WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:08.500 Yes, Roma wines taste better because only Roma selects from the world's greatest wine 00:08.500 --> 00:11.880 reserves for your pleasure. 00:11.880 --> 00:21.400 And now Roma wines, R-O-M-A, Roma wines present Suspense. 00:21.400 --> 00:29.520 Tonight Roma wines bring you Mr. Van Heflin in Three Blind Mice, a suspense play produced, 00:29.520 --> 00:35.240 edited and directed for Roma Wines by William Spear. 00:35.240 --> 00:43.920 Suspense, radio's outstanding theater of thrills is presented for your enjoyment by Roma Wines. 00:43.920 --> 00:51.120 That's R-O-M-A, Roma wines, those better tasting California wines enjoyed by more Americans 00:51.120 --> 00:55.640 than any other wine, for friendly entertaining, for delightful dining. 00:55.640 --> 01:01.600 Yes, right now a glass full would be very pleasant as Roma wines bring you Van Heflin 01:01.600 --> 01:06.000 in a remarkable tale of Suspense. 01:06.000 --> 01:17.000 Lockwood, Bentley and Walt's Publishing, it still said it on the big brass name play. 01:17.000 --> 01:18.000 Going down. 01:18.000 --> 01:20.000 Oh, good evening Mr. Lockwood. 01:20.000 --> 01:21.000 Good evening. 01:21.000 --> 01:25.920 Sure, the elevator operators were nice to me, most of the office boys remembered to knock 01:25.920 --> 01:31.520 on my door before they came in and even some of the stenographers still spoke to me. 01:31.520 --> 01:35.200 But everybody else above the rank of junior story reader knew it was just a question of 01:35.200 --> 01:39.120 time before that big brass name play in the lobby came down and another one went up in 01:39.120 --> 01:42.160 its place, Bentley and Walt's Publishing. 01:42.160 --> 01:44.360 No more Lockwood. 01:44.360 --> 01:48.400 If ever a man hated his partners, I did. 01:48.400 --> 01:49.400 Main forcer. 01:49.400 --> 01:54.280 I went out of the building and across the street to the Savoy Fidenna. 01:54.280 --> 01:58.120 Even the head waiter must have heard the rumor he gave me the dime sized table over in the 01:58.120 --> 02:02.480 corner that's generally reserved for out of town ribbon clerks. 02:02.480 --> 02:05.920 It's all right, Bob, there'll be another day. 02:05.920 --> 02:09.120 I'd gotten to coffee and dessert when I saw Helen Conover. 02:09.120 --> 02:12.200 Well, that just about summed it up. 02:12.200 --> 02:17.040 There were two things that I wanted in this world to get my hands back on that corporation 02:17.040 --> 02:18.040 and Helen Conover. 02:18.040 --> 02:22.640 Well, she saw me and I waved to her and she waved back and started over to my table. 02:22.640 --> 02:24.500 She was head of our promotion department. 02:24.500 --> 02:29.040 She was smart and ambitious and she could have personally modeled for any pin up art 02:29.040 --> 02:30.040 that you ever saw. 02:30.040 --> 02:33.720 But she was reserving anything along that line for my partner, Dick Walsh. 02:33.720 --> 02:36.840 Okay, sister, there'll be another day. 02:36.840 --> 02:37.840 Hello, Arthur. 02:37.840 --> 02:38.840 Dining alone? 02:38.840 --> 02:42.320 Yes, it's a habit that I could break it under the right conditions. 02:42.320 --> 02:43.800 Oh, but you're all finished. 02:43.800 --> 02:44.800 That's all right. 02:44.800 --> 02:46.280 I'm just a big book publisher. 02:46.280 --> 02:47.280 I've got nothing to do. 02:47.280 --> 02:50.520 Well, if it's not against office regulations to have dinner with the boss. 02:50.520 --> 02:51.520 Regulations? 02:51.520 --> 02:53.000 Well, they never bothered you now, did they? 02:53.000 --> 02:54.680 No, Arthur, let's keep this clean. 02:54.680 --> 02:55.680 Does Madame wish to order? 02:55.680 --> 02:57.360 Yes, the steak dinner, please. 02:57.360 --> 02:58.360 No soup and no potatoes. 02:58.360 --> 02:59.360 Very good, madam. 02:59.360 --> 03:01.120 You're working kind of late, aren't you? 03:01.120 --> 03:02.120 Not working. 03:02.120 --> 03:04.120 Dick wanted me to see him off on the train. 03:04.120 --> 03:05.120 Train? 03:05.120 --> 03:06.120 Where's he going? 03:06.120 --> 03:07.120 Chicago. 03:07.120 --> 03:08.120 What for? 03:08.120 --> 03:09.120 Business, I suppose. 03:09.120 --> 03:10.120 Didn't he tell you? 03:10.120 --> 03:11.120 You know, they never tell me anything anymore. 03:11.120 --> 03:13.920 Well, it wasn't anything very important, I guess. 03:13.920 --> 03:16.880 Well, I'd know even less if it had been. 03:16.880 --> 03:18.720 Maybe you can tell me about Sam. 03:18.720 --> 03:19.720 About Sam? 03:19.720 --> 03:21.960 Did he get his report from the doctor? 