WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:04.440 In just a moment, suspense with Lucille Ball. 00:04.440 --> 00:06.440 Hi, Harlow. 00:06.440 --> 00:08.440 Well, look who's here. 00:08.440 --> 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. 00:12.440 --> 00:14.440 Oh, I haven't been waiting around all week. 00:14.440 --> 00:16.440 Why, I was waiting up in Oregon. 00:16.440 --> 00:18.440 Oh, that's swell. That's swell. 00:18.440 --> 00:20.440 Hey, Hap, do you know the real story about Auto Light stay full batteries? 00:20.440 --> 00:23.440 Sure, I know the real story about Auto Light stay full batteries. 00:23.440 --> 00:25.440 Needs water only three times a year in normal car use. 00:25.440 --> 00:27.440 What a battery. Stay full, that is. 00:27.440 --> 00:33.440 Why, by Cornelius, an Auto Light stay full battery has more liquid reserve than a centipede has legs, 00:33.440 --> 00:37.440 than an ocean has waves, than a rabbit has, well, rabbits. 00:37.440 --> 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, 00:45.440 --> 00:50.440 they take a drink about as often as you have a birthday, a wedding anniversary, and a New Year's celebration. 00:50.440 --> 00:53.440 Only three times a year in normal car use. 00:53.440 --> 00:57.440 And let me tell you something else, you'd better get an Auto Light stay full battery before... 00:57.440 --> 01:01.440 Before you go on some more, Harlow, let's listen to suspense. 01:01.440 --> 01:03.440 Suspense. 01:03.440 --> 01:05.440 Suspense. 01:05.440 --> 01:07.440 Suspense. 01:07.440 --> 01:09.440 Suspense. 01:09.440 --> 01:11.440 Suspense. 01:11.440 --> 01:13.440 Suspense. 01:13.440 --> 01:15.440 Suspense. 01:15.440 --> 01:17.440 Suspense. 01:17.440 --> 01:19.440 Suspense. 01:19.440 --> 01:26.440 Auto Light and its 60,000 dealers and service stations bring you Radio's outstanding theater of thrills. 01:26.440 --> 01:33.440 Starring tonight, Miss Lucille Ball in Anton Leder's production of A Little Piece of Rope. 01:33.440 --> 01:49.440 A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. 01:49.440 --> 01:52.440 They said I'd never make good here in Hollywood. 01:52.440 --> 01:54.440 Everywhere I went it was the same story. 01:54.440 --> 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. 02:00.440 --> 02:02.440 No job. 02:02.440 --> 02:05.440 My last try was for a schoolgirl part. 02:05.440 --> 02:08.440 I was too baby faced to even land that one. 02:08.440 --> 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. 02:15.440 --> 02:17.440 Then I remembered another thing. 02:17.440 --> 02:19.440 It was years ago. 02:19.440 --> 02:22.440 Reading an old copy of the police gazette in Grandpa's attic. 02:22.440 --> 02:26.440 Printed about 1880, I guess. 02:26.440 --> 02:37.440 With their falsely youthful faces, dressed as innocent schoolgirls, these vicious females haunt the vicinity of select young ladies' seminaries. 02:37.440 --> 02:45.440 And with their airs of artless girlhood, they entice and trap unwary gentlemen. 02:45.440 --> 02:54.440 Some from the best of families. 02:54.440 --> 02:59.440 It was funny then, but now, well, those gals were suckers. 02:59.440 --> 03:06.440 I take the exclusive gents for all they've got and give absolutely nothing. 03:06.440 --> 03:08.440 That's how I made good in Hollywood. 03:08.440 --> 03:11.440 Up to a thousand dollars a month good. 03:11.440 --> 03:20.440 I just take a little walk. 03:20.440 --> 03:26.440 I've got uniforms for all the best schools and I still have the baby face. 03:26.440 --> 03:27.440 So help me. 03:27.440 --> 03:29.440 Lots of those kids look older than I do. 03:29.440 --> 03:32.440 When school's out, I let some old wolf pick me up. 03:32.440 --> 03:37.440 They always want to park up in the hills or some other lonely place. 03:37.440 --> 03:39.440 I drop my compact. 