Stand by for Crime: The Light (Encore) (EP4882)

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Episode: Stand By for Crime: The Light (Encore) (EP4882)

Date: January 6, 2026
Host: Adam Graham
Main Cast: Chuck Morgan, Carol Curtis, Pappy Mansfield, Dr. Robert Burden, Ivan/Snide/John Sims
Episode Original Air: Stand By for Crime - "The Light" (last of the American run, featuring Howard McNear)

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Episode Overview

In this riveting mystery from the "Stand By for Crime" series, Chuck Morgan—a radio newscaster—finds himself investigating a series of suspicious plane crashes, one of which claims the life of his close friend, government scientist Joe Stanley. As Chuck chases a cryptic clue ("the light") uttered by the co-pilot before his death, he and his secretary Carol Curtis become entangled in a high-stakes plot involving a deadly invention, a sinister agent, and the moral fallout of scientific ambition gone awry. The suspenseful narrative unfolds with sharp banter, clever clues, and a dramatic confrontation at a lonely hilltop oil well.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. Inciting Incident—The Plane Crash

• [04:08–06:40] Chuck narrates: While seeing Joe Stanley off at the airport, the plane—Flight 182—crashes moments after takeoff. Co-pilot Jenkins' dying words are "The Light."

“This was the biggest news story of the year. The fourth disaster of its type within six weeks, 68 people died as a result of that last crash…”
—Chuck Morgan (06:40)

2. Investigation Begins

• [07:18–08:41] Chuck consults his boss, Pappy Mansfield, connecting the repeated crashes and the co-pilot’s clue to a suspicious, recently-patched oil derrick on a hill near the flight path.

“You’re basing this cockeyed theory…on the co-pilot saying something about a light before he died?”
—Pappy Mansfield (07:18)

• Chuck requests the station’s top engineer, Bill Adams, for technical help; Pappy reluctantly agrees.

3. Following the Trail—The Briefcase

• [09:27–12:29] Chuck and Carol split up—Carol to check the ownership of the oil well (city records), Chuck to investigate the crash site where he meets a shifty workman, “John Sims” (Ivan/Snide), who’s suspiciously possessive of a briefcase suspected to have belonged to Joe Stanley.

• Chuck seizes the briefcase after a tense exchange.

“Suppose you open up the case and show me what’s inside, huh?”
—Chuck Morgan (11:06)

4. A Threatening Turn—Retaliation and Kidnapping

• [13:25–16:45] The antagonist breaks into Chuck’s apartment, threatening him for the briefcase. A tense phone call confirms Carol has been kidnapped, but she cleverly slips Chuck a clue—mentioning her city hall errand—to lead him to her location.

“Listen, Chuck, it’s important that I get away from here so I can give you that information you asked me to get for you. At City Hall this afternoon. You want to know about that, don’t you?”
—Carol Curtis (16:37)

5. The Inventor and His Deadly Device

• [19:35–23:44] Chuck tracks the kidnappers to the oil well, fights off a guard, and finds Carol seemingly unharmed. She introduces him to Dr. Robert Burden, a well-intentioned but naive inventor.
• Dr. Burden unveils his invention: an “electric current interceptor”—essentially, a ray gun capable of disabling plane engines mid-flight. He confesses to testing it on planes at Ivan’s behest, oblivious to the human casualties.

“It took me years to perfect this instrument… I thought the government would be interested in an invention that could put an airplane out of commission merely by projecting a ray toward one of its motors.”
—Dr. Robert Burden (21:27)

6. The Antagonist Unmasked and the Climax

• [24:03–26:11] Ivan and his accomplice burst in, intent on silencing Chuck and Carol.
• Dr. Burden realizes the consequences of his invention and stands up to Ivan, using the ray gun to disable his hearing aid. In the chaotic standoff, both the ray gun and Ivan’s weapon are deployed—with tragic consequences.

“Drop that gun, Ivan. From now on, I’m giving the orders.”
—Dr. Robert Burden (25:29)

7. Resolution & Reflection

• [26:34–28:40] Back at the studio, Chuck explains that the secrets of the ray gun died with Dr. Burden, who was fatally shot as he used his invention to kill Ivan. Chuck and Carol discuss how he realized Ivan was a phony—because Ivan claimed never to have heard of Chuck, a local celebrity.

“Well, he said he’d never heard of me.”
—Chuck Morgan (28:24)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Carol and Chuck’s Banter at the Airport:
  “Anytime a female can find something sad enough to weep about, she’s in her element.”
  —Chuck Morgan (05:34)
  (Classic 1940s-style banter establishing their relationship.)

