Now, the Roma Wine Company of Fresno, California presents...
Suspense!
Tonight, Roma Wines bring you Miss Myrna Loy, a star of Library Book, a suspense play produced, edited and directed for Roma Wines by William Spear.
Suspense!
Radio's outstanding Theatre of Thrills is presented for your enjoyment by Roma Wines.
That's R-O-M-A, Roma Wines. Those excellent California wines that can add so much pleasantness to the way you live, to your happiness and entertaining guests, to your enjoyment of everyday meals.
Yes, right now a glass full would be very pleasant, as Roma Wines bring you Miss Myrna Loy in Library Book.
A remarkable tale of...
Suspense!
I'll get it, Maggie. Public Library, Hillcrest Branch, Miss Roberts speaking.
Miss Roberts speaking. I bet... No, I'm sorry, we do not carry the racing form. We do not carry even the current racing form, much less those published in 1925.
I know nothing whatever of Man of War's activities. Well, you'll have to consult another source to win your wager. Goodbye.
Yes?
Miss, do I give my book back here?
Yes, this is the return desk. Let me see, that's two days overdue. You owe four cents, Mrs. Rudnick.
It's a lot of reading. My daughter read it to me nights. Here's the four cents, Miss.
Thank you.
Oh, it was a grand book though, really grand.
Gone with the wind, I suppose. I personally very seldom read bestsellers.
It surely is romantic. I wonder, Miss, do you know what happens on page 931?
Page 931?
Yes, we don't know to this day whether Scarlett, she goes to Melon's party for Ashley, or page 931 and 932 are missing. So we were wondering if...
Missing? Good heavens, let me see.
You just give anything to know if Scarlett went to the party.
One moment, Mrs. Rudnick. The pages are missing. One leaf has been torn or cut from this book. This is vandalism.
It's what?
A page has been deliberately ripped out. I'll have to ask you for your reader's card.
But we didn't do it.
One moment, please. Miss Hughes.
Yes?
Miss Hughes, will you please look up the list price of this book, Gone with the Wind.
Yes, sure. Just a second.
You see, Mrs. Rudnick, you will have to pay the cost of the book or lose all library privileges until you do.
Oh, but please, Miss V didn't do it.
It's a dollar forty-nine, Prudence.
I don't pay no dollar forty-nine because I didn't do it.
How did you find out about the damage, Prudence?
Mrs. Rudnick called my attention to it, fortunately.
Well, if she tore out the page, she wouldn't have told you.
No. You see, Miss, but the rule...
Oh, relax, relax, Prudence.
Well, very well, Mrs. Rudnick. I'll investigate further. In the meantime, you may continue to use your card.
Oh, thank you, Miss. Thank you so much, and good-bye.
Good-bye. Maggie, why must you interfere like that? You know the rules perfectly well.
Yeah, sure, but they don't make sense.
That's not for us to say. She should have reported before she took the book out.
Oh, now that's silly. How could you report the page was torn out before she read the book?
Well, maybe you're right.
I don't know why you raise such a dust about it anyhow.
Because if I don't find out who did tear the book, I'll have to pay.
And I don't want to spend a dollar and forty-nine cents on a bestseller.
Hey!
Take care of that boy, Maggie.
Okay. What'll it be?
These here.
You want to take these out? All of them?
Sure. Here's my card.
Oh. Tarzan of the Apes, Tarzan Triumphant, Tarzan and the Leopard Men, Tarzan and the Forbidden City, Tarzan the Invincible, Tarzan...
Morning Becomes Electra.
Yeah, I'm making a radio. A walkie-talkie.
Oh, look, I haven't read this myself, but I don't think it's going to help you.
No, it says Electra.
Yeah, well, anyway, you got one too many books.
Okay, I'll take the electric book out when I bring these back. I'll bring them back tomorrow, so save it.
Five books and he'll bring them back tomorrow. Did you get that, Prudence? Five books and the kids...
Prudence, what are you doing?
It's very strange. It's really very strange.
Are you still mooning over that missing page? In Gone with the Wind?
Yes. You know, whoever ripped that page out also underlined words on the following page, page 933.
Yeah? What kind of words?
Oh, they don't seem to mean anything. Words like, anyone, merrily, hardly. They've been underlined by little scratches in the paper.
Oh, well, maybe somebody was cutting out cookies on top of the book. Come on, huh? It's past closing time.