03:39.440 --> 03:41.440 He bends over to pick it up. 03:41.440 --> 03:49.440 I let him have it with a special little blackjack I carry. 03:49.440 --> 03:53.440 Then I leave, taking their wallets and any letters I find. 03:53.440 --> 03:56.440 You'd be surprised if some of the letters some of them do have. 03:56.440 --> 03:58.440 Makes a dandy bank balance now and then. 03:58.440 --> 03:59.440 Them? 03:59.440 --> 04:03.440 Remember, I pick them old enough to have families, dignified jobs. 04:03.440 --> 04:06.440 Would they want to admit to chasing bobby-soxers? 04:06.440 --> 04:08.440 They never squawk. 04:08.440 --> 04:13.440 My landlady thinks I'm the ideal tenant. 04:13.440 --> 04:16.440 Oh, she's no trouble at all, the poor little thing. 04:16.440 --> 04:17.440 Infantile, you know. 04:17.440 --> 04:21.440 Has to take long walks every day and rest the rest of the time. 04:21.440 --> 04:24.440 Never any fun or dates like other pretty girls. 04:24.440 --> 04:26.440 Well, lucky she can afford it, I say. 04:26.440 --> 04:28.440 Be a county ward otherwise. 04:28.440 --> 04:33.440 And so sweet and quiet, uncomplaining poor little soul. 04:33.440 --> 04:36.440 Yes, Mrs. Tilford is a swell character witness. 04:36.440 --> 04:39.440 Of course, I always wear a coat over those uniforms near home. 04:39.440 --> 04:43.440 And I keep them locked up just in case she snoops. 04:43.440 --> 04:46.440 Yes, yes, I've got a nice career in Hollywood. 04:46.440 --> 04:50.440 That is, I did have until last month. 04:50.440 --> 04:53.440 You going out in this cold, Isabelle? 04:53.440 --> 04:55.440 Oh, this is a good heavy coat. 04:55.440 --> 04:57.440 Well, don't you overdo now. 04:57.440 --> 04:59.440 These walks are just what the doctor ordered. 04:59.440 --> 05:01.440 Anyway, you sure look healthy enough. 05:01.440 --> 05:03.440 Oh, thank heaven for that. 05:03.440 --> 05:05.440 Anything I can pick up for you on the way back? 05:05.440 --> 05:08.440 Oh, no, thanks, dearie. I got everything done. 05:08.440 --> 05:09.440 Goodbye now. 05:09.440 --> 05:10.440 Bye. 05:10.440 --> 05:13.440 I was dressed for Miss Cadwaller's school this time, 05:13.440 --> 05:15.440 and it was just letting out when I got there. 05:15.440 --> 05:17.440 I didn't have long to wait. 05:17.440 --> 05:19.440 You know, you get so you can tell by the way the cars 05:19.440 --> 05:22.440 move along the street if the guy's on the prowl. 05:22.440 --> 05:24.440 This one was driving a big black coupe, 05:24.440 --> 05:27.440 and he was a little younger than I liked, about 40, 05:27.440 --> 05:29.440 but you can't be too fussy. 05:29.440 --> 05:33.440 I stepped off the curb pretending to look for a bus. 05:34.440 --> 05:36.440 Waiting for the bus? 05:36.440 --> 05:38.440 Right now, I'm waiting for the bus. 05:38.440 --> 05:40.440 Waiting for the bus? 05:40.440 --> 05:42.440 Why, yes, I am. 05:42.440 --> 05:43.440 Which one? 05:43.440 --> 05:45.440 The Bel Air bus. 05:45.440 --> 05:47.440 Oh, I say, that's a shame. 05:47.440 --> 05:48.440 Why? 05:48.440 --> 05:50.440 I just passed it back there, broken axle. 05:50.440 --> 05:51.440 Oh. 05:51.440 --> 05:53.440 You know, I think I've seen you passing my house. 05:53.440 --> 05:54.440 What street do you live on? 05:54.440 --> 05:55.440 Cameron. 05:55.440 --> 05:57.440 Oh, sure. I'm just over on Bendette. 05:57.440 --> 05:59.440 Hop in, I'll take you home. 05:59.440 --> 06:02.440 Well, you're a neighbor. 06:02.440 --> 06:05.440 I guess it's... gee, thanks, Mr. 06:05.440 --> 06:07.440 Rice, Alex Rice. 06:07.440 --> 06:08.440 Insurance. 06:08.440 --> 06:10.440 How do you do? 06:12.440 --> 06:13.440 Like school? 06:13.440 --> 06:14.440 I hate it. 06:14.440 --> 06:16.440 School's no fun. 06:16.440 --> 06:18.440 I'd like... oh, I... 06:18.440 --> 06:19.440 What? 06:19.440 --> 06:22.440 Oh, excitement, danger. 