1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,440 In just a moment, suspense with Lucille Ball. 2 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:06,440 Hi, Harlow. 3 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:08,440 Well, look who's here. 4 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:12,440 Say, it's mighty nice of you to be sitting around all week just to hear me tell more about Auto Light. 5 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:14,440 Oh, I haven't been waiting around all week. 6 00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:16,440 Why, I was waiting up in Oregon. 7 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:18,440 Oh, that's swell. That's swell. 8 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:20,440 Hey, Hap, do you know the real story about Auto Light stay full batteries? 9 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:23,440 Sure, I know the real story about Auto Light stay full batteries. 10 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:25,440 Needs water only three times a year in normal car use. 11 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:27,440 What a battery. Stay full, that is. 12 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:33,440 Why, by Cornelius, an Auto Light stay full battery has more liquid reserve than a centipede has legs, 13 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:37,440 than an ocean has waves, than a rabbit has, well, rabbits. 14 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:45,440 Water, whales spout it, geysers gush it, people drink it, but Auto Light stay full batteries carry good old aquapurus so long and so well, 15 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:50,440 they take a drink about as often as you have a birthday, a wedding anniversary, and a New Year's celebration. 16 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:53,440 Only three times a year in normal car use. 17 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:57,440 And let me tell you something else, you'd better get an Auto Light stay full battery before... 18 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:01,440 Before you go on some more, Harlow, let's listen to suspense. 19 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:03,440 Suspense. 20 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:05,440 Suspense. 21 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:07,440 Suspense. 22 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:09,440 Suspense. 23 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:11,440 Suspense. 24 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:13,440 Suspense. 25 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:15,440 Suspense. 26 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:17,440 Suspense. 27 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:19,440 Suspense. 28 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:26,440 Auto Light and its 60,000 dealers and service stations bring you Radio's outstanding theater of thrills. 29 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:33,440 Starring tonight, Miss Lucille Ball in Anton Leder's production of A Little Piece of Rope. 30 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:49,440 A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. 31 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:52,440 They said I'd never make good here in Hollywood. 32 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:54,440 Everywhere I went it was the same story. 33 00:01:54,440 --> 00:02:00,440 Sure they'd see me, but the minute they took a look at my baby face, all I'd get was advice and excuses. 34 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:02,440 No job. 35 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:05,440 My last try was for a schoolgirl part. 36 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:08,440 I was too baby faced to even land that one. 37 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:15,440 I was walking home still wearing the school uniform that I'd bought to help me get the part when I got the idea. 38 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:17,440 Then I remembered another thing. 39 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:19,440 It was years ago. 40 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:22,440 Reading an old copy of the police gazette in Grandpa's attic. 41 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:26,440 Printed about 1880, I guess. 42 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:37,440 With their falsely youthful faces, dressed as innocent schoolgirls, these vicious females haunt the vicinity of select young ladies' seminaries. 43 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:45,440 And with their airs of artless girlhood, they entice and trap unwary gentlemen. 44 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:54,440 Some from the best of families. 45 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:59,440 It was funny then, but now, well, those gals were suckers. 46 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:06,440 I take the exclusive gents for all they've got and give absolutely nothing. 47 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:08,440 That's how I made good in Hollywood. 48 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:11,440 Up to a thousand dollars a month good. 49 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:20,440 I just take a little walk. 50 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:26,440 I've got uniforms for all the best schools and I still have the baby face. 51 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:27,440 So help me. 52 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:29,440 Lots of those kids look older than I do. 53 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:32,440 When school's out, I let some old wolf pick me up. 54 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:37,440 They always want to park up in the hills or some other lonely place. 55 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:39,440 I drop my compact. 56 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:41,440 He bends over to pick it up. 57 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:49,440 I let him have it with a special little blackjack I carry. 58 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:53,440 Then I leave, taking their wallets and any letters I find. 59 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:56,440 You'd be surprised if some of the letters some of them do have. 60 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:58,440 Makes a dandy bank balance now and then. 61 00:03:58,440 --> 00:03:59,440 Them? 62 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:03,440 Remember, I pick them old enough to have families, dignified jobs. 63 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:06,440 Would they want to admit to chasing bobby-soxers? 