03:21.960 --> 03:24.840 Oh, yes, he did, as a matter of fact. 03:24.840 --> 03:25.840 How is it? 03:25.840 --> 03:26.840 I'm afraid it's pretty bad. 03:26.840 --> 03:27.840 How bad? 03:27.840 --> 03:28.840 Well, it's his heart, all right. 03:28.840 --> 03:31.320 They don't give him much more time. 03:31.320 --> 03:32.320 Six months at the most. 03:32.320 --> 03:35.320 Well, that means they'll have to work fast. 03:35.320 --> 03:36.320 Or I will. 03:36.320 --> 03:37.320 What? 03:37.320 --> 03:38.320 Wouldn't you say so? 03:38.320 --> 03:41.720 Arthur, I don't understand you. 03:41.720 --> 03:45.320 I just told you that one of your partners has only six months to live and you don't even 03:45.320 --> 03:46.320 seem to care. 03:46.320 --> 03:48.400 Look, let's be grown up about it, at least. 03:48.400 --> 03:51.640 Sam Bentley and Dick Walsh have been trying to ease me out of the firm for the last year. 03:51.640 --> 03:52.960 Now Sam's going to kick off. 03:52.960 --> 03:54.560 Why should I care? 03:54.560 --> 03:56.120 You really hate him, don't you? 03:56.120 --> 03:57.120 Me? 03:57.120 --> 03:58.120 I don't hate anybody. 03:58.120 --> 04:01.640 I just hope he kicks off tonight instead of waiting six months and the Dick Walsh's train 04:01.640 --> 04:02.920 runs into the Hudson River. 04:02.920 --> 04:03.920 That's all. 04:03.920 --> 04:04.920 I don't hate anybody. 04:04.920 --> 04:05.920 I just wish they were dead. 04:05.920 --> 04:08.240 Oh, Arthur, how can you? 04:08.240 --> 04:09.240 What's the matter with that? 04:09.240 --> 04:11.600 I wish my partners were out of the way and you wish... 04:11.600 --> 04:15.520 Well, I know what you wish, too, only I'm honest about it and you're not. 04:15.520 --> 04:17.200 This isn't a very pleasant conversation. 04:17.200 --> 04:19.240 There's always a better one. 04:19.240 --> 04:21.320 For instance, what are you doing tonight? 04:21.320 --> 04:23.920 I'm going home and get a good night's sleep for a change. 04:23.920 --> 04:26.080 By the way, how long is Dick going to be away? 04:26.080 --> 04:27.080 About a week. 04:27.080 --> 04:29.280 You'll be kind of lonely, won't you? 04:29.280 --> 04:30.880 I don't see why I should. 04:30.880 --> 04:32.440 That's what I was thinking. 04:32.440 --> 04:35.400 You know, I've always had a sort of a yen for you, Helen. 04:35.400 --> 04:38.720 Why, Mr. Lockwood, why don't people tell me these things? 04:38.720 --> 04:41.160 People don't have to tell people like you those things. 04:41.160 --> 04:45.440 Now that you mention it, I do seem to have noticed a sort of a leer every so often. 04:45.440 --> 04:48.240 That wasn't any leer, baby, that was the real McCoy. 04:48.240 --> 04:53.880 Look, Arthur, this may sound kind of corny, but I'm in love with Dick and he's in love 04:53.880 --> 04:54.880 with me. 04:54.880 --> 04:55.880 It does. 04:55.880 --> 04:56.880 What? 04:56.880 --> 04:57.880 Sound corny. 04:57.880 --> 04:58.880 Why doesn't he marry you? 04:58.880 --> 04:59.880 You know why. 04:59.880 --> 05:00.880 Sure, that wife that won't divorce him. 05:00.880 --> 05:03.240 You know, he's been using that one for the last ten years. 05:03.240 --> 05:04.960 Please, Arthur, I'd rather not talk about it. 05:04.960 --> 05:09.720 Okay, okay, not to change the subject, but what do you expect to get out of it? 05:09.720 --> 05:10.720 Get out of what? 05:10.720 --> 05:14.160 The reorganisation, the big day when they kick old Arthur out of the firm. 05:14.160 --> 05:16.400 You think maybe they'll make you a vice president? 05:16.400 --> 05:18.320 I really don't know what you're talking about, Arthur. 05:18.320 --> 05:21.880 Well, you ought to think about it, because you can never tell, I might be able to make 05:21.880 --> 05:22.880 you an even better proposition. 05:22.880 --> 05:26.880 I'm afraid I'm not interested in your propositions, Arthur. 05:26.880 --> 05:27.880 Any of them. 05:27.880 --> 05:34.560 Okay, baby, there'll be another day. 05:34.560 --> 05:42.120 It was mostly bluff and she knew it, but there was one thing that she didn't know. 05:42.120 --> 05:46.240 There was a chance that my smart partners had actually been holding out on me, and if 05:46.240 --> 05:51.160 they had, the way our incorporation papers were drawn, then I could really mail them. 05:51.160 --> 05:55.280 Well, I'd been snooping through the files at night lately, and I'd already dug up a 05:55.280 --> 05:58.200 couple of things, and this night I went back at it again. 