06:22.440 --> 06:24.440 I suppose you think I'm pretty silly. 06:24.440 --> 06:26.440 No. 06:26.440 --> 06:29.440 No, I think you're the kind of girl who'll get 06:29.440 --> 06:32.440 excitement and danger. 06:32.440 --> 06:33.440 Really? 06:33.440 --> 06:36.440 Yes, really. 06:36.440 --> 06:37.440 Look, it's so early yet. 06:37.440 --> 06:39.440 I'd like to take the long way through the hills. 06:39.440 --> 06:40.440 It's pretty there now. 06:40.440 --> 06:41.440 Oh, yes, I'd love to. 06:41.440 --> 06:44.440 I think the hills are divine. 06:56.440 --> 06:59.440 Oh, isn't it just out of this world? 07:01.440 --> 07:02.440 Yes. 07:02.440 --> 07:06.440 Yes, indeed. 07:06.440 --> 07:08.440 What's the initial on your bag for? 07:08.440 --> 07:09.440 The initial? 07:09.440 --> 07:12.440 Yeah. Irma, Inez, Ingeborg. 07:12.440 --> 07:14.440 Oh, Ingeborg. You made that up. 07:14.440 --> 07:17.440 No, Swedish. 07:17.440 --> 07:18.440 Imogene? 07:18.440 --> 07:20.440 No, Irene. 07:20.440 --> 07:22.440 Irene Taylor. 07:22.440 --> 07:24.440 A pretty name for a pretty girl. 07:24.440 --> 07:26.440 I'll bet. 07:26.440 --> 07:30.440 You have beautiful hair and eyes 07:30.440 --> 07:32.440 and a beautiful throat. 07:32.440 --> 07:34.440 Wow. Throat? 07:34.440 --> 07:36.440 Irene, you're very... 07:36.440 --> 07:38.440 Oh, Mr. Rice, I dropped my compact. 07:38.440 --> 07:39.440 You don't need it. 07:39.440 --> 07:40.440 But it might get stepped on. 07:40.440 --> 07:41.440 You won't need it. 07:41.440 --> 07:42.440 But I want it now. 07:42.440 --> 07:43.440 All right, all right. 07:43.440 --> 07:44.440 Don't yell so here. 07:44.440 --> 07:45.440 I'll get it for you. 07:45.440 --> 07:47.440 Oh! 07:47.440 --> 07:49.440 Character, huh? 07:49.440 --> 07:50.440 Well, here. 07:50.440 --> 07:51.440 Roll back a little. 07:51.440 --> 07:52.440 There. 07:52.440 --> 07:53.440 I... 07:53.440 --> 07:55.440 Well, what do you know? 07:55.440 --> 07:57.440 Rope. 07:57.440 --> 08:02.440 Now, why would a guy carry a piece of rope in his inside breast pocket? 08:02.440 --> 08:05.440 Hmm. Nice wallet. 08:05.440 --> 08:09.440 Well, goodbye, Mr. Rice, and thanks for everything. 08:17.440 --> 08:19.440 Back home, I showered and changed 08:19.440 --> 08:24.440 and settled down to see what was in this wallet worth keeping. 08:24.440 --> 08:26.440 Only about 50 bucks. 08:26.440 --> 08:30.440 What made it so thick was a lot of newspaper clippings. 08:32.440 --> 08:33.440 Oh! 08:33.440 --> 08:36.440 Oh, no! It can't be! 08:36.440 --> 08:38.440 But it was. 08:38.440 --> 08:41.440 Those clippings were all about the strangler 08:41.440 --> 08:44.440 who'd murdered five girls in the last year, 08:44.440 --> 08:48.440 left them in the hills with a piece of rope around their necks 08:48.440 --> 08:50.440 and never a clue. 08:50.440 --> 08:54.440 And Alexander Rice carried his press notices. 08:54.440 --> 08:59.440 Alexander Rice carried a little piece of rope in his inside breast pocket, 08:59.440 --> 09:02.440 picked up girls, drove into the hills. 09:02.440 --> 09:05.440 Alexander Rice wasn't his name. 09:05.440 --> 09:09.440 No, his driver's license said Benjamin Carney. 09:11.440 --> 09:14.440 I had picked up and slugged the strangler. 09:14.440 --> 09:24.440 My latest sucker was the most dangerous man in the country. 09:26.440 --> 09:30.440 For Suspense, Auto Light is bringing you Miss Lucille Ball 09:30.440 --> 09:36.440 in Radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense. 09:36.440 --> 09:41.440 Say there, neighbor, I didn't get going very well 09:41.440 --> 09:43.440 on those Auto Light stay-full batteries. 09:43.440 --> 09:45.440 Now look here, Harlow Wilcox, I want to... 09:45.440 --> 09:47.440 Never mind. I'm right back in there pitching. 09:47.440 --> 09:49.440 Gee, if I could only tell you about every one of those 09:49.440 --> 09:52.440 400 Auto Light, automotive, aviation, and marine products. 