64 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:08,440 They never squawk. 65 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:13,440 My landlady thinks I'm the ideal tenant. 66 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:16,440 Oh, she's no trouble at all, the poor little thing. 67 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:17,440 Infantile, you know. 68 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:21,440 Has to take long walks every day and rest the rest of the time. 69 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:24,440 Never any fun or dates like other pretty girls. 70 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:26,440 Well, lucky she can afford it, I say. 71 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:28,440 Be a county ward otherwise. 72 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:33,440 And so sweet and quiet, uncomplaining poor little soul. 73 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:36,440 Yes, Mrs. Tilford is a swell character witness. 74 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:39,440 Of course, I always wear a coat over those uniforms near home. 75 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:43,440 And I keep them locked up just in case she snoops. 76 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:46,440 Yes, yes, I've got a nice career in Hollywood. 77 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:50,440 That is, I did have until last month. 78 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,440 You going out in this cold, Isabelle? 79 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:55,440 Oh, this is a good heavy coat. 80 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:57,440 Well, don't you overdo now. 81 00:04:57,440 --> 00:04:59,440 These walks are just what the doctor ordered. 82 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:01,440 Anyway, you sure look healthy enough. 83 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:03,440 Oh, thank heaven for that. 84 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:05,440 Anything I can pick up for you on the way back? 85 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:08,440 Oh, no, thanks, dearie. I got everything done. 86 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:09,440 Goodbye now. 87 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:10,440 Bye. 88 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:13,440 I was dressed for Miss Cadwaller's school this time, 89 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:15,440 and it was just letting out when I got there. 90 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:17,440 I didn't have long to wait. 91 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:19,440 You know, you get so you can tell by the way the cars 92 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:22,440 move along the street if the guy's on the prowl. 93 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:24,440 This one was driving a big black coupe, 94 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:27,440 and he was a little younger than I liked, about 40, 95 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:29,440 but you can't be too fussy. 96 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:33,440 I stepped off the curb pretending to look for a bus. 97 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:36,440 Waiting for the bus? 98 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:38,440 Right now, I'm waiting for the bus. 99 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:40,440 Waiting for the bus? 100 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:42,440 Why, yes, I am. 101 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:43,440 Which one? 102 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:45,440 The Bel Air bus. 103 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:47,440 Oh, I say, that's a shame. 104 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:48,440 Why? 105 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:50,440 I just passed it back there, broken axle. 106 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:51,440 Oh. 107 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:53,440 You know, I think I've seen you passing my house. 108 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:54,440 What street do you live on? 109 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:55,440 Cameron. 110 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:57,440 Oh, sure. I'm just over on Bendette. 111 00:05:57,440 --> 00:05:59,440 Hop in, I'll take you home. 112 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:02,440 Well, you're a neighbor. 113 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:05,440 I guess it's... gee, thanks, Mr. 114 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:07,440 Rice, Alex Rice. 115 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:08,440 Insurance. 116 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:10,440 How do you do? 117 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:13,440 Like school? 118 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:14,440 I hate it. 119 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:16,440 School's no fun. 120 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:18,440 I'd like... oh, I... 121 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:19,440 What? 122 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:22,440 Oh, excitement, danger. 123 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:24,440 I suppose you think I'm pretty silly. 124 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:26,440 No. 125 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:29,440 No, I think you're the kind of girl who'll get 126 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:32,440 excitement and danger. 127 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:33,440 Really? 128 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:36,440 Yes, really. 129 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:37,440 Look, it's so early yet. 130 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:39,440 I'd like to take the long way through the hills. 131 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:40,440 It's pretty there now. 132 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:41,440 Oh, yes, I'd love to. 133 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:44,440 I think the hills are divine. 134 00:06:56,440 --> 00:06:59,440 Oh, isn't it just out of this world? 135 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:02,440 Yes. 136 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:06,440 Yes, indeed. 137 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:08,440 What's the initial on your bag for? 138 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:09,440 The initial? 139 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:12,440 Yeah. Irma, Inez, Ingeborg. 