WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:23.960 Tonight, Columbia brings you as guest star Hollywood's genial character actor, Stuart 00:23.960 --> 00:25.320 Irwin. 00:25.320 --> 00:31.040 The story is by the author of The Thin Man and the Maltese Falcon, Dashiell Hammett, 00:31.040 --> 00:36.400 one of America's acknowledged masters of the art of suspense. 00:36.400 --> 00:40.880 Suspense is compounded of mystery and intrigue and dangerous adventure. 00:40.880 --> 00:46.920 In this series, our story is calculated to intrigue you, to stir your nerves, to offer 00:46.920 --> 00:52.800 you a precarious situation and then withhold the solution until the last possible moment. 00:52.800 --> 00:58.840 Tonight, for instance, Stuart Irwin plays for us a pleasant, easygoing assistant chief 00:58.840 --> 01:08.200 of police in a small town who to everyone's surprise was instrumental in solving a murder. 01:08.200 --> 01:16.080 We trust that with this tale we shall keep you in suspense. 01:16.080 --> 01:31.320 For suspense tonight, CBS presents Stuart Irwin in Two Sharp Knives by Dashiell Hammett. 01:31.320 --> 01:39.000 Shortly after 2 a.m., a poker game had just broken up at Ben Cameliz, the doctor coroner 01:39.000 --> 01:40.880 of Dearwood City. 01:40.880 --> 01:46.680 Scott Anderson, Dearwood's chief of police, and Wally Shane, his assistant, were standing 01:46.680 --> 01:47.680 outside. 01:47.680 --> 01:50.000 Where are we heading for, Scott? 01:50.000 --> 01:53.160 Let's walk across the street, Wally. 01:53.160 --> 01:54.160 Railroad station. 01:54.160 --> 01:57.880 Gee, aren't you afraid of the excitement, Chief? 01:57.880 --> 02:01.920 Don't you think that watching the 211 come in is apt to be too much for your blood pressure? 02:01.920 --> 02:04.920 Well, if it is, Wally, you can always carry on. 02:04.920 --> 02:08.040 You've been a pretty good imitation of an assistant to me for some time now. 02:08.040 --> 02:09.040 Yeah? 02:09.040 --> 02:10.040 Yeah. 02:10.040 --> 02:12.800 If anything happens to me, you'd be the chief. 02:12.800 --> 02:13.800 Don't worry. 02:13.800 --> 02:16.560 It won't be any heart of a you to fool the publicus, Chief. 02:16.560 --> 02:17.560 Hi, Homer. 02:17.560 --> 02:18.560 Howdy, Scott. 02:18.560 --> 02:19.560 Hi, Wally. 02:19.560 --> 02:22.920 Kind of late for you boys to be around, ain't it? 02:22.920 --> 02:23.920 No, I don't know. 02:23.920 --> 02:26.640 We sort of figured we'd put the town to bed tonight. 02:26.640 --> 02:27.640 How's the 211? 02:27.640 --> 02:28.640 On time? 02:28.640 --> 02:29.640 Right on the nose. 02:29.640 --> 02:33.680 She ought to be blowing for the bend in just about three seconds now. 02:33.680 --> 02:34.680 Yep. 02:34.680 --> 02:35.680 What'd I tell you? 02:35.680 --> 02:36.680 It's her now. 02:36.680 --> 02:37.680 You expecting anyone on her, Scott? 02:37.680 --> 02:40.280 No, Elmer, I'm not expecting anyone. 02:40.280 --> 02:46.000 Wally and I just thought we'd come over and watch a commendant, so. 02:46.000 --> 02:49.320 You know, Elmer, you never can tell whom I'd get off, though. 02:49.320 --> 02:56.280 Dick Turpin, Henry Morgan, Jesse James, Jack the Ripper, six officers of Murder Incorporated, 02:56.280 --> 02:57.280 or even your Aunt Gussie. 02:57.280 --> 02:58.280 You guess you're right, Wally. 02:58.280 --> 02:59.280 Well, here she be. 02:59.280 --> 03:06.280 Pardon me, James, but I gotta be rolling the wagon out to the baggage car. 03:06.280 --> 03:08.280 Hey, Wally. 03:08.280 --> 03:10.280 Hey, Wally. 03:10.280 --> 03:12.280 Hi, Elmer. 03:12.280 --> 03:13.280 How's it going? 03:13.280 --> 03:14.280 Can't complain. 03:14.280 --> 03:15.280 Can't complain, Cap. 03:15.280 --> 03:19.280 Well, maybe you can, Elmer, but I sure can if you hold us up with that freight there. 03:19.280 --> 03:20.280 You got much more? 03:20.280 --> 03:21.280 Nope. 03:21.280 --> 03:22.280 This is the last piece now. 03:22.280 --> 03:23.280 There you are, Cap. 03:23.280 --> 03:24.280 All done. 03:24.280 --> 03:25.280 Okay. 03:25.280 --> 03:26.280 See you tomorrow, Elmer. 03:26.280 --> 03:27.280 Wally. 03:27.280 --> 03:28.280 Wally. 03:28.280 --> 03:29.280 Hey, Scott. 03:29.280 --> 03:37.280 Can you see what I see? 03:37.280 --> 03:40.280 What do you mean, do I see the man who just got off that train? 03:40.280 --> 03:41.280 The answer's yes. 03:41.280 --> 03:44.280 Well, he's a ringer for the guy we got a picture of. 03:44.280 --> 03:45.280 That is the guy. 03:45.280 --> 03:46.280 Well, then, what do we do now? 03:46.280 --> 03:47.280 We take him, Wally. 03:47.280 --> 03:49.280 My car's at the corner of the alley. 03:49.280 --> 03:50.280 But, Scott. 03:50.280 --> 03:51.280 Go tail him up the street. 03:51.280 --> 03:52.280 Okay, Scott. 03:52.280 --> 03:54.280 There he goes now, over toward the taxi stand. 03:54.280 --> 03:55.280 Come on. 03:55.280 --> 03:56.280 Let's follow him. 03:56.280 --> 03:59.280 Hello, Farman. 03:59.280 --> 04:00.280 Huh? 04:00.280 --> 04:01.280 Why? 04:01.280 --> 04:04.280 I don't believe I... 04:04.280 --> 04:07.280 You're Mr. Farman, aren't you? 04:07.280 --> 04:08.280 Yes, I am. 04:08.280 --> 04:09.280 Philadelphia? 