WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:13.000 Auto Light and its 96,000 dealers present Suspense. 00:13.000 --> 00:21.440 Tonight, Auto Light brings you A Ring for Maria, a suspense play starring Mr. Cornell 00:21.440 --> 00:22.440 Wilde. 00:22.440 --> 00:29.920 Oh, John, it's a beautiful ring. 00:29.920 --> 00:31.320 Oh, you like it. 00:31.320 --> 00:32.520 A nice diamond, huh? 00:32.520 --> 00:34.520 John, I can't tell you how much. 00:34.520 --> 00:39.120 Oh, Maria, I would have done more for you and long ago, but for my business problems, 00:39.120 --> 00:42.640 like a stone around my neck hangs that. 00:42.640 --> 00:44.640 I know, John, the store. 00:44.640 --> 00:45.640 Yes, the store. 00:45.640 --> 00:51.320 That's why it's necessary to do this thing tonight, for both our sakes. 00:51.320 --> 00:57.520 Oh, John, it was crazy of me, I know, but I was worried the way things were between 00:57.520 --> 01:01.640 us that perhaps you didn't love me anymore, but no. 01:01.640 --> 01:06.040 After tonight, Maria, there will be other moments like this, many of them. 01:06.040 --> 01:10.320 When we get our money from the fire insurance company, we needn't rush back into business 01:10.320 --> 01:11.320 again. 01:11.320 --> 01:13.520 After all, we have been working hard for nearly ten years. 01:13.520 --> 01:16.360 We'll go someplace, enjoy ourselves first together. 01:16.360 --> 01:18.360 I can hardly believe it. 01:18.360 --> 01:25.000 Only, only I wish that tonight was over with, when I think of what we must do. 01:25.000 --> 01:29.200 There's nothing to worry about, Maria, in the morning you will be at your aunt's home 01:29.200 --> 01:33.840 in Minneapolis, and I, I will be here to handle everything myself. 01:33.840 --> 01:39.120 Don't you see, you'll be safe, and if I wasn't sure of everything, would I be willing to 01:39.120 --> 01:41.600 stay alone and face all the questioning? 01:41.600 --> 01:44.680 Oh, John, you're willing to do this? 01:44.680 --> 01:49.080 For, for both of us, Maria, for our future. 01:49.080 --> 01:52.160 Now I can tell you how much this ring means to me. 01:52.160 --> 01:58.480 As long as I live, I will never take it off. 01:58.480 --> 02:02.360 Now I will go finish packing my bag. 02:02.360 --> 02:13.080 She kissed me before she went, and then I sat there on the couch and rubbed away at 02:13.080 --> 02:14.080 my mouth. 02:14.080 --> 02:17.640 She always smelled like laundry water, I thought. 02:17.640 --> 02:21.280 She was so big, older than I was. 02:21.280 --> 02:25.560 Now she had never appealed to me as the kind of woman I should have. 02:25.560 --> 02:29.920 If I hadn't been so frightened by America when I first arrived, I would never have married 02:29.920 --> 02:30.920 her at all. 02:30.920 --> 02:36.800 But Maria and the marriage settlement her father offered, he wanted her to have a nice 02:36.800 --> 02:39.600 boy from the old country, he said. 02:39.600 --> 02:44.480 Yes, Maria and the money seemed to go with this great new land. 02:44.480 --> 02:46.000 No more slaving for a living. 02:46.000 --> 02:51.440 I could start a business and this big blonde would work. 02:51.440 --> 02:56.920 But now our business at the store had gone to pieces, so burned the store. 02:56.920 --> 03:02.520 With the fire insurance money, I would have a chance for the kind of life I deserved. 03:02.520 --> 03:06.800 Oh, it was smart touch to give her the ring. 03:06.800 --> 03:10.640 Without blinding her eyes, she'd do whatever I wanted her to do. 03:10.640 --> 03:14.040 And afterwards, there'd be no trouble divorcing her. 03:14.040 --> 03:16.240 I had tested her in quarrels. 03:16.240 --> 03:24.080 She was the kind that takes her beatings silently. 03:24.080 --> 03:28.880 In just a moment, Mr. Cornel Wilde in the first act of a ring for Maria. 03:28.880 --> 03:34.680 Ringing in the new year early, Harlow? 03:34.680 --> 03:37.760 Why no, Hap, those are only the three chimes. 