1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:19,120 Suspense! 2 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:26,320 Auto Light and its 96,000 dealers present Mr. Ray Milan in Pearls are a Nuisance, a 3 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:31,680 suspense play produced and edited by William Spear. 4 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:39,280 Mr. Wilcox, what are the batteries for today's game? Why, my beauteous Bobby Sox 5 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:42,840 neighbor, the batteries in today's driving game are the Auto Light Stay 6 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:46,400 Full batteries. The batteries that need water only three times a year in normal 7 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:50,920 car use. You don't understand. I mean... Certainly I understand. You mean the Auto 8 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:54,240 Light Stay Full battery is right in there pitching with day after day 9 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:59,160 dependability. And you're right in there catching all the advantages of longer 10 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:04,440 battery life. 70% longer average life in fact than batteries without the Stay Full 11 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:08,900 features. And this is proven by tests conducted according to SAE life cycle 12 00:01:08,900 --> 00:01:14,520 standards. But I mean baseball. Right over the plate, my girl. The Auto Light Stay 13 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:18,280 Full battery has three times as much liquid reserve above the plates as 14 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:22,760 batteries without Stay Full features. That's why it needs water only three 15 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:28,400 times a year in normal car use. Mr. Wilcox, let's get back to... To the batteries. For 16 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:32,600 today's car, it's Auto Light Stay Full batteries. The batteries that need water 17 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:37,120 only three times a year in normal car use. And remember friends, you're always 18 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:42,960 right with Auto Light. And now with Pearls are a Nuisance and the performance of 19 00:01:42,960 --> 00:01:54,400 Ray Milan, Auto Light hopes once again to keep you in suspense. It's quite true I 20 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:58,560 wasn't doing anything that morning except looking at a blank sheet of paper in my 21 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:03,800 typewriter and thinking about writing a letter. It's also quite true that I don't 22 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:07,920 have a great deal to do any morning, but I like not doing anything. It gives me 23 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:12,240 something to do. And I don't like telephone calls that interfere with it. 24 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:17,080 That's why I have two telephones. One the public phone that I can ignore, the other 25 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:21,920 a private phone. Which I'd better answer if I know what's good for me and I do. 26 00:02:21,920 --> 00:02:26,960 What did you say darling? I said good morning dear. How are you darling busy? Yes and no. 27 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:32,800 Mostly no. Why? Somebody has stolen Mrs. Penroddocks pearls and I want you to find them. 28 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:36,600 Stolen pearls? Well possibly you think you have the police department on the 29 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:40,880 line. This is the residence of Walter Gage. Walter Gage speaking. If you aren't 30 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:44,440 here in less than a half an hour you'll receive a small parcel by registered 31 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:48,760 mail containing a diamond engagement ring. I'll tell Mr. Gage when he comes in. 32 00:02:48,760 --> 00:03:04,080 I went naturally. I even hurried. Ellen's voice has that effect on me. I think it's 33 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:08,600 the way she says... Walter darling. Yes Ellen. Mrs. Penroddocks pearl necklace has 34 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:12,880 been stolen. So you said on the telephone my blood pressure remains normal. It's a 35 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:16,560 string of 49 matched pink pearls that Mr. Penroddocks gave his wife on their 36 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:21,040 golden wedding anniversary. Only 49 pearls for 50 years of marriage. I wonder 37 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:24,680 which was the bad year. Oh shut up darling. Yes dear. The worst part of it is the 38 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:29,880 pearls are false. False? Evidently they were all bad years. Don't be silly Walter. 