May 29, 2025 • 22 mins
Step into the world of a private investigator who solves complex cases with keen observation and intellect. His adventures are filled with suspense and unexpected twists.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
William Gargan stars as the hard boiled private Eye, Barry
Craig and William Bendix is Riley. Hello there, this is
Victor Rives inviting and to join us now as we
relive the golden moments of radios. Yesterdayear we turned back
(00:21):
the clock to present the greatest radio shows of all
time on the golden age of radio theaters, this time
from February ninth, fifty five. Barry Craig confidential investigator in
the case of the missing hotel room. And then later
this hour excitement in the Riley household as Riley becomes
an actor on TV.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Barry Craig speaking, I was drinking myself to tat this
particular evening. Not liquors at Willie's wagon. It's the coffee
that's fatal. Also, I was finding out from the news
papers that Chorus girls were still busy suing elderly millionaires,
that a hood named Ben Moran had knocked off an
armored car and disappeared, that the police were questioning his girlfriend,
(01:10):
Penny Lane. Her picture was spread across the front page.
It wasn't odd, but it would sell a lot of papers. Also,
we were going to have some more weather that.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Don't surprise me.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
That's because you're a cynic. Willy do I ask you
about your religion? It was around turn thirty at night,
but it looked later for the girl who came into
the wagon, as though it was the last step on
a trip she hadn't planned on making.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Excuse me, but can you tell me if there's more
than one Hotel Meeker?
Speaker 2 (01:40):
The only one I know of is round the corner
from here. You tried a phone book, Yes, I did.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
I must be going all right, Hey, mister Craig, I've
got a take on in the back room.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
I got the couch there. That's fine. It sounds like
she's coming to get some coffee for us.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Okay, I I'm sorry, what about sainting? My name is Wilson,
Myra Wilson.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
I'm Barry Craig. What's bothering you about the Meeker?
Speaker 3 (02:14):
You you won't believe me?
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Well, I'm a confidential investigator. I've got a lot of
practice believing people. Clients usually tryming well.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
M My husband and I got to town this afternoon.
We took a room at the Hotel Meeker. After lunch,
I went shopping into a movie, Then I went back
to the hotel. It it looked the same.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Hotels don't change much in an afternoon.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
But when I asked at the desk for my husband,
the cliques had known by that name was registered.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
The clique must have remembered you.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Oh, he said he'd never seen me before.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
M m it was a nice story, had shape, surprise,
a nightmare touch. The odds were wonderful that it was
a pony from the word go. Maybe that's why I
walked over to the Hotel Meeka with Michael Wilson. Good evening, Sarah.
(03:15):
Missus Wilson would like to key to her room, Missus
whip Oh back again. Hey, Missus Wilson does not have
a room here. She checked in this morning with her husband.
She doesn't have a room here, neither does her husband.
If she has a husband. I could take you apart
without any trouble. Putting you together again might be harder. Look,
there's no card for mister and Missus Wilson. I never
(03:38):
saw or heard of Missus Wilson before. I've been on
duty all day. I ought to know Missus Wilson. You
remember the lobby, the clerk, of course I do. What
was your room number?
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Three? Twelve?
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Let's go take a look at it. Now. You can't
do that? Why not? Oh? That gun standard hotel equipment. Polly,
will you what are you doing with that gun? Taking
care of this huddler? Mister Roberts. The hudlerm's name is Craig.
This is missus Wilson. You manage the hotel. I do Foley?
Put away that gun. Missus Wilson, did you see mister
Robins this morning? No, mister Roberts, this woman claims she
(04:14):
registered here this morning with her husband. That's not true.
Evidently a misunderstanding. Although we'd like to go up to
her room three twelve if it's not occupied. I see
no reason why you can't. We went upstairs the click.
Foley had been very tough, Mister Robins was very smooth.
(04:38):
I didn't care deeply for either of them. I started
hoping in earnest that Myra Wilson's story was true. Three
twelves down the corridor, Missus Wilson, would you mind describing
the room?
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Well, there's there was a window over the courtyard, a
double bed with a flowered cover, a dark green and wallpaper, uh,
yellow and blue.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
I think well that's enough. Three twelve. Well, says I
on the door too. Okay, open up. Oh, there's a
bed outside of that twin beds, not a double. Carpeting
is maroon, not green, and the wallpaper dark brown stripe.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
It it it's not in all the way I described it,
but it is the same room. It must be.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Well, mister Craig, sorry to have bothered you. Let's go,
missus Wilson. We picked up my car and I started
driving home. That gave me a small chance to think.