140 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:14,440 Oh, Ingeborg. You made that up. 141 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:17,440 No, Swedish. 142 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:18,440 Imogene? 143 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:20,440 No, Irene. 144 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:22,440 Irene Taylor. 145 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:24,440 A pretty name for a pretty girl. 146 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:26,440 I'll bet. 147 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:30,440 You have beautiful hair and eyes 148 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:32,440 and a beautiful throat. 149 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:34,440 Wow. Throat? 150 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:36,440 Irene, you're very... 151 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:38,440 Oh, Mr. Rice, I dropped my compact. 152 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:39,440 You don't need it. 153 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:40,440 But it might get stepped on. 154 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:41,440 You won't need it. 155 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:42,440 But I want it now. 156 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:43,440 All right, all right. 157 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:44,440 Don't yell so here. 158 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:45,440 I'll get it for you. 159 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:47,440 Oh! 160 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:49,440 Character, huh? 161 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:50,440 Well, here. 162 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:51,440 Roll back a little. 163 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:52,440 There. 164 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:53,440 I... 165 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:55,440 Well, what do you know? 166 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:57,440 Rope. 167 00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:02,440 Now, why would a guy carry a piece of rope in his inside breast pocket? 168 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:05,440 Hmm. Nice wallet. 169 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:09,440 Well, goodbye, Mr. Rice, and thanks for everything. 170 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:19,440 Back home, I showered and changed 171 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:24,440 and settled down to see what was in this wallet worth keeping. 172 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:26,440 Only about 50 bucks. 173 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:30,440 What made it so thick was a lot of newspaper clippings. 174 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:33,440 Oh! 175 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:36,440 Oh, no! It can't be! 176 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:38,440 But it was. 177 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:41,440 Those clippings were all about the strangler 178 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:44,440 who'd murdered five girls in the last year, 179 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:48,440 left them in the hills with a piece of rope around their necks 180 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:50,440 and never a clue. 181 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:54,440 And Alexander Rice carried his press notices. 182 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:59,440 Alexander Rice carried a little piece of rope in his inside breast pocket, 183 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:02,440 picked up girls, drove into the hills. 184 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:05,440 Alexander Rice wasn't his name. 185 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:09,440 No, his driver's license said Benjamin Carney. 186 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:14,440 I had picked up and slugged the strangler. 187 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:24,440 My latest sucker was the most dangerous man in the country. 188 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:30,440 For Suspense, Auto Light is bringing you Miss Lucille Ball 189 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:36,440 in Radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense. 190 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:41,440 Say there, neighbor, I didn't get going very well 191 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:43,440 on those Auto Light stay-full batteries. 192 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:45,440 Now look here, Harlow Wilcox, I want to... 193 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:47,440 Never mind. I'm right back in there pitching. 194 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:49,440 Gee, if I could only tell you about every one of those 195 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:52,440 400 Auto Light, automotive, aviation, and marine products. 196 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:55,440 That takes real breath, lots of breath. 197 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:58,440 And while I'm not as short on taking breath as an Auto Light stay-full battery 198 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:01,440 is on taking a drink, not by a jugful, 199 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:03,440 even I just haven't got enough breath for that. 200 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:06,440 Well, if you just stop talking so much... 201 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:09,440 I can sure wind up and sound off on those Auto Light stay-full batteries, though. 202 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:12,440 Making camels look like toppers is just the beginning with them. 203 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:16,440 They've got oversized electrical capacity plus fiberglass insulation. 204 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:18,440 You know what that means, my friend? 205 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:19,440 Sure I know what that means. 206 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:21,440 It means you should find out for yourself 207 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:23,440 how long these batteries are bound to live. 208 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:25,440 You'd have to hibernate like Rip Van Winkle. 209 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:28,440 I guess you could at that if you had an Auto Light stay-full battery in your car. 210 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:30,440 I've got an Auto Light. 