09:52.440 --> 09:55.440 That takes real breath, lots of breath. 09:55.440 --> 09:58.440 And while I'm not as short on taking breath as an Auto Light stay-full battery 09:58.440 --> 10:01.440 is on taking a drink, not by a jugful, 10:01.440 --> 10:03.440 even I just haven't got enough breath for that. 10:03.440 --> 10:06.440 Well, if you just stop talking so much... 10:06.440 --> 10:09.440 I can sure wind up and sound off on those Auto Light stay-full batteries, though. 10:09.440 --> 10:12.440 Making camels look like toppers is just the beginning with them. 10:12.440 --> 10:16.440 They've got oversized electrical capacity plus fiberglass insulation. 10:16.440 --> 10:18.440 You know what that means, my friend? 10:18.440 --> 10:19.440 Sure I know what that means. 10:19.440 --> 10:21.440 It means you should find out for yourself 10:21.440 --> 10:23.440 how long these batteries are bound to live. 10:23.440 --> 10:25.440 You'd have to hibernate like Rip Van Winkle. 10:25.440 --> 10:28.440 I guess you could at that if you had an Auto Light stay-full battery in your car. 10:28.440 --> 10:30.440 I've got an Auto Light. 10:30.440 --> 10:34.440 By the way, those Auto Light engineers designed that Auto Light stay-full battery 10:34.440 --> 10:37.440 is so darned ingenious by Cornelius 10:37.440 --> 10:40.440 that you could pay as little attention to your Auto Light stay-full battery 10:40.440 --> 10:43.440 as Rip Van Winkle did to old father time. 10:43.440 --> 10:46.440 Go down to your Auto Light dealer and get one right away. 10:46.440 --> 10:49.440 There's no better buy in batteries, my boy, 10:49.440 --> 10:54.440 because no better batteries be behind the byline of Barlow Billcocks. 10:54.440 --> 10:56.440 Now look, Billcocks, I mean Wilcocks, 10:56.440 --> 10:58.440 you've got bees in my bonnet now. 10:58.440 --> 11:02.440 If you'll only pipe down, we'll hear some more of suspense. 11:04.440 --> 11:08.440 And now Auto Light brings back to a Hollywood sound stage 11:08.440 --> 11:12.440 Miss Lucille Ball as Isabelle in a little piece of rope. 11:12.440 --> 11:28.440 A tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. 11:28.440 --> 11:31.440 At first I just shivered over my narrow escape. 11:31.440 --> 11:35.440 Why, if I hadn't been out to get him, he'd have gotten me. 11:35.440 --> 11:38.440 I'd be number six in tomorrow's headlines. 11:38.440 --> 11:43.440 Then I suddenly realized I was the only one who could identify him. 11:43.440 --> 11:45.440 I can't be silent, let him go on killing. 11:45.440 --> 11:48.440 I've got to go to the police station and tell them. 11:48.440 --> 11:51.440 I started to go out when it occurred to me I couldn't. 11:51.440 --> 11:55.440 I didn't dare go to the police and take the chance of exposing my own racket. 11:55.440 --> 11:58.440 If that ever came out, and it probably would, 11:58.440 --> 12:00.440 San Quentin, here I come. 12:00.440 --> 12:03.440 It seems they're a little stuffy about people who carry blackjacks 12:03.440 --> 12:07.440 and steal wallets and sell letters. 12:07.440 --> 12:11.440 So instead I went for a walk, a real one this time, 12:11.440 --> 12:14.440 and just tried to think. 12:16.440 --> 12:18.440 Pretty soon another thought hit me. 12:18.440 --> 12:21.440 He knew I could identify him by now. 12:21.440 --> 12:23.440 The Strangler was no fool. 12:23.440 --> 12:28.440 He'd have me figure it out and know the kind of place and time to look for me. 12:28.440 --> 12:34.440 And he'd certainly be looking for me, to kill me, to shut my mouth forever. 12:34.440 --> 12:37.440 I had to find a way to... 12:46.440 --> 12:48.440 City desk, Thompson. 12:48.440 --> 12:50.440 I know who the Strangler is. 12:50.440 --> 12:51.440 Who's this? 12:51.440 --> 12:52.440 I can't tell you that. 12:52.440 --> 12:55.440 Oh, I see. Well, what can you tell me? You know his name? 12:55.440 --> 12:57.440 Benjamin Carney. 