39 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:33,840 I have a very simple solution for you. Call the police. Be quiet darling. Yes dear. 40 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:37,320 The pearls were real enough when Mr. Penroddocks gave them to her. The fact is 41 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:40,680 she sold them through an old friend of hers in the jewelry business and he had 42 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:45,520 copies made for her. Those copies have been stolen. She tells the police Mr. 43 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:49,160 Penroddocks sure to find out she sold the real one. So you've got to get them back 44 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:52,720 Walter. What does it matter if they were false? Well she's terrified that the thief 45 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:56,120 will blackmail her when he finds out they're only imitations. Mr. Penroddocks 46 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:59,720 might hear of it. The cat's out of the bag. I begin to see what might be 47 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:03,780 described as daylight. Good. But where do I start looking for these baubles? I know 48 00:04:03,780 --> 00:04:08,120 who stole them. The chauffeur we had here a few months Walter. A horrid big bruiser 49 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:12,360 named Henry Eichelberger. He left suddenly the day before yesterday for no 50 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:16,920 reason at all and without a word. I'm sure he stole the pearls. How big did you 51 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:22,720 say he is? About six feet. In that case? Three. Three. Six feet three. Three. Oh I'm 52 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:28,320 sure he didn't take them. Couldn't have. He tried to kiss me once Walter. Oh he 53 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:33,240 did? Tried to kiss you eh? Well where is this big slab of meat darling? Here's the 54 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:37,560 address he gave when he first came here to work. Sounds like an unpleasant 55 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:41,100 neighborhood. Not half as unpleasant as it'll be for Eichelberger when I arrive. 56 00:04:41,100 --> 00:04:46,260 Tried to kiss you did he? The pearls are the important thing darling and be 57 00:04:46,260 --> 00:04:52,040 careful. He's six feet three remember? I find it difficult to forget. 58 00:04:56,760 --> 00:05:00,920 Eichelberger's address proved to be a seedy looking hotel upstairs over a 59 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:05,200 Chinese lawn bay. At the head of the stairs was a door marked manager. I rang 60 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:12,640 the bell. Full up bud roll. I am not inquiring for a room. I am looking for 61 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:17,920 one Henry Eichelberger who I'm informed lives here. Down the hall Jack 218. Have 62 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:24,080 the kindness to show me the way. Oh well what do you know? A duke no less. Okay 63 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:32,440 your lordship pick up your feet eh? This is it. 64 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:38,520 He's out eh? Have the goodness to unlock the door. I wish to go in and wait for 65 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:44,520 Eichelberger. Two bucks and I won't even tell Eichelberger when he comes in eh? 66 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:50,440 That is the deal. Here's your money. If you hear any noises later on ignore them. 67 00:05:50,440 --> 00:06:00,280 Sure sure eh? I searched all the likely places where you might have hidden the 68 00:06:00,280 --> 00:06:06,040 necklace. Then I searched all the unlikely places. No necklace. Then I heard someone 69 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:12,440 at the door. How'd you get in here sonny? The explanation of that can wait. I'm 70 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:17,680 looking for one Eichelberger. Are you he? Get you a real comedian. Well I loosen my 71 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:22,760 belt before you make me laugh. My name is Gage Walter Gage. Are you Eichelberger? 72 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:26,760 Give me a knuckle and I'll tell you. I am the fiance of Miss Ellen McIntosh. I am 73 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:32,440 informed that you're trying to kiss her. What do you mean try? I hit him rather 74 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:38,600 severely in the left eye. Then the right. Then I give him a crushing uppercut to 75 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:44,600 the jaw. He looked at me with an air of patient resignation. Oh well. And then he 76 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:57,520 hit me. I bent over and took hold of the room with both hands and spun it. When I 77 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:01,200 had it nicely spinning I gave it a full swing and hit myself on the back of the 78 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:07,680 head with the floor. I believe I lost consciousness at about this point. At 79 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:20,240 any rate I was no longer aware of the time of day. 80 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:25,440 Auto Light is bringing you Mr. Ray Milan in Raymond Chandler's satirical 81 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:30,080 detective story, Pearls are a Nuisance. Tonight's presentation in radio's 82 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:39,600 outstanding theater of thrills, suspense. 