Nick Carter: The Case of the Haunted Burial Cave (Encore) (EP4877)

Summary

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio | Nick Carter: The Case of the Haunted Burial Cave (Encore) (EP4877)
Original Air Date: May 16, 1954
Podcast Release Date: December 30, 2025
Host: Adam Graham

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Episode Overview

In this special encore presentation, Adam Graham features "The Case of the Haunted Burial Cave," one of the very last surviving episodes of the long-running Nick Carter, Master Detective radio series. Set in the 1950s, this atmospheric mystery brings listeners to an isolated cave near the Canadian border, where archaeologists seeking a sacred burial chamber face more than superstitions—murder stalks the darkness.

Adam Graham provides historical context for the rarity of late Nick Carter episodes and invites listeners to enjoy a suspenseful Golden Age detective drama teeming with danger, betrayal, and classic radio thrills.

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1. Episode Introduction & Historical Context

[02:06–07:38]

• Adam welcomes listeners and discusses a brief hiatus due to the holidays. He details Patreon support and the challenges of monetizing old-time radio podcasts.
• Sets up the rarity of this Nick Carter episode: Late-era (1954), with most surviving episodes from the 1940s; few exist from this period.
• Quote:

  "There are only three episodes in circulation that we played from 1949 and none from the 1950s until today." (06:42 – Adam Graham)

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2. The Mystery is Afoot: The Haunted Burial Cave

[07:38–21:18]

Setting the Scene & Principal Characters

[07:52–15:09]

• Archaeologist Cole Adams, his wife Neva, assistant Kevin Farrell, and guide Sam Big Eagle are exploring a cave rumored to be a Native burial site.
• Nick Carter and his assistant Patsy (Miss Bowen) are invited to investigate after an attack in the cave.
• Local color: Jeff White, a blind chemist, lives alone at Echo Lake, and is introduced as a friendly but solitary figure.

Quote:

"I'm an archaeologist, Mr. Carter, not a detective. But I'm sure of one thing. Those big purple bruises on Cole Adams' throat weren't made by a ghost." (12:38 – Kevin Farrell)

Conflicting Motives & Rising Tensions

[15:09–17:51]

• Tensions rise—suspicion falls on the Indian guide, Sam Big Eagle, supported by local superstitions.
• Cole Adams hints at possible romantic jealousy, questioning his younger wife and Farrell's “Don Juan” prowess.

Quote:

"Those were very human fingers at my throat. I'm hoping Mr. Carter will soon be able to tell us who it was tried to murder me and why." (16:12 – Cole Adams)

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3. Into the Shadows: The Cave Investigations

[17:51–24:26]

Superstitions and Sabotage

• The cave is entered against the desperate warnings of Sam Big Eagle:

  "You go in cave, you die like others!" (18:40 – Sam Big Eagle)

• Inside, Nick finds evidence of past violence: spent cartridges and a scratched message: "Mur..."—possibly a name.

Attempted Murder

• As the party proceeds, a lantern is extinguished and a boulder nearly crushes them. Adams blames Sam, but Nick isn't convinced.

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4. Murder Unveiled & Suspects Multiply

[24:26–28:40]

Sam Big Eagle’s Murder

[24:26–27:33]

• Sam Big Eagle is found strangled inside the cave, dressed in Cole’s coat (distinctively mothball-scented), with a lantern left burning at the scene.
• Nick notes the oddity:

  "...if I’d killed someone, I wouldn’t go away and leave a lantern burning beside the body—unless I wanted to call attention to the murder.” (25:56 – Nick Carter)

Motive Exploration and Alibis

• Jeff White, the blind neighbor, claims he left camp early to walk by the lake.
• Suspicion spreads: Did Sam know too much? Was he killed to silence him? Who was the murderer's true target?

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5. Nick’s Trap & The Blind Killer’s Identity

[28:40–34:54]

Nick Sets the Bait

[29:00–29:44]

• Patsy and Nick intentionally make noise as they leave, ensuring the killer hears and prepares a trap:

• "The killer must hear us leave. There’s no point in our going into the cave otherwise." (29:13 – Nick Carter)

Final Showdown in the Darkness

[30:07–33:23]

• Inside the pitch-black cave, shots are fired. The killer—revealed to be Jeff White—boasts he has the advantage:

  “In the cave, a blind man has the same chance you do.” (30:22 – Jeff White)

• White confesses to killing his wife Muriel and her lover, then targets Nick and Patsy. In a tense climax, Nick pinpoints White’s location by the sound of his jingling keychain:

  “His keys gave him away, Patsy. That keychain he wore was just like the bell on a cat.” (33:23 – Nick Carter)

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6. Resolution and Revelations

[33:40–36:19]

• White confesses fully. Muriel and her lover were lured by White and killed; her unfinished name (“Mur...”) was scratched on the cave wall as she died.
• Sam Big Eagle was killed in a case of mistaken identity—White, relying on smell, mistook Adams’ mothball-scented coat for Cole himself.
• The “haunted” cave was feared for years, but at its heart was a very human, very calculating murderer.

