December 22, 2025 • 27 mins
Today's Mystery:The son of a cab driver asks Grainger to help his father out of jail by proving him innocent of a burglary.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: 1956 or 1957
Originating from Australia
Starring: Harp McGuire as Steve Grainger
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Patreon Supporter of the Day: Greg, Patreon supporter since April 2020.
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Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
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Give us a call at 208-991-4783
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Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: 1956 or 1957
Originating from Australia
Starring: Harp McGuire as Steve Grainger
Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Greg, Patreon supporter since April 2020.
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net
Give us a call at 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives
Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're
going to bring you this week's episode of Danger with Granger.
But first, I do want to encourage you, if you're
enjoying the podcast, to please follow us using your favorite
(00:50):
podcast software. And I also remind you that today's programs
brought you part by the financial support of our listeners.
You can support the show on a one time basis
support Dot Great Detectives dot net or become one of
our ongoing Patreon supporter as far as little last two
dollars per month to just go to Patreon dot Great
(01:11):
Detectives dot net. But now it's time for this week's
episode of Danger with Granger out of jail for Christmas.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Danger Well, Granger, mister Smith, you have helped us miserably.
The city is extremely grateful. I just don't go for hudlams,
that's all. Nevertheless, without your testimony to help the district attorney,
the kingpin of this gambling group would never be brought
(01:53):
to trial. Anytime you need me, I'll be around or
that brings up another meta. Smith, the district attorney and
I you should have a bodyguard. Listen, I've been driving
a hack around this town for years. I can take
care of myself, see very well if you insist. But
be careful. There are powerful figures in the underworld who
will stop at muffing to discredit your Yeah, discredit me,
(02:19):
says the old boy me, Frankie Smith, get him a hoodlum.
That's for laughs. Hey, my hack eye lift the punk
right here, raggy. Yeah, but what do you want? Well,
you have to move your hackets around the corner. What
gives here a bullet? Well you won't like it. Come on, move,
(02:40):
why you move your heart? All right? Yes, hit in
the back seat. You're not gonna get away with you
know that's what you're thinking. No, we get plans for you,
little man. Steve Granger, private detective with a story that
(03:03):
Glenn's Christmas and a cunning frame up and had me
playing a kind of private eyed Santa Claus for New
York Hacke's kid. In just a moment, I'll take you
back to one of my most interesting cases. This is
Granger was pretty near Christmas, a time which is usually
(03:26):
quiet for guys in my line of business. I was
sitting in my office sending out a few belated cards
when the door opened and the boy walked in.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Are you Steve Granger?
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Yeah? What can I do for you, Sonny? Some big
important job? Maybe?
Speaker 3 (03:41):
My name is Frankie Smith.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Wow. The only Frankie Smith I know was a cab driver,
being a friend of mine for years. That's my pop.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
I was named after him. That's why I came to
see you. He's in bad trouble.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
What he's in jail? Frankie in jail. I can't believe that.
What do you do?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
He didn't do anything he said he didn't and now
he's in jail. It doesn't look like he can get
out for Christmas. So I thought maybe you could help.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
I'll do anything I can, freank even but once your
dad accused.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Of bugre in the first degree is what the cops say, freak,
didn't I tell you? And you gotta get him out
for Christmas. Pop's the only one I've got in the world.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
This was the first I ever knew of Fraggie Smith
having any sort of family, much less the sun. The
boy told me when the cab driver was being held,
I went down. I had a lot of trouble getting
in to see him, but finally made the grave. Granger.
You a psach for sore esed. I know I got
sewer eyed. I'll come here in the by steel, Frank,
I'll come. You knew I was here, son came down
to see me once you out for Christmas. Yeah, I
(04:46):
might have known it. Chip off the old block, dead
kid green Geer. I am the recipient of a frame.
I've been carefully mad at, framed in birch and now
about to be hung on the wall. There's a lot
of words, but no sense. I'm just say something. Yesterday
I walked out of city hurl right smack into a
smack over the head. I go out cold. When I
come to, I am in some dolls apartments. She is
(05:06):
yelling thief at me. The cop shows up and I
wind up here sounds like the old FRAMERU all right?
They play it even safer. On the floor is the
Dame's fur coat in a paper sacks the doll's jewelry. Downstairs,
in my hack, the cop finds some stuff that's been
stolen from other spots around town. I wonder why they
didn't just knock you off. I wonder too. In a
sort of grateful way. Of course, this will completely discredit
(05:29):
any testimony who gave against the gambling syndigate. And when
it's sober and they're free, I wind up on the
East River wearing concrete overshoes. I know what you mean.