• On Relentlessness and Instinct:
  “For once in your life, why not get with me? I’ve never let you down.”
  —Chuck Morgan to Pappy (07:42)

• Carol’s Intelligence as a Sidekick:
  Carol’s subtle clue during her forced phone call:
  “It’s important that I get away from here so that I can give you that information you asked me to get for you. At City hall this afternoon.”
  —Carol Curtis (16:37)
  (Signals to Chuck her location under captors’ noses.)

• The Inventor’s Tragic Blindness:
  “Worried? The passengers? Well, that’s funny. I never thought of that.”
  —Dr. Robert Burden (23:05)
  (A chilling moment of scientific detachment.)

• Showdown at the Oil Derrick:
  “You are quite right. It would be stupid of me to shoot you. But there are other ways.”
  —Ivan (15:28)

  “From now on, I’m giving the orders.”
  —Dr. Robert Burden, turning his own invention against Ivan (25:29)

• Chuck’s Modest “Tell”:
  “Well, he said he’d never heard of me.”
  —Chuck (28:24)
  (His tip-off that Ivan was no legitimate workman.)

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Host Commentary & Insights

• [29:01] Adam Graham shares thoughts on why Chuck is suspicious of Ivan, noting the trope that everyone in Chuck’s world would know him as a famous newscaster, so not being recognized was a red flag.

• Adam also calls out Carol's intelligence and resourcefulness, highlighting her clever clue and vital partnership, stating,
  “It’s still pretty clear that he cares about her and that she is a very intelligent, smart character...She communicated the clue quite cleverly.”

• Adam reflects on the plausibility of the "ray gun" and its role in the story, noting that while it strains credulity, it fits the era’s pulp tone.

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Important Timestamps

• Opening & Setup – [01:43–04:08]
• Crash & Clue Established (“The Light”) – [06:23–06:40]
• Chuck confronts Ivan/Sims at the crash site – [10:22–12:29]
• Carol's kidnapping phone clue – [16:19–16:45]
• Dr. Burden reveals the ray gun – [21:04–23:00]
• Final showdown & invention's secret lost – [24:03–26:34]
• Chuck’s and Carol’s epilogue conversation – [27:37–28:40]
• Adam Graham commentary – [29:01+]

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Final Thoughts

“Stand By for Crime: The Light” is a quintessential piece of golden-age detective radio, blending noir mystery with speculative technology and wry humor. The writing leans into snappy dialogue and high stakes, and Carol comes across as resourceful and sharp, not just a damsel to be rescued. The inventive “ray gun” plot provides suspense and a touch of science fiction, while the final moral reckoning (“I must do something about those passengers. I simply must.” —Dr. Burden) adds gravitas to the pulp action.

Adam Graham’s commentary at the close summarizes the series’ strengths—its character dynamics and clever narrative twists—while giving fans a behind-the-scenes appreciation for the show's enduring appeal.

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For Old Time Radio aficionados or mystery newcomers, this episode combines action, deduction, and postwar anxieties in a brisk, entertaining package.

Transcript

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[Adam Graham]

Our week of Howard McNear continues. Remember that all information and offers in the episode are not valid unless currently featured on the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio website as these programs were recorded many years ago. But now enjoy a great Old Time Radio detective program featuring Howard McNear. Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it to me. Box13greatdetectives.net Follow us on Twitter at radiodetectives and become one of our friends on Facebook. I do want to encourage you to check out our other podcast and today I'm going to focus on the amazing world [e-mail] and this is where I do a lot of short series of stuff that's not related to detective programs and we do actually have a summer series. It will be starting around Memorial Day that will be over there and it will be chosen by our Patreon supporters. In the meantime we've been doing a sort of holiday series with programs being released on every holiday so you can listen to our specials for Washington's birthday, Lincoln's birthday, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter and as well as checking out our old series that we've done including great movies over radio, Les Miserables With Orson Welles and and the Summer of Bogard. And that's [e-mail] Other podcasts include our war series, World War II series, the war the war.greatdetectives.net and the video version of this podcast at videotheater.great detectives.net as well as my comics podcast, the classic comics [e-mail] alright, well, now it's time for today's episode of Standby for Crime, the last of the American Run. The title of today's episode is the Light.

[Chuck Morgan]

Stand by for crime. Hi, Chuck Morgan speaking. You know, being a newscaster in a radio station the size of Kop puts me in line to meet a lot of interesting people. Like Joe Stanley for instance. Joe was a scientist, had been employed by the government to work on some strictly hush hush project, the hydrogen bomb. I think he came out here to the coast once or twice a year to huddle with airplane factory executives, etc. And usually on such occasions he bunked with me. Last week Joe was here for a couple of days. Thursday morning, Carol Curtis, my secretary, and I drove him out to the airport to catch an early plane back to Washington. We said our goodbyes, watched the plane taxi down the Runway for its takeoff. Well, glamour puss, let's get started back.