04:09.280 --> 04:10.280 Yes. 04:10.280 --> 04:13.280 I'm Scott Anderson, Chief of Police. 04:13.280 --> 04:14.280 What? 04:14.280 --> 04:15.280 Chief of... 04:15.280 --> 04:16.280 What's happened to her? 04:16.280 --> 04:17.280 Happened to who? 04:17.280 --> 04:18.280 Oh, oh, no, you don't. 04:18.280 --> 04:19.280 Let me go. 04:19.280 --> 04:20.280 You think you can pull that sort of stuff with me? 04:20.280 --> 04:21.280 You're very much a stick, huh? 04:21.280 --> 04:22.280 Okay, now let me get a crack at that mug. 04:22.280 --> 04:23.280 Oh, no, no, no. 04:23.280 --> 04:24.280 Wait a minute. 04:24.280 --> 04:25.280 Wait a minute. 04:25.280 --> 04:26.280 Hold it, Wally. 04:26.280 --> 04:27.280 There, Farman. 04:27.280 --> 04:28.280 All right. 04:28.280 --> 04:29.280 I'm sorry. 04:29.280 --> 04:32.280 For a moment there, I thought you weren't really a policeman. 04:32.280 --> 04:33.280 Thanks. 04:33.280 --> 04:35.280 Nice to know I look almost human. 04:35.280 --> 04:37.280 Yes, it was silly of me. 04:37.280 --> 04:38.280 I'm sorry. 04:38.280 --> 04:41.280 Well, let's get going now before anything else happens. 04:41.280 --> 04:43.280 Okay, Farman, get in the car. 04:43.280 --> 04:45.280 I'll drive, Scott. 04:45.280 --> 04:47.280 In you go. 04:47.280 --> 04:59.280 Are you taking me to police headquarters? 04:59.280 --> 05:00.280 That's right. 05:00.280 --> 05:01.280 What for? 05:01.280 --> 05:02.280 Philadelphia. 05:02.280 --> 05:05.280 I don't think I understand. 05:05.280 --> 05:10.280 You understand that you wanted in Philadelphia for murder, don't you? 05:10.280 --> 05:11.280 Murder? 05:11.280 --> 05:12.280 Why, that's ridiculous. 05:12.280 --> 05:13.280 That's... 05:13.280 --> 05:14.280 Who told you that? 05:14.280 --> 05:17.280 Well, it's a cinch he didn't make it up. 05:17.280 --> 05:18.280 But wait, there must be something... 05:18.280 --> 05:19.280 Take it easy now. 05:19.280 --> 05:27.280 This way we'll get down to headquarters and I'll show you what I mean. 05:27.280 --> 05:35.280 Now then, here's the circular on Lester, Farman. 05:35.280 --> 05:39.280 It was sent out by the Trans America Detective Agency in Philadelphia. 05:39.280 --> 05:42.280 Take a look at it. 05:42.280 --> 05:48.280 $1,500 reward for the arrest and conviction of Lester Farman, 05:48.280 --> 05:51.280 alias Lloyd Fields, alias J.D. Carpenter, 05:51.280 --> 05:58.280 for the murder of Paul Frank Dunlap in Philadelphia on December 8, 1942. 05:58.280 --> 06:00.280 It's a lie. 06:00.280 --> 06:01.280 You're Farman, aren't you? 06:01.280 --> 06:02.280 Oh, yes, but... 06:02.280 --> 06:03.280 That's your picture on the circular, isn't it? 06:03.280 --> 06:05.280 Oh, yes, yes, but I... 06:05.280 --> 06:08.280 Well, Scott, I see you and Wally got Farman, huh? 06:08.280 --> 06:09.280 Oh, hello, George. 06:09.280 --> 06:10.280 You lucky stiffs. 06:10.280 --> 06:13.280 Now you two split a grand and a half reward. 06:13.280 --> 06:15.280 I've never seen nothing like it. 06:15.280 --> 06:20.280 You know, if it ain't vacations in New York at the city's expense, it's reward, though. 06:20.280 --> 06:27.280 George, someday, if you don't remember you're the jailer around here, not the D.A., 06:27.280 --> 06:30.280 you're going to be wearing your teeth on the outside of your lips, 06:30.280 --> 06:32.280 and I'll be the guy who arranged them that way. 06:32.280 --> 06:33.280 Savvy? 06:33.280 --> 06:35.280 Just cause you caught a guy who's hot in Philadelphia. 06:35.280 --> 06:37.280 It's a lie. It's a frame up. 06:37.280 --> 06:38.280 You can't prove anything. 06:38.280 --> 06:39.280 There's nothing to prove. 06:39.280 --> 06:41.280 I never killed anybody. I won't be framed. 06:41.280 --> 06:43.280 Take it easy, Farman. Take it easy. 06:43.280 --> 06:44.280 You're wasting your breath on us. 06:44.280 --> 06:46.280 Save it for the Philadelphia police. 06:46.280 --> 06:48.280 We're just holding you for them. 06:48.280 --> 06:49.280 But it's not the police. 06:49.280 --> 06:50.280 It's the Transamerica Detective... 06:50.280 --> 06:52.280 We turn you over to the Philadelphia police. 06:52.280 --> 06:54.280 Mr. Anderson, I... 06:54.280 --> 06:55.280 I... 06:55.280 --> 06:59.280 Well, then there's nothing I can do now? 06:59.280 --> 07:01.280 There's nothing any of us can do till morning. 07:01.280 --> 07:04.280 We'll have to search you now, then we won't bother you anymore till they come for you. 07:04.280 --> 07:06.280 Wally, you look through his bag. 07:06.280 --> 07:07.280 I'll see what he's got in his pockets. 07:07.280 --> 07:08.280 Okay, Scott. 07:08.280 --> 07:13.280 Well, all he's got on him are some business cards, 07:13.280 --> 07:17.280 a few letters, a hundred and... 07:17.280 --> 07:20.280 a hundred and sixty dollars, 07:20.280 --> 07:22.280 a book of checks in the Philadelphia bank, 07:22.280 --> 07:24.280 and a few odds and ends. 07:24.280 --> 07:25.280 What's with the bag, Wally? 07:25.280 --> 07:27.280 Not much. A couple of changes of clothes, 07:27.280 --> 07:29.280 some toilet articles, and... 07:29.280 --> 07:32.280 Oh, here's a 38. Loaded. 07:32.280 --> 07:34.280 Pretty little thing, isn't it? 07:34.280 --> 07:36.280 Okay, put those things in what I got in the vault. 