In any city there are bail bond brokers. In big
cities like New York, there are hundreds. Always there is
one main guy. This one was named Ralph Hendon. I
(05:52):
went to see him. What's on your mind, Granger? One
of your clients get in the clink because of a mistake,
No Ralph, nothing like that. There's a Hacke locked up
on a burglary rapper. He's innocent, like the springing for Christmas.
His kid wants him. You're talking about Frankie Smith. His
kid's been here already. What's that mean? No dit, why not? Granger.
I'm a bail brown broker. I take risks. It's some
(06:14):
I don't take. Frankie Smith is won, so he's dead. Also,
you're wrong about him. He's guilty. Big boys, telephone you
and hand you the word? Is that why you want
to go bail for Frankie. I'm very busy, Granger, right now,
you're very busy, being a rat that isn't going to
help you. Thanks for nothing or one more thing, Granger. Yeah,
(06:40):
none of the other boys will go bail either. I
went from office to office and got the same answer. Sorry,
no bail for Frankie Smith. I wanted the police version
of Frankie's supposed robbery and managed to worm it out
of an embarrassed robbery detail man. Then I headed for
my pal col hendrickx cal and you and like Frankie
Smith also as a newspaper man, he had sources. I
(07:03):
hoped he had one. Now, Hi, Stev whys on none?
Plus Frankie Smith is in jail on a frame burglar
you're wrapping. Oh, that doesn't make him worth much of
that investigation group, does it? No? I think that's why
the frame was made. Frankie didn't have an enemy in
the world. I want him out for the kids Christmas.
Speaker 4 (07:19):
What about bail?
Speaker 2 (07:20):
No soap cow? You see the police have him dead.
The rights. This woman says she walked into her apartment
she saw Frankie rifling the joint. She went downstairs, got
a coppo made the pinch. Oh is a woman like that?
The name here is Leila Rand lives on fiftieth Street.
Have you talked to him? No, well, why don't you
and let me make a few calls to find out
(07:42):
if there is in some way we can spring Frankie
for Christmas. I watched the holiday crowd, most of them
loaded down with packages and smiles, and thought of two
people who might not smile at twenty fifth A small
boy in a lonesome apartment, the cab driver a prisoner
in a solitary cell downtown. This was the address on
(08:06):
fiftieth Street where Leela Rand lived. The apartment was on
the third floor. I walked up. I reached the third
floor and moved towards the Rand a woman's apartment. I
saw a slight figure at the door and moved a
little faster. Ranky, What are you trying to do to
that lock, mister Green? I was trying to get in.
Don't you know that's against the law. You want to
(08:27):
join your father in jail? Gosh?
Speaker 3 (08:29):
I just wanted to get in along the road.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Okay, okay, I'll beat it. Don't get any more ideas
like that. Suppose Lela Rand caught you, I wouldn't care.
Your father would.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Yeah, yeah, you're right, mister Granger.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Somebody's coming. Come on, I'll stay out of side it
and don't say anything. Okay. Stopping at the apartment, she
must be Lila Rand. Are you going to talk door
(09:05):
in a few minutes. Now you walk downstairs and go
home and stay there. I waited a few minutes, then
moved to the door of Lila Wren's apartment.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Yes, what is it?
Speaker 2 (09:23):
I'm Steve Granger. Are you Lila Rand? I am. I'd
like to talk to you about that robbery that took
place up here, Miss Randy arrested. Man is an old
friend of mine. Oh, come here, I thank you. I
wonder if you'd mind telling me what happened up here.
Speaker 5 (09:36):
It was yesterday I'd been shopping for Christmasing, we see.
I came home. I unlocked the door and fell the present.
You know how women are?
Speaker 2 (09:44):
You saw him distinctly.
Speaker 5 (09:46):
He was going to get desk. There in the middle
of this room. He piled my mink coat and a
paper sack containing some jewelry. I closed the door very softly,
went down the hall and rang for the elevator. I
rode downstairs and had the doorman get a police officer.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Uh, tell me one thing. That Smith seemed to be dazed,
you know, sort of not quite in the South. I know,
I don't think so I see. Well, sorry I bothered,
Jims ran Oh not at all.
Speaker 5 (10:13):
Oh, and I've not been a very good hostess.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Would you like a drink before you go? I have
the next time, Scotch who.
Speaker 5 (10:20):
Holiday spirits, you know, won't take a minute.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
I watched Leila Wren move towards a typical apartment bar
stuck in one corner. She stood with her back to me.
She got out the ingredients plus and ice, mixed the
highballs and came back.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
Here you are, mister Granger. I hope you like soda.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
I do, yes, six, I toast junior success. I'll drink
to it. But I'm afraid I'm at a that end. Cheers,
just to say cheers.
Speaker 5 (10:48):
How was it, mister Granger?
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Very delicious, kind of strong? But mister Grange, what's wrong?