First thought was I'd heard the story before, only that
(05:54):
was about a girl in Paris in eighteen ninety or thereabouts.
She'd lost a hotel too, along with her mother. The
explanation there was that her mother died of the plague
and the whole thing was hushed up so people wouldn't
be scared away from the city. That wouldn't work here.
We don't have plagues anymore in New York, which left
what I didn't know. But I thought it might be
(06:16):
fun finding out. How this is my house, here's my key,
go on in and try to get some sleep. Where
are you going, believe it or not, I'm going to
a hotel for the night. The hotel was the Meeker. Oh,
you again. It's coincidence if you're still hopping on that
(06:37):
Wilson business. I'm looking for a room to sleep in.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
We're all filled up.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
What about three twelve? I thanks, I'll take it. Mind
showing me to the room. I'm not supposed, but you'll
do it for me. I'll do it for you. That is, uh,
unless you wanted to check with mister Roberts first. He's
gone for the night. Well could it be a federal offense?
What kidnapping a room? I thought you gave up on that. Well,
(07:05):
that's right, true, I forgot your room. Well, come on in,
I don't have any Hey, hey, what are you doing? Well,
I'm stripping myself some wallpaper? Straight?
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Fun Now you cut that out?
Speaker 2 (07:23):
And look what I found under this striped wallpaper? Wall wallpaper?
Guess what color? Oh you don't like to guess? All right,
it's blue and yellow wallpaper, the kind Missus Wilson described. Funny.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
You can't do things like like finding.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Out this really was missus Wilson's room and that someone
changed the wallpaper to bed the rug while she was
out shopping. Only one question, where's mister Wilson? The collect
didn't answer that one or anything else. I left the
(08:01):
hotel for a doorway across the street. I put in
time and nice the doorways, but this one was okay.
It kept me out of tight until the clerk came
out of the hotel and started walking. I walked after him.
He led me to a dark street filled with discouraged brownstones.
He started up the steps. I was maybe thirty yards
(08:23):
from them when he opened the door and walked into bullets.
He must have been dead before he fell. All the
bullets had hit him. When I got to him and
the stonely to confirmed the obvious. I had news. I
(08:45):
needed somebody to tell it to me. Robers was in
the phone book. I always tacked down people that way.
It's maybe not very smart, but it nearly always works. Yes, Oh,
(09:06):
mister Craig, mind if I come in? Well, it's late,
but come in. Thanks. Don't go any further. I'm entertaining.
Oh I'm sorry. Hello, I asked you not to. I
said I was sorry. Now I'm not sure. Introduce me,
mister Craig.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
Miss Lane, Penny Lane, Penny Lane, what are you here from?
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Ben Moran? Miss Lane?
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Oh, now, you mustn't believe everything you read in the paper.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Oh, it's too bad.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
You mean he isn't going to give you a hunk
of that armored car. What would I do with an
armored car, mister Craig, I see what you mean.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Excuse me, Roberts. Where's Jim Wilson. Who is Jim Wilson
Myra Wilson's husband? Oh? That poor deluded girl. Not deluded?
Someone changed the wallpaper in the room she had underneath
was the paper she described. Oh, I can't imagine why
or who would I Anyway, Harley's really the one to ask.
(10:04):
He's in charge of such things. Oh, I asked him.
He said he takes orders from you. I'm afraid he's lying,
mister Craig. Would you like to tell him that I
should like nothing better? Because you know he's dead. Mister Craig,
I don't think I have anything further to say to you.
Too bad. I was enjoying our little chap good night,
(10:24):
mister Craig. I suppose you need time for rehearsal rehearsals?
What your story to the police. Parley was murdered. You know,
I'm not surprised. Apparently he was involved in something crooked?
Is that so? Why? Yes, checking mister and missus Wilson
in then denying he'd done so, having the room changed
while they were out. It's going to be all farley
(10:45):
from now on. Huh. I'm afraid he wasn't an honest
man anyway. From now on, he's going to be a
silent one. You can load anything you like on him,
but you've got to make it stick, rob Its, otherwise
it won't mean anything.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Good night, Yes, mind if I came with you, No,
that's nice, like mister Roberts. You know, mister Greig. What's
your first name?