07:36.280 --> 07:38.280 All right, George, you can take Perma now and lock him up. 07:38.280 --> 07:40.280 This is the most ridiculous thing I... 07:40.280 --> 07:42.280 Come along, darling, come on. 07:42.280 --> 07:45.280 We ain't had nobody in our little Husco for three days running. 07:48.280 --> 07:49.280 There you are. 07:49.280 --> 07:51.280 Now you'll have it all to yourself. 07:51.280 --> 07:52.280 Just like a sweet of the Ritz. 07:52.280 --> 07:53.280 What time? 07:53.280 --> 07:55.280 Go on in you go. 07:55.280 --> 07:57.280 I tell you, you're making a mistake. 07:57.280 --> 08:00.280 I demand to be allowed to get in touch with my lawyer. 08:01.280 --> 08:04.280 Hey, how about you boys cut me in on a little of that blood money, huh? 08:04.280 --> 08:07.280 Oh, sure, George, sure. 08:07.280 --> 08:10.280 I'll forget all about that two and a half you've been owing me for three months. 08:10.280 --> 08:12.280 Make Perma as comfortable as you can, George. 08:12.280 --> 08:13.280 Take good care of me. 08:13.280 --> 08:15.280 He's valuable, huh? 08:15.280 --> 08:18.280 Yeah, now, it was some bum that didn't mean a nickel to you. 08:18.280 --> 08:22.280 George, any day now I'm gonna forget that your uncle is county chairman 08:22.280 --> 08:25.280 and throw you back in the gutter just to see how high you'll bounce. 08:25.280 --> 08:26.280 Now, none of that. 08:26.280 --> 08:28.280 Oh, Scott, I didn't mean nothing. 08:28.280 --> 08:29.280 That's all, George. 08:29.280 --> 08:31.280 Never mind the rest. 08:31.280 --> 08:33.280 I'm going home now. 08:33.280 --> 08:35.280 If anything's urgent, I can reach there. 08:35.280 --> 08:39.280 But get this, I don't want to be disturbed unless it is urgent. 09:00.280 --> 09:02.280 Scott, this is Wally. 09:02.280 --> 09:03.280 Yeah, yeah. 09:03.280 --> 09:05.280 Yeah, Wally, what time is it? 09:05.280 --> 09:08.280 It's five after six in the morning, and you'd better come right down, Scott. 09:08.280 --> 09:10.280 That fellow Furman's hung himself. 09:10.280 --> 09:12.280 What? Furman hung himself? 09:12.280 --> 09:14.280 Yep, by his belt from a window bar. 09:14.280 --> 09:15.280 Dinner and a macro. 09:15.280 --> 09:16.280 I'll be right in, Wally. 09:16.280 --> 09:18.280 Phone Doc Camsley and tell him I'll pick him up on my way down. 09:18.280 --> 09:20.280 No doctor's gonna do Furman any good, Scott. 09:20.280 --> 09:21.280 Well, it won't hurt to have him looked at. 09:21.280 --> 09:23.280 You'd better phone the clinic court at Douglasville, too, 09:23.280 --> 09:24.280 and file a routine report. 09:24.280 --> 09:25.280 Already did that. 09:25.280 --> 09:27.280 And once more, hold on to your seat. 09:27.280 --> 09:29.280 The DA's on his way over in person. 09:29.280 --> 09:30.280 The DA? 09:30.280 --> 09:32.280 I'll be there before you hang up, Wally. 09:45.280 --> 09:46.280 Come on in, Chief. 09:46.280 --> 09:49.280 Ted Carroll, the DA's here, and he's plenty hot under the collar. 09:49.280 --> 09:50.280 What's he burning about? 09:50.280 --> 09:53.280 Oh, he's just mad, running up quite a phone bill on us, too. 09:53.280 --> 09:56.280 Been calling Philadelphia every couple of minutes since he got here. 09:56.280 --> 09:58.280 What kept you so long? 09:58.280 --> 10:00.280 I couldn't get my car started. 10:00.280 --> 10:02.280 Now let's go in and see the old buzzard. 10:04.280 --> 10:05.280 Hello, Ted. 10:05.280 --> 10:07.280 Listen, Scott, what is all this? 10:07.280 --> 10:08.280 Well, what? 10:08.280 --> 10:10.280 There's some funny business going on here. 10:10.280 --> 10:11.280 What's funny about it? 10:11.280 --> 10:13.280 The man hangs himself. 10:13.280 --> 10:14.280 Just another case of suicide. 10:14.280 --> 10:16.280 Sure, it was suicide. 10:16.280 --> 10:18.280 But I just telephoned Transamerica. 10:18.280 --> 10:20.280 Dug a guy out of bed there. 10:20.280 --> 10:22.280 And he said they'd never sent out circulars on Furman. 10:22.280 --> 10:25.280 Didn't know about any murder he was wanted for. 10:25.280 --> 10:28.280 All they could tell me about him was he used to be a client of theirs. 10:29.280 --> 10:30.280 You don't know what to say, Ted. 10:30.280 --> 10:31.280 I don't either. 10:31.280 --> 10:34.280 Oh, a fine chief of police you are. 10:34.280 --> 10:36.280 What on earth kept you so long? 10:36.280 --> 10:37.280 Car star. 10:37.280 --> 10:38.280 Game as quick as a cord. 10:38.280 --> 10:40.280 Aren't you so crabby, Ted? 10:40.280 --> 10:41.280 Nothing. 10:41.280 --> 10:43.280 I guess it's just the district attorney, you know. 10:43.280 --> 10:45.280 Oh, now, come, come, gentlemen. 10:45.280 --> 10:48.280 Nobody'd know you two are staunch admirers of each other. 10:48.280 --> 10:50.280 Okay, Wally. 10:50.280 --> 10:53.280 Tell me, what do you make of it? 10:53.280 --> 10:55.280 Well, there's plenty wrong, Scott. 10:55.280 --> 10:57.280 First, that Transamerica thing. 10:57.280 --> 11:00.280 They never sent out circulars about Furman. 11:00.280 --> 11:02.280 And now, get this. 11:02.280 --> 11:05.280 I talked to the Philly police just before you came in. 11:05.280 --> 11:08.280 There wasn't even any Paul Frank Dunlap murdered. 