03:37.760 --> 03:38.760 What three chimes? 03:38.760 --> 03:44.280 The three chimes a year an auto light stay full battery needs water in normal car use. 03:44.280 --> 03:48.720 Harlow, you deserve life for that. 03:48.720 --> 03:52.600 And I'll take it if it's the longer life of an auto light stay full, because the stay 03:52.600 --> 03:58.960 full gives 70% longer life as proven by tests conducted according to SAE minimum life cycle 03:58.960 --> 03:59.960 standard. 03:59.960 --> 04:01.820 You're positive, Harlow? 04:01.820 --> 04:02.820 Positive is the word. 04:02.820 --> 04:07.240 Hap, every positive plate in the auto light stay full battery is protected with fiber 04:07.240 --> 04:11.880 glass retaining mats to reduce flaking and shedding and keep the power producing material 04:11.880 --> 04:12.880 in place. 04:12.880 --> 04:16.840 You sure got your battery problem solved for 1951, Harlow. 04:16.840 --> 04:17.880 Right, Hap. 04:17.880 --> 04:22.880 And friends, for the new year, see your neighborhood auto light battery dealer and have him install 04:22.880 --> 04:27.920 an auto light stay full battery, a battery that needs water only three times a year in 04:27.920 --> 04:29.400 normal car use. 04:29.400 --> 04:33.240 And remember, you're always right with auto light. 04:33.240 --> 04:38.760 Now with a ring for Maria and the performance of Mr. Cornell Wild, auto light hopes once 04:38.760 --> 04:50.920 again to keep you in suspense. 04:50.920 --> 04:55.040 Before I left the house, I told Maria to be sure in California around in Minneapolis that 04:55.040 --> 04:56.040 she was coming. 04:56.040 --> 04:59.160 Then I stopped in at a bar and ordered a whiskey. 04:59.160 --> 05:03.600 When the bartender wasn't looking, I spilled this whiskey all over my shirt front. 05:03.600 --> 05:09.200 Next, I telephoned my friend, Frank Laszlo, and told him to stop in at my house at 1115 05:09.200 --> 05:12.160 on his way home from his restaurant. 05:12.160 --> 05:14.640 He would be my alibi. 05:14.640 --> 05:19.320 I was getting ready for the part of the plan I hadn't told Maria about yet. 05:19.320 --> 05:22.600 And I wasn't going to tell her. 05:22.600 --> 05:27.720 That part, that part she was supposed to guess. 05:27.720 --> 05:29.720 John? 05:29.720 --> 05:35.480 Oh, I'm so glad you're back. 05:35.480 --> 05:39.720 I tried not to think of it, but John, you look... 05:39.720 --> 05:41.080 What's the matter? 05:41.080 --> 05:42.680 I can't do it. 05:42.680 --> 05:43.680 What? 05:43.680 --> 05:45.040 I, I can't go. 05:45.040 --> 05:46.240 I can't trust myself. 05:46.240 --> 05:51.240 I even had some drinks to get up my nerve, but no, I've been through too much all these 05:51.240 --> 05:52.240 months worrying. 05:52.240 --> 05:53.240 You have been drinking. 05:53.240 --> 05:54.240 I can smell it. 05:54.240 --> 05:55.240 You never drink. 05:55.240 --> 05:57.600 I told you, I had to do something. 05:57.600 --> 06:02.440 I tried to pretend that I was brave, that this thing tonight, because it meant so much 06:02.440 --> 06:04.720 to us, I would go through with it. 06:04.720 --> 06:06.320 But I can't. 06:06.320 --> 06:07.320 I can't. 06:07.320 --> 06:09.120 It takes a stronger person than I am. 06:09.120 --> 06:13.640 But John, if you mean the fire, burning the store, I'm glad we're not going. 06:13.640 --> 06:15.360 It was a terrible thing anyway. 06:15.360 --> 06:16.360 I'm glad. 06:16.360 --> 06:17.360 What are you glad about? 06:17.360 --> 06:19.480 The insurance is our only hope. 06:19.480 --> 06:21.080 You know what it means without it? 06:21.080 --> 06:22.080 We have nothing. 06:22.080 --> 06:26.760 It's the end of things, of you and me, of everything. 06:26.760 --> 06:29.800 I will have to go away alone. 06:29.800 --> 06:33.840 I couldn't go on with you knowing that I'm a failure as a man. 06:33.840 --> 06:36.360 John, it is not the end. 06:36.360 --> 06:39.040 I can take the store. 06:39.040 --> 06:40.520 We'll begin fresh again. 