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7. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Those big purple bruises on Cole Adams' throat weren't made by a ghost.”
  – Kevin Farrell, 12:38

• “In the cave, a blind man has the same chance you do.”
  – Jeff White, 30:22

• “His keys gave him away, Patsy. That keychain he wore was just like the bell on a cat.” – Nick Carter, 33:23

• “This burial cave wasn’t haunted by the ghosts of ancient Indians, but by a ruthless killer who feared discovery.” – Nick Carter, 35:54

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8. Adam Graham’s After-Show Commentary

[38:56–44:07]

• Adam reflects on the 1950s feel of this episode—musical choices, period-appropriate references (such as uranium prospecting), and the use of more daring, risky behavior by the detective.
• Notes the rarity of late-run Nick Carter episodes, expressing hope for further recoveries and digitizations.
• Brief announcement about upcoming series ("Standby for Crime") and a listener feedback segment on podcast editing pace.
• Quote:

  “...we’ve had the Summer of Bogart and our great movies over radio. We have 150 patreons or thereabouts and I’d welcome you to join them.” (05:15 – Adam Graham)

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9. Important Timestamps

| Section | Time (MM:SS) | Description | |---------|--------------|-------------| | Episode/Patreon intro | 02:06–07:38 | Adam Graham sets the scene | | Entering the cave & background | 07:38–15:09 | Meet suspects, first attack | | Second cave investigation | 17:51–21:18 | Sabotage, rising dangers | | Discovery of Sam’s body | 24:26–27:33 | Key plot twist | | Nick sets the trap | 28:40–29:44 | Trap for the killer begins | | Showdown in the dark | 30:07–33:23 | Killer revealed, climax | | Final revelations | 33:40–36:19 | Case resolved, motives explained | | Adam’s commentary | 38:56–44:07 | Post-episode analysis |

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10. Conclusion

A textbook example of late-era Golden Age radio mystery, this episode blends classic detective tropes with a chilling, atmospheric story. The resolution is both clever and human—rooted in jealousy, isolation, and the unique advantage of a blind killer in the perfect setting: darkness. For fans or first-time listeners alike, Adam Graham’s presentation and contextual notes make this a can’t-miss installment of The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio.

Transcript

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[Adam Graham]

Hello, we are taking a bit of a recording break during the holidays and bringing you some encores on the 29th and 30th we will be bringing you the first and last circulating episodes of Nick Carter. Both of these episodes are from many years ago and so any offers or information in the episode are not valid unless currently reflected on our Great Detectives of Old Time radio [e-mail] now on with today's show. Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email actives.net follow us on Twitter @rayo detectives and become one of our friends on [e-mail] RadioDetectives welcome to our listener support campaign and you can support the show on a one time basis at support.greatdetectives.net you can also send a one time donation via Zell to Box 13, greatdetectives.net or mail in your donation to Adam Graham Peel, Box 15913, Boise, ID 83715. That's Adam Graham, P.O. box 15913, Boise, ID83715. But today our focus is on our Patreon supporters. Patreon.greatdetectives.net Our Patreon supporters are really critical to the show and they provide our most steady and consistent source of income and revenue for the program. All other sources really can vary. We may get a payout from johnnydoller.com referrals in a given month, or we may not, depending on how many people signed up. We have other revenue sources that come and go. Last year we had quite a few advertisers. This year, the advertising campaign we completed yesterday is the only one we've had all year. I was getting a little money off of YouTube, but they recently demonetized all my videos because that's just what YouTube does. But the Patreon support, that regular, continual, ongoing support just really allows us to have reliable income from the program. And this is particularly nice during the summer months when individual contributions tend to lag. Appreciate what our Patreon supporters do. It's really easy to support us on Patreon. You just enter your information one time and funds will come out of your account every month to support the program. As that great philosopher Ron Papille once said, you set it and forget it. We have levels for contributions ranging from the rookie level of $2 per month up to the Chief of detectives level of $30 per month. So you can become one of our Patreons for less than 7 cents a day. As a Patreon supporter, you will receive a generally a monthly newsletter from me about stuff that we're going to be playing on the program, some updates and different plans out for the future of the series. For example, most of the big announcements that we're making here for season 10 of the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio were sent out to our Patreon supporters in newsletter last month. And you also get to vote on some things that I'll do. For example, because of our patron supporters we have a summer series and our Patreon supporters get to vote on what series we're going to do each summer and that's led to to some great series such as our Summer of Bogart and our great movies over radio. We have 150 patreons or thereabouts and I'd welcome you to join them go to patreon.greatdetectives.net well, sorry for going on a bit. We're going to get into today's episode of Nick Carter. Our previous additions to the series that we listened to previously over the last six weeks, they've all been from World War II era where there are actually a lot of Nick Carter episodes. However, the real dead zone of the Nick Carter series which aired from 1943 to 1955 is the last six plus years of the series. There are only three episodes in circulation that we played from 1949 and none from the 1950s until today. Alright, it's time for today's episode of Nick Carter. The Original air date May 16th of 1954 and it's the Case of the Haunted Burial Cave.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Nick Carter Master Detective. Today's Nick Carter Adventure the Case of the Haunted Burial Cave.

[Mrs. Adams]

I wish I hadn't come into this whole cave. I hate places like these. I always feel as if the roof were going to drop on me. My, this section of the cave is huge.

[Cole Adams]

Yes, I think the secret burial chamber we're looking for must be much like this.

[Mrs. Adams]

Just look at those big rocks up there hanging over us.

[Nick Carter]

Well, somebody up there put out the lens. Get back against the wall. That big rock.