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Nice? Mm?
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Nice? Call me Penny please, Penny. Ooh, that's even nicer.
But anyway, I was saying, I don't think mister Roberts
is really a gentleman.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Now that's hard to believe.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
Oh, I'm very serious. You ought to know there, are you.
You mustn't misunderstand I've I've never been up to his
apartment before you were there tonight. Oh that was because
mister Robert said he had some beautiful etchings, and I
love edgings. So you know what what, there wasn't a
single etching in the place.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
We got into my car and drove away. Honey was
a very beautiful woman who sounded like a half with
and wasn't. She was putting on the Paris and springtime routine,
pretending she'd fallen for my manly beauty. But uh, she
wanted something from me, and it wasn't love. What it was?
I hope i'd find out. Ben Moran must have been
(12:18):
a rough playmate.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
I don't know why you keep talking about him.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
He fascinates me. Wanted by the police for a few
murder rapps, swindles, arm robberies, income tax evasions, passing a
red light.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Ben would never pass a red light. Oh sorry, apology accepted.
Take me home where twenty seven calls?
Speaker 2 (12:38):
And drive? Okay, that's only a couple of blocks over, Penny.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Mm.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
The moon's still beautiful, the night's young, the air is
filled with the fragrance of flowers. Where's Ben Moran nowadays?
Speaker 3 (12:53):
I used to be a friend of his. I'm not anymore.
If you don't believe me, asked the police, and I
hate you so kindly shut up?
Speaker 2 (12:59):
Yeah, well you're home, thank you. Oh before you go, Penny,
there's something I have to ask you. But who told
you to play matahiri with me?
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Play?
Speaker 2 (13:14):
What beautiful female spy?
Speaker 3 (13:17):
I think you're absolutely insult I said you were beautiful.
Good night.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
I wanted manny walk into her apartment house and then
drove away. I thought about it. She was angry, a liar,
and a kind of girl who'd go very good on
most desert islands. But I didn't have one, so I
went home. When I got there, though I wasn't happy.
Mayra Wilson was gone. Whether she gone on her own
(13:53):
or had been persuaded, it was something I might find
out sometime or other. It was a cold trail. I
decided i'd try to warm it up a bit. The
first step was driving uptown to Roberts House, parking opposite it,
using the phone booth in an all night drug store.
I had no guarantee the gimmick would work. I didn't
have much choice. Yes, Ben, I can't say anything over
(14:18):
the phone, but come over right away, would you say, Ben?
Ben Moranya jerked right away, goodbye.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
The Golden Age of Radio Theaters presenting the Case of
the Missing Hotel Room, starring William Gargan as Barry Craig.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Will continue in just a moment.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
Now back to the action with William Gargan.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
I figured the phone call if Roberts didn't have too
good an ear would make things happen. I got back
to my car and started waiting. Either Roberts was going
to sit tight, or he was going to make a
move to do me any good, or to do mister
and missus Wilson any good. He'd have to make a move.
Maybe he would. I kept on waiting. Robins must have
(15:05):
mistaken me for Ben Moran. He made his move. He
got into his car, gunned it and went away. So
did I. Things were maybe picking up. We were across
(15:27):
the river in Jersey, up a dark road to a
small house, and lights picked out pieces of the dark sky.
I pulled up and stopped the ways down the road
from the house, watched robbers get out, knock, and go inside,
and then I started walking. I knew Roberts was in
(15:48):
that house. I could be pretty sure a killer named
Ben Moran was there, and who else I could afford
to wait and find out that as I had thought
I could. The front door was closest. I didn't bother
knocking hello, say that there's no time over over there.
(16:13):
I did the fireplace. Uh huh, yeah, he's dead, he's dead.
How did you get out here?
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Have at your house. I got a phone call from Jim,
that's my husband. I got here. He let me in,
said someone was trying to kill him.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Someone dead. You see who.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
The shops came from there?
Speaker 2 (16:37):
Yeah, the door half a jar. Whoever was in the
other room would have taken off soon as he heard
me come in.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
I I can't really believe he's dead.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Start practicing he's dead. The only thing is he's not
really Jim Wilson. Why that new corpse Myra is Ben
Moran went to his poppas, found nothing but small change,
all the nearest sheriff and got out with Myra.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Why how could it?