06:40.520 --> 06:43.400 No, no, it was the only thing. 06:43.400 --> 06:44.560 Now we shall fail. 06:44.560 --> 06:47.720 I shall just go somewhere and disappear and you... 06:47.720 --> 06:48.720 Yes? 06:48.720 --> 06:50.720 Yes, John? 06:50.720 --> 06:51.720 What about me? 06:51.720 --> 06:54.880 That's what I hate to think about. 06:54.880 --> 06:56.920 Then I must leave you. 06:56.920 --> 06:59.640 If only this thing tonight could be done. 06:59.640 --> 07:00.640 It's so simple. 07:00.640 --> 07:01.640 It's all arranged. 07:01.640 --> 07:03.640 We would have had happiness. 07:03.640 --> 07:07.760 John, John, let me do it. 07:07.760 --> 07:11.280 You were willing to stay behind and face everyone while I was safe at my aunt's? 07:11.280 --> 07:15.780 Why shouldn't I be willing to do as much now that this strain has proven too much for you? 07:15.780 --> 07:17.200 You stay here, John. 07:17.200 --> 07:18.600 I will go to the store. 07:18.600 --> 07:21.440 I will do it myself and then get on the train. 07:21.440 --> 07:24.440 It will be as we planned, only. 07:24.440 --> 07:29.080 Just don't talk like that anymore about leaving me, John. 07:29.080 --> 07:30.480 No, shh, shh, shh. 07:30.480 --> 07:31.920 I was just talking. 07:31.920 --> 07:41.040 I was just talking. 07:41.040 --> 07:43.080 It was 11.15. 07:43.080 --> 07:47.920 Mario had been gone 20 minutes when I heard Frank's ring at the door. 07:47.920 --> 07:48.920 Good. 07:48.920 --> 07:53.600 I would keep him a half hour and by then the fire should have been discovered and someone 07:53.600 --> 07:54.600 would call me. 07:54.600 --> 07:55.600 Hello, Frank. 07:55.600 --> 07:56.600 Come in. 07:56.600 --> 07:57.600 Come in. 07:57.600 --> 07:58.600 Good evening, John. 07:58.600 --> 08:03.600 It's so nice of you to let me come so late. 08:03.600 --> 08:06.040 Does the letter mention my mother? 08:06.040 --> 08:07.040 How is she getting along? 08:07.040 --> 08:09.960 Yes, and your brother and his wife, all are well. 08:09.960 --> 08:11.280 Come, sit down here. 08:11.280 --> 08:13.480 I have poured a glass of wine for each of us. 08:13.480 --> 08:14.480 Thank you. 08:14.480 --> 08:15.480 Thank you. 08:15.480 --> 08:16.480 Where is Maria? 08:16.480 --> 08:17.480 Asleep? 08:17.480 --> 08:19.720 No, she went out to visit friends. 08:19.720 --> 08:21.520 At least that's what she said. 08:21.520 --> 08:23.800 You think I should suspect her, perhaps? 08:23.800 --> 08:26.360 Oh, no, no, John. 08:26.360 --> 08:28.200 Everyone knows how Maria feels about you. 08:28.200 --> 08:29.200 Yes, of course. 08:29.200 --> 08:30.200 And I about her. 08:30.200 --> 08:32.400 A good girl, Maria. 08:32.400 --> 08:33.400 But here you want the letter. 08:33.400 --> 08:34.400 Here. 08:34.400 --> 08:35.400 Here it is, Frank. 08:35.400 --> 08:36.400 Go ahead, read it. 08:36.400 --> 08:37.400 I'll pour some wine. 08:37.400 --> 08:48.920 John, a whole bottle of wine we put away. 08:48.920 --> 08:51.840 I'll never be able to sleep, and it's nearly midnight. 08:51.840 --> 08:52.840 Don't be foolish. 08:52.840 --> 08:56.240 It's wine, not that ink you sell for coffee. 08:56.240 --> 08:57.240 You'll sleep. 08:57.240 --> 08:58.240 Well, I'm off. 08:58.240 --> 09:01.360 Thanks for calling me about the letter. 09:01.360 --> 09:02.360 Don't go, Frank. 09:02.360 --> 09:03.960 I don't get to see you often. 09:03.960 --> 09:05.960 Your phone, John. 09:05.960 --> 09:07.680 Answer it. 09:07.680 --> 09:08.680 I will find my way out. 09:08.680 --> 09:09.680 All right, Frank. 09:09.680 --> 09:10.680 It is nearly midnight. 09:10.680 --> 09:11.680 Seven minutes to. 09:11.680 --> 09:12.680 Good night. 09:12.680 --> 09:13.680 Good night. 09:13.680 --> 09:14.680 How long have you been here? 09:14.680 --> 09:19.120 Hello? 09:19.120 --> 09:21.840 Hello? 09:21.840 --> 09:24.600 Is there someone on the line? 09:24.600 --> 09:25.600 What is that? 09:25.600 --> 09:26.600 Who is it? 09:26.600 --> 09:27.600 John. 09:27.600 --> 09:28.600 John. 09:28.600 --> 09:31.600 What did you call for? 09:31.600 --> 09:34.600 John, I'm burned. 