05:58.200 --> 06:03.480 I let myself into the side door of the building and walked up the two flights to the office. 06:03.480 --> 06:08.280 Everything was dark and deserted, barely make out the long lines of desks. 06:08.280 --> 06:16.920 And then I saw the light under Sam's door, and I crossed the office very quietly and listened. 06:16.920 --> 06:18.400 Hmm, nothing. 06:18.400 --> 06:20.840 I tapped on the door. 06:20.840 --> 06:26.760 Still nothing, so I opened it, and there was Sam. 06:26.760 --> 06:31.000 There was Sam, leaning back in his chair and staring at me with those cold and slightly 06:31.000 --> 06:35.640 protruding blue eyes, much the way he always did. 06:35.640 --> 06:43.560 But tonight, there was a small hole in the right side of his head, and Sam Bentley was 06:43.560 --> 06:47.680 dead. 06:47.680 --> 06:50.800 The gun was lying on the carpet where it had fallen out of his hand. 06:50.800 --> 06:51.800 It was his, all right. 06:51.800 --> 06:52.800 I recognized it. 06:52.800 --> 06:57.200 His other hand had fallen against an open drawer of the desk, and his wristwatch was 06:57.200 --> 06:58.200 broken. 06:58.200 --> 07:04.520 It had stopped at five after eight, and I picked up the phone to call the police. 07:04.520 --> 07:08.280 And then I noticed a letter on his desk. 07:08.280 --> 07:10.240 It was addressed to Richard Walsh. 07:10.240 --> 07:16.680 Well, I put up the phone and looked at that letter, and then I opened it. 07:16.680 --> 07:18.200 Well, it was about what I figured. 07:18.200 --> 07:23.820 The doctor's report on his heart, the usual all-around apology, and then a detailed explanation 07:23.820 --> 07:29.360 of how Dick Walsh could use the corporate insurance to pay off Sam's family for his 07:29.360 --> 07:33.560 share of the business, and then take it over himself, because Sam didn't want me to have 07:33.560 --> 07:35.120 any part of it. 07:35.120 --> 07:38.880 The signature was a little scrawly, but it was Sam's, all right. 07:38.880 --> 07:42.720 So there it was, the double cross. 07:42.720 --> 07:47.440 And yet it's funny, but almost before I got through reading it, I knew the answer. 07:47.440 --> 07:51.040 I looked at that broken wristwatch of his again. 07:51.040 --> 07:53.920 Five after eight, it said. 07:53.920 --> 08:01.000 An hour later, I was home in bed, sleeping like a baby, knowing that Dick Walsh, too, 08:01.000 --> 08:07.040 was going to die. 08:07.040 --> 08:10.640 I strolled into the office the next morning, about 10, just to be on the safe side. 08:10.640 --> 08:13.120 But of course, they'd already found him. 08:13.120 --> 08:16.840 All over the office, there were little huddles that broke up frantically in my approach. 08:16.840 --> 08:21.120 Well, I played it for what it was worth and headed for the largest and most important 08:21.120 --> 08:23.600 huddle, the executive huddle outside of Sam's door. 08:23.600 --> 08:26.840 They were all there, including Helen Conover. 08:26.840 --> 08:29.280 And she was looking pretty sick. 08:29.280 --> 08:31.400 Well, what is all this? 08:31.400 --> 08:32.680 Just a minute, who are you? 08:32.680 --> 08:34.120 Oh, I'm Arthur Lockwood, also. 08:34.120 --> 08:35.120 What's all this about? 08:35.120 --> 08:39.440 Oh, just wait here, please, Mr. Lockwood. 08:39.440 --> 08:40.840 What's going on here, anyway? 08:40.840 --> 08:41.840 Somebody robbed the till? 08:41.840 --> 08:42.840 Arthur. 08:42.840 --> 08:43.840 What? 08:43.840 --> 08:44.840 Arthur, it's Sam. 08:44.840 --> 08:45.840 What? 08:45.840 --> 08:46.840 His heart? 08:46.840 --> 08:47.840 No, he was shot. 08:47.840 --> 08:48.840 Shot? 08:48.840 --> 08:49.840 Arthur, the police say it's murder. 08:49.840 --> 08:50.840 Will you come in, please, Mr. Lockwood? 08:50.840 --> 08:51.840 Yes, certain. 08:51.840 --> 08:52.840 The captain would like to see you again, too, please, Miss Count, Arthur. 08:52.840 --> 08:53.840 Oh, yes, all right. 08:53.840 --> 09:01.960 Well, we went in. 09:01.960 --> 09:02.960 Sam was still there. 09:02.960 --> 09:07.480 But by this time, somebody had thrown a towel over his face. 09:07.480 --> 09:11.240 Big gangling guy came across the room toward me with his hand out. 09:11.240 --> 09:12.240 Mr. Lockwood? 09:12.240 --> 09:13.240 Yes. 09:13.240 --> 09:15.240 The captain gave him his homicide. 09:15.240 --> 09:18.120 Is... is that Sam, Sam Bentley? 09:18.120 --> 09:19.120 Yes. 09:19.120 --> 09:22.320 I know it must be something of a shock to you, sir, but I'm afraid I'm going to have 09:22.320 --> 09:23.320 to ask you a few questions. 