You look like you don't feel so good? No, all right,
it's gonna get some air. Oh why don't you lie
down for my I gotta.
Speaker 5 (11:05):
Go got it here, mister g You can't go now,
you're too tired, you're sleepy.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Why don't you let me get a pillow?
Speaker 4 (11:13):
For you and rest.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
You gotta get out of here.
Speaker 5 (11:17):
Lie down, mister Granger, Lie down like a good little boy.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Sleep, mister Granger. Sleep. I'll continue with this interesting story
in a minute. I don't remember anything after Nila ran
telling me to sleep. When I came back alive, there
(11:47):
was a taste like bear fur in my mouth, and
my head was aching from every ankle. I tried to
sit up and find I couldn't move my hands. I'd
been tied firmly behind my back, and my feet were
laced together two and I had the noise at the
door scratch, as though someone was trying to break in.
I hopped towards it. Who's there?
Speaker 4 (12:10):
Open the door, mister Greene.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Let me see if I can do it. I just
turn my back and see if I can reach the
knob with my fingers. I nearly got it fine, hard on, mister,
I got it now, only I my lexing kid. There
wasn't lucked.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Oh, mister Gray, did you let a warrant tie you up?
Speaker 2 (12:34):
I certainly did undo me with your kid there?
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Yeah, I got your hands free.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Thanks, son of this, I owe you something well.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
You know I didn't like that, missus Brandon.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
I'll go along with that. Frankie there, I got the
feet free. Let's get out of here. Don't just go
and look around.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
Isn't that why you wanted to get in here too.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Frank you went up against a very smart bunch of
crooks that don't let things lay around for private eyes
to find. I escorted Frankie Son to his apartment, told
him to stay there for the second time, and called
Cal Hendricks. I told him what had been happening to me,
and I asked if he'd got anywhere with his investigations.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
There's one person might help here, form a chandler. They
could broke him.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Yeah, where do I find him?
Speaker 4 (13:18):
Oh, you're a card. He lives in Rochelle. I'll give
you his address. Thanks, Andy cambl of him. He was
double truss once. It almost cost of his life.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
So what the double trust was set up by a
private detective. Cal gave me the character's name, Michael Fless.
The address was an apartment has a new Rochelle. I
grabbed a train and went there. It took under an
now to get to the suburban city. Michael Fless lived
in a building as circumspect as a Bible class Hello
(13:51):
you're Michael Fless. I'm Steve Grainger, the private eye. Hack
driver has been framed in New York. Is fixed without bail.
Not interested, Greene, you will be when I tell you
that the syndicate did the job ill straight. It could
be that he's the head, like the law thinks. Here
there's a day mixed up in a name Leela Rand.
(14:11):
She mickeyed me. She's a snake. She helped get me.
I want that cab driver around for Christmas. Tomorrow's the
last day. Can you help me? Yeah? There's a character
hangs around a nice spot on twenty third Street. His
name is Louis Brill. He's my eye. He's been getting
things together. Maybe this might be a good time to
(14:32):
get even. It would the law would be on your side,
thrank you what if I help? The law is out
until it's over. I understand, okay, And you play it
straight or play it dead. Mister Plash was not fooling.
(14:56):
There was about as much Christmas spirit in his pale
blue eyes as there is and a esque. I've always
been locked out of his igloo. I wasn't kidding myself
that this was a friendly character, but at least he
looked like providing me with a little ammunition, even if
it might back fire on me. In just a moment,
I'll bring you the climax of the case. I left
(15:18):
Michael Flets and made my way back to Manhattan, with
him helping me along. I felt a bit more helpful
in my fight for Frankie Smith. Even the trees placed
in the windows along the Great White Way looked a
little greener as they moved down towards the twenty third
Street spot occupied by the mysterious Louis Brille. When I
found him, mister Brille wasn't too pleasant enough. Fluss is
(15:38):
playing it right or not? Mister forgotten about that other
private eye? What do you want? What if you got on?
Tell Straighter? In this crowd, I found out where the
records of the Syndice are hidden. Old off building downtown
on Water Street, half blocked from Pier seven. Any name
on it for Easton Warehouse Company. The dummy hot fits
(15:59):
it up by Straighter. You know what Dame named Leela
rand As an apartment on fiftieth Street. Sure she's straight
as a girl. She's been in on a million frames.
Here's that apartment for just that purpose, where she really
lived in three four seven eighties thirty fourth Street on
her own name. Yeah, one more thing. A cabby named
Frankie Smith was framed for her burglary job the rand
(16:20):
woman's fiftieth Street address. He described a mug that slugged him.
Who would some as straight as men be. We'll go
over there her table on the inside. See that guy
wearing a tan top cock. He might be the guy.