[Carol Curtis]

No, wait, Chuck. I want to see the plane take off.

[Chuck Morgan]

Why, it's going to look like every other plane you've ever seen taken off.

[Carol Curtis]

Well, I don't care. I want to see it just the same. Besides, Joe wouldn't like it if we left.

[Chuck Morgan]

Now listen, if I know Joey sound asleep by this time, Flight 182 now.

[Pappy Mansfield]

Loading at Gate 3 for Kansas City, Chicago and New York.

[Carol Curtis]

You know, Chuck, there's something sad about saying goodbye.

[Chuck Morgan]

You like it though?

[Carol Curtis]

Yes, it's a. What do you mean I like it?

[Chuck Morgan]

Anytime a female can find something sad enough to weep about, she's in her element.

[Carol Curtis]

I'm not weeping.

[Chuck Morgan]

No, but you will before we get away from here.

[Carol Curtis]

Oh, is that so?

[Chuck Morgan]

Is that so? Hey, here comes Joe's plane now.

[Carol Curtis]

Oh, there's Joe. Look, Joe. Chuck, he's waving goodbye. Joe. Wave to him, Chuck.

[Chuck Morgan]

Nonsense, you didn't see Joe.

[Carol Curtis]

I did too. He was sitting way up front in that little egg shaped room.

[Chuck Morgan]

That was the pilot, stupid.

[Carol Curtis]

It was not. I guess I can tell a pilot when I see one.

[Chuck Morgan]

Okay, glamour puss, you win. Now come on, let's get going.

[Carol Curtis]

Chuck, wait.

[Chuck Morgan]

What's the matter?

[Adam Graham]

Now?

[Carol Curtis]

Joe's plane, it's Coming back.

[Chuck Morgan]

Oh, no. He's just circling around. He's trying to.

[Carol Curtis]

Hey, what are the motors? Stop.

[Chuck Morgan]

I see it.

[Carol Curtis]

Something's wrong.

[Chuck Morgan]

This was the biggest news story of the year. The fourth disaster of its type. Within six weeks, 68 people died as a result of that last crash. 50 of them were aboard the plane. 18 of them occupied an apartment house into which the plane had plunged. The co pilot, a man named Jenkins, lived long enough to be rushed to a hospital just before he spoke two words. The light. Well, it wasn't much to go on, but my friend Joe Stanley had died in that crash, and I was beginning to get ideas. That's why I took my problem to Pappy Mansfield, owner of Station kop.

[Pappy Mansfield]

Now, let me get this straight, Chuck. You're basing this cockeyed theory of yours on the fact that the co pilot said something about a light before he died, Is that right?

[Chuck Morgan]

Plus the fact that this has been the fourth plane crash of its kind within two months under exactly the same circumstances.

[Pappy Mansfield]

Coincidence.

[Chuck Morgan]

And the fact that Joe's plane. On Joe's plane. Get this, Pappy. Two motors conked out. Can you call that coincidence? Those motors were checked and tested before the plane left the field.

[Pappy Mansfield]

I don't know.

[Chuck Morgan]

Look, Pappy, for once in your life, why not get with me? I've never let you down.

[Pappy Mansfield]

But this theory of yours that someone is trying to.

[Chuck Morgan]

Take a look at this map of the city. All right, here's the airport.

[Dr. Robert Burden]

Yeah.

[Chuck Morgan]

Over here is the apartment house the plane crashed into. So now over here is a hill. Now, there's nothing on that hill but an abandoned oil well. Practically every outgoing plane passes over that area.

[Pappy Mansfield]

And you're not going to tell me that someone is up there with a Buck Rogers Reagan?

[Chuck Morgan]

Stop papping a. Look, the derrick in that old well has been patched up in the shack at the bottom has been lived in.

[Pappy Mansfield]

Oh, dozens of abandoned whale shacks are occupied by hobos.

[Chuck Morgan]

And you think that one of these hobos fixed up that tumbled down derrick just for the exercise? Well. Well, all right, Pappy, there's something wrong about the whole thing. Look, it'd be a terrific scoop for KOP if we smelled out the raft.

[Pappy Mansfield]

Well, what do you want me to do?

[Chuck Morgan]

There's an engineer out of the KOP transmitter named Bill Adams. Bill knows more about electronics than Einstein. Let me have him for a few.

[Pappy Mansfield]

Days and close down the station. We couldn't operate without Bill.

[Chuck Morgan]

You won't be operating anyhow if someone scoops me on this story.

[Pappy Mansfield]

Well, okay, boy. We Both knew when we began this conversation that you'd get what you wanted. Only get this. Unless you return Bill Adams to the transmitter in good health.