83 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:45,560 Let's see now. A pinch hitter is a substitute. Ah but there's no substitute 84 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:48,800 for that famous Auto Light stay full battery. The battery that needs water 85 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:53,000 only three times a year in normal car use. Mr. Wilcox we weren't discussing 86 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:57,680 those batteries. Why Dora they're the batteries for today's game. I mean car. 87 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:01,960 This power-packed Auto Light stay full battery has a fiberglass retaining mat 88 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:06,280 protecting every positive plate to hold the power producing material in place 89 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:10,400 and lengthen battery life. Why recent tests conducted according to SAE 90 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:14,960 lifecycle standards prove that the Auto Light stay full battery gives 70% 91 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:19,880 longer average life than batteries without the stay full feature. Oh I give 92 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:25,120 up. Nobody but nobody would give up an Auto Light stay full battery. The battery 93 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:29,440 that needs water only three times a year in normal car use. That marvel of 94 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:33,280 engineering know-how has three times as much liquid reserve above the plates as 95 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:38,720 batteries without stay full features. That's why the Auto Light stay full 96 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:43,520 battery needs water only three times a year in normal car use. So friends see 97 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:47,560 your Auto Light battery dealer and have him install an Auto Light stay full 98 00:08:47,560 --> 00:08:52,600 battery in your car. And remember you're always right with Auto Light. And now 99 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:56,800 Auto Light brings back to our Hollywood soundstage Ray Milan as water gauge 100 00:08:56,800 --> 00:09:03,320 with Hal March as J. Henry Eichelberger in Pearls are a nuisance. A muscular drama 101 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:12,360 replete with situations well calculated to keep you in suspense. While I was 102 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:15,320 thinking about the possibility of getting back to my feet in the very near 103 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:20,160 future a wet towel began to slap at my face and I opened my eyes. Oh boy. The 104 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:24,000 face of one Henry Eichelberger was very close to mine. I thought maybe it was 105 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:29,420 Kilchak. You got a stomach as weak as Chinese tea. Oh what happened? As if I 106 00:09:29,420 --> 00:09:34,160 didn't know. You tripped on itty-bitty tear in the carpet. Feel like getting up 107 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:41,160 your head. Thank you Henry. May I call you Henry? No tax on it. You look okay now. 108 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:46,160 Why don't you tell me you were sick. Eichelberger you swine. That does it. Oh 109 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:51,440 cut it out will you. You must my hair. I wish you'd fall down when I hit you 110 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:56,040 Henry. Just once. It would work wonders for my morale. You and me could get along 111 00:09:56,040 --> 00:10:01,880 Jack. Look I never kissed you girl. Even if I ain't saying I wouldn't like to. Is 112 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:05,800 that all that's eating on you? No there is another matter. Well sit down and tell 113 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:11,280 me the score. Only no more haymakers. Now give me a headache. Promise? I promise. 