211 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:34,440 By the way, those Auto Light engineers designed that Auto Light stay-full battery 212 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:37,440 is so darned ingenious by Cornelius 213 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:40,440 that you could pay as little attention to your Auto Light stay-full battery 214 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:43,440 as Rip Van Winkle did to old father time. 215 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:46,440 Go down to your Auto Light dealer and get one right away. 216 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:49,440 There's no better buy in batteries, my boy, 217 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:54,440 because no better batteries be behind the byline of Barlow Billcocks. 218 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:56,440 Now look, Billcocks, I mean Wilcocks, 219 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:58,440 you've got bees in my bonnet now. 220 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:02,440 If you'll only pipe down, we'll hear some more of suspense. 221 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:08,440 And now Auto Light brings back to a Hollywood sound stage 222 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:12,440 Miss Lucille Ball as Isabelle in a little piece of rope. 223 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:28,440 A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. 224 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:31,440 At first I just shivered over my narrow escape. 225 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:35,440 Why, if I hadn't been out to get him, he'd have gotten me. 226 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:38,440 I'd be number six in tomorrow's headlines. 227 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:43,440 Then I suddenly realized I was the only one who could identify him. 228 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:45,440 I can't be silent, let him go on killing. 229 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:48,440 I've got to go to the police station and tell them. 230 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:51,440 I started to go out when it occurred to me I couldn't. 231 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:55,440 I didn't dare go to the police and take the chance of exposing my own racket. 232 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:58,440 If that ever came out, and it probably would, 233 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:00,440 San Quentin, here I come. 234 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:03,440 It seems they're a little stuffy about people who carry blackjacks 235 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:07,440 and steal wallets and sell letters. 236 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:11,440 So instead I went for a walk, a real one this time, 237 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:14,440 and just tried to think. 238 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:18,440 Pretty soon another thought hit me. 239 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:21,440 He knew I could identify him by now. 240 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:23,440 The Strangler was no fool. 241 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:28,440 He'd have me figure it out and know the kind of place and time to look for me. 242 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:34,440 And he'd certainly be looking for me, to kill me, to shut my mouth forever. 243 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:37,440 I had to find a way to... 244 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:48,440 City desk, Thompson. 245 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:50,440 I know who the Strangler is. 246 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:51,440 Who's this? 247 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:52,440 I can't tell you that. 248 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:55,440 Oh, I see. Well, what can you tell me? You know his name? 249 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:57,440 Benjamin Carney. 250 00:12:57,440 --> 00:12:58,440 Carney? 251 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:02,440 C-A-R-N-E-Y. 1156A Boydell Street. 252 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:03,440 Yeah, description? 253 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:06,440 About 40. 5'9 or 10. 254 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:10,440 160 pounds, dark hair, eyes, skin, even features. 255 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:12,440 Not ugly, not handsome. 256 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:15,440 Drives a big black coupe. Lady, late model. 257 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:17,440 Got it. Any identifying marks, mustache? 258 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:18,440 No, nothing. 259 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:19,440 And how do you know this guy's the Strangler? 260 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:20,440 I just know. Goodbye. 261 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:21,440 Hey, wait a minute, wait a minute. 262 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:33,440 So you can trace the call? 263 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:36,440 There had been hundreds of phony clues, and he thought mine was another. 264 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:39,440 But surely they'd checked that name and address. 265 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:43,440 All the way home, I had a creepy feeling he was around somewhere. 266 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:47,440 Following me, waiting. 267 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:50,440 Evening paper barely mentioned my call, just listed it with several others. 268 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:54,440 Radio wasn't very much better. 269 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:58,440 An unidentified woman phoned in a description of the killer as a 40-year-old brunette, 270 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:03,440 medium height and weight, with no distinguishing features, driving a new black coupe. 271 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:07,440 Police checks reveal that such a man with the name she gave had moved from the address given 272 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:12,440 several months before the first of the Strangler murders, but there is no further trace of him. 273 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:16,440 Investigation continues, but it is believed this is another spite accusation. 