I've got to find out what's on page 931. Well, I can buy a copy of this book on my way home, and I will.
Buy it? I thought you wouldn't spend dough on a bestseller.
Well, I shouldn't, but this annoys me. It's vandalism. And besides, I have an odd feeling, a feeling that something's wrong.
Guess I have a definite premonition. Prudence, prudence. Will you put that book away and come to bed?
All right, Maggie. I guess you win. Oh, was cookies?
No, it was words. I fastened the two pages together and made the marks back through. But these words don't mean anything either.
Cure, wait, poor. I think they were cut out of the book, because the marks are above and below each word.
Sure, that's kid stuff. You know, cut out words and paste them to write a letter.
Cut them up? Well, of course. Let's see. There's poor, your, fifty, instructions, her, Melanie, Melanie.
Oh, Melanie. That was Olivia de Havilland in the picture.
Really? I wouldn't know. Now, I'll start with the word fifty. It's an adjective and must modify something.
Oh, natch, natch.
Fifty health. No. Fifty instructions. Could be, but it's awkward. Fifty grand. Well, it's slang, but it does mean something.
Tell the world fifty grand means something.
Now, a noun must be followed by a verb. Fifty grand to wait or to cure. I'll try that. Fifty grand to cure.
That's a plenty expensive cure, that.
Now, her. Fifty grand to cure her, her.
Melanie, a girl's name.
Melanie, why yes. All the other words pair off perfectly now. Your Melanie, poor health, wait instructions.
Fifty grand to cure her.
That's it, Maggie. The words couldn't possibly go in any other order.
Yeah. So, now you've solved the puzzle, let's get to bed.
Well, all right. I suppose I have to wait until the morning to call the police.
The police? Just because a book was torn?
No, because it's a ransom note.
Oh, prudence.
Can't you see? That's what it says. Some poor girl named Melanie has been kidnapped and is being held for ransom. For fifty grand.
It's our duty as citizens to help her.
For Suspense, Roma Wines are bringing you as star, Miss Myrna Loy, in Library Book by Conel Woolrich.
For Suspense, Roma Wines are bringing you as star, Miss Myrna Loy, in Library Book by Conel Woolrich. Roma Wines presentation tonight in radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense.
Between the acts of Suspense, this is Truman Bradley for Roma Wines.
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And now Roma Wines bring back to our Hollywood soundstage Myrna Loy as Prudence Roberts in Library Book, a play well calculated to keep you in Suspense.
Suspense.
Miss Roberts, I'm sorry I couldn't get here till this late. I'm Lieutenant Murphy from Headquarters.
Oh, you're a detective?
Well, that's what my paycheck says, ma'am.
Oh, well, of course, you're not in uniform. But come over here behind my desk. I want to show you something.
Yes, ma'am.
Has anyone been kidnapped lately?
Huh, what?
Anyone named Melanie? Do you know?
Why?
Well, this book came back to the Library damaged, and I deciphered a kidnapped message from the damaged page. See? Read it.
You deciphered this note?
You're laughing at me. I want to do my duty, and you laugh.
Oh, no, ma'am, no, ma'am. We'll check on... Well, say, what do you know?
Yes, what is it?
Oh, nothing, nothing, miss. You took your glasses off, that's all. What did you say your name was again, miss?
My name is Miss Prudence Roberts. What has that got to do with this?
Well, we have to know the source of our information. Yeah, yeah, this does look like a ransom note now that I look at it.
Of course it does.
But we haven't any case on deck right now that this could possibly fit into. I never heard of a ransom note without a kidnapped case.
Oh, you haven't? Very well. I'm sorry I bothered you. We have to close the Library now, so good evening.
Just a minute, miss. What are you going to do?
I'm going to find out who damaged this book. Do you see this card? These are all the people who have taken the book out. Six altogether.
Lucille Baumgarten, August Beasley, Walter Evans, Jeanette Fren.
Well, that's fine, miss. Look, maybe I could drop around and see how you're making out. Tomorrow?
No, I wouldn't inconvenience you. You needn't bother.
Gee, miss, you talk such good English. I try to.
Well, look, could I see you home? It's pretty late, you know.
I feel quite safe, thank you. The worst that ever happened to me was one night when a vulgar masher spoke to me. He said, Hi, toots. Imagine.
Oh, did you have your glasses on?
Why, come to think of it, that was the time I'd left them to be repaired. How very peculiar.