Speaker 2 (17:18):
After his last job Moran was hot he had to
hold up picked your town for it, married you under
the name of Wilson. Maybe that was even his real name.
He had a brecertificate then it was Ben Moran was
his uh business name? Alright?
Speaker 3 (17:35):
I had I should've known long ago. It didn't work,
but always had money.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
He hasn't got it any more. But maybe Roberts can
tell us about things. The the hotel manager, sure he
knew Moran helped Miran on that disappearing hotel routine. That
was to get rid of you. Who your better face
up to it makes it easier to forget, I suppose.
So Moran must have decided that time was ripe to
(18:00):
start spending his dough had to get rid of you
without the police being called in, or even if they
were called in, not believing your story, they wouldn't have No.
But maybe we'll get them one now. They will believe
(18:21):
we made good time back to Roberts apartment house, but
he'd made better. His car was there, and so was he.
Mind if we come in, I mind, we're still coming in.
Come on, Maya. This rushed up won't get you anywhere.
It got us inside. How's Moran? Moran? Yeah, the man
(18:44):
who phoned a couple of hours ago. I received no
such call. I'll stop. I made it you. I wanted
to meet Moran. I trailed you to his hideout in
Jersey and answer your questions yourself. The police wouldn't. They'd
ask you to answer them. Suppose you let me worry
about them. They're going to think you shot Morane what
for money? Very convincing motive. I didn't kill him. Maybe
(19:08):
I might believe you, but the police wouldn't. And after
I told them how you conspired with Moran, to get
rid of his wife. You couldn't prove that because your
clique Farley's dead. Don't be so hopeful. Myra can tell
her story. The original wallpaper is still on the walls
of three twelve, underneath the new stuff you plastered it on.
You were around when Moran was killed. All of that
(19:30):
would add up to a nice package for a jury.
You said you might believe me. I did.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Who have you got in mind for the killing Penny Lane?
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Uh? No, useless Lane, Your perfumes too distinctive. Come out
out of that room and join us.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Huh Hello, I was looking for an etchie.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
You were looking for a lot of etchings with the
Secretary of the Treasure your signature on them.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
I didn't find even one.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
It's too bad. I'm sure Moran wanted you to have.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
Them, and I'm going to get them well gunloaded. Uh huh, Barry,
raise your arms. Why I'm going to search you better not?
Speaker 2 (20:14):
I'm ticklish.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
Not that ticklish when there's a gun pointing at you.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Oh maybe not.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
Well you don't have the money, Nope, what'd you do
with this? Give it to Myra, mister Craig.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
I asked her to hold it for me, but Oh,
it's no use, Myra, no use it all.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
Dear give me that handbag. No, I'll take it there.
I'll open it too.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
Barry hmm, you're a.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
Liar, I am. There's no money in Myra's bag. There's
a gun though, That's why I wanted you to take
the bag away from him. Why you what?
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Sure? Myra is very good with a gun, but you
but she stop making noises and point your gun at
missus Wilson. She happens to have murdered the hotel clerk
Farley and her husband as well. Girls maybe will be girls,
but she wanted to be a killer. Myra was very
(21:14):
quiet about it all. She said nothing. Even when the
police came and took her away, she said nothing. She
was waiting for a jury and hoping they'd be mostly
men on it. I'll be glad to tell you what
broke the case, Willy. I didn't ask you. Well, I've
got to tell somebody all. Look. Moran wanted to shake Myra,
so he had Robbits and Parley pull a disappearing hotel
(21:36):
stunt on her. But she got to Folly, forced him
to tell her where Moran was hiding out, then killed
Folly to make sure he'd stay quiet.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
I can recommend the Hamburgers here, not at no place
down the block.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Well, anyway, the way she gave herself away was she
told me her husband had phoned her at my place,
told her where he was hiding out in Jersey, and
so on, Willie. How would her husband or anyone else
have known that she was staying at my place? They
serve it with a kind of coast lag that ain't
all bad. Isn't all bad, Willy, Nothing can be all bad.
(22:13):
Have another cup of coffee. My mistake anyway, here I
am left without a case, without a fee, without hey,
stop breeding down the back of my neck.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Turn around and I'll breathe down in front of it.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Mm hello, hello, But you can't say I'm left without
a penny.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
You are listening to the golden age of radio theater.