[Chuck Morgan]

Well, I'll renovate. That was Pappy. Always pulling the hard to get along with act and then giving in. I picked up Carol and we drove out to where Kop's transmitter is located and had a talk with Bill Adams. Bill wanted to be helpful, but it was obvious he had his doubts about my sanity. Anyway, I gave him my ideas and asked him to check into them. But we came away from there with the feeling that we were wasting the time of Pappy Mansfield's highest paid senior engineer.

[Carol Curtis]

You know something, Chucky boy? I think Bill Adams thought you were nuts.

[Chuck Morgan]

Well, maybe I am, but they thought the Wright brothers were, too.

[Carol Curtis]

But they're older than you, though, right?

[Chuck Morgan]

Remark?

[Carol Curtis]

I think so. Well, where do we go from here?

[Chuck Morgan]

You are going to the city hall and find out who owns that oil well.

[Carol Curtis]

And where are you going?

[Chuck Morgan]

I'm going out to that demolished apartment house and have a look around.

[Carol Curtis]

Then that's where I'm going.

[Chuck Morgan]

Oh, no, you're not.

[Carol Curtis]

Oh, yes, I am.

[Chuck Morgan]

Oh, no, you're not. For the first time that I can remember, I won an argument with Glamour Purse. This was accomplished by driving to City hall and practically pushing her out of the car. It was late in the afternoon when I reached the apartment house. The workmen were just quitting for the day. I parked the jalapeno and walked around back. A man in Levi's wearing a hearing aid was putting some carpenter tools back into a box. Hello there. You one of the workmen?

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

Yes. Just quitting for the day.

[Chuck Morgan]

Place was pretty badly damaged, wasn't it?

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

About $50,000.

[Chuck Morgan]

I say, that's quite a hunk of money. You know, there was a friend of mine on that plane.

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

Oh, a passenger?

[Chuck Morgan]

Yeah. I don't suppose any of you workmen picked up any of the personal effects of the passengers?

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

Personal effects? Why, no, not that I know of.

[Chuck Morgan]

The workman hadn't expected the question. As a matter of fact, I hadn't intended to ask it. It was just something to say. His eyes darted to the toolbox. I took a couple steps forward. There was a briefcase lying on the ground behind it. This yours?

[Dr. Robert Burden]

Yes.

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

Give it to me.

[Chuck Morgan]

Wait a minute. Now. Some initials here. J.S. what's your name, friend?

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

Man. Yeah, it's a John. John Sims.

[Chuck Morgan]

That's quick thinking. Suppose you open up the case and show me what's inside, huh?

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

Why should I do that?

[Chuck Morgan]

Because I'M telling you to.

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

Telling or asking?

[Chuck Morgan]

Telling.

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

Well, I'm telling you to mind your own business.

[Chuck Morgan]

Take it easy, friend.

[Carol Curtis]

Let go my arm.

[Chuck Morgan]

I'll let go your arm, but first let you and me have a little talk, huh?

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

I cannot open the briefcase. I haven't got the key.

[Chuck Morgan]

Where is it?

[Post University Advertiser]

It's home.

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

I.

[Dr. Robert Burden]

Forget it.

[Chuck Morgan]

What's in the briefcase?

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

Look, friends, I'm a draftsman.

[Dr. Robert Burden]

Ask the form.

[Chuck Morgan]

Where is he?

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

He left 10 minutes ago. Let go my arm.

[Chuck Morgan]

Okay, sure. There you are. So far, Mr. Simpson, everything you've told me is very convenient. He left the key home, the foreman's gone for the day, and somehow it doesn't figure. That briefcase looks exactly like the one my friend Joe Stanley was carrying when I put him aboard the plane.

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

All briefcases look alike. Who are you, anyway?

[Chuck Morgan]

The name's Morgan. Chuck Morgan. I'm a newscaster on station kop.

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

I never heard of you.

[Chuck Morgan]

Fair enough. You know something, Simpson? I think you're a liar.

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

Why you don't try that again.

[Chuck Morgan]

This time I might break your arm.

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

Then give me my briefcase.

[Chuck Morgan]

Nah, I'm sticking my chin out on this one. I'm taking the briefcase with me and.

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

I am swearing out a warrant for robbery.

[Chuck Morgan]

That's your privilege. Here's my card. The address is right there. If you're on the level, you can have me arrested. If you're not, I'll have you arrested. I took the briefcase and drove to kop. Kara was there and she had my script ready for the 7:00 clock broadcast.

[Carol Curtis]

Here's your script. What in the world is that?

[Chuck Morgan]

It's a briefcase. I just bought it from a secondhand dealer. He assures me that it contains a small fortune and $100 banknotes.

[Carol Curtis]

But, Chuck, it looks like.

[Chuck Morgan]

Never mind what it looks like. Stash it away someplace until I can get hold of a locksmith. What did you find out about the oil well?