Yeah, yeah. Say, miss, how would you like to see a picture tonight with me, huh?
I wouldn't think of going out with someone I've met only once, Lieutenant.
Oh, yeah, yeah. I guess you wouldn't.
And besides, because the police of this city are obviously so inefficient, I have a great deal of work to do.
Yes, Lieutenant Murphy, I'm going to be very busy tonight.
Miss Baumgarten, I only wanted to make sure. You're sure the page was missing when you read it?
Oh, it was missing all right, I remember, because it took me quite a while to figure out what happened, but I finally did so it didn't worry me.
Say, I'm not going to be in any trouble over this, am I?
No, it was damaged by someone before you.
But miss, I didn't even read the book. I saw the name on it, see, Gone with the Wind, so I thought it was about airplanes.
I'm building a glider, but when I started to read it, criminally. I think they ought to name books so you know what you're getting. It'd save a lot of trouble.
My dear young lady, a man of my age and education is aware of the value of books and cares for them properly, even novels.
Yes, yes, I remember that page was missing, obviously ripped out, an act of wanton destruction. Shocking, shocking.
Yes, what do you want?
Does Miss Jeanette Craig live here?
What's that?
Does Miss Jeanette Craig live here?
She did, she moved.
When did she move?
About two weeks ago Monday, I think. Yes, on the seventeenth.
But she returned this book on the eighteenth.
That book? Oh no, I was the one that returned that for her. I was cleaning out a room and I found it.
Well, I work in the public library and this book was damaged. I wanted to speak to Miss Craig about it.
Well, all I know is that she didn't expect to go when she did. Her room still paid for her and she left most of her things.
Ah. Someone took sick and sent for her, they said. They called for her late one night and off she went in a rush with two men.
But if she left her belongings, she'll be coming back for them.
Well, I guess she will or she'll send for them.
Uh, uh, when did you say her room would be available?
Her room? Yes, I'm thinking of moving and I like this neighborhood and I thought...
Oh well, come right in and I'll show it to you. Now it's real nice, first floor.
Careful, it's dark in these halls. I'm used to it and I can roam around with my eyes shut and still...
Still, find my way. Now this was her room. Come in, it's real nice in the daytime.
Is the closet good and deep?
Well, go ahead and look. That's her things in there and some real nice things too. I don't see how they do it in the nightclub, Dancer.
Yes, lovely things. Funny, this monogram is M.S. and on this bag too. Those aren't her initials.
Oh, you know how it is. These girls lend each other their clothes, probably belongs to a friend of hers.
Uh, did you ever hear her mention Melanie?
Oh no, we don't allow any eating in the rooms.
Well, I'll take it, but I have a roommate.
That's all right with me.
Fine, I'll get her and we'll move in tonight.
Tonight? Well, all right, I'll move Miss Craig's things into my room then.
Oh no, no, no, leave them right here. I mean, you don't have to bother. We'll have plenty of space. The closet is so large.
No, just as you say.
And anyway, I want to know when someone comes for her things because I do want to find out where Miss Craig is.
You see, I'm terribly anxious about the book. I really am.
Oh, Prudence, you and your mystery. We move out of a perfectly good apartment into a room next door to a pool hall.
But I have to find out where Jeanette Craig is.
Even when the lights are out, we have that darn neon sign. Chop Suey, Chop Suey.
But don't you think it's strange, Maggie, all her things initialed M-S instead of J-C. M could stand for...
Hey, hey listen, what's that? Someone's unlocking the door. Holy smoke. Someone's come for her clothes, I know it.
Yes? What do you want?
Well, I didn't expect to see...
We rented this room today. Wait, I'll turn on the light. Now, what do you want?
Well, you see, I was sent to get something...
How'd you get a key?
I know. You've come for Miss Craig's things, is that it?
Yeah, Miss, that's right. It's a good thing you rented a room because I come to pay up and settle everything. This way it's going to be a lot easier.
This way you can just take the things. They're right here in the closet. I'll help you.
Yes? Well, thanks.
Here. It's quite a load, isn't it?
Well, it's like more than a dozen times.
You'll have to make two trips. There are so many things.
Well, I'll be right back as soon as I get these in the car.
Quick, Maggie, I have to dress. Help me.
Why didn't you ask him where this girl...
I can't ask him. Now, look, Maggie, I'm going to slip out now. While he's in here, I'm going downstairs.