274 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:21,440 A Portland, Oregon woman reported the Strangler as the man who entered her hen house last night and... 275 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:25,440 No use phoning again. I didn't think a letter would help much either, but I tried. 276 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:30,440 Being careful it couldn't be traced to me and mailed it to a newspaper that night. 277 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:34,440 Hey, Mike, Mike, you going to the courthouse? Take this to O'Shea, will you? 278 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:36,440 Another Strangler letter telling all. 279 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:46,440 Why can't he just strangle letter writers? One more and I'll strangle somebody. 280 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:49,440 Another failure. The letter wasn't even printed. 281 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:52,440 I was getting jumpy from being cooped up like a prisoner. 282 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:57,440 What if he couldn't find me as long as I stayed home? I was losing money every day. I didn't pull my act. 283 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:02,440 I could leave town, but why should I give up this good thing, my perfect set up? 284 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:10,440 I'd been doing fine. Another year I could quit the racket, make friends, invest my money, maybe even get married. 285 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:17,440 Now this had happened. I'd never be safe. Not as long as we both lived. 286 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:22,440 I finally faced it. I have to find him and kill him. 287 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:32,440 This time I put an ad in the Personals column. Would he see it? I'd run it till he did. 288 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:42,440 A.K. Rice can book your Rope Act for mutual profit. Have immediate out of town engagement. Signed Slugger. 289 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:52,440 Rope Act. Mutual profit. 290 00:15:56,440 --> 00:15:59,440 I knew that would get him because it sounded like blackmail. 291 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:03,440 And by pretending to fall for a shakedown, he'd hope to get close enough to kill me. 292 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:10,440 Only it was going to be the other way around. And so our strange correspondence began. He answered right away. 293 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:22,440 Slugger. Interested in offers? Send details box 047M298. Rice. I had him hooked. I didn't lose any time writing. 294 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:28,440 Dear Mr. Rice, I have an invention which I think you'll want for your Rope Act. 295 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:37,440 It's expensive, but remember, it's completely silent. And yours exclusively if we agree on terms. 296 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:51,440 Signed Slugger. Completely silent. It's delicious. And expensive. Yes, indeed. 297 00:16:51,440 --> 00:17:06,440 Slugger. Give price and details of contract. Rice. So close now. I couldn't afford the slightest mistake now. 298 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:13,440 Dear Mr. Rice, 5,000 cash buys complete assortment of paper and leather goods. 299 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:22,440 Time and place of meeting must be my choice, but decide fast. I must leave town immediately. Signed Slugger. 300 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:29,440 P.S. You should never have left that snapshot in your wallet. It's awfully good of you. 301 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:39,440 Snapshot? I thought I... I don't know. I didn't burn it. 302 00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:49,440 So the little lady's in a jam. Needs money to hide out. And I can help her make her get away. 303 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:53,440 Oh, I can indeed. 304 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:07,440 Slugger. Price okay. We'll close at your convenience. Rice. I've got him. My plan was as foolproof as I could make it. 305 00:18:07,440 --> 00:18:12,440 I packed a suitcase with the kind of clothes I'd hate to be found dead in. Maybe I would be. 306 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:17,440 And told Mrs. Milford I was taking a vacation with friends. Oh, I'm so glad, dearie. 307 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:23,440 I said to Miss Knight yesterday, that child should have country air. City air just don't do the same for you. 308 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:29,440 Yes, I know. It'll do me good. And you stay longer if they ask you. Don't worry about me holding the apartment for you. 309 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:34,440 Well, thanks a lot, Mrs. Tilford. It's certainly nice of you. I have to catch that train now. Goodbye. 310 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:38,440 Have a nice time now. 311 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:52,440 I took those awful clothes to the bus depot, changed, washed, and let the soap dry on my face till it was white and shiny and ten years older. 312 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:59,440 With my hair skinned back tight under an old beret, I saw a stranger in the mirror. Baby face was gone. Good. 313 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:05,440 No one had noticed me, and looking like this, nobody would. Then I walked to another apartment I'd rented by phone last week. 314 00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:09,440 It was in a dingy neighborhood. 315 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:18,440 I'm Miss Sprout. Oh, Miss Sprout. You can move right in. The people left yesterday. 316 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:23,440 Here, this is the key. It's the first door at the head of the stairs. Fine, I'll go right up. 317 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:28,440 It ain't clean yet. Them stairs bother me so. I'd really rather do it myself. Thank you. 318 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:32,440 Well, I'll just leave you alone there. 319 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:43,440 Now I was Miss Annie Sprout, librarian, and I looked as much like Isabelle Townes, baby face, as an alley cat looks like a Persian. 320 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:46,440 I sat down to write the last letter. 321 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:53,440 Dear Mr. Rice, come to 609 Fitzgillbert Place at 10 p.m. Friday. 