[Carol Curtis]

The well and the hill are owned by Belfast Oil Corporation. They quit it eight years ago. Right now, all of their operations are in Texas.

[Chuck Morgan]

Good. Get hold of Bert Mayfair, police headquarters. And tell him I want him on hand when the locksmith opens that briefcase.

[Carol Curtis]

Okay. But, Chuck, where did you really get it?

[Chuck Morgan]

From an ugly man in blue overalls who's now swearing out a warrant for my arrest. When I did my 7 o' clock newscast and I told the listening public that at the 11 o' clock program, I hope to have some information that would break the airplane crash story wide open. But I wasn't anywhere near as confident as I sounded. I half expected to see the man in the Levi's and a police officer waiting for me in the corridor outside the studio. But the corridor was empty. So was my office. Not even Cara was around to needle me about the bragging I'd done over the air. So I drove out to my apartment on Wilshire. It was dark by now. I unlocked the door, went in. Before I could snap on the wall switch, somebody beat me to it. I spun around and found the ugly man in the blue overall standing across the room. This time he had a gun in his hand.

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

All right, Mr. Morgan. I'll take the briefcase. Now, the conclusion of standby for crime.

[Chuck Morgan]

Well, the guy wasn't pretending this time. The gun was all he needed to give his face that ratty expression that it came by so naturally. So it's you again, rat face. What's the matter? Are you afraid the cops would put your name in that warrant instead of mine?

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

My time is short, Mr. Morgan. Hand over the briefcase.

[Chuck Morgan]

There's a smart remark. How am I going to hand over something I haven't got?

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

Then you will tell me what you did with it.

[Chuck Morgan]

Will I?

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

Or I will take measures to force you to tell.

[Chuck Morgan]

Such as shooting me, I suppose. Don't be a jerk, Simpson, or Sampson or whatever your name is. Shooting me would mean you'd never find the briefcase.

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

You are quite right. It would be stupid of me to shoot you. But there are other ways.

[Chuck Morgan]

Oh?

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

In exactly one minute, your telephone will ring. The man at the other end will have some interesting information for you. About Ms. Carol Curtis.

[Chuck Morgan]

About Ke. That one won't work either, buster. I left Carol at the studio 15 minutes ago.

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

Did you think, Mr. Morgan, was it before or after your broadcast that you last saw Ms. Curtis?

[Chuck Morgan]

That was B. Simpson. If you touch that girl, I'll break.

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

You'll do nothing, Mr. Morgan. Nothing at all.

[Chuck Morgan]

Leave the phone alone.

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

This time I'm giving the orders. Hello? 3486. Right. Put on the line, please. Very well, Mr. Morgan.

[Chuck Morgan]

Hello?

[Carol Curtis]

Hello, Chuck? Chuck, is that you?

[Chuck Morgan]

Carol, where are you?

[Carol Curtis]

I can't tell you, Chuck. They'll kill me if I do.

[Chuck Morgan]

Why, those dirty.

[Carol Curtis]

It's no use, Chuck. You can never find me. Please give them the briefcase. Please, Chuck.

[Chuck Morgan]

Yeah, yeah, sure, sure, I'll give it to them. But what about you?

[Carol Curtis]

As soon as they have the briefcase, they let me go. They promised.

[Chuck Morgan]

They promised, huh?

[Carol Curtis]

Listen, Chuck, it's important that I get away from here so that I can give you that information you asked me to get for you. At City hall this afternoon. You want to know about that, don't you?

[Chuck Morgan]

I stood there holding the phone, trying to get the numbness out of my brain. Congratulations. If Carol was so afraid of being killed, why didn't she tell her captors where the briefcase was? It was. She was had stashed it away. Why did she keep reminding me about the information she got in at City Hall? She'd already told me about that, and suddenly I had it. The oil well. That's where she was being held prisoner. She was trying to tell me by referring to the information. Ah, smart girl, that blonde secretary of mine. Yeah, so what? I could still feel Rat Face's gun pressed into my back. Then I thought of something. The phone I was holding had an extension cord on it. I'd had it installed when I moved into the place because sometimes I like to walk around while doing my telephoning. I hung up slowly. My fingers curled around the heavy base of the phone.

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

Well, Mr. Morgan?