09:34.600 --> 09:35.600 What? 09:35.600 --> 09:36.600 What happened? 09:36.600 --> 09:39.840 I fell afterwards, in the dark, in the fire. 09:39.840 --> 09:41.840 I don't understand if you were burned. 09:41.840 --> 09:44.600 I think it's the flames in my breast. 09:44.600 --> 09:45.600 I don't know. 09:45.600 --> 09:47.600 I got up the stairs and ran through the door. 09:47.600 --> 09:49.800 Did you remember to lock the door? 09:49.800 --> 09:50.800 I don't know. 09:50.800 --> 09:51.800 I was in pain, I tell you. 09:51.800 --> 09:52.800 I walked and cried. 09:52.800 --> 09:53.800 I didn't know what to do. 09:53.800 --> 09:54.800 And then I saw a little bar. 09:54.800 --> 09:55.800 I waited till it was almost empty, and that's where I am now, in the telephone booth. 09:55.800 --> 09:56.800 John, will you come? 09:56.800 --> 09:57.800 Do something for me. 09:57.800 --> 09:58.800 But if you're in a bar with people, can't they see? 09:58.800 --> 09:59.800 No. 09:59.800 --> 10:00.800 No. 10:00.800 --> 10:01.800 I took my coat off when I went into the store before I went down to the basement. 10:01.800 --> 10:02.800 I was in the bathroom. 10:02.800 --> 10:03.800 I was in the bathroom. 10:03.800 --> 10:04.800 I was in the bathroom. 10:04.800 --> 10:05.800 I was in the bathroom. 10:05.800 --> 10:06.800 I was in the bathroom. 10:06.800 --> 10:07.800 I was in the bathroom. 10:07.800 --> 10:08.800 I was in the bathroom. 10:08.800 --> 10:20.880 I was in the bathroom. 10:20.880 --> 10:38.440 No, I took my coat off when I went into the store before I went down to the basement. 10:38.440 --> 11:00.000 to anyone don't let anyone see you too closely you understand yes yes yes yes 11:00.000 --> 11:07.640 that's my place why what happened fire in my place 11:07.640 --> 11:11.760 how how bad is it how did it start what's burning don't know any answers 11:11.760 --> 11:15.360 like that yet mr. Marco I understand it's just striking out now and they 11:15.360 --> 11:18.280 haven't been in the place yet to look around you better get down there and 11:18.280 --> 11:22.440 help check shall I get word to them that you're coming yes of course right away 11:22.440 --> 11:39.080 yes yes I will 11:39.080 --> 11:46.320 yes yes but which would I go to first to Mario who sounded in such pain she might 11:46.320 --> 11:50.680 tell everything to the first person who found her or to this door where the fire 11:50.680 --> 11:55.040 people and perhaps the police were waiting to talk to me I wanted to go to 11:55.040 --> 12:00.560 the store but I didn't dare I didn't dare to leave Mario alone just nearly a 12:00.560 --> 12:06.000 half hour after midnight when I drove up to the alley when I told it to wait 12:06.000 --> 12:15.120 Maria Maria yes hurry get in come on 12:15.120 --> 12:23.120 right away right away Maria how badly are you burned are you sure it's dumb 12:23.120 --> 12:26.800 Maria listen to me the police have called me about the store and they are 12:26.800 --> 12:32.800 waiting for me there you understand the police the police are waiting but you 12:32.800 --> 12:37.280 will take me to a doctor first you will can I marry I told them I would be right 12:37.280 --> 12:41.680 down I've lost time driving to pick you up first it will look suspicious very 12:41.680 --> 12:46.600 suspicious if I'm delayed but I must what I do Maria I must leave you 12:46.600 --> 12:49.880 someplace in the car and go the rest away in a cab I will get through with 12:49.880 --> 12:55.160 them as quickly as possible and then I will be back for you I can't wait any 12:55.160 --> 12:58.920 longer you have to Maria don't you understand what it means you must 12:58.920 --> 13:05.520 promise that you will that you will stay in the car quietly until I come all 13:05.520 --> 13:21.680 right all right 13:21.680 --> 13:28.040 so you wouldn't know anything at all about how the fire got started a no I 13:28.040 --> 