09:23.320 --> 09:24.320 Oh, yes, of course. 09:24.320 --> 09:25.840 Please go right ahead. 09:25.840 --> 09:28.040 Know anybody who want to kill your partner, Mr. Lockwood? 09:28.040 --> 09:32.960 Are you sure it was... I mean, I mean, couldn't it have been suicide? 09:32.960 --> 09:34.960 Why would he want to kill himself? 09:34.960 --> 09:38.240 Well, he's been pretty depressed lately. 09:38.240 --> 09:39.240 His health has been bad. 09:39.240 --> 09:42.800 Only yesterday he got a report from his doctor that he probably wouldn't live more than six 09:42.800 --> 09:43.800 months. 09:43.800 --> 09:46.720 No, won't hold, Mr. Lockwood. 09:46.720 --> 09:50.520 Not unless you figure that Bentley shot himself and then carried the gun into your other partner's 09:50.520 --> 09:51.520 office. 09:51.520 --> 09:52.880 That's Mr. Walsh, isn't it? 09:52.880 --> 09:53.880 Mr. Walsh. 09:53.880 --> 09:54.880 Yes. 09:54.880 --> 09:55.880 Was that surprising? 09:55.880 --> 09:56.880 Why, yes, it... 09:56.880 --> 10:00.360 Do you mean the two found the gun in... in Mr. Walsh's office? 10:00.360 --> 10:02.000 In the wall safe. 10:02.000 --> 10:05.080 How many people have the combination of that safe, Mr. Lockwood? 10:05.080 --> 10:06.960 Why, just the three of us, I think. 10:06.960 --> 10:08.600 The three partners. 10:08.600 --> 10:12.600 We each have a safe, but somebody else has to have the combination, too, just in case... 10:12.600 --> 10:15.120 Well, you know... 10:15.120 --> 10:17.880 Did you trust your partners, Mr. Lockwood? 10:17.880 --> 10:20.840 Well, captain, I'll be frank with you. 10:20.840 --> 10:26.920 There hasn't been a great deal of love lost between us lately, but, yes, we trusted each 10:26.920 --> 10:28.480 other in our own way. 10:28.480 --> 10:30.600 Where were you at ten after seven, Mr. Lockwood? 10:30.600 --> 10:33.600 I was having dinner at the Savoy across the street. 10:33.600 --> 10:35.080 You can prove that, I suppose? 10:35.080 --> 10:36.080 Yes, of course. 10:36.080 --> 10:40.440 As a matter of fact, Miss Conover here came over and later joined me. 10:40.440 --> 10:45.800 I understand Miss Conover was seeing your other partner, Mr. Walsh, off on the 735 in 10:45.800 --> 10:46.800 Chicago. 10:46.800 --> 10:47.800 Yes, so she told me yes. 10:47.800 --> 10:49.440 You're sure of the train time? 10:49.440 --> 10:50.440 Yes, of course. 10:50.440 --> 10:53.120 Well, it's the one Dick Walsh always takes to Chicago. 10:53.120 --> 10:54.600 But why this interest in time? 10:54.600 --> 10:58.400 Have you set the time of the... of when it happened? 10:58.400 --> 10:59.400 Bentley's watch was broken. 10:59.400 --> 11:02.280 It stopped at ten after seven. 11:02.280 --> 11:03.280 Oh. 11:03.280 --> 11:05.720 Either of you see this before? 11:05.720 --> 11:08.240 Where did that come from? 11:08.240 --> 11:09.240 Recognize it? 11:09.240 --> 11:11.600 Yes, of course, that's Mr. Walsh's watch charm. 11:11.600 --> 11:12.600 He keeps losing it. 11:12.600 --> 11:14.200 He loses it all the time. 11:14.200 --> 11:16.080 Yes, he does. 11:16.080 --> 11:19.360 We found it in the chair behind Bentley's body. 11:19.360 --> 11:21.600 Oh, now wait a minute, Captain. 11:21.600 --> 11:23.640 You don't seriously mean to suggest that... 11:23.640 --> 11:25.080 How does it add up to you? 11:25.080 --> 11:28.080 Well, I mean that watch charm doesn't mean anything. 11:28.080 --> 11:31.920 It's true that he did lose it all the time, but he could have lost it in here any time. 11:31.920 --> 11:34.040 Not in a chair, Mr. Lockwood. 11:34.040 --> 11:36.760 It wouldn't stay there very long, not without being found. 11:36.760 --> 11:38.520 Oh, Captain, there must be some mistake. 11:38.520 --> 11:39.520 There must be. 11:39.520 --> 11:40.520 You can go now, Miss Conover. 11:40.520 --> 11:41.520 But please. 11:41.520 --> 11:42.520 I said you could go now, Miss Conover. 11:42.520 --> 11:43.520 Come on, Helen. 11:43.520 --> 11:44.520 I guess that's it, Harry. 11:44.520 --> 11:45.520 I guess it is. 11:45.520 --> 11:48.520 Better call Chicago and issue a warrant. 11:48.520 --> 11:51.120 You're under arrest for a suspicion of murder. 11:51.120 --> 11:52.120 No, it's... 11:52.120 --> 11:53.120 All right, all right. 11:53.120 --> 11:54.120 It's nothing now. 11:54.120 --> 11:57.120 She's just fainted. 