114 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:17,320 Tell me why did you leave the employee of Mrs. Penradic? Well you tell me. Am I 115 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:23,560 what you might call a good-looker? Well Henry. Don't sulk me. No I wouldn't call you 116 00:10:23,560 --> 00:10:27,600 handsome exactly but unquestionably you ate your spinach as a child if that's a 117 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:34,720 consolation. Get you a real comedian. Why do I loosen my belt? Look suppose you fell 118 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:39,400 for a doll with stars in her hair. A guy like me that looks like a taxi going 119 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:43,640 down a street with both doors open. And suppose you get a job where you see this 120 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:50,040 doll all the time and every day. And no it's no dice. What would you do Jack? Me I 121 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:58,280 just quit the job. Ellen? Yeah. Henry I'd like to shake your hand. Go ahead. Now 122 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:02,320 there's one more thing. I am empowered to arrange for the return of Mrs. Penradic's 123 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:07,920 pearls which you have no doubt stolen. Oh you got nerve Jack. You think I stole 124 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:12,680 some marbles and I'm sitting around here waiting for a flock of dicks to swore me. 125 00:11:12,680 --> 00:11:16,040 The police have not been told Henry and you may not be aware that the pearls are 126 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:23,040 false. False? You mean a false? Exactly. And you think I would bother myself the 127 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:28,240 hooks and phonies? You didn't mean to steal the necklace Henry? No. Now look if 128 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:32,560 they was ringers I wouldn't be bothered and if they was real I wouldn't be holed 129 00:11:32,560 --> 00:11:37,040 up in no cheap flap in LA waiting for a couple of carloads of bulls to put the 130 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:42,040 sneeze on me would I? That is exactly what I thought Henry. Well as long as you 131 00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:45,280 didn't steal them how would you like the job of helping me recover them? You're 132 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:49,600 kidding? No Henry it's obvious that if you didn't snatch those marbles I believe 133 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:53,280 that's the expression. Someone else did and you can help me find them. Now how 134 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:59,560 about it? Well why not? Why not indeed? You got any ideas where to start? Yes I have. 135 00:11:59,560 --> 00:12:04,520 I feel that we must as they say tap the grapevine. When a string of pearls is 136 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:08,680 stolen all the underworld must be seething. Well maybe you got right but 137 00:12:08,680 --> 00:12:12,680 this underworld it's doing all the seed and ain't gonna seed much over a string 138 00:12:12,680 --> 00:12:17,320 of glass beads or am I punchy? I am thinking Henry that the underworld 139 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:20,440 probably has a sense of humor and a thief who went to the trouble of stealing 140 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:24,360 some worthless trinkets would be the butt of considerable cost humor. Yeah 141 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:28,680 there's a nucleus of an idea in that all right. I would say something like that 142 00:12:28,680 --> 00:12:32,840 could get around a pool rooms or start a little wholesome chuckling all right? Yes. 143 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:39,160 Now all we need to do is to locate a reliable crook. Yeah see as a gay 144 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:43,960 named Lou Scandese that runs a blue lagoon downtown might be interested in 145 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:48,080 some marbles but he don't like being asked questions. He sounds dangerous. 146 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:53,320 We'll turn him inside out and take a look at his liver. Very well let us go and 147 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:59,000 beard this Scandese character in his malodorous den. Yeah leave us do what you 148 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:09,480 said. Mr. Scandese's blue lagoon was not difficult to find it was a rather 149 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:13,840 soiled establishment bathed in an unpleasant blue light. Henry and I went 150 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:18,400 through a small dim dining room to a door marked private. Wasn't it awful we 151 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:24,440 didn't even knock. You Scandese? Who wants to know? Me and my friend here wants to 152 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:29,800 talk to you. So talk I'm listening. It's about some pearls 49. Is that right Walter? 153 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:35,160 Quite right. I don't think I heard about him. Try and remember maybe if I pulled 154 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:38,680 off one of your ears it might help. Oh well now Henry you seem to be doing all 155 00:13:38,680 --> 00:13:43,560 the work do you think that's quite fair? Okay Walter you wake him over. These fat 156 00:13:43,560 --> 00:13:47,400 guys brew something lovely. Look take it easy I ain't heard nothing. 