He's not. He's the real slugger's boss. I started back
(16:41):
uptown when I left the twenty third Street joint, but
changed my mind and went down at police headquarters. In
the identification bureau, I came across the picture of the
man Brill had pointed out to me he had a
record longer than an eight's arm. Five minutes later I
was shown it a Frankie Smith's cell. Well, well, welcome
to my humble abode, green shape, Frankie. I think we've
come up with something, but I want you to look
at his picture first. Recognize him. Yeah, he's a character
(17:05):
WHI slugged me the other day. He's positive, Well is
square to that identification and a witness stand with much
emphasis and complete confidence. I took the picture back to
the Identification Bureau got a report on the Hudlam's present
address and whether it received a shock. He lived in
the same building on fiftieth Street. Does Leila Rand saying out,
(17:28):
I headed straight for cal Hendrix's home base, told him
what I'd found out. Maybe we could get to that
whole um and sweit him a little. If he confess,
frank he smith it go free, then we could stick
the DA's office into perils straight a syndicate records and
make it up to flus You Rochelle, good idea, But
I think we ought to get to the record first.
Would that be playing at square with Frankie He still
wouldn't get out of that burglary charge. Yeah, that's right.
(17:49):
Let's pay this hoodlum a visit first. His apartment is
right next to the one Leila Rand uses smart set
up for that gang any time that a framed pull. Ah,
Hey the doors opening, quick back around the corner.
Speaker 5 (18:07):
Okay, now we're leaving, But don't forget these things.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
You will get you if you don't get him, Oh worry,
he'll be lost by morning. You have a plan you too.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
Want, right, Les Joys.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
Recognize the man with the ram down hell straighter. Yeah,
I know. Listen, call you follow them, find out where
they go. I don't here to list myself. Okay, meet
you your place out in front right. I woke down
a who's there, Straighter? I forgot something? Hey, you eat up?
(18:44):
Get in there. You can get up those hands and
keep him up. What are you trying to pull on
Steve Granger? Does that mean anything to you? No, that
doesn't mean anything that I had a little ran today
to get rid of me either. She was only fooled
like you were pulling when he slug Frankie Smith and
then framed him for baguary. I don't know anything. Frankie
can identify you, Buster. I'm gonna take you downtown and
you can tell the cops your story if they believe it.
(19:05):
Now wait, America Hat, we're paying a call on police headquarters.
As I spoke, the door behind me was push open
and two shots, saying in the room, hold them through
to the floor, mortally wounded and pulling me with him.
When I got back to my feet, enough time had
passed for the assailant to get to the bronx. I
found one thing, the key in the door I wrapped
(19:25):
in my handkerchief, hoping for fingerprints. It's a check. I
went down into the main hallway of the building and
found cal HENDRICKX just sitting up on the floor. Oh
my head, what happened to you? Cal On? They must
have got wise to me. I came down the steps
round at a corner and blam, I caught it and
it mustter smelled something when I saw you. They got
you out of the way and they went back upstairs,
unlocked the door and shut the handy man. Oh it's great.
(19:45):
Did you get anything out of it? Yeah? I won't
do any good now he's dead. I don't think any
statement I'd make would stand up. That's that. Yeah, it
comes a homicide crew with a handful of questions. After that,
I want to go down to the I got a
key with fingerprints. I hope. We told the homicide men
(20:06):
our story. They promised to get out of pickup on
pell Straighter and Leela Wren, a pickup that wouldn't do
much good because they'd obviously out of by themselves. Then
we went to the police lab. We got an interesting report. Well, Steve,
what the lab boys tell you if the key had
the print of a thumb and forefinger, cow oh good,
better than you think. The prince are those of a
woman's Leela Ren. Who else's now we need as a
(20:28):
paraffin test down on Straighter and Leela Wren and we'll
know which one shot their mug pal and maybe Frankie
Smith will be out for Christmas if the police pick
up that path. You and I won't wait for that
old boy. You know, We're going down to that warehouse
and get the syndicate records. That way we can force
their hand. God Jackie, nice night pro murder. He cut
(20:55):
that out places right ahead to the sign bar easton Gumps.
How are you gonna get it? Here's the doors. We
can't wait for somebody to unlock it for us one.
But hey, you are mister Hendricks, was it? Why do
(21:18):
we start? I can make out what looks like an
office over there. Yeah, and there's a light code. Want
me to put it? Well, we got to lose two
fighting cases. Yeah, find anything, Take a look, records of
(21:38):
gambling takes, operations of different places, straight the signature all
over everything. Yeah, I look, and I ran the signature.
We've got hurt too. If we can only get cranky
Smith out of the clink, what about that I don't know.
Answer went up, Yeah, what do you want?