11:08.280 --> 11:09.280 There wasn't? 11:09.280 --> 11:10.280 No. 11:10.280 --> 11:13.280 What did you get out of Furman before you let him hang himself? 11:13.280 --> 11:14.280 But he was innocent. 11:14.280 --> 11:15.280 Didn't you grill him? 11:15.280 --> 11:17.280 Didn't you find out what he was doing in town? 11:17.280 --> 11:18.280 Wally, didn't you? 11:18.280 --> 11:19.280 What for? 11:19.280 --> 11:21.280 He admitted he was Furman. 11:21.280 --> 11:22.280 The description fitted him. 11:22.280 --> 11:24.280 The photograph was him. 11:24.280 --> 11:27.280 The Transamerica Detective Agency's supposed to be on the level, ain't it? 11:27.280 --> 11:29.280 Philadelphia wanted Furman. We didn't. 11:29.280 --> 11:30.280 But Scott... 11:30.280 --> 11:32.280 I sure, Ted, if I'd known he was gonna hang himself. 11:32.280 --> 11:36.280 Yeah, but then if your aunt wore pants, she'd be your uncle. 11:36.280 --> 11:39.280 He said Furman had been a client of Transamerica. 11:39.280 --> 11:41.280 Did they tell you what the job they did for him was? 11:41.280 --> 11:43.280 His wife left him a couple of years ago, 11:43.280 --> 11:46.280 and he had them hunting for her for five or six months. 11:46.280 --> 11:47.280 But they never found her. 11:47.280 --> 11:49.280 They're sending a man up here tonight to look things over. 11:49.280 --> 11:50.280 Yeah, huh? 11:50.280 --> 11:51.280 Yes. 11:51.280 --> 11:54.280 Well, I'm going out and grab a quick bite. 11:54.280 --> 11:56.280 But I might as well tell you, Scott, 11:56.280 --> 11:58.280 there's going to be trouble over this. 11:58.280 --> 11:59.280 I know that, Ted. 11:59.280 --> 12:02.280 It usually is when somebody dies in a jail cell. 12:16.280 --> 12:20.280 Well, so what's become of that 1,500 fish now, huh, Scott? 12:20.280 --> 12:22.280 What happened there last night, George? 12:22.280 --> 12:25.280 Nothing. Furman hung himself. 12:25.280 --> 12:26.280 Did you find him? 12:26.280 --> 12:27.280 Uh-huh. 12:27.280 --> 12:29.280 Wally took a look in here to see how things was 12:29.280 --> 12:31.280 before he went off duty, and he found him. 12:31.280 --> 12:33.280 You were asleep, I suppose. 12:33.280 --> 12:35.280 Well, I was catching a nap, I guess, 12:35.280 --> 12:38.280 but everybody does that sometimes, Scott. 12:38.280 --> 12:41.280 Even Wally sometimes when he comes in off his beat between rounds. 12:41.280 --> 12:44.280 Yeah, but I always wake up when the phone rings or anything. 12:44.280 --> 12:45.280 Oh, sure. 12:45.280 --> 12:48.280 Well, suppose I had been awake. 12:48.280 --> 12:50.280 Can't hear a guy hanging himself, can you? 12:50.280 --> 12:53.280 Did Doc Campley say how long Furman had been dead? 12:53.280 --> 12:56.280 He'd done it about 5 o'clock, he said he guessed. 12:56.280 --> 12:58.280 Oh, you want to look at the remains, Scott? 12:58.280 --> 13:00.280 They're over at Fritz's Undertaken, Paula. 13:00.280 --> 13:01.280 Not now. 13:01.280 --> 13:02.280 Hey, and speaking of Furman, 13:02.280 --> 13:04.280 what are you going to tell the guys from Transamerica 13:04.280 --> 13:18.280 when they show up here tonight? 13:18.280 --> 13:21.280 Come in, come in. 13:21.280 --> 13:23.280 Oh, they told me I'd find you here. 13:23.280 --> 13:24.280 You're Chief Anderson, aren't you? 13:24.280 --> 13:25.280 Yes, that's right. 13:25.280 --> 13:27.280 I'm Carl Reesing, Assistant Manager 13:27.280 --> 13:29.280 of the Transamerica Detective Agency in Philadelphia. 13:29.280 --> 13:32.280 This is Mr. Wheelock, who was Lester Furman's personal attorney. 13:32.280 --> 13:33.280 Glad to know you, Mr. Reesing. 13:33.280 --> 13:34.280 How do you do, Mr. Wheelock? 13:34.280 --> 13:35.280 How do you do? 13:35.280 --> 13:37.280 I know you gentlemen are already in possession 13:37.280 --> 13:39.280 of most of the details concerning Mr. Furman 13:39.280 --> 13:42.280 from the time he arrived in Dearwood until the time of his death. 13:42.280 --> 13:44.280 But perhaps you don't know that the police 13:44.280 --> 13:46.280 of most towns in our corner of the state 13:46.280 --> 13:49.280 have also received copies of this same reward, circular. 13:49.280 --> 13:51.280 Take a look at it. 13:51.280 --> 13:56.280 I must say this circular is an excellent forgery. 13:56.280 --> 13:58.280 You're sure it's a forgery, Mr. Reesing? 13:58.280 --> 13:59.280 Oh, yes, there's no doubt about it. 13:59.280 --> 14:01.280 But it's an excellent forgery. 14:01.280 --> 14:04.280 Tell me, Mr. Wheelock, was Mr. Furman a native Philadelphian? 14:04.280 --> 14:05.280 Oh, my, yes. 14:05.280 --> 14:06.280 He was a well-known, respectable, 14:06.280 --> 14:08.280 and prosperous citizen of Philadelphia. 14:08.280 --> 14:09.280 I don't believe. 14:09.280 --> 14:12.280 In 1934, he married a 22-year-old girl 14:12.280 --> 14:15.280 named Ethel Bryan, daughter of a Philadelphia family. 14:15.280 --> 14:18.280 And the Furmans had a child? Isn't that right, Mr. Wheelock? 14:18.280 --> 14:21.280 Yes, born in 1936, but the child lived only a few months. 14:21.280 --> 14:24.280 Mr. Furman's wife disappeared after the child's death. 14:24.280 --> 14:26.280 What year was it that she disappeared? 