13:34.120 would not say and you were home with this friend from 1120 until nearly 13:34.120 --> 13:39.800 midnight yes that's right I I was home with my friend Frank Laszlo he owns the 13:39.800 --> 13:44.760 restaurant right on the corner there he always closes up by 11 and tonight he 13:44.760 --> 13:49.120 stopped in to read a letter I received some friends of ours in the old country 13:49.120 --> 13:54.800 all right we'll talk to mr. Laszlo in the meantime mr. Markov you better drop 13:54.800 --> 13:58.520 any of the fire marshal's office in the morning at 10 o'clock you mean that I 13:58.520 --> 14:04.480 know I don't mean anything certainly anything I can do to help I'll be there 14:04.480 --> 14:12.600 of course of course 14:12.600 --> 14:18.640 it had taken a half hour of it talking I knew from their manner that they have 14:18.640 --> 14:24.640 found the kerosene or smelled it and I was back at the car looking at Mario she 14:24.640 --> 14:31.360 appeared unconscious but when I started to drive away I couldn't help it Mario 14:31.360 --> 14:38.480 it wasn't pleasant I you know now no doctor John so he can do something for 14:38.480 --> 14:45.600 me all right all right how are you talking to me you frighten me right and 14:45.600 --> 14:49.240 you what about me don't you think I am frightened what do you suppose will 14:49.240 --> 14:52.360 happen if I take you to a doctor he'll want to know everything and he will have 14:52.360 --> 14:57.640 to report it somewhere John I must have to eat where name the place where taking 14:57.640 --> 14:59.920 you won't be the same as going straight to the police 14:59.920 --> 15:05.360 well then the police anybody anybody who will help 15:05.360 --> 15:07.360 John 15:14.360 --> 15:21.120 I couldn't answer her I was trapped now I thought all I have to do is bring her 15:21.120 --> 15:25.040 in for help anywhere no doctor no hospital would treat her without 15:25.040 --> 15:30.960 reporting the case to police take her home if the police caught me bringing 15:30.960 --> 15:37.680 Maria there if they found that she was burned and I was helping her for hours 15:37.680 --> 15:44.160 seemed I drove that night wondering thinking trying frantically to find some 15:44.160 --> 15:51.920 solution while Maria stared straight ahead not speaking sometimes she would 15:51.920 --> 15:59.440 cry then it was quiet again slept I wanted to get away from other cars from 15:59.440 --> 16:04.760 people they turned on to an old dirt road that led along the river when I got to a 16:04.760 --> 16:11.120 dark spot I stopped yes I'm here Maria 16:11.120 --> 16:18.640 no there is no doctor no there is no doctor there's no hospital and there is 16:18.640 --> 16:23.000 not going to be any you got yourself into this you got me into it when you 16:23.000 --> 16:30.680 are found burned it's prison for both of us John John I said prison separate 16:30.680 --> 16:35.160 prisons thank goodness anything to get away from you now do you understand now 16:35.160 --> 16:45.280 let me hear you say John again once more before I go once more let me touch you 16:45.280 --> 16:51.400 let me just touch you what are you doing get back take your hands away from my 16:51.400 --> 16:53.480 face 16:53.480 --> 16:56.480 God 17:02.400 --> 17:07.920 somehow I got out of the car and away from her it must have been with her last 17:07.920 --> 17:12.160 drink that she attacked me because she she fell back but then when I stopped to 17:12.160 --> 17:15.960 look back she was out of the car standing on steadily on the ground I 17:15.960 --> 17:21.000 called but she didn't hear she turned and I saw that she was trying to reach 17:21.000 --> 17:27.200 the river edge she was weak sagging under her weight but she kept on and made 17:27.200 --> 17:32.320 it almost at the very edge of the river she slumped to the ground in a kneeling 17:32.320 --> 17:40.640 position I started for her inside of me I felt only jelly then as I stood there 17:40.640 --> 