11:57.120 --> 12:09.160 For Suspense, Roma Wines are bringing you Van Heflin in Three Blind Mice. 12:09.160 --> 12:14.040 Roma Wines' presentation tonight in radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense. 12:14.040 --> 12:27.240 between the acts of suspense this is Ken Niles for Roma wines next time you have 12:27.240 --> 12:31.040 friends over in the evening try this simple gracious way to add warmth to 12:31.040 --> 12:34.560 their welcome serve delicious Roma California sherry 12:34.560 --> 12:41.720 port or muscatel delightful with cheese nuts cake or any tasty snack you're sure 12:41.720 --> 12:47.360 to please every guest with better tasting Roma wines for Roma wines are 12:47.360 --> 12:53.840 favorites from coast to coast enjoyed by more Americans than any other wine the 12:53.840 --> 13:00.160 reason Roma wines taste better because Roma starts with choices grapes because 13:00.160 --> 13:04.880 Roma with patient skill and America's finest wine making resources guides 13:04.880 --> 13:11.520 these naturally finer grapes unhurriedly to tempting taste perfection because 13:11.520 --> 13:16.280 Roma then places this luscious grape treasure with Roma wines of years before 13:16.280 --> 13:22.120 to await selection from the world's greatest reserves of fine wines for your 13:22.120 --> 13:32.000 pleasure so insist on Roma roma Roma wines made in California for enjoyment 13:32.000 --> 13:37.360 throughout the world and now Roma wines bring back to our Hollywood soundstage 13:37.360 --> 13:43.240 Van Heflin as Arthur Lockwood with Kathy Lewis as Helen Conover in free blind 13:43.240 --> 13:49.800 mice a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense 13:49.800 --> 14:04.880 the defendant will rise and face the court 14:06.520 --> 14:13.160 does the defendant wish to make a statement before sentences pass if not 14:13.160 --> 14:18.480 we will proceed Richard Leonard Walsh having been tried and found guilty of 14:18.480 --> 14:23.760 the murder of Samuel Bentley in the first degree you are hereby remanded to 14:23.760 --> 14:29.400 the custody of the warden of the state penitentiary where at such time as the 14:29.400 --> 14:34.680 state shall deem appropriate you will be executed in the manner of scribe by law 14:34.680 --> 14:39.960 it's a nice way of getting along in the publishing business if you're lucky one 14:39.960 --> 14:43.560 of your partners commit suicide you rig the evidence to frame the other partner 14:43.560 --> 14:48.920 for his murder net result a new firm Arthur Lockwood incorporated Arthur 14:48.920 --> 14:53.600 Lockwood be me of course there were the usual appeals and the thing dragged on 14:53.600 --> 14:58.120 but that didn't worry me I had other things to think about and number one on 14:58.120 --> 15:04.120 that list was Helen Conover but there I'll admit I was surprised because Dick 15:04.120 --> 15:07.200 knew that he'd been framed and must have suspected me and Helen was supposed to 15:07.200 --> 15:12.400 be a mother with big well I played it very carefully the paternal approach the 15:12.400 --> 15:16.160 sorrowing friend dinner in the theater and stuff like that but never a word 15:16.160 --> 15:20.760 never a wrong word or gesture and then one night about a week before Dick Walsh 15:20.760 --> 15:25.000 was scheduled to be executed I just brought Helen home from a sedate little 15:25.000 --> 15:30.280 tour of some of our most upper crust hot boxes and we were at her apartment 15:30.280 --> 15:35.080 this well evening Arthur you've been awfully sweet to me well it's the least 15:35.080 --> 15:40.200 I can do Helen oh you mustn't feel that way Arthur what way but you but you sort 15:40.200 --> 15:43.600 of owe me something oh you're something well why should I it's just that I I know 15:43.600 --> 15:48.680 how you feel and if you do well yes I think so you've been awfully brave about 15:48.680 --> 15:54.080 it but I I think I know Arthur once you said that something I said was corny 15:54.080 --> 16:02.320 remember yes I remember it was it wasn't even true you want you weren't in love 16:02.320 --> 16:06.880 with him afraid I'm a pretty heartless little girl Arthur I'm afraid I love 16:06.880 --> 16:11.480 myself too much to be really in love with anybody that's not heartless that's 16:11.480 --> 16:19.360 just honest you know that that tease to be executed next week don't you yes then 16:19.360 --> 16:25.280 he's not much good to me now is he even if he did want to marry me now you know 16:25.280 --> 16:34.040 I'm heartless and cold-blooded and cruel I ought to but I don't know I don't have 16:34.040 --> 16:42.960 to be that way I can be other