12:57.440 --> 12:58.440 Carney? 12:58.440 --> 13:02.440 C-A-R-N-E-Y. 1156A Boydell Street. 13:02.440 --> 13:03.440 Yeah, description? 13:03.440 --> 13:06.440 About 40. 5'9 or 10. 13:06.440 --> 13:10.440 160 pounds, dark hair, eyes, skin, even features. 13:10.440 --> 13:12.440 Not ugly, not handsome. 13:12.440 --> 13:15.440 Drives a big black coupe. Lady, late model. 13:15.440 --> 13:17.440 Got it. Any identifying marks, mustache? 13:17.440 --> 13:18.440 No, nothing. 13:18.440 --> 13:19.440 And how do you know this guy's the Strangler? 13:19.440 --> 13:20.440 I just know. Goodbye. 13:20.440 --> 13:21.440 Hey, wait a minute, wait a minute. 13:21.440 --> 13:33.440 So you can trace the call? 13:33.440 --> 13:36.440 There had been hundreds of phony clues, and he thought mine was another. 13:36.440 --> 13:39.440 But surely they'd checked that name and address. 13:39.440 --> 13:43.440 All the way home, I had a creepy feeling he was around somewhere. 13:43.440 --> 13:47.440 Following me, waiting. 13:47.440 --> 13:50.440 Evening paper barely mentioned my call, just listed it with several others. 13:50.440 --> 13:54.440 Radio wasn't very much better. 13:54.440 --> 13:58.440 An unidentified woman phoned in a description of the killer as a 40-year-old brunette, 13:58.440 --> 14:03.440 medium height and weight, with no distinguishing features, driving a new black coupe. 14:03.440 --> 14:07.440 Police checks reveal that such a man with the name she gave had moved from the address given 14:07.440 --> 14:12.440 several months before the first of the Strangler murders, but there is no further trace of him. 14:12.440 --> 14:16.440 Investigation continues, but it is believed this is another spite accusation. 14:16.440 --> 14:21.440 A Portland, Oregon woman reported the Strangler as the man who entered her hen house last night and... 14:21.440 --> 14:25.440 No use phoning again. I didn't think a letter would help much either, but I tried. 14:25.440 --> 14:30.440 Being careful it couldn't be traced to me and mailed it to a newspaper that night. 14:30.440 --> 14:34.440 Hey, Mike, Mike, you going to the courthouse? Take this to O'Shea, will you? 14:34.440 --> 14:36.440 Another Strangler letter telling all. 14:36.440 --> 14:46.440 Why can't he just strangle letter writers? One more and I'll strangle somebody. 14:46.440 --> 14:49.440 Another failure. The letter wasn't even printed. 14:49.440 --> 14:52.440 I was getting jumpy from being cooped up like a prisoner. 14:52.440 --> 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. 14:57.440 --> 15:02.440 I could leave town, but why should I give up this good thing, my perfect set up? 15:02.440 --> 15:10.440 I'd been doing fine. Another year I could quit the racket, make friends, invest my money, maybe even get married. 15:10.440 --> 15:17.440 Now this had happened. I'd never be safe. Not as long as we both lived. 15:17.440 --> 15:22.440 I finally faced it. I have to find him and kill him. 15:22.440 --> 15:32.440 This time I put an ad in the Personals column. Would he see it? I'd run it till he did. 15:32.440 --> 15:42.440 A.K. Rice can book your Rope Act for mutual profit. Have immediate out of town engagement. Signed Slugger. 15:42.440 --> 15:52.440 Rope Act. Mutual profit. 15:56.440 --> 15:59.440 I knew that would get him because it sounded like blackmail. 15:59.440 --> 16:03.440 And by pretending to fall for a shakedown, he'd hope to get close enough to kill me. 16:03.440 --> 16:10.440 Only it was going to be the other way around. And so our strange correspondence began. He answered right away. 16:10.440 --> 16:22.440 Slugger. Interested in offers? Send details box 047M298. Rice. I had him hooked. I didn't lose any time writing. 