William Gargan stars as the hard boiled private Eye, Barry
Craig and William Bendix is Riley. Hello there, this is
Victor Rives inviting and to join us now as we
relive the golden moments of radios. Yesterdayear we turned back
(00:21):
the clock to present the greatest radio shows of all
time on the golden age of radio theaters, this time
from February ninth, fifty five. Barry Craig confidential investigator in
the case of the missing hotel room. And then later
this hour excitement in the Riley household as Riley becomes
an actor on TV.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Barry Craig speaking, I was drinking myself to tat this
particular evening. Not liquors at Willie's wagon. It's the coffee
that's fatal. Also, I was finding out from the news
papers that Chorus girls were still busy suing elderly millionaires,
that a hood named Ben Moran had knocked off an
armored car and disappeared, that the police were questioning his girlfriend,
(01:10):
Penny Lane. Her picture was spread across the front page.
It wasn't odd, but it would sell a lot of papers. Also,
we were going to have some more weather that.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Don't surprise me.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
That's because you're a cynic. Willy do I ask you
about your religion? It was around turn thirty at night,
but it looked later for the girl who came into
the wagon, as though it was the last step on
a trip she hadn't planned on making.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Excuse me, but can you tell me if there's more
than one Hotel Meeker?
Speaker 2 (01:40):
The only one I know of is round the corner
from here. You tried a phone book, Yes, I did.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
I must be going all right, Hey, mister Craig, I've
got a take on in the back room.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
I got the couch there. That's fine. It sounds like
she's coming to get some coffee for us.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Okay, I I'm sorry, what about sainting? My name is Wilson,
Myra Wilson.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
I'm Barry Craig. What's bothering you about the Meeker?
Speaker 3 (02:14):
You you won't believe me?
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Well, I'm a confidential investigator. I've got a lot of
practice believing people. Clients usually tryming well.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
M My husband and I got to town this afternoon.
We took a room at the Hotel Meeker. After lunch,
I went shopping into a movie, Then I went back
to the hotel. It it looked the same.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Hotels don't change much in an afternoon.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
But when I asked at the desk for my husband,
the cliques had known by that name was registered.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
The clique must have remembered you.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Oh, he said he'd never seen me before.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
M m it was a nice story, had shape, surprise,
a nightmare touch. The odds were wonderful that it was
a pony from the word go. Maybe that's why I
walked over to the Hotel Meeka with Michael Wilson. Good evening, Sarah.
(03:15):
Missus Wilson would like to key to her room, Missus
whip Oh back again. Hey, Missus Wilson does not have
a room here. She checked in this morning with her husband.
She doesn't have a room here, neither does her husband.
If she has a husband. I could take you apart
without any trouble. Putting you together again might be harder. Look,
there's no card for mister and Missus Wilson. I never
(03:38):
saw or heard of Missus Wilson before. I've been on
duty all day. I ought to know Missus Wilson. You
remember the lobby, the clerk, of course I do. What
was your room number?
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Three? Twelve?
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Let's go take a look at it. Now. You can't
do that? Why not? Oh? That gun standard hotel equipment. Polly,
will you what are you doing with that gun? Taking
care of this huddler? Mister Roberts. The hudlerm's name is Craig.
This is missus Wilson. You manage the hotel. I do Foley?
Put away that gun. Missus Wilson, did you see mister
Robins this morning? No, mister Roberts, this woman claims she
(04:14):
registered here this morning with her husband. That's not true.
Evidently a misunderstanding. Although we'd like to go up to
her room three twelve if it's not occupied. I see
no reason why you can't. We went upstairs the click.
Foley had been very tough, Mister Robins was very smooth.
(04:38):
I didn't care deeply for either of them. I started
hoping in earnest that Myra Wilson's story was true. Three
twelves down the corridor, Missus Wilson, would you mind describing
the room?
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Well, there's there was a window over the courtyard, a
double bed with a flowered cover, a dark green and wallpaper, uh,
yellow and blue.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
I think well that's enough. Three twelve. Well, says I
on the door too. Okay, open up. Oh, there's a
bed outside of that twin beds, not a double. Carpeting
is maroon, not green, and the wallpaper dark brown stripe.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
It it it's not in all the way I described it,
but it is the same room. It must be.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Well, mister Craig, sorry to have bothered you. Let's go,
missus Wilson. We picked up my car and I started
driving home. That gave me a small chance to think.