[Narrator/Announcer]

It's like a quas. Now another intriguing transcribe adventure with Nick Carter Master Detective presented in cooperation with a Mutual Network by Dr. Shoals InnoPad World famous relief for corn calluses, bunions and sore toes. In a moment, the Case of the Haunted Burial Cave. But first, are you one of the 4 million? We hope not. 4 million is the number of Americans injured by accidents in a home every year. Now, most of these injuries are caused by falls. Falls which range in seriousness from sliding on a scatter rugged to diving accidentally headfirst down a flight of stairs. Now, these accidents in a home are 100% preventable. Why don't you make a safety check of your home today? Appoint yourself a committee of one to go through the house from cellar to attic and check potential sources of accidental injury. Pay particular attention to your stairways. Remember that stairs are for stepping, not storing. Remove articles that have been given semi permanent storage on the top step. They don't belong there. Move them and find a more fitting storage spot. Teach your children to put their toys away when they finish playing and during your inspection trip and after it too. Think safely and live safely. This message is brought to you as a public service. Now, today's adventure starring Lon Clark as Nick Carter. The Case of the Haunted Burial cave In an isolated area near the Canadian border, a small archaeological expedition is camped near the mouth of an unexplored cave. The head of the exploring party, Cole Adams, crouches alone on a narrow ledge in a huge cavern, the pale light of his lantern casting distorted shadows on the dripping wall.

[Cole Adams]

Who's there? Is that you, Pharaoh?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Well, answer me. Why are you hiding in the shadows behind me?

[Nick Carter]

You were behind me.

[Adam Graham]

Please.

[Mrs. Adams]

Oh, the view from this plain is just magnificent.

[Nick Carter]

Yeah, lovely country. So, Mr. Farrell, you found Mr. Adams after he was attacked, is that right? Yes, that's right. His wife was worried when he didn't come back, so I went into the cave after him. He was still unconscious.

[Mrs. Adams]

But he's all right now?

[Nick Carter]

Oh, yes, Ms. Bowen. He's fully recovered now. I'm still not certain just why Mr. Adams asked me to come up here. Well, the nearest town is 30 miles away. Mr. Adams went in and talked to the deputy sheriff there, but the man refused to take any action.

[Mrs. Adams]

Oh, but surely with such a clear case of assaults and intend to kill, the authorities would be forced to investigate.

[Nick Carter]

Well, most of these people feel we have no right to be poking around in the old burial cave. And they'd be very happy if we decided to pack up and leave.

[Mrs. Adams]

Oh, so when the deputy sheriff refused to take any action, Mr. Adams called Nick.

[Cole Adams]

Yes.

[Narrator/Announcer]

And when you agreed to come up.

[Nick Carter]

Here, I was sent to meet you. It's only about an hour by plane, but it takes forever in a car, the roads are so bad. Who's backing this expedition? Mr. Adams secured a grant from the Norwood Foundation. He and his wife were in this district last year on a vacation. Adams heard about this cave, did some superficial exploring and decided it might be a very rich archaeological find. Why hasn't the cave been explored before now? Well, it's fairly inaccessible, and there are a lot of superstitious stories about the place. The natives are sure it's haunted by the ghosts of the old Indians who were buried there. I see. How many members in your party? Well, there's Cole Adams, his wife and myself. And we hired a guide, an Indian named Sam Big Eagle. At first, he claimed he could lead us directly to the hidden burial chamber. But since we hired him, he's done nothing but slow us up. Hey, is that Echo lake over there, Mr. Farrell? Yes, that's it. You can see Jeff White's cabin through the trees there.

[Mrs. Adams]

Who's Jeff White?

[Nick Carter]

Oh, he's a very nice guy.

[Adam Graham]

He's.

[Nick Carter]

He's blind. He lives there on the lake all by himself. Mr. Farrell, you said your Indian guide blamed the ghosts of his dead forefathers for the attack on Coal Adams. What do you think happened? Well, I'm an archaeologist, Mr. Carter, not a detective. But I'm sure of one thing. Those big purple bruises on Cole Adams throat weren't made by a ghost.

[Mrs. Adams]

The entrance to the cave certainly isn't very large, Mr. Adams.

[Cole Adams]

No, it's most deceptive. But after the first 25 yards the entrance passage grows progressively larger.

[Mrs. Adams]

I see.

[Cole Adams]

We'll have a look at it in the morning.

[Mrs. Adams]

I must say Mr. Carter, that I'm sorry you agreed to come up here.

[Nick Carter]

Why do you say that, Mrs. Adams?

[Mrs. Adams]

Because if you'd refused Cole might have been willing to give up this silly exploration.

[Cole Adams]

I've too much at stake to be frightened off by a few ghost stories.

[Mrs. Adams]

And was it a ghost that nearly choked you to death?

[Nick Carter]

No, it was not.

[Cole Adams]

Those were very human fingers at my throat. I'm hoping Mr. Carter will soon be able to tell us who it was tried to murder me and why.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I know. Where are all the explorers?

[Cole Adams]

Oh, over here, Jeff, by the cave entrance. This is Jeff White, the blind man we were telling you about earlier.

[Nick Carter]

Oh yes, Kevin tells me you have guests called.

[Cole Adams]

Yes, that's right. Nick Carter and his assistant, Ms. Bowen. This is Jeff White, the mayor of echo Lake.

[Mrs. Adams]

Hello Mr.

[Adam Graham]

I don't know.

[Narrator/Announcer]

That title is quite unofficial. But welcome anyway. You've come to investigate the attack on Cole?

[Nick Carter]

Yes, that's right. I'm glad.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I was afraid Cole might decide to pack up and leave. And I've been spoiled by having someone to talk with.