16:22.440 --> 16:28.440 Dear Mr. Rice, I have an invention which I think you'll want for your Rope Act. 16:28.440 --> 16:37.440 It's expensive, but remember, it's completely silent. And yours exclusively if we agree on terms. 16:37.440 --> 16:51.440 Signed Slugger. Completely silent. It's delicious. And expensive. Yes, indeed. 16:51.440 --> 17:06.440 Slugger. Give price and details of contract. Rice. So close now. I couldn't afford the slightest mistake now. 17:06.440 --> 17:13.440 Dear Mr. Rice, 5,000 cash buys complete assortment of paper and leather goods. 17:13.440 --> 17:22.440 Time and place of meeting must be my choice, but decide fast. I must leave town immediately. Signed Slugger. 17:22.440 --> 17:29.440 P.S. You should never have left that snapshot in your wallet. It's awfully good of you. 17:29.440 --> 17:39.440 Snapshot? I thought I... I don't know. I didn't burn it. 17:39.440 --> 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. 17:49.440 --> 17:53.440 Oh, I can indeed. 17:58.440 --> 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. 18:07.440 --> 18:12.440 I packed a suitcase with the kind of clothes I'd hate to be found dead in. Maybe I would be. 18:12.440 --> 18:17.440 And told Mrs. Milford I was taking a vacation with friends. Oh, I'm so glad, dearie. 18:17.440 --> 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. 18:23.440 --> 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. 18:29.440 --> 18:34.440 Well, thanks a lot, Mrs. Tilford. It's certainly nice of you. I have to catch that train now. Goodbye. 18:34.440 --> 18:38.440 Have a nice time now. 18:44.440 --> 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. 18:52.440 --> 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. 18:59.440 --> 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. 19:05.440 --> 19:09.440 It was in a dingy neighborhood. 19:12.440 --> 19:18.440 I'm Miss Sprout. Oh, Miss Sprout. You can move right in. The people left yesterday. 19:18.440 --> 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. 19:23.440 --> 19:28.440 It ain't clean yet. Them stairs bother me so. I'd really rather do it myself. Thank you. 19:28.440 --> 19:32.440 Well, I'll just leave you alone there. 19:34.440 --> 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. 19:43.440 --> 19:46.440 I sat down to write the last letter. 19:46.440 --> 19:53.440 Dear Mr. Rice, come to 609 Fitzgillbert Place at 10 p.m. Friday. 19:53.440 --> 19:58.440 And don't try to come near me, or I'll scream my head off. 19:58.440 --> 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. 20:07.440 --> 20:10.440 Have the money in an unsealed envelope. 20:10.440 --> 20:17.440 I want that traveling money, but I'd rather take a chance on the cops than on you, so follow instructions. 20:17.440 --> 20:20.440 Slugger. 20:20.440 --> 20:29.440 You fool. You baby-faced fool. 20:37.440 --> 20:41.440 He'd have to make sure the layout was right before he'd dare attack me. 20:41.440 --> 20:45.440 And the more precautions I took, the more he'd believe I was on the level. 20:45.440 --> 20:51.440 Near the door where he'd stand, I put a chest with a lamp on it. 20:51.440 --> 20:53.440 That was my booby trap, that lamp. 20:53.440 --> 20:58.440 The room was so dimly lit, he'd have to light my lamp to look at the wallet. 20:58.440 --> 21:01.440 And when he pulled the light chain, he'd shoot himself. 21:01.440 --> 21:05.440 I had a gun fixed where the bulb should be, and the chain pulled the trigger. 21:05.440 --> 21:09.440 It was set to get him in the chest, heart if I was lucky. 21:09.440 --> 21:15.440 Dead or not, I'd leave him there for the cops, with his wallet and clippings. 21:15.440 --> 21:17.440 Pretty cute, huh? 21:17.440 --> 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. 21:26.440 --> 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. 