First thought was I'd heard the story before, only that
(05:54):
was about a girl in Paris in eighteen ninety or thereabouts.
She'd lost a hotel too, along with her mother. The
explanation there was that her mother died of the plague
and the whole thing was hushed up so people wouldn't
be scared away from the city. That wouldn't work here.
We don't have plagues anymore in New York, which left
what I didn't know. But I thought it might be
(06:16):
fun finding out. How this is my house, here's my key,
go on in and try to get some sleep. Where
are you going, believe it or not, I'm going to
a hotel for the night. The hotel was the Meeker. Oh,
you again. It's coincidence if you're still hopping on that
(06:37):
Wilson business. I'm looking for a room to sleep in.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
We're all filled up.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
What about three twelve? I thanks, I'll take it. Mind
showing me to the room. I'm not supposed, but you'll
do it for me. I'll do it for you. That is, uh,
unless you wanted to check with mister Roberts first. He's
gone for the night. Well could it be a federal offense?
What kidnapping a room? I thought you gave up on that. Well,
(07:05):
that's right, true, I forgot your room. Well, come on in,
I don't have any Hey, hey, what are you doing? Well,
I'm stripping myself some wallpaper? Straight?
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Fun Now you cut that out?
Speaker 2 (07:23):
And look what I found under this striped wallpaper? Wall wallpaper?
Guess what color? Oh you don't like to guess? All right,
it's blue and yellow wallpaper, the kind Missus Wilson described. Funny.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
You can't do things like like finding.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Out this really was missus Wilson's room and that someone
changed the wallpaper to bed the rug while she was
out shopping. Only one question, where's mister Wilson? The collect
didn't answer that one or anything else. I left the
(08:01):
hotel for a doorway across the street. I put in
time and nice the doorways, but this one was okay.
It kept me out of tight until the clerk came
out of the hotel and started walking. I walked after him.
He led me to a dark street filled with discouraged brownstones.
He started up the steps. I was maybe thirty yards
(08:23):
from them when he opened the door and walked into bullets.
He must have been dead before he fell. All the
bullets had hit him. When I got to him and
the stonely to confirmed the obvious. I had news. I
(08:45):
needed somebody to tell it to me. Robers was in
the phone book. I always tacked down people that way.
It's maybe not very smart, but it nearly always works. Yes, Oh,
(09:06):
mister Craig, mind if I come in? Well, it's late,
but come in. Thanks. Don't go any further. I'm entertaining.
Oh I'm sorry. Hello, I asked you not to. I
said I was sorry. Now I'm not sure. Introduce me,
mister Craig.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
Miss Lane, Penny Lane, Penny Lane, what are you here from?
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Ben Moran? Miss Lane?
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Oh, now, you mustn't believe everything you read in the paper.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Oh, it's too bad.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
You mean he isn't going to give you a hunk
of that armored car. What would I do with an
armored car, mister Craig, I see what you mean.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Excuse me, Roberts. Where's Jim Wilson. Who is Jim Wilson
Myra Wilson's husband? Oh? That poor deluded girl. Not deluded?
Someone changed the wallpaper in the room she had underneath
was the paper she described. Oh, I can't imagine why
or who would I Anyway, Harley's really the one to ask.
(10:04):
He's in charge of such things. Oh, I asked him.
He said he takes orders from you. I'm afraid he's lying,
mister Craig. Would you like to tell him that I
should like nothing better? Because you know he's dead. Mister Craig,
I don't think I have anything further to say to you.
Too bad. I was enjoying our little chap good night,
(10:24):
mister Craig. I suppose you need time for rehearsal rehearsals?
What your story to the police. Parley was murdered. You know,
I'm not surprised. Apparently he was involved in something crooked?
Is that so? Why? Yes, checking mister and missus Wilson
in then denying he'd done so, having the room changed
while they were out. It's going to be all farley
(10:45):
from now on. Huh. I'm afraid he wasn't an honest
man anyway. From now on, he's going to be a
silent one. You can load anything you like on him,
but you've got to make it stick, rob Its, otherwise
it won't mean anything.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Good night, Yes, mind if I came with you, No,
that's nice, like mister Roberts. You know, mister Greig. What's
your first name?