322 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:58,440 And don't try to come near me, or I'll scream my head off. 323 00:19:58,440 --> 00:20:07,440 Tap five times, come in, and stand right by the door while we make sure neither of us is double-crossing the other. 324 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:10,440 Have the money in an unsealed envelope. 325 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:17,440 I want that traveling money, but I'd rather take a chance on the cops than on you, so follow instructions. 326 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:20,440 Slugger. 327 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:29,440 You fool. You baby-faced fool. 328 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:41,440 He'd have to make sure the layout was right before he'd dare attack me. 329 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:45,440 And the more precautions I took, the more he'd believe I was on the level. 330 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:51,440 Near the door where he'd stand, I put a chest with a lamp on it. 331 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:53,440 That was my booby trap, that lamp. 332 00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:58,440 The room was so dimly lit, he'd have to light my lamp to look at the wallet. 333 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:01,440 And when he pulled the light chain, he'd shoot himself. 334 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:05,440 I had a gun fixed where the bulb should be, and the chain pulled the trigger. 335 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:09,440 It was set to get him in the chest, heart if I was lucky. 336 00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:15,440 Dead or not, I'd leave him there for the cops, with his wallet and clippings. 337 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:17,440 Pretty cute, huh? 338 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:26,440 And I'd skip out the back way with all that beautiful money, go to the depot, become Isabel Townes again, safe and free. 339 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:42,440 I wore gloves all the time I was there, and the suitcase with Isabel Townes' identity in it was ready by the back door. 340 00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:52,440 The hours passed like centuries, and the old house creaked like a sick old man in a squeaky bed. 341 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:57,440 Of course, it might be the house, or it might be someone on the stairs. 342 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:01,440 And then it was ten o'clock. 343 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:06,440 I was standing at the other end of the room, facing the door. 344 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:09,440 The light was very dim. 345 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:17,440 I heard the feet coming up the stairs, or was it just the creaking of the old house? 346 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:20,440 No, no. 347 00:22:47,440 --> 00:22:50,440 Good evening, slugger. 348 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:54,440 You see, I'm prompt, slugger. 349 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:57,440 Stand where you are. 350 00:22:57,440 --> 00:22:59,440 Certainly. 351 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:01,440 Did you bring the money? 352 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:05,440 Yes, indeed. Here, Miss Endel. 353 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:09,440 Throw it down in the middle of the room, between us. 354 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:12,440 Go ahead, Miss Endel. 355 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:17,440 It'll stay there while you examine the leather goods. 356 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:19,440 Do you have the wallet here? 357 00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:20,440 Yes. 358 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:25,440 Throw the money. I can't reach it from here, you know. It's quite safe. 359 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:27,440 All right. 360 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:30,440 There. 361 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:32,440 The wallet. 362 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:34,440 Where is it? 363 00:23:34,440 --> 00:23:37,440 On that chest beside you by the lamp. 364 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:42,440 Yes. 365 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:47,440 Well, thanks, slugger. 366 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:52,440 Aren't you going to look to see that everything's there? 367 00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:55,440 Why should I? 368 00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:58,440 I trust you. 369 00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:01,440 So long, babyface. 370 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:07,440 See you around. 371 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:09,440 He's gotten away, alive. 372 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:11,440 He must have guessed I'd done something to the lamp. 373 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:14,440 So he was still alive and still dangerous. 374 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:17,440 But at least I had the money, the $5,000. 375 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:20,440 I picked up the envelope and opened it. 376 00:24:20,440 --> 00:24:24,440 There was nothing in it but pieces of newspaper cut to the size of bills. 377 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:26,440 Why, you dirty cheat! 378 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:27,440 I ran to the door and opened it. 379 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:29,440 I looked out, but he wasn't in there. 380 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:31,440 Maybe I could catch him before he got out of the house. 381 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:33,440 You won't get away with this. 382 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:37,440 I stepped into the hall and before I could turn, I felt the rope around my neck. 383 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:41,440 His hands were pulling it tight. 384 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:59,440 Oh, baby, I told you I'd see you around, didn't I? 385 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:02,440 There you are, baby. 386 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:07,440 You're paid off in full. 387 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:19,440 Now, I'll just go back inside. 388 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:22,440 Let's see. 389 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:33,440 I guess you'll be safe on the floor while we finish our business. 