[Chuck Morgan]

Right, Mr. Simpson. Well, Buster, that takes care of you. Buster seemed to be sleeping peacefully and deeply. I got a couple of belts, buckled them around his arms and legs and found him away in my bedroom closet, for future reference. Then I got into the car and headed for the oil well. It was about 8:15 when I turned into the side road that skirted the base of the hill. I'd parked the jalopy and started up toward the summit when the thunder. The thought occurred to me that maybe I should have had the police in on this. It looked like it was going to be big stuff. But Carol was up there and in trouble. And I hadn't had time to do much thinking about anything else. As I got up toward the top of the hill, I realized how deserted this spot was. It was a strange feeling below. The lights of the great sprawling city spread out endlessly. Her head, the skeleton like framework of the well Derek was etched against the sky in ghostly silhouette. Then a figure stepped in my path and I caught a glint of steel. I lunged forward, wrapped my arms around his legs. He fell over my shoulder and I had him in a fireman's grip. I spun around and let go. He landed about 10ft down the slope and cracked his head against a rock. Well. That was number two. The next one might not be so easy to handle. The whale shack was just ahead. Light streamed from beneath its floor. I stopped and considered the situation. I'd be crazy to go barging in. Or would I? Wasn't it the last thing anyone would expect? Then the problem was solved. For Me. The door opened and Carol Curtis stood framed against the light.

[Dr. Robert Burden]

Carol.

[Carol Curtis]

Hello, Chuck, Is that you? We thought we heard someone.

[Chuck Morgan]

Carol was looking at me steadily, a look that told me to watch myself.

[Carol Curtis]

Come on in. I want you to meet someone.

[Chuck Morgan]

You all right, grammar puss?

[Carol Curtis]

Oh, yes, I'm fine. Chuck, I want you to meet Dr. Robert Burton. He's an inventor.

[Dr. Robert Burden]

Well, how do you do, Mr. Morgan? How do you do? Ms. Curtis has been telling me about you. What an interesting life you have. I've heard your broadcast many, many times. Yes, I have.

[Chuck Morgan]

Thanks. Look, Bama, Dr.

[Carol Curtis]

Burden was kind enough to untie me after that other man left. But of course, I had to promise not to run away.

[Chuck Morgan]

Yeah, sure, but what other man are you talking about?

[Carol Curtis]

Well, his name, I. I think is Snide or something like that.

[Dr. Robert Burden]

No, a dreadful person, really dreadful. Not at all like Ivan.

[Chuck Morgan]

Who's Ivan?

[Dr. Robert Burden]

Ivan. Ivan stole. He's the gentleman who pays me to stay here and work on my invention. He pays me well, too.

[Chuck Morgan]

Does this Ivan happen to be a man with blond hair who wears a hearing aid?

[Carol Curtis]

Yes.

[Dr. Robert Burden]

Yes, indeed. That's exactly who he is. It was Ivan who repaired the derrick. Oh, you know him, then?

[Chuck Morgan]

Yeah, a telephone acquaintance.

[Carol Curtis]

Dr. Burdon has been telling me about his invention. How about explaining it to Chuck, Dr.

[Vrbo Advertiser]

Burden?

[Dr. Robert Burden]

Well, I don't know. Ivan might object, and after all, it is his invitation.

[Carol Curtis]

But if Ivan doesn't know, it won't make any difference. And Chuck would never tell anyone. Would you, Chuck?

[Chuck Morgan]

Cross my heart and hope to die. What kind of an invention is it, Doctor?

[Dr. Robert Burden]

Well, it's an electric current interceptor.

[Chuck Morgan]

A what?

[Dr. Robert Burden]

Here, let me show you. Now, this is a small model. It looks like a pistol, doesn't it? Well, you see, I pointed at that electric bulb over there and puff, the bulb is out.

[Chuck Morgan]

Well, I hope.

[Carol Curtis]

Quite a gadget, isn't it, Chuck?

[Chuck Morgan]

Yeah, quite. How do you do it, Doc? With mirrors or something?

[Dr. Robert Burden]

Oh, no, no, no, no, no, not at all. It took me years to perfect his instrument. As a matter of fact, if it hadn't been driven, I might never have succeeded.

[Chuck Morgan]

How's that?

[Dr. Robert Burden]

Well, you see, during the last war. I get the idea, but I had to have financing. Naturally, I went to the government. I thought they might be interested in an invention that could put an airplane out of commission merely by projecting a ray toward one of its motors.

[Chuck Morgan]

Yeah, I should think they might.

[Dr. Robert Burden]

What happened, Mr. Morgan? Believe it or not, no one would listen to me. Oh, I went back time and time again and finally, well, finally I became sick.

[Carol Curtis]

Doctor, Burden spent three years in a sanitarium.

[Chuck Morgan]

Ah, I see. And when you were released, you met Ivan.

[Adam Graham]

Yeah.

[Dr. Robert Burden]

Oh, fine man, Ivan. He felt that if I came up here to live away from everybody, I could work on my invention undisturbed. Ivan arranged for the turning on of the power and the telephone. Just everything. I've been quite comfortable.

[Chuck Morgan]

When did you get this invention of yours working?

[Dr. Robert Burden]

Well, about six weeks ago. Oh, I tell you, it was exciting. Ivan was most pleased.

[Chuck Morgan]

I bet. How did you test it out?