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Nice? Mm?
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Nice? Call me Penny please, Penny. Ooh, that's even nicer.
But anyway, I was saying, I don't think mister Roberts
is really a gentleman.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Now that's hard to believe.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
Oh, I'm very serious. You ought to know there, are you.
You mustn't misunderstand I've I've never been up to his
apartment before you were there tonight. Oh that was because
mister Robert said he had some beautiful etchings, and I
love edgings. So you know what what, there wasn't a
single etching in the place.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
We got into my car and drove away. Honey was
a very beautiful woman who sounded like a half with
and wasn't. She was putting on the Paris and springtime routine,
pretending she'd fallen for my manly beauty. But uh, she
wanted something from me, and it wasn't love. What it was?
I hope i'd find out. Ben Moran must have been
(12:18):
a rough playmate.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
I don't know why you keep talking about him.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
He fascinates me. Wanted by the police for a few
murder rapps, swindles, arm robberies, income tax evasions, passing a
red light.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Ben would never pass a red light. Oh sorry, apology accepted.
Take me home where twenty seven calls?
Speaker 2 (12:38):
And drive? Okay, that's only a couple of blocks over, Penny.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Mm.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
The moon's still beautiful, the night's young, the air is
filled with the fragrance of flowers. Where's Ben Moran nowadays?
Speaker 3 (12:53):
I used to be a friend of his. I'm not anymore.
If you don't believe me, asked the police, and I
hate you so kindly shut up?
Speaker 2 (12:59):
Yeah, well you're home, thank you. Oh before you go, Penny,
there's something I have to ask you. But who told
you to play matahiri with me?
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Play?
Speaker 2 (13:14):
What beautiful female spy?
Speaker 3 (13:17):
I think you're absolutely insult I said you were beautiful.
Good night.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
I wanted manny walk into her apartment house and then
drove away. I thought about it. She was angry, a liar,
and a kind of girl who'd go very good on
most desert islands. But I didn't have one, so I
went home. When I got there, though I wasn't happy.
Mayra Wilson was gone. Whether she gone on her own
(13:53):
or had been persuaded, it was something I might find
out sometime or other. It was a cold trail. I
decided i'd try to warm it up a bit. The
first step was driving uptown to Roberts House, parking opposite it,
using the phone booth in an all night drug store.
I had no guarantee the gimmick would work. I didn't
have much choice. Yes, Ben, I can't say anything over
(14:18):
the phone, but come over right away, would you say, Ben?
Ben Moranya jerked right away, goodbye.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
The Golden Age of Radio Theaters presenting the Case of
the Missing Hotel Room, starring William Gargan as Barry Craig.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Will continue in just a moment.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
Now back to the action with William Gargan.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
I figured the phone call if Roberts didn't have too
good an ear would make things happen. I got back
to my car and started waiting. Either Roberts was going
to sit tight, or he was going to make a
move to do me any good, or to do mister
and missus Wilson any good. He'd have to make a move.
Maybe he would. I kept on waiting. Robins must have
(15:05):
mistaken me for Ben Moran. He made his move. He
got into his car, gunned it and went away. So
did I. Things were maybe picking up. We were across
(15:27):
the river in Jersey, up a dark road to a
small house, and lights picked out pieces of the dark sky.
I pulled up and stopped the ways down the road
from the house, watched robbers get out, knock, and go inside,
and then I started walking. I knew Roberts was in
(15:48):
that house. I could be pretty sure a killer named
Ben Moran was there, and who else I could afford
to wait and find out that as I had thought
I could. The front door was closest. I didn't bother
knocking hello, say that there's no time over over there.
(16:13):
I did the fireplace. Uh huh, yeah, he's dead, he's dead.
How did you get out here?
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Have at your house. I got a phone call from Jim,
that's my husband. I got here. He let me in,
said someone was trying to kill him.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Someone dead. You see who.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
The shops came from there?
Speaker 2 (16:37):
Yeah, the door half a jar. Whoever was in the
other room would have taken off soon as he heard
me come in.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
I I can't really believe he's dead.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Start practicing he's dead. The only thing is he's not
really Jim Wilson. Why that new corpse Myra is Ben
Moran went to his poppas, found nothing but small change,
all the nearest sheriff and got out with Myra.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Why how could it?