Speaker 4 (22:02):
I want you to leave those rickets alone. If you do,
frank will be free an hour.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
You've got him. Yeah, I'll do as you ask. I
told Cal what had happened. We agreed that I would
be in my office in an hour, But first he
and I went uptown to the thirty fourth Street building
where Leila Rand really lived. I left Cal behind with
(22:30):
instructions to wait five minutes and then come up.
Speaker 5 (22:34):
Come in, Granger, put your hands in sight.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
You were waiting for me?
Speaker 5 (22:39):
Huh, certainly I've had a man on you ever since
you got away from my little plan.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Howevery move you've made? Now what you got to go?
Just like you shot your mug helper? Why not? Where's
Trader in the kitchen?
Speaker 5 (22:54):
The out a second, Frankie day, I'll tell you drop it?
Speaker 4 (23:05):
You drop it straighter?
Speaker 2 (23:06):
You well, friends, that's the story. I'll be back to
wrap up the case in just a minute. Oh el
Hendrix had crashed through the door when pelle Strader turned
(23:27):
on in the newspaper man lifted in through the shoulder.
We took him both down a headquarters, told our story
and saw Frankie Smith released from custody. It was five
in the morning. The next time we met was in
Frankie Smith's apartment. Here you and cal certainly make a
good team. Greety, I had a lot of lucky breaks. Oh,
by the way, the police Parafan Strada and Lila Wren.
That charming lady is going up for murder. She shot
(23:48):
the guy who was saw the meal. She's only dead.
It looked like she was even straight as Botts Straighter
is in deep too. Those syndicate records. Plus the bail
bond broker is yelling if got him but hot, plenty hot.
At least we did what Steve said out to We
got you out for Christmas. Eve. Hi, hello little man?
What are you carrying that package?
Speaker 3 (24:07):
My Christmas present to my pop? I decided to give.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
It him now, Holy smoke, what are you're giving him?
Twenty pounds a web?
Speaker 3 (24:14):
No, he always forgets the Sea Freeze cab license, so
this year I get it for There's fifty dollars worth
of pennies in that package.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
Well, how do you like that? I'll tell you, Frankie
that was my son. I like it fine. Steve Granger again,
you've just heard one of the most interesting cases in
my files. I'll have another one for you, so be
around next time.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
Welcome back. Overall, a decent episode. It's not deep at all.
There's no search eating through the chronicles of ten cents
Bohemian kings. It's just a typical Granger case, but at Christmas,
with Granger delivering a kid's best present his dad, a
(25:11):
very simple, enjoyable tale. I will say that it was
a little weird that Leela wran bothered to drug Granger.
She wasn't trying to kill him and he was leaving anyway.
I mean, was she trying to fulfill something that's in
the Femme fatale union contract?
Speaker 2 (25:30):
Also for old.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
Time radio fans, I think her name was way too
close to the name of Leela Ransom, the on and
again off again girlfriend of the great Yolder Sleeve. But
other than that, a decent Granger episode. Well, now it
is time to think our Patreon supporter of the day,
(25:52):
and I want to go ahead and think Greg Patreon
supporter since April of twenty twenty, currently supporting the podcast
at the Shawmus level of four dollars or more per month.
That will do it for today. Our Christmas programming continues
on other podcasts On the Old Time Radio snack Wagon.
(26:13):
Our Christmas episode is posted tomorrow we'll have our final
Amazing World of Radio Christmas special. We will be back
in three weeks with another episode of Danger with Granger
with encores the next two weeks, but join us back
here tomorrow for a non holiday related episode of The
(26:38):
Big Story where.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
They identification on the dead man yet Hudge.
Speaker 6 (26:44):
It's a garage mechanic named Carl Andrews.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
Anything else? What do you mean any more information I
can use for a story? Love question?
Speaker 6 (26:53):
According to everything I read, newspaper reporters and private detectors
are real bright guys. They always kept to the criminals,
single handed professional cops just to dope with no clovisor one.
So why don't you get your own information?
Speaker 2 (27:08):
Frankly, I wouldn't know how. I've never captured a criminal
in my life, and you probably think you could. I
know very well I couldn't.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
I hope you'll be with us then in the meantime.
Send your comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net,
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This is your host, Adam graham Son and all
Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're
going to bring you this week's episode of Danger with Granger.
But first, I do want to encourage you, if you're
enjoying the podcast, to please follow us using your favorite
(00:50):
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our ongoing Patreon supporter as far as little last two
dollars per month to just go to Patreon dot Great
(01:11):
Detectives dot net. But now it's time for this week's
episode of Danger with Granger out of jail for Christmas.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Danger Well, Granger, mister Smith, you have helped us miserably.