157 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:53,240 You guys insurance man. Give him my card Walter. This is my personal card it has 158 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:59,080 my phone number on it. Okay thanks. You may be surprised you may get a call. What 159 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:03,160 do you think Walter? You think this muzzler is leveling with us? I dare say he 160 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:07,400 wouldn't be above telling us an untruth. I'll get you a real comedian while I 161 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:13,040 loosen my belt. You give us a straight good Scandese. Straight goods absolute. 162 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:20,160 We'll cooperate. I'll bet you get a call. Okay so long Scandese and keep your 163 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:23,760 schnauzle clean if you don't want to be looking for it under your desk. Yes 164 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:31,200 remember that. Well what now? I think you've done an adequate day's work Henry 165 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:34,760 and the procedure would seem to be for me to go home and wait for the telephone 166 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:39,320 to ring bearing glad tidings from the underworld. What about me? I would suggest 167 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:43,780 that you wend your way homeward also. Here's my private number. Call me in the 168 00:14:43,780 --> 00:14:56,160 morning after you do your sitting up exercises. I'll get you a real comedian. 169 00:14:56,160 --> 00:15:00,840 I went home and waited for the phone to ring. I must have fallen asleep after a 170 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:06,760 while it was quite dark out when the call came through. Well here goes. 171 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:14,560 Walter Gage speaking. Walter Gage Acme Insurance Company. Oh it's you Ellen. 172 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:18,400 Why didn't you call in the private phone? I didn't have the number handy. You 173 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:22,120 haven't found the pearls yet. How did you know? We just got a phone call. From whom? 174 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:27,200 He wouldn't say. All he said was he heard from somebody named... Scandese? Yes that's it. 175 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:31,000 That we were looking for the pearls. Has he found out the pearls are false? No and 176 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:34,100 I didn't tell him. All right now don't worry we have an idea how to get them 177 00:15:34,100 --> 00:15:41,880 back. We? Who's we? Henry and me. Henry? Henry who? Michael Berger. I've hired him to help me 178 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:46,680 find the pearls. Are you out of your mind? Didn't Henry take the pearls? Of course not. 179 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:50,920 He only left because he was in love with you. Oh Walter that big brute how could 180 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:54,880 you say such a thing? But Ellen I thought you'd be flattered. Flattered? I never want 181 00:15:54,880 --> 00:16:00,920 to speak to you again Walter Gage. Goodbye. Ellen! Ouch! Women I sometimes 182 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:05,320 wonder. Oh honey I'm so glad you called back. Now listen darling. Who are you calling 183 00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:12,560 honey sweetheart? Who is this? Am I? Your name Gage? Yeah. A guy named Scandese he says you're 184 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:16,280 looking for some oyster fruit. A frail named McIntosh says you're the guy to 185 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:24,000 talk to. Possibly. Well I got 49 of them. Pink ones. Five grand the price. Why that is 186 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:28,400 entirely absurd. Those pearls happen to be false. Quit your kidding you heard me. 187 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:32,800 Five G's. I'll give you until tomorrow afternoon to scrape it together then I'll 188 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:36,200 call you let you know where to meet me. 189 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:48,920 Hello? Ellen this is Walter. I told you I never want to speak to you again. All 190 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:52,800 right I won't speak to you. Just tell me the name of the man who sold Mrs. Penroddick's 191 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:56,680 pearls for her. Gallimore. Roger Gallimore. He has a jewelry company 192 00:16:56,680 --> 00:17:03,120 downtown. Thank you. Walter darling. How do you like it darling? 