Speaker 2 (17:18):
After his last job Moran was hot he had to
hold up picked your town for it, married you under
the name of Wilson. Maybe that was even his real name.
He had a brecertificate then it was Ben Moran was
his uh business name? Alright?
Speaker 3 (17:35):
I had I should've known long ago. It didn't work,
but always had money.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
He hasn't got it any more. But maybe Roberts can
tell us about things. The the hotel manager, sure he
knew Moran helped Miran on that disappearing hotel routine. That
was to get rid of you. Who your better face
up to it makes it easier to forget, I suppose.
So Moran must have decided that time was ripe to
(18:00):
start spending his dough had to get rid of you
without the police being called in, or even if they
were called in, not believing your story, they wouldn't have No.
But maybe we'll get them one now. They will believe
(18:21):
we made good time back to Roberts apartment house, but
he'd made better. His car was there, and so was he.
Mind if we come in, I mind, we're still coming in.
Come on, Maya. This rushed up won't get you anywhere.
It got us inside. How's Moran? Moran? Yeah, the man
(18:44):
who phoned a couple of hours ago. I received no
such call. I'll stop. I made it you. I wanted
to meet Moran. I trailed you to his hideout in
Jersey and answer your questions yourself. The police wouldn't. They'd
ask you to answer them. Suppose you let me worry
about them. They're going to think you shot Morane what
for money? Very convincing motive. I didn't kill him. Maybe
(19:08):
I might believe you, but the police wouldn't. And after
I told them how you conspired with Moran, to get
rid of his wife. You couldn't prove that because your
clique Farley's dead. Don't be so hopeful. Myra can tell
her story. The original wallpaper is still on the walls
of three twelve, underneath the new stuff you plastered it on.
You were around when Moran was killed. All of that
(19:30):
would add up to a nice package for a jury.
You said you might believe me. I did.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Who have you got in mind for the killing Penny Lane?
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Uh? No, useless Lane, Your perfumes too distinctive. Come out
out of that room and join us.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Huh Hello, I was looking for an etchie.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
You were looking for a lot of etchings with the
Secretary of the Treasure your signature on them.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
I didn't find even one.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
It's too bad. I'm sure Moran wanted you to have.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
Them, and I'm going to get them well gunloaded. Uh huh, Barry,
raise your arms. Why I'm going to search you better not?
Speaker 2 (20:14):
I'm ticklish.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
Not that ticklish when there's a gun pointing at you.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Oh maybe not.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
Well you don't have the money, Nope, what'd you do
with this? Give it to Myra, mister Craig.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
I asked her to hold it for me, but Oh,
it's no use, Myra, no use it all.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
Dear give me that handbag. No, I'll take it there.
I'll open it too.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
Barry hmm, you're a.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
Liar, I am. There's no money in Myra's bag. There's
a gun though, That's why I wanted you to take
the bag away from him. Why you what?
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Sure? Myra is very good with a gun, but you
but she stop making noises and point your gun at
missus Wilson. She happens to have murdered the hotel clerk
Farley and her husband as well. Girls maybe will be girls,
but she wanted to be a killer. Myra was very
(21:14):
quiet about it all. She said nothing. Even when the
police came and took her away, she said nothing. She
was waiting for a jury and hoping they'd be mostly
men on it. I'll be glad to tell you what
broke the case, Willy. I didn't ask you. Well, I've
got to tell somebody all. Look. Moran wanted to shake Myra,
so he had Robbits and Parley pull a disappearing hotel
(21:36):
stunt on her. But she got to Folly, forced him
to tell her where Moran was hiding out, then killed
Folly to make sure he'd stay quiet.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
I can recommend the Hamburgers here, not at no place
down the block.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Well, anyway, the way she gave herself away was she
told me her husband had phoned her at my place,
told her where he was hiding out in Jersey, and
so on, Willie. How would her husband or anyone else
have known that she was staying at my place? They
serve it with a kind of coast lag that ain't
all bad. Isn't all bad, Willy, Nothing can be all bad.
(22:13):
Have another cup of coffee. My mistake anyway, here I
am left without a case, without a fee, without hey,
stop breeding down the back of my neck.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Turn around and I'll breathe down in front of it.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Mm hello, hello, But you can't say I'm left without
a penny.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
You are listening to the golden age of radio theater.
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