The city is extremely grateful. I just don't go for hudlams,
that's all. Nevertheless, without your testimony to help the district attorney,
the kingpin of this gambling group would never be brought
(01:53):
to trial. Anytime you need me, I'll be around or
that brings up another meta. Smith, the district attorney and
I you should have a bodyguard. Listen, I've been driving
a hack around this town for years. I can take
care of myself, see very well if you insist. But
be careful. There are powerful figures in the underworld who
will stop at muffing to discredit your Yeah, discredit me,
(02:19):
says the old boy me, Frankie Smith, get him a hoodlum.
That's for laughs. Hey, my hack eye lift the punk
right here, raggy. Yeah, but what do you want? Well,
you have to move your hackets around the corner. What
gives here a bullet? Well you won't like it. Come on, move,
(02:40):
why you move your heart? All right? Yes, hit in
the back seat. You're not gonna get away with you
know that's what you're thinking. No, we get plans for you,
little man. Steve Granger, private detective with a story that
(03:03):
Glenn's Christmas and a cunning frame up and had me
playing a kind of private eyed Santa Claus for New
York Hacke's kid. In just a moment, I'll take you
back to one of my most interesting cases. This is
Granger was pretty near Christmas, a time which is usually
(03:26):
quiet for guys in my line of business. I was
sitting in my office sending out a few belated cards
when the door opened and the boy walked in.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Are you Steve Granger?
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Yeah? What can I do for you, Sonny? Some big
important job? Maybe?
Speaker 3 (03:41):
My name is Frankie Smith.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Wow. The only Frankie Smith I know was a cab driver,
being a friend of mine for years. That's my pop.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
I was named after him. That's why I came to
see you. He's in bad trouble.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
What he's in jail? Frankie in jail. I can't believe that.
What do you do?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
He didn't do anything he said he didn't and now
he's in jail. It doesn't look like he can get
out for Christmas. So I thought maybe you could help.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
I'll do anything I can, freank even but once your
dad accused.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Of bugre in the first degree is what the cops say, freak,
didn't I tell you? And you gotta get him out
for Christmas. Pop's the only one I've got in the world.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
This was the first I ever knew of Fraggie Smith
having any sort of family, much less the sun. The
boy told me when the cab driver was being held,
I went down. I had a lot of trouble getting
in to see him, but finally made the grave. Granger.
You a psach for sore esed. I know I got
sewer eyed. I'll come here in the by steel, Frank,
I'll come. You knew I was here, son came down
to see me once you out for Christmas. Yeah, I
(04:46):
might have known it. Chip off the old block, dead
kid green Geer. I am the recipient of a frame.
I've been carefully mad at, framed in birch and now
about to be hung on the wall. There's a lot
of words, but no sense. I'm just say something. Yesterday
I walked out of city hurl right smack into a
smack over the head. I go out cold. When I
come to, I am in some dolls apartments. She is
(05:06):
yelling thief at me. The cop shows up and I
wind up here sounds like the old FRAMERU all right?
They play it even safer. On the floor is the
Dame's fur coat in a paper sacks the doll's jewelry. Downstairs,
in my hack, the cop finds some stuff that's been
stolen from other spots around town. I wonder why they
didn't just knock you off. I wonder too. In a
sort of grateful way. Of course, this will completely discredit
(05:29):
any testimony who gave against the gambling syndigate. And when
it's sober and they're free, I wind up on the
East River wearing concrete overshoes. I know what you mean.
In any city there are bail bond brokers. In big
cities like New York, there are hundreds. Always there is
one main guy. This one was named Ralph Hendon. I
(05:52):
went to see him. What's on your mind, Granger? One
of your clients get in the clink because of a mistake,
No Ralph, nothing like that. There's a Hacke locked up
on a burglary rapper. He's innocent, like the springing for Christmas.
His kid wants him. You're talking about Frankie Smith. His
kid's been here already. What's that mean? No dit, why not? Granger.
I'm a bail brown broker. I take risks. It's some
(06:14):
I don't take. Frankie Smith is won, so he's dead. Also,
you're wrong about him. He's guilty. Big boys, telephone you
and hand you the word? Is that why you want
to go bail for Frankie. I'm very busy, Granger, right now,
you're very busy, being a rat that isn't going to
help you. Thanks for nothing or one more thing, Granger. Yeah,
(06:40):
none of the other boys will go bail either. I
went from office to office and got the same answer. Sorry,
no bail for Frankie Smith. I wanted the police version
of Frankie's supposed robbery and managed to worm it out
of an embarrassed robbery detail man. Then I headed for
my pal col hendrickx cal and you and like Frankie
Smith also as a newspaper man, he had sources. I
(07:03):
hoped he had one. Now, Hi, Stev whys on none?
Plus Frankie Smith is in jail on a frame burglar
you're wrapping. Oh, that doesn't make him worth much of
that investigation group, does it? No? I think that's why
the frame was made. Frankie didn't have an enemy in
the world. I want him out for the kids Christmas.