[Mrs. Adams]

You mean you live up here all alone, Mr. White?

[Narrator/Announcer]

I do now, Ms. Bowen. I hope you'll both come to see me while you're here.

[Mrs. Adams]

Oh they certainly will Jeff. I want them to see your house. It's just beautiful.

[Narrator/Announcer]

That's thanks to Muriel. Well, I mustn't stay. I just wanted to say hello.

[Adam Graham]

Oh.

[Mrs. Adams]

Oh but Mr. White, aren't you afraid to wander through these woods alone after dark?

[Narrator/Announcer]

For me Ms. Bowen, it's always dark. And I feel perfectly safe in these woods. I know all these paths by heart.

[Mrs. Adams]

Gosh, I think that's remarkable.

[Cole Adams]

He's a remarkable man, Ms. Bowen. He was a brilliant chemist and was blinded in the laboratory explosion.

[Nick Carter]

Yes, I noticed the Phi Beta Kaffy he wears on the keychain.

[Cole Adams]

He received a large cash settlement for loss of his eyes and he and his wife came up here to live.

[Mrs. Adams]

Is she the Muriel he mentioned?

[Cole Adams]

Yes, she ran off several months ago with A local? No. Good.

[Nick Carter]

Mean she just walked out on him?

[Cole Adams]

Yep. Just disappeared.

[Mrs. Adams]

Well, if you'll excuse me, I'm feeling rather tired. I think I'll turn in.

[Nick Carter]

Good night. Good night, Mr. Adams. The morning you were attacked, you got up early, then you went into that cave alone.

[Narrator/Announcer]

That's right.

[Cole Adams]

I'd gone some distance inside when it seemed to me that I heard digging.

[Adam Graham]

Digging?

[Cole Adams]

Well, it was very remote and it stopped as I approached. And then, without warning, I was seized from behind.

[Nick Carter]

Now tell me, do you think it could have been some Indian who resents this intrusion upon his sacred burial cave?

[Cole Adams]

It could be. Or it might have been someone using that as a cover up, Ms. Carter.

[Nick Carter]

How do you mean?

[Cole Adams]

As you noticed, I have a most attractive wife, many years younger than I am. My assistant, Kevin Farrell, has quite a reputation as a Don Juan with the ladies.

[Mrs. Adams]

Are you accusing your assistant of trying to murder you?

[Cole Adams]

No, I am making no accusations. I only know that someone tried to kill me. And I expect you, Mr. Carter, to find out who it was and see to it that a second attempt doesn't succeed.

[Narrator/Announcer]

In just a moment, we'll return to today's adventure with Nick Carter, master detective. But first, you know, from early childhood we're taught not to neglect our eyes or teeth. But when it comes to our feet, it's another story. Yet government records prove that seven out of every 10 of us are troubled by either painful corns, calluses, bunions, sore toes or tender spots on the feet. And for one reason only, shoe friction and pressure. Now, the way to stop all that needless distress in a hurry is to promptly protect any sensitive spots on your feet or toes with soothing cushioning. Dr. Shull. Zeno pads. Zeno pads give super fast relief from pain, making you or tight shoes feel easy on the feet. Stop your corns, calluses and blisters before they can start. Remove corns and calluses. One of the fastest ways known to medical science. When used with the separate medications included in every box. No other method can make all these claims. Yet. Dr. Scholl's Zinopads cost only pennies at application, so get a box right away. That's Dr. Scholl's Zino Z I N O. Dr. Scholl's Zino pads sold everywhere. Now back to the case of the haunted burial cave. Today's adventure with Nick Carter. It's late morning and Nick and Patsy, accompanied by Cole Adams and his wife, are preparing to enter the mysterious burial cave.

[Cole Adams]

I don't know where that Indian guide of ours is But I guess we can manage just as well without him as with him.

[Nick Carter]

I haven't seen him all morning.

[Mrs. Adams]

Where's Mr. Farrell?

[Cole Adams]

He says he's going to try to catch us some fresh fish for lunch.

[Mrs. Adams]

Oh, honestly, Cole, that coat of yours still reeks of morpho.

[Cole Adams]

It's a good, clean smell, dear. You have your lantern, Mr. Carter.

[Nick Carter]

All set.

[Cole Adams]

And I have mine. So I think we're ready.

[Adam Graham]

No.

[Mrs. Adams]

What?

[Narrator/Announcer]

You not go in there.

[Adam Graham]

No.

[Nick Carter]

Here's your missing guide.

[Mrs. Adams]

He's been in the cave. That's why we haven't seen him.

[Nick Carter]

Do not go in sacred cave.

[Cole Adams]

Oh, now, look here, Sam. I'm not paying you to wander off whenever the notion takes you. Now, what were you doing in the cave?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Very bad place. Bodies, dead people there.

[Cole Adams]

We know that. That's why we're interested.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You go in cave, you die like others.

[Nick Carter]

Now, listen, Sam, if this is a burial cave, people were taken here after they were dead. They didn't die in the cave.

[Adam Graham]

No.

[Nick Carter]

They died there.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You die, too. I've had enough of this nonsense.

[Cole Adams]

Are you going to guide us into this cave or not?

[Nick Carter]

No, you go away.

[Cole Adams]

All right, then we'll go in without you.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I not let you go in there.

[Mrs. Adams]

Oh, he's going to hit you, Sam.

[Nick Carter]

Get out of the way. You point gun at Sam.