390 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:39,440 Now, I'll take a look at that wallet, baby. 391 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:42,440 You might have held out some of those clippings. 392 00:25:42,440 --> 00:25:44,440 I'll just turn on this light. 393 00:25:44,440 --> 00:26:06,440 Thank you, Lucille Ball, for a splendid performance. 394 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:09,440 Miss Ball will return in just a moment. 395 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:11,440 Say, Hap, you going back to Oregon? 396 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:12,440 Well, how are you? 397 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:15,440 That's a nice trip if you can get it with an auto light stay full battery. 398 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:18,440 You know, I'd advise you to get a sign for your thumb saying, 399 00:26:18,440 --> 00:26:21,440 any car with auto light stay full batteries can carry me. 400 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:22,440 I forgot my canteen. 401 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:23,440 But, Harlow, I... 402 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:25,440 Of course, you could buy an auto light stay full battery 403 00:26:25,440 --> 00:26:28,440 and simply insist that whoever picked you up use your battery, 404 00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:30,440 but you couldn't get back to Oregon that way. 405 00:26:30,440 --> 00:26:32,440 No, sirree, they'd never let you out of the car 406 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:35,440 just so they could keep that wonderful auto light stay full battery. 407 00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:38,440 Let's see, after you got to Oregon, you could go to Washington, Montana, 408 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:40,440 Minnesota, Maine, New York, and Florida. 409 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:44,440 But, Harlow, I've been trying to tell you I've got an auto light stay full battery. 410 00:26:44,440 --> 00:26:49,440 Oh, well then, you know that auto light means batteries. 411 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:50,440 Stay full battery. 412 00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:52,440 Auto light means spark plugs. 413 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:54,440 Ignition engineered spark plugs. 414 00:26:54,440 --> 00:26:56,440 Auto light means ignition system. 415 00:26:56,440 --> 00:27:05,440 The lifeline of your car. 416 00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:07,440 And now here again is Miss Lucille Ball. 417 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:10,440 It's always a great pleasure to appear on Suspense, 418 00:27:10,440 --> 00:27:13,440 especially when the part is so unusual and exciting. 419 00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:14,440 That's right, Miss Ball. 420 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:16,440 The part of Isabelle tonight was very different 421 00:27:16,440 --> 00:27:19,440 from your regular radio role on My Favorite Husband. 422 00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:20,440 Ha ha, plug. 423 00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:21,440 Why not? 424 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:22,440 Why not? 425 00:27:22,440 --> 00:27:25,440 Something like, uh, listen to Lucille Ball 426 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:28,440 as Liz Cougar on My Favorite Husband every Saturday night. 427 00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:30,440 Over your favorite CBS station. 428 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:31,440 All right? 429 00:27:31,440 --> 00:27:32,440 Wonderful. 430 00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:34,440 And I hope all of you will be listening next week 431 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:37,440 when Suspense presents William Powell in a role 432 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:40,440 that's also different from the parts he's been playing lately. 433 00:27:40,440 --> 00:27:43,440 He's playing a man who's just stolen a quarter of a million dollars 434 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:45,440 and then finds out that... 435 00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:49,440 But you'll hear about it next Thursday when Suspense brings you 436 00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:53,440 Give Me Liberty, another gripping study in... 437 00:27:53,440 --> 00:28:03,440 Suspense. 438 00:28:03,440 --> 00:28:06,440 Lucille Ball may soon be seen in the Paramount production 439 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:07,440 Sourful Jones. 440 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:10,440 Barry Kroger was heard tonight in the part of The Strangler. 441 00:28:10,440 --> 00:28:12,440 Tonight's Suspense play was written by Virginia Cross 442 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:14,440 with music composed by Lucien Morrowek 443 00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:16,440 and conducted by Lud Bluskin. 444 00:28:16,440 --> 00:28:19,440 The entire production was under the direction of Anton M. Leeder. 445 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:21,440 In the coming weeks, Suspense will present such stars 446 00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:24,440 as John Garfield, Margaret O'Brien, Sydney Greenstreet, 447 00:28:24,440 --> 00:28:27,440 Agnes Moorhead, Edmund O'Brien, and many others. 448 00:28:27,440 --> 00:28:30,440 Make it a point to listen each Thursday to Suspense, 449 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:33,440 Radio's outstanding theater of thrills. 450 00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:36,440 And next Thursday same time, hear William Powell in 451 00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:46,440 Give Me Liberty. 452 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:49,440 This is the Auto Light Suspense Show. 453 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:51,440 Here's your party, Miss Ball. 454 00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:53,440 We should all support our local community chest 455 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:55,440 and their drives for funds. 456 00:28:55,440 --> 00:28:58,440 Money is badly needed for aid to the handicapped, 457 00:28:58,440 --> 00:29:03,440 child care, hospitals, clinics, and a host of other humanitarian services. 458 00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:06,440 Subscribe to your local community chest. 459 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:09,440 Everybody benefits, everybody gives. 460 00:29:09,440 --> 00:29:12,440 Thank you. 461 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:29,440 This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.