Speaker 4 (07:19):
What about bail?
Speaker 2 (07:20):
No soap cow? You see the police have him dead.
The rights. This woman says she walked into her apartment
she saw Frankie rifling the joint. She went downstairs, got
a coppo made the pinch. Oh is a woman like that?
The name here is Leila Rand lives on fiftieth Street.
Have you talked to him? No, well, why don't you
and let me make a few calls to find out
(07:42):
if there is in some way we can spring Frankie
for Christmas. I watched the holiday crowd, most of them
loaded down with packages and smiles, and thought of two
people who might not smile at twenty fifth A small
boy in a lonesome apartment, the cab driver a prisoner
in a solitary cell downtown. This was the address on
(08:06):
fiftieth Street where Leela Rand lived. The apartment was on
the third floor. I walked up. I reached the third
floor and moved towards the Rand a woman's apartment. I
saw a slight figure at the door and moved a
little faster. Ranky, What are you trying to do to
that lock, mister Green? I was trying to get in.
Don't you know that's against the law. You want to
(08:27):
join your father in jail? Gosh?
Speaker 3 (08:29):
I just wanted to get in along the road.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Okay, okay, I'll beat it. Don't get any more ideas
like that. Suppose Lela Rand caught you, I wouldn't care.
Your father would.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Yeah, yeah, you're right, mister Granger.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Somebody's coming. Come on, I'll stay out of side it
and don't say anything. Okay. Stopping at the apartment, she
must be Lila Rand. Are you going to talk door
(09:05):
in a few minutes. Now you walk downstairs and go
home and stay there. I waited a few minutes, then
moved to the door of Lila Wren's apartment.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Yes, what is it?
Speaker 2 (09:23):
I'm Steve Granger. Are you Lila Rand? I am. I'd
like to talk to you about that robbery that took
place up here, Miss Randy arrested. Man is an old
friend of mine. Oh, come here, I thank you. I
wonder if you'd mind telling me what happened up here.
Speaker 5 (09:36):
It was yesterday I'd been shopping for Christmasing, we see.
I came home. I unlocked the door and fell the present.
You know how women are?
Speaker 2 (09:44):
You saw him distinctly.
Speaker 5 (09:46):
He was going to get desk. There in the middle
of this room. He piled my mink coat and a
paper sack containing some jewelry. I closed the door very softly,
went down the hall and rang for the elevator. I
rode downstairs and had the doorman get a police officer.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Uh, tell me one thing. That Smith seemed to be dazed,
you know, sort of not quite in the South. I know,
I don't think so I see. Well, sorry I bothered,
Jims ran Oh not at all.
Speaker 5 (10:13):
Oh, and I've not been a very good hostess.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Would you like a drink before you go? I have
the next time, Scotch who.
Speaker 5 (10:20):
Holiday spirits, you know, won't take a minute.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
I watched Leila Wren move towards a typical apartment bar
stuck in one corner. She stood with her back to me.
She got out the ingredients plus and ice, mixed the
highballs and came back.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
Here you are, mister Granger. I hope you like soda.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
I do, yes, six, I toast junior success. I'll drink
to it. But I'm afraid I'm at a that end. Cheers,
just to say cheers.
Speaker 5 (10:48):
How was it, mister Granger?
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Very delicious, kind of strong? But mister Grange, what's wrong?
You look like you don't feel so good? No, all right,
it's gonna get some air. Oh why don't you lie
down for my I gotta.
Speaker 5 (11:05):
Go got it here, mister g You can't go now,
you're too tired, you're sleepy.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Why don't you let me get a pillow?
Speaker 4 (11:13):
For you and rest.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
You gotta get out of here.
Speaker 5 (11:17):
Lie down, mister Granger, Lie down like a good little boy.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Sleep, mister Granger. Sleep. I'll continue with this interesting story
in a minute. I don't remember anything after Nila ran
telling me to sleep. When I came back alive, there
(11:47):
was a taste like bear fur in my mouth, and
my head was aching from every ankle. I tried to
sit up and find I couldn't move my hands. I'd
been tied firmly behind my back, and my feet were
laced together two and I had the noise at the
door scratch, as though someone was trying to break in.
I hopped towards it. Who's there?
Speaker 4 (12:10):
Open the door, mister Greene.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Let me see if I can do it. I just
turn my back and see if I can reach the
knob with my fingers. I nearly got it fine, hard on, mister,
I got it now, only I my lexing kid. There
wasn't lucked.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Oh, mister Gray, did you let a warrant tie you up?
Speaker 2 (12:34):
I certainly did undo me with your kid there?