[Narrator/Announcer]

All right, go.

[Nick Carter]

Sam warn you go in cave and die like owners. Had you gone much further into the cave than this when you were attacked, Mr. Adams?

[Cole Adams]

Oh, yes. I'd say about 50 yards from here, there's a sharp turn and then a kind of a recess.

[Mrs. Adams]

I. I wish I hadn't come. I hate places like this. I always feel that the roof is going to drop on me.

[Cole Adams]

Well, you can go back if you like. Neva, help Kevin fish here.

[Nick Carter]

Wait a second.

[Commercial Announcer]

Wait a second.

[Nick Carter]

What's this?

[Mrs. Adams]

What is it, nick?

[Nick Carter]

That's some old.38 cartridges, Betsy. Someone stood here and fired a dozen or more shots.

[Mrs. Adams]

Say, look here on this wall. Someone's trying to scratch a message. And you are Murder. Maybe.

[Cole Adams]

Oh, it's probably just somebody wanting to leave their name for posterity.

[Nick Carter]

Well, it's been written fairly recently, I'd say.

[Cole Adams]

Well, shall we go ahead?

[Nick Carter]

Yeah. So, Mr. Adams, what did your Indian guide do for a living before he hired on with you?

[Cole Adams]

A little of everything. Hunting, trapping, prospecting.

[Mrs. Adams]

Prospecting for gold?

[Cole Adams]

Oh, no, no. The uranium fever hit this country. Oh, Everybody was out hoping to find a rich uranium pocket and get wealthy overnight.

[Mrs. Adams]

My. This section of the cave is huge.

[Cole Adams]

I think the burial chamber Must be something like this.

[Mrs. Adams]

Look at those big rocks up there. They just seem to hang. What?

[Nick Carter]

Somebody up above us.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Pull out the lanterns.

[Nick Carter]

Get back against the wall.

[Mrs. Adams]

That big rock is going to crush us. Misses Adams seems to be resting quietly now.

[Nick Carter]

Oh, good. Well, Mr. Adams, how about it? Should we go back to the cave?

[Cole Adams]

We've lost so much time now, Mr. Carter. I suggest we wait until morning and go in without the lady.

[Mrs. Adams]

Oh, well, that's fine with me.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You think it was Sam Big Eagle who pushed the rock down on you?

[Cole Adams]

Cole? Yes, Jeff, it must have been. He tried to keep us from going into the cave. And when that failed, he probably followed us and tried to crush us with that boulder.

[Mrs. Adams]

I came too close for comfort. If Nick hadn't pushed us all back against the wall. Why, we have been hit.

[Cole Adams]

I'm sorry Neva's hysterics prevented our investigating further.

[Nick Carter]

Beryl hasn't returned from his fishing trip yet, has he?

[Cole Adams]

No. I don't see him out in the lake either.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I have a suggestion that since Mrs. Adams is so upset, why don't you let us stay here at my cabin? Ms. Bourne could stay with her, and.

[Nick Carter]

I'll bunk down over at your camp.

[Mrs. Adams]

Why, sure.

[Cole Adams]

That's very kind of you, Jeff.

[Nick Carter]

That's quite a collection of keys you have there, Mr. White.

[Narrator/Announcer]

It's ridiculous of me, I suppose, to wear them up here, but they're keys I used to use when I was a chemist. Oh, Offices, labs, lockers, so on. And I wear them on my belt because I like to hear them jingle. They remind me of the past. And a very happy past.

[Mrs. Adams]

But it's certainly a very cheerful sound.

[Nick Carter]

Well, if we're not going back into the cave today, suppose we see if we can locate Sam Big Eagle. Right.

[Cole Adams]

There are several questions that Indian's got to answer. I'd also be interested to hear what Kevin Farrell's been doing while somebody was trying to kill us.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Are you accusing me of trying to kill you, Adams?

[Cole Adams]

I only wondered what you'd been doing all day. You don't seem to have caught many fish.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I didn't have any luck.

[Cole Adams]

No, no, the luck was with us this time.

[Nick Carter]

Now, look here, I've had about enough of this.

[Narrator/Announcer]

If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't sneak around pushing rocks over onto you.

[Nick Carter]

Well, maybe you'd prefer to strangle me.

[Cole Adams]

With your bare hands.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I do have to take that from you, Adam Adams.

[Nick Carter]

Feral.

[Adam Graham]

Stop.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Will you stop?

[Nick Carter]

It is this child. The important thing right now is the fact that Sam Big Eagle has Disappeared. Stop your quarreling and let's see what we can do about finding him.

[Cole Adams]

That Indian sneak thief came into our camp during night. Took my rifle, my lantern, my good friend coat.

[Nick Carter]

Where's Jeff White this morning? Probably left early for one of his hikes. Night and day are all one to Jeff.

[Cole Adams]

I suppose we really should have checked at Jeff's cabin to be certain the women are all right.

[Nick Carter]

Why shouldn't they be?

[Cole Adams]

Well, with Sam Big Eagle prowling around, it might have been a good idea to check.

[Nick Carter]

I think it's more likely he's waiting for us here in the cave. Hey, look, there's a light up ahead.

[Cole Adams]

You're right. What do you suppose that is?

[Nick Carter]

Some kind of a trick. We better go slow.

[Cole Adams]

It's in the same big chamber where we were attacked yesterday.

[Narrator/Announcer]

What?

[Nick Carter]

A lantern lying on the path and.