17:47.800 I saw she was doing something with her hands as if ringing them then I realized 17:47.800 --> 17:52.760 she was taking off the ring the diamond ring she had said she would keep on as 17:52.760 --> 17:56.680 long as she lived it must have slipped from her hand because she started 17:56.680 --> 18:01.840 pointing around in the dirt then she got it turned and threw it at the car with 18:01.840 --> 18:09.800 all her strength but the effort to her of balance she slowly fell backward like 18:09.800 --> 18:22.360 an old doll into the water she was gone now I was out of it they wouldn't be 18:22.360 --> 18:25.360 able to touch me 18:25.360 --> 18:27.400 you 18:38.320 --> 18:43.800 auto light is bringing you mr. Cornell wild with Irene Tedrow in a ring for 18:43.800 --> 18:48.320 Maria tonight's production and radios outstanding theater of thrills 18:48.320 --> 18:58.160 suspense 18:58.160 --> 19:03.880 hey Harlow what are your plans for this start of a new year same as usual half I 19:03.880 --> 19:08.600 always get the start of the year with an auto light staple battery the battery 19:08.600 --> 19:12.560 that needs water only three times a year in normal car use but aren't you gonna 19:12.560 --> 19:17.280 welcome the year in why sure half year in and year out there's nothing more 19:17.280 --> 19:21.120 welcome than the dependable starting power and extra convenience of the 19:21.120 --> 19:25.880 auto light staple battery you be the life of the party Harlow half my good 19:25.880 --> 19:31.960 man you can't beat the auto light staple for longer life 70% longer life in fact 19:31.960 --> 19:36.960 as proven by tests conducted according to SAE minimum life cycle standard aren't 19:36.960 --> 19:42.040 you gonna raise your champagne glass Harlow you mean fiberglass half because 19:42.040 --> 19:46.160 every positive plate of an auto light staple battery is protected with a fiber 19:46.160 --> 19:50.680 glass retaining mat to reduce flaking and shedding and keep the power producing 19:50.680 --> 19:56.480 material in place but Harlow everybody's going to to start the new year by having 19:56.480 --> 20:00.320 their neighborhood auto light battery dealer install an auto light stay full 20:00.320 --> 20:04.400 a battery that needs water only three times a year in normal car use and 20:04.400 --> 20:09.920 remember you're always right with auto light and now auto light brings back to 20:09.920 --> 20:14.520 our Hollywood soundstage mr. Cornell wild in Elliott Lewis's production of a 20:14.520 --> 20:19.520 ring for Mario a tale well calculated to keep you in 20:19.520 --> 20:22.520 suspend 20:28.240 --> 20:32.600 early in the morning I went to a police station I had decided it would look odd 20:32.600 --> 20:37.200 when Maria's body was found if I had not reported her absence they took her 20:37.200 --> 20:41.440 description and then how about jewelry did she have any she might be wearing 20:41.440 --> 20:48.360 only her wedding ring and earrings gold earrings shaped like a hoop nothing 20:48.360 --> 20:53.680 else nothing all right mr. Markoff we'll call you the moment we hear anything 20:53.680 --> 20:57.920 well I think she'll be walking in on you soon that's our experience in these 20:57.920 --> 21:00.160 cases 21:02.160 --> 21:08.140 I breathe easier when I left the station I had almost told him of the diamond 21:08.140 --> 21:12.920 ring I didn't want to because I had failed to find it when I made a hurried 21:12.920 --> 21:17.160 search before leaving the river's edge but I knew the spot and when things 21:17.160 --> 21:21.520 quieted down I planned to go there in daylight and search again it was worth 21:21.520 --> 21:26.000 too much to let go just now the only thing ahead of me was the visit to the 21:26.000 --> 21:30.840 fire marshal's office at 10 o'clock but I wasn't worried about that let them 21:30.840 --> 21:35.840 ask their questions I had an alibi I was home when the fire started the only 21:35.840 --> 21:42.440 