14:26.280 --> 14:27.280 Mr. Reesing should remember that. 14:27.280 --> 14:29.280 His agency worked on the matter. 14:29.280 --> 14:31.280 Oh, I'll remember it well. 14:31.280 --> 14:33.280 Mrs. Furman disappeared in 1937. 14:33.280 --> 14:35.280 We never heard anything of her again, 14:35.280 --> 14:38.280 although Furman spent a lot of money trying to locate her. 14:38.280 --> 14:39.280 What did she look like, Mr. Reesing? 14:39.280 --> 14:40.280 Oh, in just a moment. 14:40.280 --> 14:43.280 I have a picture of her right here in my briefcase. 14:43.280 --> 14:45.280 Ah, here it is. 14:45.280 --> 14:47.280 Quite pretty, isn't she? 14:47.280 --> 14:48.280 If you care for that type. 14:48.280 --> 14:50.280 You see what you mean, Mr. Wheelock. 14:50.280 --> 14:52.280 She's attractive as that. 14:52.280 --> 14:56.280 Judging by this photo, I'd say that she was a small-featured, 14:56.280 --> 15:00.280 pretty blonde, with a weak mouth and large, 15:00.280 --> 15:01.280 somewhat staring eyes. 15:01.280 --> 15:03.280 That's an accurate enough description, all right. 15:03.280 --> 15:05.280 If you don't mind, I'd like to have a copy 15:05.280 --> 15:07.280 made of that photograph, Mr. Reesing. 15:07.280 --> 15:08.280 Oh, you can keep that one if you like. 15:08.280 --> 15:10.280 It's one that we had made up at Transamerica. 15:10.280 --> 15:12.280 Her description's on the back. 15:12.280 --> 15:13.280 Thanks. 15:13.280 --> 15:15.280 Did Furman ever divorce her? 15:15.280 --> 15:16.280 No, sir. 15:16.280 --> 15:17.280 He was a lot in love with her, 15:17.280 --> 15:19.280 and he seemed to think that the child's dying 15:19.280 --> 15:20.280 made her a little screwy 15:20.280 --> 15:22.280 so that she didn't know what she was doing. 15:22.280 --> 15:23.280 That's right, isn't it, Mr. Wheelock? 15:23.280 --> 15:25.280 That is my belief, Mr. Reesing. 15:25.280 --> 15:27.280 You said Furman had money, Mr. Wheelock. 15:27.280 --> 15:29.280 About how much did he have? 15:29.280 --> 15:31.280 And who gets it? 15:31.280 --> 15:34.280 I should say his estate will amount to perhaps 15:34.280 --> 15:37.280 half a million dollars left in its entirety to his wife. 15:37.280 --> 15:38.280 Mm-hmm. 15:38.280 --> 15:42.280 It's quite a handy sum for anyone to have, I'd say. 15:42.280 --> 15:45.280 Mr. Wheelock, everything shows that somebody 15:45.280 --> 15:47.280 framed Furman into the day with jail. 15:47.280 --> 15:50.280 That frame-up drove him to suicide. 15:50.280 --> 15:54.280 But there has to be something else, a lot else. 15:54.280 --> 15:56.280 Well, then, what are you going to do? 15:56.280 --> 15:58.280 I'm going across the street to the undertaking parlor 15:58.280 --> 16:00.280 and have a look at Furman. 16:00.280 --> 16:01.280 I'll see you later. 16:21.280 --> 16:22.280 Hello, Doc. 16:22.280 --> 16:24.280 Hi, Scott. 16:24.280 --> 16:27.280 I figured you'd come over here to the undertakers pretty soon. 16:27.280 --> 16:29.280 It's in your mind, Doc. 16:29.280 --> 16:31.280 Let's get out of this crowd. 16:31.280 --> 16:33.280 I want to tell you something. 16:33.280 --> 16:35.280 I just got rid of two guys in my office. 16:35.280 --> 16:36.280 Let's go back there. 16:36.280 --> 16:37.280 Suits me. 16:40.280 --> 16:44.280 Two of those bruises showed, Scott. 16:44.280 --> 16:45.280 What bruises? 16:45.280 --> 16:46.280 Furman. 16:46.280 --> 16:49.280 Well, up under the hair, there were two bruises. 16:49.280 --> 16:50.280 Why didn't you tell me? 16:50.280 --> 16:52.280 I'm telling you now, Scott. 16:52.280 --> 16:55.280 You weren't here when I made my examination. 16:55.280 --> 16:57.280 This is the first time I've seen you since then. 16:57.280 --> 16:59.280 Why didn't you spill the stuff about Furman's bruises 16:59.280 --> 17:02.280 when you were testifying at the inquest, then? 17:02.280 --> 17:04.280 I'm a friend of yours. 17:04.280 --> 17:07.280 Do I want to put you in a spot where people can say 17:07.280 --> 17:11.280 you drove this champ to suicide by third-degreeing him too rough? 17:11.280 --> 17:13.280 Ah, you're nuts. 17:16.280 --> 17:18.280 How bad was Furman's head? 17:18.280 --> 17:22.280 Well, Scott, that didn't kill him, if that's what you mean. 17:22.280 --> 17:25.280 There's nothing to matter with his skull. 17:25.280 --> 17:27.280 Just a couple of bruises, nobody had noticed, 17:27.280 --> 17:30.280 and unless they parted the hair. 17:30.280 --> 17:32.280 I thought you ought to know, though. 17:32.280 --> 17:35.280 Yeah. Thanks, Ben. 17:38.280 --> 17:39.280 Yes, who is it? 17:39.280 --> 17:40.280 This is Fritz, the undertaker. 17:40.280 --> 17:42.280 Listen, Scott, there's a couple of ladies over here 17:42.280 --> 17:44.280 that want to take a look at Furman. 17:44.280 --> 17:45.280 Is it all right? 17:45.280 --> 17:46.280 Who are they? 17:46.280 --> 17:48.280 I don't know them, strangers. 17:48.280 --> 17:49.280 What do they want to see him for? 17:49.280 --> 17:52.280 I don't know. Wait a minute. 17:53.280 --> 17:55.280 Scott, I'd please see him. 17:55.280 --> 17:56.280 Why do you want to see him? 17:56.280 --> 17:59.280 Well, I... I'm... his wife. 17:59.280 --> 18:00.280 Furman's wife? 18:00.280 --> 18:01.280 Yes. 18:01.280 --> 18:03.280 Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, certainly. I'll be right over. 18:03.280 --> 18:06.280 So long, Ben. I've got to go back to the undertakers. 