[Cole Adams]

There'S someone beside it.

[Nick Carter]

Might Sam Biggie or. No, he's been strangled.

[Narrator/Announcer]

In just a moment, we'll return to today's adventure with Nick Carter, master detective. But first, now, here a Mutual minute. A large portion of the responsibility for keeping the American public the best informed in the world belongs to radio newscasters, commentators and analysts. On Mutual. You'll find veteran newsmen in every category who are experts in their field and who take their responsibility to you, the listener, with utmost seriousness. Whether you Prefer a fast 5 minute digest of the big headlines of the moment or thoughtful, penetrating and informed commentary, Mutual is your network for news as you like it and when you like it. Wednesday evenings, Eric Fuller, Lewis Jr, Gabriel Heater, Frank Edwards and Ed Pettit with full quarter hours of news, as well as Bill Henry in his famed five minute capsule. And the daytime favorite, Robert F. Hurley, heard every Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening. And Hazel Markell brings the woman's point of view from the nation's capital each Tuesday and Thursday evening. These are but several of the Mutual names for news. Hear them regularly over most of these same stations. Now back to the case of the haunted burial cave. Today's adventure with Nick Carter. The body of the murdered guide has been brought out of the cave. And Cole Adams has gone to tell his wife and Patsy. Outside the cave entrance, Nick and Farrell examine the body.

[Nick Carter]

How long do you think he's been dead, Mr. Carter? I'd say not more than an hour. Well, then the killer may still be in the cave. This is possible, although it's more likely he got out before we started in. That's Cole's coat Sam's wearing. I'd recognize it anywhere. Yeah, they had Cole's rifle and landed with him too. Strange about the lantern, don't you think? What do you mean? Well, seems to me that if I'd killed someone, I wouldn't go away and leave a lantern burning beside the body unless. Unless I wanted to call attention to the murder.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Hello. Back from the cave so soon?

[Nick Carter]

Oh, good morning, Jeff. There's been an accident.

[Narrator/Announcer]

An accident? Is someone hurt?

[Nick Carter]

Someone's dead. We found the body when we started into the cave.

[Narrator/Announcer]

An awful shock for poor Mrs. Adams.

[Nick Carter]

Aunt Neva wasn't with us. Cole is going to tell her and Ms. Bowen about it now.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Oh, well, I'm glad she was spared the firsthand shock. After yesterday, it would have been too much.

[Nick Carter]

Mr. White, you haven't asked us who was murdered.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I assumed it was the Indian.

[Nick Carter]

Yes, that's right. He was strangled to death.

[Narrator/Announcer]

That accounts for his disappearance yesterday.

[Nick Carter]

No, it doesn't. He came back to the camp during the night. He's killed early this morning.

[Narrator/Announcer]

How can you know that?

[Nick Carter]

He stole Cole's coat and rifle and lantern. Oh, by the way, Mr. White, you must have left camp very early this morning.

[Cole Adams]

Yes, it was very early.

[Nick Carter]

I couldn't sleep, so I went down to the lake.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I find it soothing to listen to the water.

[Nick Carter]

I see. Well, shall we join Adams and the women at the cabin, Mr. Carter? Yeah. I want to arrange for another expedition into that cave.

[Mrs. Adams]

But I can't understand why Sam Big Eagle should have been murdered.

[Cole Adams]

Maybe it was to frighten the rest of us away.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I'm no sleuth, Mr. Carter, but mightn't the Indian have been killed because he knew too much?

[Nick Carter]

You mean, perhaps he Knew who'd attacked Mr. Adams earlier? Yes. But why didn't he tell us?

[Mrs. Adams]

He might have been paid to keep quiet. Why, yes. And then the murderer arranged to meet him in the cave to make a payment and killed him instead.

[Nick Carter]

Mr. Adams, has it occurred to you that there may be other entrances to the cave?

[Cole Adams]

Well, it's very likely. A cave system as complex as this one would be almost certain to have another opening or other openings on the surface. But we haven't located any of them as yet.

[Nick Carter]

Do you want me to go into.

[Narrator/Announcer]

The village to get the deputy sheriff?

[Nick Carter]

Oh, yes. Yes, if you will, Mr. Farrell, it'll take me all day. That means I can't possibly get him back here before late afternoon tomorrow.

[Narrator/Announcer]

It's a pity we haven't a telephone.

[Mrs. Adams]

Well, I think we should all agree that no one is to go into that dreadful cave again until Kevin gets back with the deputy sheriff.

[Nick Carter]

Sorry, Mrs. Adams. I can't make such a promise. Does that mean you intend to go back into the cave, Mr. Carter? I haven't any choice. I've got to go into that cave to find an answer to this riddle.

[Mrs. Adams]

Well, when do you mean to go.

[Nick Carter]

In that, Mrs. Adams? Must be a secret between Miss Bowen and me.

[Mrs. Adams]

Misses Adams seems to be asleep.

[Nick Carter]

So do the men.

[Commercial Announcer]

Then I will be able to slip.

[Mrs. Adams]

Away to the cave without anyone knowing we've gone.

[Nick Carter]

No, no, no, no, Patsy. That'll defeat my purpose. Your purpose? Yeah. The killer must hear us leave. There's no point in our going into the cave.

[Adam Graham]

Oh.

[Nick Carter]

So as we go out, I'll just close this cabin door a little too loudly.

[Narrator/Announcer]

There.

[Mrs. Adams]

You think that'll be heard, Nick?