ways what are the ways like this 16:50.640 --> 16:56.320 that was that I didn't care about anything after that even marriage we 16:56.320 --> 16:59.840 made a quick trip down to Virginia where names in the publishing business wouldn't 16:59.840 --> 17:04.520 mean a thing even hours and it was all very quiet no publicity no fuss nothing 17:04.520 --> 17:08.680 when we got back we took a little place in these 50s although of course she kept 17:08.680 --> 17:11.800 her apartment I kept mine it had to be that way for a while at least until 17:11.800 --> 17:16.400 after Dick's execution and the things had cooled down a bit well I knocked off 17:16.400 --> 17:21.360 early at the office that day for the looks of the thing and Helen was already 17:21.360 --> 17:28.360 home when I got any particular reason no no no particular reason 17:28.360 --> 17:34.960 penny for your thoughts darling my thoughts oh nothing special I guess I 17:34.960 --> 17:40.040 was just thinking I don't know that I know what you were thinking about dick 17:40.040 --> 17:46.000 he's going to die tonight well maybe I was I don't know well I'm glad you did 17:46.000 --> 17:48.920 come home anyway darling because I wanted to have a little talk with you 17:48.920 --> 17:53.320 sure about what you really shouldn't let it bother you you know like what bother 17:53.320 --> 17:58.840 me the execution why should it bother me he killed a man didn't he why should I 17:58.840 --> 18:06.280 worry about what the law does to him are you so sure so sure of what so sure that 18:06.280 --> 18:14.040 he did kill a man right then it hit that all the time I've been thinking how slick 18:14.040 --> 18:18.640 everything was something was wrong terribly wrong that all this time she'd 18:18.640 --> 18:23.600 been playing with me like a smart young cat with a silly blind old mouse 18:23.600 --> 18:29.000 pretty nice and one of them dead and another with him as good as dead and I 18:29.000 --> 18:34.760 was left all the evidence and everything wasn't like dick to do a thing like that 18:34.760 --> 18:42.680 you don't think he killed him Arthur do you remember oh it's a long time ago you 18:42.680 --> 18:46.720 asked me what I expected to get out of it if Sam and Dick squeezed you out of 18:46.720 --> 18:54.080 the firm yeah I remember and you said you might have a better proposition well 18:54.080 --> 19:01.800 I've decided what I want sure you really want to be a vice president we can fix 19:01.800 --> 19:05.640 that easy enough although I sort of had the idea that you'd be pulling out after 19:05.640 --> 19:12.560 a while now that we're married your price list no I'm afraid a vice 19:12.560 --> 19:16.080 presidency isn't at all what I have in mind and I don't know where you got the 19:16.080 --> 19:23.640 idea that I'd be pulling out of the firm ever all right what do you want I want a 19:23.640 --> 19:33.400 full partnership Arthur a partnership yes that's a strange well we are partners 19:33.400 --> 19:40.240 now in a way you're my wife no I mean a real partnership a corporate partnership 19:40.240 --> 19:44.160 look Helen you're asking me out of a clear sky to give you a half a share in a 19:44.160 --> 19:52.280 million dollar business yes well I that'll take some thinking about yes I 19:52.280 --> 19:59.680 suppose it will I'm saying it was strange about that evidence for instance 19:59.680 --> 20:04.120 there was the letter what letter the letter that was on Sam's desk when he 20:04.120 --> 20:09.880 killed himself it disappeared you must be crazy am I and what about the 20:09.880 --> 20:15.320 wristwatch when he died it said five after eight but when they found him it 20:15.320 --> 20:21.120 said ten after seven and the gun it was lying on the carpet by his hand but 20:21.120 --> 20:26.400 somehow it got into Dick's wall safe you knew all that and you let an innocent 20:26.400 --> 20:36.520 man go to the chair you are priceless I let an innocent man go to the chair you 20:36.520 --> 20:42.720 know of course that a wife can't testify against her husband oh no no a wife can't 20:42.720 --> 20:50.800 be forced to testify against her husband but she can if her conscience all right 20:50.800 --> 20:58.720 what do you want I thought I'd mentioned it the partnership I see now you're not 20:58.720 --> 21:04.320 going to be unreasonable about it are you darling no Helen I'm not going to be 21:04.320 --> 21:14.520 unreasonable she'd even turned her back on me now she was gazing out of the 21:14.520 --> 21:20.200 window dreaming