18:06.280 --> 18:08.280 So long, Scott. 18:13.280 --> 18:14.280 Hey, Scott. 18:14.280 --> 18:15.280 What do you want, Wally? 18:15.280 --> 18:17.280 I want to talk to you a minute. 18:17.280 --> 18:19.280 Over here, where we won't be seen. 18:21.280 --> 18:22.280 Okay, what is it? 18:22.280 --> 18:24.280 A couple of dames came into Fritz's undertaking place 18:24.280 --> 18:25.280 just as I was leaving. 18:25.280 --> 18:27.280 One of them's Hotchow Randall, 18:27.280 --> 18:29.280 a babe with a record as long as your arm. 18:29.280 --> 18:31.280 She's one of that mob you had me working on 18:31.280 --> 18:32.280 in New York last summer. 18:32.280 --> 18:33.280 Does she know you? 18:33.280 --> 18:35.280 Sure, but not by my right name. 18:35.280 --> 18:36.280 She thinks I'm a Detroit rum runner. 18:36.280 --> 18:38.280 I mean, did she recognize you just now? 18:38.280 --> 18:39.280 I don't think she saw me. 18:39.280 --> 18:41.280 Anyway, she didn't give me a tumble. 18:41.280 --> 18:42.280 You don't know the other one? 18:42.280 --> 18:44.280 No, she's a blonde, kind of pretty. 18:44.280 --> 18:47.280 Okay, Wally, stick around a while, but stay out of sight. 18:47.280 --> 18:49.280 Maybe I'll be bringing these dolls back with me. 18:49.280 --> 18:51.280 Whatever you say, Chief. 18:56.280 --> 18:57.280 Oh, there you are, Scott. 18:57.280 --> 18:59.280 I wondered when you were coming. 18:59.280 --> 19:02.280 This is Mrs. Fairman, and this is Mrs. Crowder. 19:02.280 --> 19:03.280 How do you do? Hiya, Chief. 19:03.280 --> 19:04.280 They just saw the body. 19:04.280 --> 19:07.280 Mrs. Crowder? I thought your name was Randall. 19:07.280 --> 19:10.280 What do you care, Chief? I'm not hurting your town any. 19:10.280 --> 19:11.280 Don't call me Chief. 19:11.280 --> 19:13.280 You city slickers, I'm the town whittler. 19:13.280 --> 19:15.280 Thank you for letting me see him. 19:15.280 --> 19:17.280 It's all right, Mrs. Fairman. 19:17.280 --> 19:20.280 But I'll have to ask you and your friends some questions. 19:20.280 --> 19:22.280 So if you'll just come across the street to headquarters, 19:22.280 --> 19:24.280 we'll get on with the routine. 19:37.280 --> 19:40.280 Before I ask any questions, I want to tell you something. 19:40.280 --> 19:44.280 Mrs. Fairman, your husband didn't commit suicide. 19:44.280 --> 19:45.280 He was murdered. 19:45.280 --> 19:46.280 Murdered? 19:46.280 --> 19:48.280 Ah, Chief, we got alibis. 19:48.280 --> 19:50.280 We were in New York, and we can prove it. 19:50.280 --> 19:52.280 And you're likely to get a chance, Tim. 19:52.280 --> 19:54.280 What brought you down here, anyway? 19:54.280 --> 19:55.280 Murdered. 19:55.280 --> 19:57.280 Well, who's got a better right to come down here? 19:57.280 --> 19:58.280 She was still his wife, wasn't she? 19:58.280 --> 20:01.280 She's got a right to look out for her own interests, hasn't she? 20:03.280 --> 20:05.280 It reminds me of something. 20:05.280 --> 20:06.280 Excuse me a second. 20:06.280 --> 20:08.280 I've got to make a phone call in the next room. 20:08.280 --> 20:10.280 Officer Hamill speaking. 20:10.280 --> 20:11.280 This is Scott. 20:11.280 --> 20:12.280 Yes? 20:12.280 --> 20:13.280 Is Wally around? 20:13.280 --> 20:14.280 No, he's not here. 20:14.280 --> 20:17.280 He said you told him to keep out of sight. 20:17.280 --> 20:18.280 I'll find them for you, though. 20:18.280 --> 20:19.280 Right. 20:19.280 --> 20:21.280 Tell Wally I want him to go to New York tonight. 20:21.280 --> 20:22.280 Send Mason home to get some sleep. 20:22.280 --> 20:24.280 He'll have to take over Wally's night trick. 20:24.280 --> 20:25.280 Okay. 20:30.280 --> 20:31.280 I'll be right there. 20:31.280 --> 20:32.280 I'll be right there. 20:32.280 --> 20:33.280 I'll be right there. 20:33.280 --> 20:34.280 I'll be right there. 20:34.280 --> 20:35.280 I'll be right there. 20:35.280 --> 20:36.280 I'll be right there. 20:36.280 --> 20:37.280 I'll be right there. 20:37.280 --> 20:44.280 Mr. Anderson, Mr. Anderson, do you think I had anything to do with Lester's... with his death? 20:44.280 --> 20:46.280 I don't know, Mrs. Furman. 20:46.280 --> 20:48.280 I know he was killed. 20:48.280 --> 20:51.280 I also know he left you something like half a million. 20:51.280 --> 20:52.280 Wow. 20:52.280 --> 20:53.280 Dollars? 20:53.280 --> 20:54.280 Dollars. 20:54.280 --> 20:55.280 All right, Chief. 20:55.280 --> 20:56.280 Let's stop clowning. 20:56.280 --> 20:59.280 The kid here didn't have a thing to do with whatever you think happened. 20:59.280 --> 21:00.280 No? 21:00.280 --> 21:01.280 No. 21:01.280 --> 21:04.280 We read about Lester Furman committing suicide in yesterday morning's paper. 21:04.280 --> 21:07.280 And about there being something funny about it. 21:07.280 --> 21:09.280 And I persuaded her she ought to come down to deal with... 21:09.280 --> 21:12.280 Mr. Anderson, I wouldn't have done anything to hurt Lester. 