[Nick Carter]

By the person listening for it?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Adams]

And now we go to the cave.

[Nick Carter]

Yes, but not too quickly. We want to allow our killer plenty of time to set his trap.

[Mrs. Adams]

I. I don't think we were followed into the cave, Nick.

[Nick Carter]

I didn't expect to be. I'm sure the killer has a private entrance.

[Mrs. Adams]

Well, if. If there is someone waiting in here to kill us, Nick. Doesn't this lantern make us an awfully good target?

[Nick Carter]

No, Patsy, the lantern isn't important.

[Mrs. Adams]

Oh, it is to me. Golly, I'd hate to be in here in the dark. It's bad enough even with Aladdin.

[Nick Carter]

Oh, downplant, sir. I stay down flat.

[Mrs. Adams]

Aladdin. I dropped it and it went out. Now we can't see who's shooting at us.

[Narrator/Announcer]

That's the way I wanted it.

[Nick Carter]

That.

[Mrs. Adams]

That sounds like Jeff White.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Now you two are in the dark just as I am. That means we're evenly matched, Carter. In the cave, a blind man has the same chance you do.

[Nick Carter]

You better give yourself up, White.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Give myself up?

[Adam Graham]

No.

[Cole Adams]

I'm going to kill you.

[Narrator/Announcer]

It may take time, Carter, but I'm safely hidden behind a big rock. I can be very patient. I'm going to kill you just as surely as I killed the others. In just a moment, we'll return for the conclusion of today's adventure. With Nick Carter, Master Detective. But first, now, here a mutual minute. Remember the song Accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative. That's a pretty good idea. Generally speaking, it's always easy to find something to gripe about.

[Nick Carter]

But.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Well, maybe we'd find a lot more to sing about. If we only started to think for a minute about the future. For instance, the facts. Well, that we have more reason to believe in our country's capacity for development and progress. Than ever before. America is still a young country, still expanding, still growing physically, economically, and in the realm of new ideas and new sciences. The infants, the children and the young people of today can look forward to a tremendous period, an exciting period, one of hope and promise. And there are cold, hard facts to prove this. We believe in those facts, in the promise they hold for America's future. And the advertisers who use the time and facilities of the world's largest network believe in them too. This message has been brought to you as a public service. Now for the conclusion of the case of the haunted burial cave. Today's adventure with Nick Carter. Nick and Patsy wait tensely in the total blackness of the cave while the blind killer crouches behind a big rock. I'm between you and the entrance, Carter. You can't escape and you can't hit me behind this rock. I know every crevice in this cave that only a blind man could know it.

[Nick Carter]

Is this the way you trapped your.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Wife from the other man?

[Nick Carter]

White?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yes. He was going to take Muriel away, so I tricked him into coming here where I have the advantage. Then I kill them just as I'm going to kill you.

[Nick Carter]

Are you? We're hidden in a recess in the wall, so we're protected too. And we can be just as patient as you.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Nick.

[Mrs. Adams]

You must have woeded him. Sounds as if he dropped his gun.

[Nick Carter]

Yeah. Here, I'll strike a match.

[Mrs. Adams]

He's down and there's his gun. But Nick, how did you hit him in the dark?

[Nick Carter]

His keys gave him away, Patsy. When he moved out from behind the rock to get a better shot at us, that keychain he wore was just like the bell on a cat.

[Cole Adams]

Jeff White certainly had me fooled.

[Mrs. Adams]

So he killed his wife and the man she planned to run away with.

[Nick Carter]

That's right, Mrs. Adam. Since White recovered consciousness, he's given me the whole story. He tricked him into a rendezvous in the cave and then, in the total darkness, killed them both.

[Mrs. Adams]

The other man put up a fight, didn't he, Nick?

[Nick Carter]

He must have. Fancy. Those empty shells I found on the path that first day must have been from his gun. Jesus. He crouched there as we did last night and fired at White. But not even White can fire as accurately as you can at a sound, Mr. Carter.

[Cole Adams]

Well, then that scrolling on the cave wall near the spot where you found the shells must have been made by White's wife.

[Adam Graham]

Mm.

[Mrs. Adams]

She started to scratch her name N u r the first part of Muriel. But she must have been killed before she could finish it.

[Nick Carter]

After White killed them, he took their bodies to the inner burial chamber.

[Mrs. Adams]

He must have felt sure they'd never be discovered.

[Nick Carter]

Yes, but then he let the story leak out that Mrs. White had deserted him for another man. Everyone felt very sorry for White. And that was the end of it. Until we showed up here prepared to explore that cave. Yes, but you'd given White no warning you were coming, so he couldn't move the bodies. Consequently, he had to frighten you away. And that's all he meant to do at first, just scare you off.

[Mrs. Adams]

Of course, he didn't know that my husband is the stubborn sort who doesn't frighten easily.

[Cole Adams]

Well, I guess my calling you into the case, Mr. Carter must have really panicked White.

[Nick Carter]

Had Sam Big Eagle found the bodies. Is that why White strangled him? No. Big Eagle was murdered because he was wearing the coat he'd stolen from Mr. Adams.

[Cole Adams]

What's my coat got to do with.

[Nick Carter]

Smelled of mothballs, remember? White had to depend on sounds and odors for identification.

[Mrs. Adams]

So he killed Big Eagle thinking It was Mr. Adam.

[Narrator/Announcer]

That's right.