193 00:17:08,120 --> 00:17:13,840 I went to see Mr. Gallimore. He was a tall pink man of about 70 and he listened 194 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:17,800 to my narrative of events with considerable interest. Five thousand 195 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:22,640 seems like a great deal of money for a string of false pearls. Yes indeed. That 196 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:27,320 Mr. Gallimore is why I came to see you. I believe I can hazard a guess as to the 197 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:30,920 reason for such an exorbitant demand and I further believe that you were in a 198 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:34,880 position to confirm my impression. And what might that impression be Mr. Gage? 199 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:40,240 I believe that the pearls are in fact real. You were a very old friend of Mrs. 200 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:43,880 Penroddick perhaps even a childhood sweetheart. When she gave you the pearls 201 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:48,520 to sell you did not sell them Mr. Gallimore. Instead you gave her $20,000 202 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:51,440 of your own money and returned the pearls to her pretending that they were 203 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:56,560 imitations of the original necklace. Son you think a lot smarter than you talk. 204 00:17:56,560 --> 00:18:03,160 Then I am correct. Embarrassingly so Mr. Gage. The pearls are real. Now what would you 205 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:09,520 like me to do? Entrust me with $5,000 with which to retrieve them. Son it is so 206 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:15,160 long since I heard anyone talk the way Jane Austen writes that it is making a 207 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:26,200 sucker out of me. Thank you sir. I know that my language is a bit stilted. 208 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:32,200 And so Henry Mr. Gallimore gave me this check. You mean he gave it to you? 209 00:18:32,200 --> 00:18:36,920 5,000 fish just like that? You have said it. Kid you got something with that 210 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:41,560 daisy chain chatter of yours. Thank you Henry. At any rate all that now remains 211 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:51,960 is for the phone to ring. Aha. You're gonna say that again. Aha. Hello. Gage. Yes who 212 00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:57,800 is this? Yes you got the money? It's in my pocket at this exact moment. If I have 213 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:01,240 any assurance of honorable treatment I am prepared to go through with it. Okay. 214 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:06,880 Tonight at 8 sharp you'll be in Cathedral Park. You got that? Yes. At the end of the dirt road. 215 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:13,000 Be there at 8 sharp. Come alone. No guns, no funny business, no smart work, no slip 216 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:17,520 up and nobody hurt. That's the way we do business. Very well. Oh one last thing. 217 00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:24,040 Where did you get my phone number? From Scandisi? Who else? 8 o'clock then and no 218 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:32,200 tricks. That is very interesting. What? The telephone. Yeah yeah. Hooray for 219 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:38,920 Alexander Graham Watson's name. What did that guy say? Hmm? Oh oh yes yes it's all 220 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:43,000 arranged. I am to meet them tonight all by myself and give them the money. All by 221 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:48,640 yourself huh? Got you a real comedian. Why do I why do I loosen my belt all by? 222 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:52,120 They'll take the dough and leave you laying there bleeding all over yourself 223 00:19:52,120 --> 00:19:57,280 and they'll still have the marbles. I ought to go with you. Henry it is my duty 224 00:19:57,280 --> 00:20:02,280 and I must brave these monsters and human guys alone and unattended. Of course 225 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:07,720 I I do have a big car and you could hide on the floor under a rug. It's a cinch. 226 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:12,100 But maybe. Walter the only thing wrong with you as far as I can see you got 227 00:20:12,100 --> 00:20:16,240 holes in your head. All I'm trying to do is keep you from getting another one. I'm 228 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:19,000 going with you. 229 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:26,560 So it was settled. Henry was to go with me. That afternoon I stopped at the bank. 230 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:31,920 Where I cashed Mr. Gallimore's check and changed it into a hundred dollar bill. 231 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:38,240 Forty six hundred forty seven forty eight. You counted as though it were your own. Five 232 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:43,760 thousand. Five thousand. Now a roll of quarters please. A roll of quarters 233 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:49,040 please. There's an echo in here. Leave them in the wrapper. Quite heavy aren't 234 00:20:49,040 --> 00:20:56,920 they? Yes aren't they? 235 00:20:56,920 --> 00:21:02,280 And so late that evening I found myself in Cathedral Park with Henry Eichelberg 236 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:08,200 a boy in the back of the car. I was very nervous. I think Henry was also. Neither 237 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:14,440 of us were any too sure what was going to happen that night. Oh my back. What's the 238 00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:19,440 matter Henry? Aren't you comfy back there? I'm comfy all right only my heater 239 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:24,120 keeps digging into me. Are we there yet? We're getting close now stay down this is 240 00:21:24,120 --> 00:21:26,520 business. 