Why are you messing in this?
And I want you to cover up for me and delay him as long as possible.
Oh, Jeepers, what are you going to do?
Come here. Look out the window. See his car down there, the long black one?
Yeah, yeah, I see it. Well, I'm going to get in that taxi and follow him.
Driver, he's awfully far ahead.
Lady, I know this game backwards. It's been 20 miles and I haven't lost him yet.
Keep close watch. He may turn off in an effort to evade us.
I'll see him. Hey, what's the matter? He move out on you, huh?
Well, I don't blame you for being sore. But, lady, there's all kinds of angles.
I beg your pardon.
For instance, I notice you wear glasses. Now, there's a saying, men never make passes at girls who wear...
Please, will you confine yourself to your driving?
Okay, okay. Hey, look, he turned.
Oh, hurry. Why? We're way out in the country.
Oh, you said it. He's turning off again, up ahead. Probably a driveway.
Pull up at the entrance.
Okay. Well, this must be it.
There's a house and there's the car.
Oh, what a lonely looking place.
Yeah. Now what?
Well, you wait here, driver.
One minute, lady. The time has come to tell you I got you clocked at seven bucks and 85 cents.
That much? And I forgot my pocketbook.
I thought so, the old game.
But I have money at home.
Outside. You heard me? Outside.
Outside. That's right. Now, if you was a man, I'd take it out of your jaw.
As it is.
Oh, please. You aren't going to leave me.
Yeah. You're gonna walk.
But you can't leave me here.
Lady, I can. Anyway, I might have a phone in the house.
Huh. I don't even know where I am.
I'll tell you where you are, baby. You're on your own.
Oh. Oh. To think anyone could be so...
I'll report you.
Hey. Hey, you.
Huh? Oh, good heavens.
Quick. Quick. Come closer, please.
All right. Oh, please. Take me away from here. Please help me get away from here.
Who are you? Melanie Stephenson. They won't let me go.
I think they're gonna kill me.
Melanie? Ah. But where is Miss Craig?
I'm Miss Craig. Oh, please. I'll tell you later. But get me out of here.
Well, can you climb through and drop from the sill?
No, no. I'm chained to the bed. Oh, please. Hurry. Bring someone back with you.
That's the only way I can get out of here.
All right. All right. I'll run back and phone Lieutenant Murphy and the police will...
Oh, no, they won't. Come in, toots, and stay a while.
But I... You see, I...
Oh, hello. So we meet again. So you had a nice long ride following me, huh?
Get in. Oh. But you can't...
No, no, no. Don't be bashful. You ain't going nowhere else from here.
Not even to phone your friend, Lieutenant Murphy. You've reached the end of the road, babe.
Positively the end of the road.
Oh, Murphy. Close the door and sit down. This is important.
Okay, Captain. Why, what's up?
Kidnapping case, Murphy. I only hope we're not too late.
That man who just left my office was Martin Stevenson. Yeah, who's been kidnapped?
His daughter. This is the story. She ran away from home a few months ago to work in a nightclub.
Took another name. Didn't even let her family know where she was living.
That's why they didn't know when she disappeared, so it wasn't reported until now.
How'd she disappear? Well, her father doesn't know.
But it looks like someone recognized her in the club, knew that Stevenson's had dough, and grabbed her.
Well, first thing the old man knows, he gets a ransom note.
You know, the usual kind, words cut out of something and pasted on paper to look like a telegram.
Words pasted on... Captain, what was the daughter's name?
Melani, I think. Melani.
Chief, you know, you should have had her order read more, like me.
It's Melanie. Like, yeah, like in Gone with the Wind.
She has the same note. The same note.
What are you raving about? The note that librarian Miss Roberts called us about. Remember, I told you.
Remember what a laugh it handed us? Yeah, say that's right.
She must be a pretty smart girl. Maybe we ought to talk to her.
Yeah, just a minute. I got her phone number. I'll call her up.
Oh, so you got her phone number. Huh? I thought you said she wears glasses.
Well, I got it, Cap, just in case I turned up any information.
That's funny, she don't answer.
Well, she might know one or two people besides you, Merlin.
Yeah, but she's got a roommate.
Oh, well, I guess I can see her in the morning. That's soon enough.
Oh, prudent, they're going to kill us. I know it.
They're sure you already went to the police. They're desperate. Maybe tonight they'll do it.