[Dr. Robert Burden]

Why, on a plane coming out of the airport, of course. That's why Ivan wanted me to come up here in the first place. He said we'd have plenty of subjects to work on. Oh, and he was right too. Oh, I tell you, it was a thrilling moment when I put that first plane out of commission. Oh, it made a tremendous crash.

[Chuck Morgan]

Yeah, yeah, I read about it. Weren't you worried about the passengers?

[Dr. Robert Burden]

Worried? The passengers? Well, that's funny. I never thought of that.

[Chuck Morgan]

I'll bet Ivan did. Particularly the planes on which important government officials were riding. By the way, Doctor, I suppose you have the plans of your invention down on paper.

[Dr. Robert Burden]

That's a funny thing. Ivan keeps asking me about them. Why should I put them down on paper when they're all right here in my head?

[Chuck Morgan]

No reason at all. Except if you ever wanted to sell the idea.

[Dr. Robert Burden]

No, no, but I don't siree. I've had my experience of that sort of thing and no one would listen to me. Just as long as Ivan will pay me, I'm gonna stay right here and.

[Chuck Morgan]

Continue to blast planes out of the sky.

[Carol Curtis]

Does that seem Quite right, Dr. Burden? With all those passengers aboard?

[Dr. Robert Burden]

Yes, those passengers. It's funny, I never thought about them before. I must do something about Anna. I really must.

[Pappy Mansfield]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Chuck Morgan]

Well, in the meantime, Dr. Burden, suppose you tell me just.

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

All right, Morgan. Get your hands up. Snipe.

[Chuck Morgan]

Close the door. Well, well, if it isn't Rat Face and the gentleman who rode down the hill.

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

A more permanent fate is in store for you, my friend. Doctor, what have you told these people?

[Dr. Robert Burden]

No, no, no, no, Ivan. No, no, you mustn't be displeased. I merely told them about my invention.

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

You fool. Now it will become necessary for me to dispose of both of them.

[Chuck Morgan]

I'll bet that would break your heart. You're so unused to killing people. After all, only 68 died because of that last crash.

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

So two more won't make any difference, will it, Mr. Morgan?

[Chuck Morgan]

Except that you still don't know where the briefcase is.

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

The Secret of the ray gun is, I think, far more important than the plants contained in the briefcase.

[Chuck Morgan]

You see what kind of a rat your friend is, Doctor? He's going to murder Ms. Curtis and me and then continue to induce you to blast planes out of the sky, killing innocent people.

[Carol Curtis]

Yes, Yes.

[Dr. Robert Burden]

I must do something about those passengers. I simply must. Now, Ivan, do you suppose that we could arrange something?

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

You will continue to experiment with the plays I suggest, or there will no longer be funds to permit you to continue working on your inventions.

[Dr. Robert Burden]

No, no, no, no.

[Chuck Morgan]

I'm making a murderer out of you, Doctor, without your realizing it. This man is an agent.

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

Shut up, Snipe. Take care of the girl. All right, Morgan, this is it.

[Post University Advertiser]

Stop.

[Chuck Morgan]

A change had come over Dr. Burton. His voice held a commanding quality of vibrance that made us all turn and stare at him. Ivan's gun was still trained on me, but he turned his face to watch. The doctor Snide had taken two steps toward Carol and stopped.

[Dr. Robert Burden]

Drop that gun, Stucker. From now on, I'm giving the orders.

[Chuck Morgan]

Ivan didn't answer. None of us did. We all saw what was happening. Dr. Burden had his ray gun pointed at the electric hearing aid on Ivan's head. I could see the indecision on Ivan's face. He was wondering whether he could swing his gun away from me and get the doctor in time to save himself. I could almost. He could almost hear the thoughts racing through his mind. He knew that Dr. Burton had suddenly had a change of heart. If he, Ivan, didn't succeed in shooting the gun out of the inventor's hand, it would mean the ruination of all his beautiful plans. It would mean the gas chamber for himself. And Snide, there was only one course open for him.

[Dr. Robert Burden]

Drop that gun, I said.

[John Sims / Ivan / Snide (Antagonist)]

I'll drop it.

[Chuck Morgan]

Carol and I got back to the studio in time for the 11 o' clock broadcast. It made a good story. Of course, everyone wanted to know about the ray gun. But Ivan's bullet had entered the inventor's heart at the precise instant the ray gun had sent Ivan to his ancestors via the hearing aid. So the secret died with Dr. Burden. And all I know is what the doctor told me and what I saw. Yeah, sure, there were plenty of skeptics. Even in this age of atomic weapons and jet planes and radar projected electric impulses, a lot of people weren't ready to accept ray guns. However, if no more motors conk out after planes leave the airport, it'll be pretty conclusive proof that Dr. Burden did invent some sort of Electric current interceptor. Well, anyway, time will tell that story. There was one question that Carol wanted cleared up, so she caught me about it at lunch the next day. Mmm.