241 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:37,840 This is the end of the line Henry. Be careful they're probably watching me. Okay. 242 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:46,280 What's that? Me Walter. My gun is breaking my back. Well stop sitting on it. I did. 243 00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:53,200 Anything stirring? No keep quiet. I'll make like a little mousy. 244 00:22:00,840 --> 00:22:06,000 Don't you think we've waited long enough Henry? Well we only been waiting 15 245 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:11,560 minutes. You sure this is the place? Yes. Let's get out of the car and see if 246 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:16,400 anybody shoots at us. Then we'll know somebody's around. That seems to me the 247 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:20,880 difficult way of finding out but let's try it as I personally feel sure that 248 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:30,480 there is no one here but you and I. Suckered. You know what happened Walter? 249 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:36,320 What do you think Henry? It was just a tryout to see if you'd show. Suckered. I 250 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:40,440 ought to go back and twist that scant easy so he spends the rest of his life 251 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:45,920 looking up his left pants leg. Well Henry what is the next move? Beat it on 252 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:50,600 home I guess. Anyhow I won't need this gun anymore my back is sore enough from 253 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:52,600 it. 254 00:22:54,160 --> 00:23:00,080 We stood there and looked at one another Henry and I. He doubled his hands into 255 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:05,440 fists and shook them slowly in his sadness. I too was melancholy. In the 256 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:09,880 brief time I'd known Henry I had grown very fond of him. Yeah that's it all 257 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:14,680 right. Nothing else to do but beating on home Walter. That's all is left to us. I 258 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:20,040 took my right hand out of my pocket. I have large hands. In my right hand nestled 259 00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:23,640 a roll of quarters I'd gotten from the bank that morning. My hand had made a 260 00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:28,720 large and heavy fist around him. Henry didn't notice. What are you looking at me 261 00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:34,080 so funny for Walter? I just wanted to say good night Henry. You had two strikes 262 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:40,480 on me and this is the big one. I don't get it Walter. He got it then. My fist with 263 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:43,400 nearly a pound of metal in it caught him squarely on the jaw. For a moment he 264 00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:47,200 wavered back and forth on his feet then. 265 00:23:47,200 --> 00:24:06,480 Henry Eichelberger lay motionless on the ground as limp as a rubber glove. 266 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:12,160 I found the pearls twined around his ankle inside his left sock. Well Henry I 267 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:16,400 said although he couldn't hear me you are a gentleman even if you are a thief. 268 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:20,320 You could have taken the money a dozen times today. You could have taken it a 269 00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:24,480 little while ago when you still had the gun but even then that repelled you. You 270 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:28,200 threw the gun away and we were man-to-man but still you hesitated. In 271 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:32,720 fact Henry I said for a successful thief you hesitated just a little too long but 272 00:24:32,720 --> 00:24:37,600 as a sporting man I can only think more highly of you. Goodbye Henry and good 273 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:41,600 luck I said. I put a hundred dollar bill in his chubby little fist and withdrew. 274 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:45,920 End of story. But how did you know it was Henry darling? You told me so little 275 00:24:45,920 --> 00:24:49,440 lemon cookie you were quite sure of it. Well I know but you must have had proof 276 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:53,480 of some kind. There was one other minor little detail that convinced me Henry 277 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:58,280 was the guilty party. I gave Scandese my phone number but I have two telephones. 