21:45.440 --> 21:52.440 The hours passed like centuries, and the old house creaked like a sick old man in a squeaky bed. 21:52.440 --> 21:57.440 Of course, it might be the house, or it might be someone on the stairs. 21:57.440 --> 22:01.440 And then it was ten o'clock. 22:02.440 --> 22:06.440 I was standing at the other end of the room, facing the door. 22:06.440 --> 22:09.440 The light was very dim. 22:11.440 --> 22:17.440 I heard the feet coming up the stairs, or was it just the creaking of the old house? 22:17.440 --> 22:20.440 No, no. 22:47.440 --> 22:50.440 Good evening, slugger. 22:50.440 --> 22:54.440 You see, I'm prompt, slugger. 22:54.440 --> 22:57.440 Stand where you are. 22:57.440 --> 22:59.440 Certainly. 22:59.440 --> 23:01.440 Did you bring the money? 23:01.440 --> 23:05.440 Yes, indeed. Here, Miss Endel. 23:05.440 --> 23:09.440 Throw it down in the middle of the room, between us. 23:09.440 --> 23:12.440 Go ahead, Miss Endel. 23:12.440 --> 23:17.440 It'll stay there while you examine the leather goods. 23:17.440 --> 23:19.440 Do you have the wallet here? 23:19.440 --> 23:20.440 Yes. 23:20.440 --> 23:25.440 Throw the money. I can't reach it from here, you know. It's quite safe. 23:25.440 --> 23:27.440 All right. 23:27.440 --> 23:30.440 There. 23:30.440 --> 23:32.440 The wallet. 23:32.440 --> 23:34.440 Where is it? 23:34.440 --> 23:37.440 On that chest beside you by the lamp. 23:37.440 --> 23:42.440 Yes. 23:42.440 --> 23:47.440 Well, thanks, slugger. 23:47.440 --> 23:52.440 Aren't you going to look to see that everything's there? 23:52.440 --> 23:55.440 Why should I? 23:55.440 --> 23:58.440 I trust you. 23:58.440 --> 24:01.440 So long, babyface. 24:01.440 --> 24:07.440 See you around. 24:07.440 --> 24:09.440 He's gotten away, alive. 24:09.440 --> 24:11.440 He must have guessed I'd done something to the lamp. 24:11.440 --> 24:14.440 So he was still alive and still dangerous. 24:14.440 --> 24:17.440 But at least I had the money, the $5,000. 24:17.440 --> 24:20.440 I picked up the envelope and opened it. 24:20.440 --> 24:24.440 There was nothing in it but pieces of newspaper cut to the size of bills. 24:24.440 --> 24:26.440 Why, you dirty cheat! 24:26.440 --> 24:27.440 I ran to the door and opened it. 24:27.440 --> 24:29.440 I looked out, but he wasn't in there. 24:29.440 --> 24:31.440 Maybe I could catch him before he got out of the house. 24:31.440 --> 24:33.440 You won't get away with this. 24:33.440 --> 24:37.440 I stepped into the hall and before I could turn, I felt the rope around my neck. 24:37.440 --> 24:41.440 His hands were pulling it tight. 24:41.440 --> 24:59.440 Oh, baby, I told you I'd see you around, didn't I? 24:59.440 --> 25:02.440 There you are, baby. 25:02.440 --> 25:07.440 You're paid off in full. 25:07.440 --> 25:19.440 Now, I'll just go back inside. 25:19.440 --> 25:22.440 Let's see. 25:22.440 --> 25:33.440 I guess you'll be safe on the floor while we finish our business. 25:33.440 --> 25:39.440 Now, I'll take a look at that wallet, baby. 25:39.440 --> 25:42.440 You might have held out some of those clippings. 25:42.440 --> 25:44.440 I'll just turn on this light. 25:44.440 --> 26:06.440 Thank you, Lucille Ball, for a splendid performance. 26:06.440 --> 26:09.440 Miss Ball will return in just a moment. 26:09.440 --> 26:11.440 Say, Hap, you going back to Oregon? 26:11.440 --> 26:12.440 Well, how are you? 26:12.440 --> 26:15.440 That's a nice trip if you can get it with an auto light stay full battery. 26:15.440 --> 26:18.440 You know, I'd advise you to get a sign for your thumb saying, 26:18.440 --> 26:21.440 any car with auto light stay full batteries can carry me. 26:21.440 --> 26:22.440 I forgot my canteen. 