that does feel more like how a real life agency like counterspy should work. You know you didn't have J. Edgar Hoover running all of the FBI's cases during this time, which is kind of the equivalent of what we have in so many episodes of CounterSpy. And even then, David Harding still is probably taking a bit of a bigger role than Hoover or even some higher ranking like Special Agents in Charge would. But Harding remains such a solid planner that you can understand why he essentially had counter spy agents pretend to be criminals pretending to be counterspy agents. Kramer definitely is able to carry the material and you do see the makings of how he became such an important, important leading man in the closing days of the Golden Age of Radio. Now it's time to thank our Patreon Supporter of the Day. Thank you to Sean, patreon Supporter since December 2016, currently supporting the podcast at the Secret agent level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support Sean and that will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us at your using your favorite podcast software and be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever you download it from. We'll be back next Saturday with another episode of counterspy, but join us back here on Tuesday on the Great Adventurers of Old Time Radio for Tarzan and on the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio. Return on Monday with the Saint. In the meantime, send your comment to box13greatdetectives.net Follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives and check us out on Instagram Instagram.com Great detectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host Adam Graham signing off.
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The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio
Episode: Counterspy: Desert Explosion (A0096)
Date: June 13, 2026
Host: Adam Graham
This installment features a classic episode of Counterspy from August 18, 1949, titled "Desert Explosion." The adventure centers on American agents running a multi-layered sting operation to outmaneuver a dangerous Mexican narcotics kingpin, Rodriguez, believed to have ties to international espionage and atomic material theft. The story blends undercover tactics, psychological manipulation, and desert suspense, offering listeners a tightly plotted mystery with distinct Golden Age radio flavor.
"Her death will be a lesson to all of you. Never to talk. Never. Señora, look above you in the sky. You see the birds, the birds of death."
– Rodriguez (03:38)
"We will explain that we are agents of the United States government. Counter spies? Why not? And that we have come to arrest you."
– Ellen Thomas (10:25)
"He fell for 2000%. A perfect trick. When he saw that little vial, his tongue hung out like a hound dog."
– Ellen Thomas (18:40)
"If you try to cheat me, Mr. Jones, I will break both your legs with bullets and leave you here alive for those birds."
– Rodriguez (23:19)
"Rodriguez. Meet Mr. Jones. Or let's call him Harry Peters. My assistant."
– David Harding (29:25)
"You kept people silent by fear...Now that you're under arrest, they'll be free to tell everything they know."
– David Harding (29:46)
"I love that Counterspy gives us these good sting stories where they're laying traps for criminals...It's also nice to get a story that's much more Peters driven and Peter centered because that does feel more like how a real life agency like Counterspy should work."
– Adam Graham (32:56)
"Now, senora...now, gentlemen, we shall leave."
– Rodriguez's cold execution of a betrayal (04:13)
"You have a plan? First, you're to get an ordinary peon's job on the Rodriguez ranch."
– Ellen Thomas sets the undercover wheels in motion (10:00)
"Perhaps you are not even leaving, either of you. You are not United States counter spies. You yourselves are the thieves of that uranium material."
– Rodriguez confronts the undercover agents directly (17:47)
"If you try to cheat me, Mr. Jones, I will break both your legs with bullets and leave you here alive for those birds."
– Rodriguez lays out his threat in the desert (23:19)
"We call them birds of death. They are cruel, powerful, bloodthirsty."
– Rodriguez, reinforcing danger (22:58)
"You kept people silent by fear...Now that you're under arrest, they'll be free to tell everything they know."
– David Harding brings justice (29:46)
The episode is rich with period-appropriate melodrama, with sharp dialogue and tense confrontations. The action moves briskly, blending procedural counter-intelligence tropes with classic radio noir ambiance.
Adam Graham's closing commentary, as always, is engaging and insightful, connecting the episode’s narrative mechanics to real-life law enforcement logic and appreciating the talents behind the performances.
Summary prepared for listeners who missed the episode or want a detailed recap of the story beats and commentary.