[Nick Carter]

And he gave himself away when he came into the camp afterwards. Remember, Mr. Farrell, his first reaction to news that there'd been a death was what a shock It'll be for Mrs. Adams.

[Mrs. Adams]

Because he thought he'd killed Coal.

[Nick Carter]

That's right. See, when he realized that Mr. Adams couldn't be frightened off, he decided to kill him to stop further exploration. I imagine he hoped to point suspicion at the Indian guide. What a shock it must have been for him to discover that he'd killed the wrong man. Another thing which pointed to White was the lantern left burning beside the body. Your reaction, Mr. Farrell, was normal. He couldn't understand why a killer would have left the lantern burning and White.

[Mrs. Adams]

Simply wasn't aware of the light.

[Nick Carter]

Well, Mr. Adams, now that the bodies of Mrs. White and the other man have been recovered, there's no reason you shouldn't go ahead with your expirations. This burial cave wasn't haunted by the ghosts of ancient Indians, but by a ruthless killer who feared discovery.

[Adam Graham]

Foreign.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Detective is produced and Directed by Jock McGregor. Copyrighted by street and Smith Publications Incorporated. It is presented each week at the same time in cooperation with a Mutual Network by Dr. Scholl XenoPads, World famous relief for corns, calluses, bunions and sore toes. Lon Clark is starred as Nick. Charlotte Manson is featured as Pat Pizza. Others in today's cast were Arnold Moss, Gertrude Warner, Bob Haig, John Brewster and George Felton. Today's script by John McGreevey this program is fictional and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead or to actual places is purely coincidental. This is Jack O'Reilly suggesting you join us again next week for the Case of the Accusing Blood. Another implant intriguing transcribe adventure with Nick Carter, Master detective. This program came from New York.

[Nick Carter]

This is the mutual broadcasting system.

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Adam Graham]

Hi, this is andrew from otrwesterns.com I wanted to invite you to come take a look at our site where we put out podcasts of old time radio westerns. Check us [e-mail] you're listening to the Great detectives of Old Time Radio with Adam Graham. Now let's get back into the show. Welcome back. Well, this episode does have a pretty strong 1950s feel to it in a lot of ways. Certainly the music used is a lot more consistent with that era as well as the style of the announcements. And I thought the middle one, just saying, hey, we're confident that things are going to get better. And that's our commercial message. That one was interesting. And of course we had the reference to searching for uranium, which was a big focus in the atomic age and you find some in the late 40s that reference uranium, but it becomes bigger as you get into the 1950s. The part at the end where Nick Carter puts his and Patsy's life in danger in order to capture the crook, that wasn't something that we heard in the wartime Nick Carter episodes, but in the post war 1940s era that was actually pretty common for this series. So I hope you enjoyed that. And I do have hope that we'll eventually hear more Nick Carter episodes coming into circulation. Radio Gold Index lists more than 300 episodes of Nick Carter which at some time or another existed and which I hope continue to exist and will someday be digitized, Though I don't know if we'll ever hear an episode quite as late in the series run as this one, though they do list several episodes from 1949 and 1950. So here's hoping that we eventually get to hear some of those. Now our News on season 10 and what you're going to hear on Tuesdays during season 10. And I'm pleased to announce the only really brand new series that we will be doing next season will be Standby for Crime. So those will be on Tuesdays and then we are going to have some revisits of series where there's new circulating episodes. We have three series with newly circulating episodes and we'll feature those and that will be it after Standby for Crime. So no new additional series in season 10. Alright now, listener comments and feedback. And I have a tweet from Eric who tweets me along with two other podcasters, YouTubers. He writes, Hey y'. All. Tagging you because I feel at varying degrees your media is heavy on pause editing. The thread has a blurb from an article about leaving in some silence so those who view your media can process the information. I do appreciate the feedback, Eric, and I will admit that I can be a little bit over aggressive in removing some pauses. Now I will admit that I edit out some pauses just because I'm not actually pausing. I struggle sometimes to follow the advice of the great Steve Smith who portrayed Red Green on Canadian television, and his advice that when your mind goes blank, hit the mute button. Because oftentimes I'm not pausing. I'm going umm. And so I want to cut the ums. But I will note that you really don't want to leave a whole lot of dead air. But you know, half second or something to think. I think that's an important area, you know, not to, you know, go crazy on. But I want to be sure it flows smoothly but yeah, that it does sound natural rather than like everything's just clipped together really fast. So I appreciate the feedback and I'll take that under consideration. Alright, that'll be all for now. Join us back here next week for Security Agent usa and tomorrow it's another episode of Rocky Jordan. In the meantime, send your comments to BoxThirt.net follow us on Twitter @RadioDetectives and become one of our friends on Facebook, Facebook.com RadioDetectives and remember, you can become one of our Patreon support.GreatDetectives.net From Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.

[Nick Carter]

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[Narrator/Announcer]

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[Nick Carter]

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[Adam Graham]

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[Narrator/Announcer]

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[Adam Graham]

Bright Eye Berries got a feisty receiver energy up an apple, your classic do it all tight end, soft pillowy, packed with protein and easy enough for Gronk.

[Nick Carter]

To grab from the freezer.

[Adam Graham]

Whether you're on the couch, driving to the tailgate or heading to the locker room, new Morning Uncrustable Sandwiches are the MVP of snacks. Your new Sunday kickoff ritual starts here with new Morning Uncrustable sandwiches packed with 12 grams of protein.

[Commercial Announcer]

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