of the future her future just the way she planned it I couldn't 21:20.200 --> 21:24.000 guess how she knew she must have been hiding somewhere and seen me but that 21:24.000 --> 21:27.520 didn't matter much now I only knew that I was right back where I'd started from 21:27.520 --> 21:32.400 the business slipping out of my hands and someday no business and no Helen I 21:32.400 --> 21:37.280 had to think fast and act fast it was a bronze statuette on the end table I 21:37.280 --> 21:42.800 picked it up and hefted it it was just about right so I stepped over behind her 21:42.800 --> 21:49.560 the officers then will be just exactly the same except for that darling you 21:49.560 --> 21:53.000 won't mind that will you duck 21:54.920 --> 22:02.240 I hit her hard but not too hard because this was one suicide that was going to 22:02.240 --> 22:06.040 come off right I carried her out to the kitchen and propped her up in the chair 22:06.040 --> 22:09.920 in front of the kitchen table and then I went into the bathroom got some towels 22:09.920 --> 22:14.560 that wouldn't leave any marks and I tied her hands and feet and gagged her so 22:14.560 --> 22:19.040 that even if she did come to in a few minutes it wouldn't matter all I had to 22:19.040 --> 22:22.520 do was come back in a couple of hours and put the towels we make everything 22:22.520 --> 22:26.680 look just as natural as I could was a risk those two hours and I knew it the 22:26.680 --> 22:30.720 whole thing was a risk but it was the best I could do I looked at her once 22:30.720 --> 22:37.720 more before I left she hadn't moved a muscle and then I turned on the gas 22:42.360 --> 22:47.200 by the time I got back to my apartment I was shaking all over this time I had 22:47.200 --> 22:52.120 really killed somebody but why would anybody connect me with it I told 22:52.120 --> 22:55.800 myself why would anybody think it was anything but suicide she had the motive 22:55.800 --> 23:00.240 this day of all days everybody knew that she was in love with watch and even if 23:00.240 --> 23:07.160 her marriage to me came out the motive would still hold and then they the doorbell 23:07.160 --> 23:11.760 rang I jumped the foot at first I wasn't gonna answer it and then I thought I'd 23:11.760 --> 23:16.240 better whoever it was would establish that I was here at home and that I could 23:16.240 --> 23:24.240 brush them off before I had to leave hello mr. Lockwood busy why no no no 23:24.240 --> 23:34.240 come right in thanks right here have a seat cigar thanks pretty good cigar 23:34.240 --> 23:40.920 must be doing pretty well for yourself nowadays better let me light it myself 23:40.920 --> 23:48.800 you seem kind of nervous well you know how it is I mean today the oh mean your 23:48.800 --> 23:54.280 partner Walsh going to the hot seat I try not to think about it but well yeah 23:54.280 --> 23:59.840 you'll be sitting down there pretty soon now pretty soon they say it doesn't hurt 23:59.840 --> 24:06.760 I don't know you ever see one look do we have to talk about it makes you feel 24:06.760 --> 24:15.480 kind of bad I wouldn't wonder why did you do it lock one do what frame it I 24:15.480 --> 24:21.320 don't know what you're talking about sure you do you change the time stash the 24:21.320 --> 24:27.480 gun tore up the suicide note in fact as I was saying you framed him no Walsh 24:27.480 --> 24:30.840 killed him you you know he did he was convicted of killing him all the evidence 24:30.840 --> 24:35.560 was that he killed him oh sure Walsh killed him all right what Walsh killed 24:35.560 --> 24:41.920 him he told us he did just today but it was uh they look what is this Walsh 24:41.920 --> 24:47.000 killed him framed it to look like suicide then you came along and pinned it 24:47.000 --> 24:51.040 back on Walsh where it belonged in the first place he gave us a full confession 24:51.040 --> 24:56.920 just this afternoon then then you so I don't know whether we ought to thank you 24:56.920 --> 25:02.720 for making it easy for us so try to pin a wrap on you but the DA is willing to 25:02.720 --> 25:09.000 let it go so all right with me he wants a statement though oh sure sure anything 25:09.000 --> 25:16.480 anything you say by the way what about that dame what what dame the one in your 25:16.480 --> 25:23.640 office that was supposed to be sweet on walls we want her the worst way you why 25:23.640 --> 25:29.400 accessory to murder she was in it up to over years 25:29.760 --> 25:35.360 yeah so that was all that's how she had known