278 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:03,720 One is a private line. Only two people had that number. You were one of them 279 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:07,400 Henry was the other. When Henry's accomplice got in touch with me he used 280 00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:13,080 the phone number I'd given Henry not the one I gave Scandese you see. Oh darling 281 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:24,160 you're so clever. Oh of course you may kiss me if you like. 282 00:25:24,160 --> 00:25:28,360 Months after Ellen and I were married we received a letter postmarked Honolulu. 283 00:25:28,360 --> 00:25:34,680 It was from Henry. My dear Walter, due to the bulls finally putting the squeeze on me I 284 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:39,680 have only just received the joyous tidings that you and Ellen are embarked 285 00:25:39,680 --> 00:25:46,440 upon a happy tide of holy matrimony. I am so glad for you. I often think of you 286 00:25:46,440 --> 00:25:52,000 Walter particularly with an overwhelming curiosity as to what it was you struck 287 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:58,920 me with that night. Oh well I dare say it can only be conjecture in my part now. A 288 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:05,800 hammer perhaps. At any rate I entertain no feelings of ill will toward you. On the 289 00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:11,800 contrary I am indebted to you greatly. The ease with which you talk Mr. 290 00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:17,480 Gallimore to $5,000 has changed my life. I have been taking English lessons 291 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:22,560 myself and I'm now practicing on a wealthy widow woman not without 292 00:26:22,560 --> 00:26:32,800 financial success. Ah too surely sport. Defaultily Henry. P.S. was it perchance an 293 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:41,560 animal? I wonder. You know Henry wasn't such a bad fellow. All I really disliked 294 00:26:41,560 --> 00:26:47,080 him for was his barbaric English. Now he's changed there. Maybe I should have 295 00:26:47,080 --> 00:26:54,240 married him. What do you think Walter? Yet you a real comedian. Little I listen to my belt. 296 00:26:54,240 --> 00:27:08,160 Suspense presented by Auto Light. Tonight's star Ray Milan. Mr. Wilcox what's 297 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:13,200 your batting average? Very high Dora. 400 as a matter of fact. You see I'm batting 298 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:17,880 in Auto Light's big league of more than 400 fine products made by Auto Light for 299 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:22,200 cars, trucks, planes and boats in 28 plants coast to coast. These include 300 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:25,620 complete electrical systems used as original equipment on many makes of 301 00:27:25,620 --> 00:27:30,520 America's finest cars. Spark plugs, batteries, generators, coils, distributors, 302 00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:35,120 starting motors, bullseye sealed beam headlights. All engineered to fit 303 00:27:35,120 --> 00:27:38,800 together perfectly, work together perfectly because they're a perfect team. 304 00:27:38,800 --> 00:27:43,760 So friends don't accept electrical parts supposed to be as good. Ask for and 305 00:27:43,760 --> 00:27:47,760 insist on Auto Light original factory parts at your neighborhood service 306 00:27:47,760 --> 00:27:53,080 station, car dealer, garage or repair shop. Remember you're always right with Auto Light. 307 00:27:59,880 --> 00:28:05,360 Next Thursday for Suspense our star will be Agnes Moorhead. The play is called The 308 00:28:05,360 --> 00:28:18,080 Chain and it is as we say a tale well calculated to keep you in suspense. 309 00:28:18,080 --> 00:28:22,720 Tonight's Suspense play was produced and edited by William Spear and directed by 310 00:28:22,720 --> 00:28:27,000 Norman MacDonald. Music for Suspense is composed by Lucian Morawek and 311 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:31,720 conducted by Lud Bluskin. Pearls are a Nuisance is an original story by Raymond 312 00:28:31,720 --> 00:28:36,180 Chandler adapted for radio by Ronald McDougall. Ray Milan appears by 313 00:28:36,180 --> 00:28:40,000 arrangement with Paramount Pictures whose current release is Captain Carrie USA 314 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:44,600 starring Alan Ladd and Wanda Hendricks. Auto Light wishes to thank the readers 315 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:49,400 of Radio Mirror magazine who have voted Suspense the best mystery program for 316 00:28:49,400 --> 00:28:53,280 the second consecutive year. In the coming weeks you will hear such stars as 317 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:57,080 Claire Trevor, Donald O'Connor and Charles Boyer. Don't forget next Thursday 318 00:28:57,080 --> 00:29:03,880 same time Auto Light will present Suspense starring Agnes Moorhead. 319 00:29:05,960 --> 00:29:10,400 You can buy Auto Light staple batteries, Auto Light resistor or regular spark 320 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:13,400 plugs, Auto Light electrical parts at your neighborhood Auto Light dealers. 321 00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:33,080 Switch to Auto Light. Good night. This is CBS the Columbia broadcasting system.