person who could implicate me in any way was dead yes I had to admit things had 21:42.440 --> 21:46.840 turned out not bad not bad 21:51.000 --> 22:00.600 oh yes sir my name is John Markov I'm to see the fire marshal this morning oh yes 22:00.600 --> 22:07.200 mr. Markov just a moment mr. Markov is here marshal very well the marshal is 22:07.200 --> 22:16.720 coming out mr. Markov morning mr. Markov had a lot to think about yes I've heard 22:16.720 --> 22:21.240 the fire and then this morning early you reported your wife missing didn't you 22:21.240 --> 22:25.640 yes I was going to tell you about it too I was already informed and I'm afraid I 22:25.640 --> 22:30.480 have what may be bad news for you mr. Markov the police think they found her 22:30.480 --> 22:36.720 found her how where very unusual you reported her as alive only last night yet 22:36.720 --> 22:40.240 this morning a half hour ago her body was found floating in the river the 22:40.240 --> 22:45.720 description tallies exactly floating you mean you mean she was drowned Maria I 22:45.720 --> 22:49.960 don't mean anything of the kind come along mr. Markov please are waiting for 22:49.960 --> 22:53.960 you to make positive identification at the morgue 22:53.960 --> 23:03.400 I didn't like the way the marshal talked or acted with me made me feel as if 23:03.400 --> 23:08.720 something had gone wrong but I told myself to stop worrying they could know 23:08.720 --> 23:13.400 nothing especially if Mario was dead but what did he mean talking as if she 23:13.400 --> 23:18.040 wasn't drowned I was still thinking about this when we got to the undertakers two 23:18.040 --> 23:22.580 men were standing outside in order that the marshal is something told me they 23:22.580 --> 23:27.600 must be detectives then one of them spoke to me you're mr. Markov yes I'm 23:27.600 --> 23:30.740 sergeant Holbrooke with a homicide bureau of the police department mr. 23:30.740 --> 23:34.960 Markov we'd like to take a look through your car is it here why sure go ahead 23:34.960 --> 23:39.000 and let me have your keys you mind we might have to move the car one reason or 23:39.000 --> 23:53.240 another yes all right this way mr. Markov for the identification well mr. 23:53.240 --> 24:01.200 Markov it's hair it's maria but how what happened what happened was a tragedy 24:01.200 --> 24:07.280 mr. Markov but you see those marks on her body yes yes those marks are burns 24:07.280 --> 24:12.880 and there was a fire in your store last night but I don't understand you you 24:12.880 --> 24:17.640 think Mario can I talk to you for a moment oh yes 24:24.200 --> 24:28.720 the mark of did you know your wife telephoned her aunt in Minneapolis last 24:28.720 --> 24:33.000 night and told her she was arriving for a visit there this morning did you or 24:33.000 --> 24:36.440 didn't you know there mr. Markov you're awfully slow answering very simple 24:36.440 --> 24:42.040 questions no no no I did not know I see well anyway she did mr. Markov you might 24:42.040 --> 24:46.920 like to know how we found out would you yes you see when your wife wasn't on the 24:46.920 --> 24:50.680 morning train at 7 o'clock her aunt got worried and telephoned your house but 24:50.680 --> 24:55.000 got no answer I was at the police station reporting Mario's absence right 24:55.000 --> 24:59.600 at 930 your wife's aunt telephoned again but this time to your place of business 24:59.600 --> 25:04.320 naturally she was told the line was out of order now she really was worried and 25:04.320 --> 25:08.200 that's how we found out about it she telephoned the police I talked to her did 25:08.200 --> 25:12.760 you tell her about Mario no mr. Markov I knew a body had been found that answered 25:12.760 --> 25:17.920 the description of mrs. Markov but I wasn't sure yet I'm only sure now but 25:17.920 --> 25:22.440 mrs. Markov's aunt told me something else it seemed that your wife was very 25:22.440 --> 25:26.720 happy about a gift you gave her