and I'd taken my life on my hand 25:35.360 --> 25:39.680 for nothing she was up there dying right now I was murdering it while Gibbons sat 25:39.680 --> 25:44.400 there risking my life to do something that the law would have done for me maybe 25:44.400 --> 25:50.080 it still wasn't too late but Gibbons just sat there talking and talking and talking 25:50.080 --> 25:55.400 well you were you just go down there to the DA's office and give him that 25:55.400 --> 26:01.800 statement eh sure sure tomorrow the very first thing you know you sure are a heel 26:01.800 --> 26:06.520 knock one but you're a lucky heel 26:08.400 --> 26:13.000 it's ten blocks away I didn't dare take a cab I didn't dare even run for fear 26:13.000 --> 26:17.480 that somebody would see me and remember in case it was too late by the time I got 26:17.480 --> 26:21.920 there I was gasping for breath of swine so I'd run every second so I let myself 26:21.920 --> 26:25.440 in the smell of gas he can just like a brick wall I put my handkerchief over my 26:25.440 --> 26:31.360 face and rushed in I threw open the window shut off the gas she was sitting 26:31.360 --> 26:36.760 there just as I left her well I got her up on the table I dragged it over toward 26:36.760 --> 26:40.040 the window I got the gag out of her mouth and I began working her arms 26:40.040 --> 26:44.800 artificial respiration I knew that much I worked over by that window until it was 26:44.800 --> 26:49.080 wet was running down my face but I couldn't tell I couldn't tell yet the 26:49.080 --> 26:52.440 towels that I tied her feet with were still there but I I didn't bother with 26:52.440 --> 26:55.760 them or anything else I just kept working over up and down up and down as 26:55.760 --> 27:06.200 though yes as though my life depended on it it did I'm afraid you're too late 27:06.200 --> 27:11.840 Lachwin I'm afraid your wife is dead 27:18.600 --> 27:25.320 he was a smart cop that Givens he knew a lot he says now he's pretty sure it 27:25.320 --> 27:33.480 doesn't hurt the electric care I mean well tonight I'm gonna find out 27:33.480 --> 27:49.400 you 27:49.400 --> 27:57.920 suspense presented by Roma wines our OMA Roma America's favorite wine well this 27:57.920 --> 28:01.040 is Ken Niles bringing back to our microphone the distinguished star of 28:01.040 --> 28:05.240 tonight's suspense play Van Heflin Van you played the part of a publisher 28:05.240 --> 28:10.080 tonight how about publishing a few tips on Roma wines well with wine like Roma 28:10.080 --> 28:15.360 Ken all you need to do is publish the facts well fact number one is that Roma 28:15.360 --> 28:19.760 America's greatest vintner has asked me to present you with this basket of Roma 28:19.760 --> 28:23.520 wines for your wonderful performance tonight well that's a very good beginning 28:23.520 --> 28:29.120 Ken my my thanks to you and to Roma a fact number two Van is that your friends 28:29.120 --> 28:33.880 will enjoy the Roma California sherry in your gift basket for gold and amber 28:33.880 --> 28:38.960 fragrant Roma sherry with tempting nut-like taste is the perfect first call 28:38.960 --> 28:43.520 to dinner the ideal wine for entertaining anytime right Ken but tell 28:43.520 --> 28:47.600 the people why Roma sherry is so good give them the facts my boy the facts 28:47.600 --> 28:52.960 all right you are professor Heflin the fact number three Roma sherry like all 28:52.960 --> 28:58.920 Roma wines begins with California's choices greats then Roma vintners with 28:58.920 --> 29:04.000 America's finest wine making resources guide these select grapes unhurried lay 29:04.000 --> 29:08.880 it to tempting taste perfection and place them with Roma wines of years 29:08.880 --> 29:14.920 before later Roma selects from this vast taste treasure the world's greatest wine 29:14.920 --> 29:19.560 reserves for your pleasure Ken you're hired thank you and good night 29:19.560 --> 29:23.560 Van Heflin may currently be seen in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Technicolor musical 29:23.560 --> 29:28.640 till the clouds roll by with Van Johnson Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra tonight's 29:28.640 --> 29:32.800 suspense play was written by Kenneth Pettis and Robert Richards next Thursday 29:32.800 --> 29:38.200 same time you will hear mr. Glenn Ford as star of suspense 29:38.200 --> 29:42.400 produced and directed by William Spear for the Roma Wine Company of Fresno 29:42.400 --> 29:59.240 California this is CBS the Columbia broadcasting system