I guess they could kill us and still collect the ransom.
But I don't think... No, they won't dare.
What are you doing?
Still trying to get this chain off my wrist. If I could open the padlock...
Oh, if you could only move it away from the window sooner.
Hey, look at that. Someone on the stairs. They're carrying something up. Listen.
Have you got enough, Duke? We want to pour a lot on the stairs.
A lot of what? Plenty. I got plenty.
What's that smell, prudence? It's like... gasoline.
Oh, no. No, they couldn't do that.
Come on, Duke. Get in the car. I've got to start it.
Oh, they're going to burn us alive.
Shh. I want to hear.
Be right with you as soon as I get mecha clipping ahead.
Why worry? The smoke will get them. Come on.
No, I'm soft-hearted. It won't take a minute.
Oh, prudent. Prudent. Shh. Get under bed, quick. That's right. Way back. Now don't make a sound.
Okay, Duke. Step on it.
All right, ladies. Where are you?
Oh, I don't need to like to find you. You're so attached to that bed.
Come on, come on, come on. Where are you?
So you're being cute. Well, that ain't going to help any because...
Oh, trip me up, you little...
Mully, you unutterable mully. This is a good strong shoe and I'm going to...
Trying to hit two helpless girls.
Oh, no.
Prudent, the fire. Look.
Oh, I'm getting out of here. Just have it your way, baby. Just have it your way.
Help. Help.
Prudent.
Melanie, will you stop that awful noise?
I don't want to die like this. I don't want to die like this.
Well, neither do I, but I have my dignity.
Help. Help.
Hush. Please, hush. I want to see what they do.
What difference does it make they're leaving?
Yes, they're in the car, but the car is pulling up in front.
Melanie, two cars. They've come. They found us.
The police. Lieutenant Murphy and two carlers.
Oh, listen.
Oh, wait. I know.
That's it, Lieutenant. That's the way.
Jump. Jump.
They've caught both of them, Eddie and Duke. It's wonderful.
Lieutenant Murphy and Maggie's with him. That's how we knew.
Come on. Jump, Miss Roberts.
We can't jump, Lieutenant. We're chained to the bed.
He's coming up.
Oh, but can he get through? The stairs are full of smoke.
Can he get through, Lieutenant Murphy?
Listen, fire won't stop him.
We're in here.
Where?
Over here in the corner.
Where's the padlock?
Right here. Between us.
Okay. Now, look. I'm going to smash you with this flashlight, I hope.
Turn your face.
There, there. That does it. It's open.
Are you Melanie Stevenson?
Yes.
Now, look. You're going to have to jump. They'll break your fall. They're going to net down.
Oh, I can't. I'm afraid.
Your father's down there.
Father?
Yeah, yeah. Now, come on. That's the barrel. Up on the ledge.
I'm afraid.
That's right. Now, don't let the fire confuse you. Just push off.
That's it. Okay.
Did it? Did they catch him?
Yeah, sure. Now, next.
All right.
I'm going to go see why we ought. Why, could I?
Miss Roberts, prudence.
Well, what do you know? After all this, she faints.
It's awfully nice of you to drive me home, Lieutenant.
Oh, forget it. Forget it. I'm just thankful I had enough sense to try and find you tonight.
How did you find me?
Well, first I went to your apartment, and from there I found where you moved to.
And Maggie knew which cab you took tonight, and well, after that it was pi.
It was so melodramatic the way you got there just in time.
Yeah? Oh, you know, I can't get over the way you talk, Miss Roberts.
Every word so clear, just like a poem.
Poem.
Yeah, that's what I said. Poem.
I certainly hope I'm going to see you some now that the excitement's over.
Well, um...
Look, look, there's a real highbrow picture showing right near your place.
I'd sure like to take you to.
No, I'm sorry.
Well, I just thought I'd ask.
But if you know of a good, fast murder picture with a lot of shooting...
Miss Roberts?
Can that Miss Roberts?
Prudence. Hey, hey, wait, what are you doing?
I'm throwing my glasses out of the window. From now on, call me Toots.
The Toots.
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Miss Myrna Loy will soon be seen in the Jack Skirball Bruce Manning production, A Genius in the Family.
Next Thursday, you will hear Clifton Webb, a star of Suspense, Radio's outstanding theater of thrill.
Presented by Roma Wines, R-O-M-A. Made in California for enjoyment throughout the world.
This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.