last night and naturally as women will she 25:26.720 --> 25:32.960 had to talk about it she told her and you remember the gift oh yes yes of 25:32.960 --> 25:37.120 course it slipped my mind in all this that has happened the ring you mean the 25:37.120 --> 25:41.440 diamond ring you mean that's right mr. Markov she was wearing that ring wasn't 25:41.440 --> 25:45.440 she when you last saw her yes yes I forgot she must have been wearing that 25:45.440 --> 25:49.520 right and she left the house before the fire naturally about 11 you reported and 25:49.520 --> 25:55.360 you never saw her after that until this morning here no I did not you're sure 25:55.360 --> 26:00.560 you're very sure of that yes yes I'm sure then how is it mr. Markov that when 26:00.560 --> 26:03.880 we looked at your car just now we saw something that had been caught in the 26:03.880 --> 26:08.200 rain scupper that runs along the side of the body over the windows and this mr. 26:08.200 --> 26:13.120 Markov is what we found stuck in there along with some loose fine gravel this 26:13.120 --> 26:19.000 diamond ring what of it the coroner's physician found no water in your wife's 26:19.000 --> 26:23.040 lungs she didn't drown in his opinion she died from heart failure directly 26:23.040 --> 26:27.880 super induced by her pain and burns how did this terribly injured woman get to 26:27.880 --> 26:31.840 the river miles from the scene of the fire the diamond ring tells us the 26:31.840 --> 26:36.360 answer she was taken there and thrown in thrown in by you who watched her die 26:36.360 --> 26:39.560 even though you might have perhaps saved her life by getting medical aid for her 26:39.560 --> 26:43.440 I didn't throw her in she fell in I tell you she fell in it was an accident 26:43.440 --> 26:49.200 oh mr. Markov we don't talk the same language in mine the death of your wife 26:49.200 --> 27:10.040 was murder 27:10.440 --> 27:18.600 suspense presented by auto light tonight star mr. Cornell wild well see you next 27:18.600 --> 27:23.760 year Harlow okay happen in the meantime don't forget and don't forget what that 27:23.760 --> 27:28.480 auto light makes over 400 product for cars trucks planes and boats in 28 27:28.480 --> 27:32.680 plants coast to coast these include complete electrical systems used as 27:32.680 --> 27:36.840 original factory equipment on many leading makes of America's finest cars 27:36.840 --> 27:41.520 electric windshield wipers starting motors voltage regulators coils 27:41.520 --> 27:46.880 distributors wire and cable generators so friends don't accept electrical parts 27:46.880 --> 27:51.520 supposed to be as good ask for and insist on original factory parts at your 27:51.520 --> 27:56.240 neighborhood service station car dealer garage or repair shop and because all 27:56.240 --> 28:00.160 auto light parts are original factory parts you can be sure you're right 28:00.160 --> 28:05.560 because you're always right with auto light next week on suspense mr. Mickey 28:05.560 --> 28:10.560 Rooney a star of alibi me and in weeks to come you will hear such famous stars 28:10.560 --> 28:15.240 as ginger Rogers Eve Arden and it's your pincer all appearing in tales well 28:15.240 --> 28:20.080 calculated to keep you in suspense 28:20.160 --> 28:24.160 suspense is produced and directed by Elliott Lewis with music composed by 28:24.160 --> 28:28.920 Lucien Morrowek and conducted by Ludd Bluskin a ring for Maria was written 28:28.920 --> 28:33.720 for suspense by Lewis Pollock Cornell wild is next to be seen in the new RKO 28:33.720 --> 28:37.960 Technicolor production sons of the musketeers and remember next week on 28:37.960 --> 28:48.880 suspense mr. Mickey Rooney in alibi me this is Harlow Wilcox again to wish each 28:48.880 --> 28:54.040 and every one of you on behalf of suspense and 96,000 auto light dealers 28:54.040 --> 28:58.060 from coast to coast a happy and prosperous new year this is CBS the 28:58.060 --> 29:13.200 Columbia Broadcasting System