21:12.280 --> 21:15.280 I left him because I wanted to leave him. 21:15.280 --> 21:18.280 I wouldn't have done anything to hurt him for money or anything else. 21:18.280 --> 21:22.280 Had I wanted money from him, I would only have had to ask him for it. 21:22.280 --> 21:23.280 That's the truth, Chief. 21:23.280 --> 21:26.280 For years I've been telling Ethel she was a chump not to tap him. 21:26.280 --> 21:27.280 But she never would. 21:27.280 --> 21:28.280 I wouldn't have hurt him. 21:28.280 --> 21:30.280 Why did you leave him then? 21:30.280 --> 21:32.280 I don't know how to say it. 21:32.280 --> 21:35.280 The way we lived wasn't the way I wanted to live. 21:35.280 --> 21:36.280 I wanted... 21:36.280 --> 21:38.280 Oh, I don't know what. 21:38.280 --> 21:42.280 Anyway, after the baby died, I couldn't stand it anymore. 21:42.280 --> 21:44.280 Excuse me. 21:44.280 --> 21:46.280 Hello? 21:46.280 --> 21:48.280 Oh, yeah, Hammer? 21:48.280 --> 21:50.280 Hmm? 21:50.280 --> 21:52.280 You gave Wally the message? 21:52.280 --> 21:55.280 Yes, yes, I want him to go to New York tonight. 21:55.280 --> 21:57.280 Okay, where is he? 21:57.280 --> 21:58.280 Home? 21:58.280 --> 22:00.280 He is home, huh? 22:00.280 --> 22:01.280 Okay, thanks. 22:01.280 --> 22:06.280 Mrs. Fuhrman, this circular that got your husband in the jail, 22:06.280 --> 22:09.280 did you ever see that picture before? 22:09.280 --> 22:10.280 No. 22:10.280 --> 22:11.280 Why, that's... 22:11.280 --> 22:12.280 It can't be. 22:12.280 --> 22:14.280 It's a snapshot I have. 22:14.280 --> 22:16.280 It's an enlargement of it. 22:16.280 --> 22:17.280 Who else has one? 22:17.280 --> 22:19.280 Nobody that I know of. 22:19.280 --> 22:21.280 I don't think anyone else could have one. 22:21.280 --> 22:22.280 Maybe still got yours? 22:22.280 --> 22:23.280 Yes. 22:23.280 --> 22:25.280 But remember whether I've seen it recently. 22:25.280 --> 22:27.280 It's with some old papers and things. 22:27.280 --> 22:28.280 I must have. 22:28.280 --> 22:31.280 Well, Mrs. Fuhrman, it's stuff like that that's got to be checked up. 22:31.280 --> 22:33.280 Neither of us can dodge it. 22:33.280 --> 22:35.280 Now, there's two ways we can play it. 22:35.280 --> 22:36.280 Yes. 22:36.280 --> 22:39.280 Mrs. Fuhrman, I can hold you here on suspicion 22:39.280 --> 22:41.280 until I have time to investigate things. 22:41.280 --> 22:45.280 Or I can send one of my men with you to check up in New York. 22:45.280 --> 22:46.280 Yes. 22:46.280 --> 22:47.280 If you're willing to do that, 22:47.280 --> 22:49.280 if you'll speed things up by helping them all you can. 22:49.280 --> 22:51.280 If you promise you won't try any tricks. 22:51.280 --> 22:53.280 I promise. I'm as anxious as I thought. 22:53.280 --> 22:54.280 All right, all right. 22:54.280 --> 22:56.280 I'll see you in New York. 22:56.280 --> 22:58.280 All right, all right. 22:58.280 --> 22:59.280 How'd you come down? 22:59.280 --> 23:00.280 We drove down. 23:00.280 --> 23:02.280 We got a great big car. 23:02.280 --> 23:03.280 That's my car, see? 23:03.280 --> 23:05.280 That big green job across the street. 23:05.280 --> 23:06.280 Yeah. 23:06.280 --> 23:08.280 Yeah. 23:08.280 --> 23:11.280 And my man can ride back with you, but... 23:11.280 --> 23:12.280 no funny business. 23:12.280 --> 23:14.280 Oh, don't worry, Chief. 23:14.280 --> 23:15.280 Come on. 23:15.280 --> 23:16.280 We're going to see Wally Shane, 23:16.280 --> 23:30.280 and my man is going to drive to New York with you. 23:30.280 --> 23:32.280 Wally? 23:32.280 --> 23:34.280 Who is it? 23:34.280 --> 23:35.280 Scott, Wally. 23:35.280 --> 23:37.280 Come in. 23:37.280 --> 23:38.280 Ladies first. 23:38.280 --> 23:40.280 Harry. Harry. 23:40.280 --> 23:41.280 Air force. 23:41.280 --> 23:43.280 No, you don't. No, you don't. 23:43.280 --> 23:45.280 Oh, he was reaching with that gun, Wally. 23:45.280 --> 23:47.280 Already got you covered. 23:47.280 --> 23:49.280 I guess you win, Scott. 23:49.280 --> 23:50.280 Yeah, I guess I do. 23:50.280 --> 23:51.280 Come along back there, 23:51.280 --> 23:54.280 and coax him with me like a good little boy. 23:54.280 --> 24:11.280 Wally, you're under arrest for murder. 24:11.280 --> 24:14.280 Well, and that's how I knew it was all up, Scott. 24:14.280 --> 24:17.280 The minute I saw those two dames going into Fritz's. 24:17.280 --> 24:19.280 Then when I was ducking out of sight, 24:19.280 --> 24:20.280 I ran into you, 24:20.280 --> 24:22.280 and I was afraid you'd take me over there with you, 24:22.280 --> 24:24.280 so I had to tell you one of them knew me. 24:24.280 --> 24:27.280 Figured you'd want to keep me undercover for a little while anyhow. 24:27.280 --> 24:29.280 Long enough for me to get out of town. 24:29.280 --> 24:31.280 Why didn't you get out, Wally? 24:31.280 --> 24:35.280 Well, I dropped in home to pick up a couple of things before I scram, 24:35.280 --> 24:37.280 and that phone call of Hamill's catches me, 24:37.280 --> 24:39.280 and I fall for it. 24:39.280 --> 24:41.280 You see, Scott, I figured you're not on to me yet, 24:41.280 --> 24:43.280 and are going to send me back to New York 24:43.280 --> 24:46.280 to see what dope I can get out of the dames. 