[Carol Curtis]

This chicken salad is delicious.

[Chuck Morgan]

I personally go for hamburgers.

[Carol Curtis]

You can eat chicken salad for once and like it.

[Chuck Morgan]

Need it, but I won't like it.

[Carol Curtis]

Say, Chuck, there must have been some reason why you're convinced that Ivan was a phony.

[Chuck Morgan]

Well, as a matter of fact, it was. However, I'd rather not mention it.

[Carol Curtis]

Rather not mention it? But why?

[Chuck Morgan]

I just rather not, that's all.

[Carol Curtis]

Chuck Morgan, you tell me.

[Chuck Morgan]

Oh, no. Glamour purse. You might think me immodest.

[Carol Curtis]

Oh, fiddle dee dee. Come on, make with the words.

[Adam Graham]

Well, if.

[Chuck Morgan]

If you insist.

[Carol Curtis]

I do.

[Chuck Morgan]

All right. You remember when I first met Ivan at the apartment house?

[Carol Curtis]

Yes.

[Chuck Morgan]

Well, I explained to him that I was Chuck Morgan, newscaster at kop.

[Adam Graham]

Well.

[Chuck Morgan]

Well, he said he'd never heard of me.

[Dr. Robert Burden]

Oh, ch.

[Post University Advertiser]

This episode is brought to you by Peloton. The new cross training series balances your workouts with 15 plus workout types for endless movements on and off your equipment. Stay motivated with weekly personalized plans that guide you from beginner to expert, and push past your goals with routines tailored to you. Get the new cross training series terms apply.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. I actually enjoyed that episode quite a bit. Now, in defense of Chuck's belief that the guy was a phony, you have to keep in mind that he lives in a world where, you know, practically everywhere they go. Everybody's heard the newscast, everybody knows who he is, you know, even people hundreds of miles away that, you know, he drives to me. Oh, yeah, Chuck Morgan, we've heard your newscast. And then to run into somebody who says, never heard of you. Well, I can understand the suspicion. I mean, it would be like if Mr. Keen came up to somebody and they said, Mr. Keen?

[Dr. Robert Burden]

Who?

[Adam Graham]

Never heard of a Mr. Keen. And then you could just immediately say spy saboteur, because he is, after all, the famous investigator. A neat trick with the phone extension cord. And it does show that. Unfortunately, one downside of our modern technology with Bluetooth headsets and such is it leaves us with less handy lethal weapons, you know, in case we're being kidnapped by spies. Also, I think this episode was a good illustration about what that listener was emailing us last week when he talked about the relationship between Chuck and Carol. Because even though there are things that we don't like about it, from a modern perspective, it's still pretty clear that he cares about her and that she is a very intelligent, intelligent, smart character. Who is able to, you know, really play a good role in the story and better than a lot of other female sidekicks. You saw that in the way that she communicated the clue, you know, quite cleverly and in a way that the kidnappers wouldn't pick up on. And then you could also see it in the way that Chuck rushed to a rescue and only when he got there, thought that he should have called the police because he was in such a hurry to save her because he cared so much, which is really state sweet, even if it's not particularly wise and all that. Plus we get another appearance by Howard McNear. So overall, that's a nice, that's a nice end. And I have to say that despite some of the problems in the series that I've overall enjoyed it. It's not been the best series we played, but I've enjoyed it more than some others like that strong guy. And certainly we've had some interesting discussion. I hope you've enjoyed it. And even if you didn't, I hope you enjoy what we have in store for you over the coming weeks. All right, well, that will actually do it for now. I do want to thank our Patreon Supporter of the day and thank you so much to Doug. Doug has been one of our patreon supporters since October 2016, and he's currently supporting us at the Detective Sergeant level of $7.14 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Doug. Next week we'll be back and we'll be presenting an episode of a series we played previously, but it's a newly circulated episode of Dr. Tim Detective. And then tomorrow we'll be bringing you Rocky Jordan. In the meantime, send your comments to box Thirteenreatetectives.net follow us on Twitter at radiodetectives and become one of our friends on facebook.com RadioDetectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.

[Post University Advertiser]

This episode is brought to you by Peloton. The new Cross Training series balances your workouts with 15 plus workout types for endless movements on and off your equipment. Stay motivated with weekly personalized plans that guide you from beginner to expert and push past your goals with routines tailored to you. Get the new Cross Training series term supply.

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[Adam Graham]

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[Chuck Morgan]

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[Adam Graham]

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[Chuck Morgan]

You can end your day knowing they've got safety well in hand. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click granger.com or just stop.

[Adam Graham]

By Granger for the ones who get it done.