26:22.440 --> 26:23.440 But, Harlow, I... 26:23.440 --> 26:25.440 Of course, you could buy an auto light stay full battery 26:25.440 --> 26:28.440 and simply insist that whoever picked you up use your battery, 26:28.440 --> 26:30.440 but you couldn't get back to Oregon that way. 26:30.440 --> 26:32.440 No, sirree, they'd never let you out of the car 26:32.440 --> 26:35.440 just so they could keep that wonderful auto light stay full battery. 26:35.440 --> 26:38.440 Let's see, after you got to Oregon, you could go to Washington, Montana, 26:38.440 --> 26:40.440 Minnesota, Maine, New York, and Florida. 26:40.440 --> 26:44.440 But, Harlow, I've been trying to tell you I've got an auto light stay full battery. 26:44.440 --> 26:49.440 Oh, well then, you know that auto light means batteries. 26:49.440 --> 26:50.440 Stay full battery. 26:50.440 --> 26:52.440 Auto light means spark plugs. 26:52.440 --> 26:54.440 Ignition engineered spark plugs. 26:54.440 --> 26:56.440 Auto light means ignition system. 26:56.440 --> 27:05.440 The lifeline of your car. 27:05.440 --> 27:07.440 And now here again is Miss Lucille Ball. 27:07.440 --> 27:10.440 It's always a great pleasure to appear on Suspense, 27:10.440 --> 27:13.440 especially when the part is so unusual and exciting. 27:13.440 --> 27:14.440 That's right, Miss Ball. 27:14.440 --> 27:16.440 The part of Isabelle tonight was very different 27:16.440 --> 27:19.440 from your regular radio role on My Favorite Husband. 27:19.440 --> 27:20.440 Ha ha, plug. 27:20.440 --> 27:21.440 Why not? 27:21.440 --> 27:22.440 Why not? 27:22.440 --> 27:25.440 Something like, uh, listen to Lucille Ball 27:25.440 --> 27:28.440 as Liz Cougar on My Favorite Husband every Saturday night. 27:28.440 --> 27:30.440 Over your favorite CBS station. 27:30.440 --> 27:31.440 All right? 27:31.440 --> 27:32.440 Wonderful. 27:32.440 --> 27:34.440 And I hope all of you will be listening next week 27:34.440 --> 27:37.440 when Suspense presents William Powell in a role 27:37.440 --> 27:40.440 that's also different from the parts he's been playing lately. 27:40.440 --> 27:43.440 He's playing a man who's just stolen a quarter of a million dollars 27:43.440 --> 27:45.440 and then finds out that... 27:45.440 --> 27:49.440 But you'll hear about it next Thursday when Suspense brings you 27:49.440 --> 27:53.440 Give Me Liberty, another gripping study in... 27:53.440 --> 28:03.440 Suspense. 28:03.440 --> 28:06.440 Lucille Ball may soon be seen in the Paramount production 28:06.440 --> 28:07.440 Sourful Jones. 28:07.440 --> 28:10.440 Barry Kroger was heard tonight in the part of The Strangler. 28:10.440 --> 28:12.440 Tonight's Suspense play was written by Virginia Cross 28:12.440 --> 28:14.440 with music composed by Lucien Morrowek 28:14.440 --> 28:16.440 and conducted by Lud Bluskin. 28:16.440 --> 28:19.440 The entire production was under the direction of Anton M. Leeder. 28:19.440 --> 28:21.440 In the coming weeks, Suspense will present such stars 28:21.440 --> 28:24.440 as John Garfield, Margaret O'Brien, Sydney Greenstreet, 28:24.440 --> 28:27.440 Agnes Moorhead, Edmund O'Brien, and many others. 28:27.440 --> 28:30.440 Make it a point to listen each Thursday to Suspense, 28:30.440 --> 28:33.440 Radio's outstanding theater of thrills. 28:33.440 --> 28:36.440 And next Thursday same time, hear William Powell in 28:36.440 --> 28:46.440 Give Me Liberty. 28:46.440 --> 28:49.440 This is the Auto Light Suspense Show. 28:49.440 --> 28:51.440 Here's your party, Miss Ball. 28:51.440 --> 28:53.440 We should all support our local community chest 28:53.440 --> 28:55.440 and their drives for funds. 28:55.440 --> 28:58.440 Money is badly needed for aid to the handicapped, 28:58.440 --> 29:03.440 child care, hospitals, clinics, and a host of other humanitarian services. 29:03.440 --> 29:06.440 Subscribe to your local community chest. 29:06.440 --> 29:09.440 Everybody benefits, everybody gives. 29:09.440 --> 29:12.440 Thank you. 29:12.440 --> 29:29.440 This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.