24:46.280 --> 24:48.280 Well, you fooled me, brother, 24:48.280 --> 24:50.280 and I thought you'd fall for that. 24:50.280 --> 24:53.280 Then you didn't just stumble into all this accidentally, did you? 24:53.280 --> 24:55.280 No, I didn't, Wally. 24:55.280 --> 24:58.280 I figured Parmen had to be murdered by a copper. 24:58.280 --> 25:02.280 No reward circuit was well enough to make a good job of forging one. 25:02.280 --> 25:05.280 Incidentally, who printed that Parmen circular for you, Wally? 25:05.280 --> 25:07.280 I'm not dragging anyone in with me. 25:07.280 --> 25:11.280 There's only a poor mug that needed dough. 25:11.280 --> 25:13.280 Okay, Wally. 25:13.280 --> 25:16.280 You see, I knew only a copper would be sure enough of the routine 25:16.280 --> 25:18.280 to know how things would be handled. 25:18.280 --> 25:22.280 Only one of my coppers would be able to walk in a Parmen cell, 25:22.280 --> 25:25.280 bang him across the head and string him up on the... 25:25.280 --> 25:27.280 those bruises. 25:27.280 --> 25:28.280 Showed you, Wally. 25:28.280 --> 25:30.280 They did? 25:30.280 --> 25:33.280 I guess I should have wrapped two towels around that blackjack. 25:33.280 --> 25:37.280 Oh, gee, Scott. I seem to have slipped up on a lot of things. 25:37.280 --> 25:40.280 So that narrows it down to my coppers, and... 25:40.280 --> 25:44.280 Well, you told me you knew the Randall woman. 25:44.280 --> 25:45.280 There it was. 25:45.280 --> 25:48.280 I figured you were working with him. 25:48.280 --> 25:50.280 What got you like this, Wally? 25:50.280 --> 25:54.280 Same thing that gets most saps into jams, a yen for easy dough. 25:54.280 --> 25:58.280 I was in New York, see, Scott, working that Dutton job for you, 25:58.280 --> 26:01.280 palling around with big shot racketeers, passing for one of them. 26:01.280 --> 26:02.280 Yes? 26:02.280 --> 26:06.280 Well, I got to figuring that my work takes more brains than theirs, 26:06.280 --> 26:10.280 and they're taking in big money, and I'm working for coffee and cakes. 26:10.280 --> 26:13.280 That kind of stuff gets you, Scott. Anyway, it got me. 26:13.280 --> 26:15.280 Mm-hmm. 26:15.280 --> 26:19.280 Then I ran into this Ethel Furman, and she goes for me like a house of fire. 26:19.280 --> 26:22.280 I liked her, too, see, so that's dandy. 26:22.280 --> 26:25.280 But one night she tells me about how much dough her husband's got 26:25.280 --> 26:28.280 and how he feels about her, and I get to thinking... 26:28.280 --> 26:30.280 Thinking what? 26:30.280 --> 26:33.280 I think she's nuts enough about me to marry me. 26:33.280 --> 26:37.280 So I get to thinking, suppose he died and left her his role. 26:37.280 --> 26:39.280 Mm-hmm. I see. 26:39.280 --> 26:42.280 So I run down to Philly a couple of afternoons and look Furman up, 26:42.280 --> 26:44.280 and everything looks fine. 26:44.280 --> 26:47.280 I took my time working out the details, meanwhile writing to her 26:47.280 --> 26:49.280 through a fella in Detroit. 26:49.280 --> 26:51.280 Go on. Finish one. 26:51.280 --> 26:53.280 Well, I decided to do it. 26:53.280 --> 26:56.280 I sent those circulars out to a lot of places, 26:56.280 --> 26:58.280 not wanting to point too much to this one, 26:58.280 --> 27:01.280 and then when I was ready, I phoned Furman telling him 27:01.280 --> 27:03.280 to go to the Dearwood Hotel that night, 27:03.280 --> 27:06.280 and sometime before the next night he'd hear from his wife, Ethel. 27:06.280 --> 27:09.280 I knew he'd fall for any trap that was baited with her. 27:09.280 --> 27:13.280 Only I guess I'm not as sharp as I thought I was, Scott. 27:13.280 --> 27:17.280 Maybe you are, Wally. Maybe you are. 27:17.280 --> 27:20.280 That doesn't always help. 27:20.280 --> 27:25.280 Old man Camsley, Ben's father, used to have a saying, 27:25.280 --> 27:30.280 to a sharp knife comes a tough stake. 27:30.280 --> 27:33.280 Well, sorry you did it, Wally. 27:33.280 --> 27:35.280 I always liked you. 27:35.280 --> 28:02.280 I know you did, Scott. I was counting on that. 28:05.280 --> 28:10.280 And so ends Dashiell Hammett's Two Sharp Knives, 28:10.280 --> 28:12.280 starring Stuart Irwin. 28:12.280 --> 28:14.280 Tonight's story of... 28:14.280 --> 28:18.280 suspense. 28:18.280 --> 28:22.280 Columbia presents these tales of mystery and intrigue 28:22.280 --> 28:27.280 and dangerous adventure for your relaxation and enjoyment. 28:27.280 --> 28:30.280 Next week, suspense will not be the only thing 28:30.280 --> 28:33.280 that will make you feel better. 28:33.280 --> 28:36.280 Next week, suspense will not be heard, 28:36.280 --> 28:39.280 because of a special holiday broadcast. 28:39.280 --> 28:42.280 Columbia's review of the events of the year, 28:42.280 --> 28:47.280 12 crowded months, which has been scheduled. 28:47.280 --> 28:49.280 On the following Tuesday, January 5th, 28:49.280 --> 28:51.280 there will be another in this series, 28:51.280 --> 28:54.280 same hour, 9.30 Eastern wartime. 28:54.280 --> 28:57.280 William Spear, the producer, John Deeds, the director, 28:57.280 --> 29:00.280 and Bernard Herrmann, the composer, conductor, 29:00.280 --> 29:04.280 are collaborators on... suspense. 29:04.280 --> 29:31.280 This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.