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Yeah, I got your hands free.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Thanks, son of this, I owe you something well.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
You know I didn't like that, missus Brandon.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
I'll go along with that. Frankie there, I got the
feet free. Let's get out of here. Don't just go
and look around.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
Isn't that why you wanted to get in here too.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Frank you went up against a very smart bunch of
crooks that don't let things lay around for private eyes
to find. I escorted Frankie Son to his apartment, told
him to stay there for the second time, and called
Cal Hendricks. I told him what had been happening to me,
and I asked if he'd got anywhere with his investigations.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
There's one person might help here, form a chandler. They
could broke him.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Yeah, where do I find him?
Speaker 4 (13:18):
Oh, you're a card. He lives in Rochelle. I'll give
you his address. Thanks, Andy cambl of him. He was
double truss once. It almost cost of his life.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
So what the double trust was set up by a
private detective. Cal gave me the character's name, Michael Fless.
The address was an apartment has a new Rochelle. I
grabbed a train and went there. It took under an
now to get to the suburban city. Michael Fless lived
in a building as circumspect as a Bible class Hello
(13:51):
you're Michael Fless. I'm Steve Grainger, the private eye. Hack
driver has been framed in New York. Is fixed without bail.
Not interested, Greene, you will be when I tell you
that the syndicate did the job ill straight. It could
be that he's the head, like the law thinks. Here
there's a day mixed up in a name Leela Rand.
(14:11):
She mickeyed me. She's a snake. She helped get me.
I want that cab driver around for Christmas. Tomorrow's the
last day. Can you help me? Yeah? There's a character
hangs around a nice spot on twenty third Street. His
name is Louis Brill. He's my eye. He's been getting
things together. Maybe this might be a good time to
(14:32):
get even. It would the law would be on your side,
thrank you what if I help? The law is out
until it's over. I understand, okay, And you play it
straight or play it dead. Mister Plash was not fooling.
(14:56):
There was about as much Christmas spirit in his pale
blue eyes as there is and a esque. I've always
been locked out of his igloo. I wasn't kidding myself
that this was a friendly character, but at least he
looked like providing me with a little ammunition, even if
it might back fire on me. In just a moment,
I'll bring you the climax of the case. I left
(15:18):
Michael Flets and made my way back to Manhattan, with
him helping me along. I felt a bit more helpful
in my fight for Frankie Smith. Even the trees placed
in the windows along the Great White Way looked a
little greener as they moved down towards the twenty third
Street spot occupied by the mysterious Louis Brille. When I
found him, mister Brille wasn't too pleasant enough. Fluss is
(15:38):
playing it right or not? Mister forgotten about that other
private eye? What do you want? What if you got on?
Tell Straighter? In this crowd, I found out where the
records of the Syndice are hidden. Old off building downtown
on Water Street, half blocked from Pier seven. Any name
on it for Easton Warehouse Company. The dummy hot fits
(15:59):
it up by Straighter. You know what Dame named Leela
rand As an apartment on fiftieth Street. Sure she's straight
as a girl. She's been in on a million frames.
Here's that apartment for just that purpose, where she really
lived in three four seven eighties thirty fourth Street on
her own name. Yeah, one more thing. A cabby named
Frankie Smith was framed for her burglary job the rand
(16:20):
woman's fiftieth Street address. He described a mug that slugged him.
Who would some as straight as men be. We'll go
over there her table on the inside. See that guy
wearing a tan top cock. He might be the guy.
He's not. He's the real slugger's boss. I started back
(16:41):
uptown when I left the twenty third Street joint, but
changed my mind and went down at police headquarters. In
the identification bureau, I came across the picture of the
man Brill had pointed out to me he had a
record longer than an eight's arm. Five minutes later I
was shown it a Frankie Smith's cell. Well, well, welcome
to my humble abode, green shape, Frankie. I think we've
come up with something, but I want you to look
at his picture first. Recognize him. Yeah, he's a character
(17:05):
WHI slugged me the other day. He's positive, Well is
square to that identification and a witness stand with much
emphasis and complete confidence. I took the picture back to
the Identification Bureau got a report on the Hudlam's present
address and whether it received a shock. He lived in
the same building on fiftieth Street. Does Leila Rand saying out,
(17:28):
I headed straight for cal Hendrix's home base, told him
what I'd found out. Maybe we could get to that
whole um and sweit him a little. If he confess,
frank he smith it go free, then we could stick
the DA's office into perils straight a syndicate records and
make it up to flus You Rochelle, good idea, But
I think we ought to get to the record first.
Would that be playing at square with Frankie He still
wouldn't get out of that burglary charge. Yeah, that's right.
(17:49):
Let's pay this hoodlum a visit first. His apartment is
right next to the one Leila Rand uses smart set
up for that gang any time that a framed pull. Ah,
Hey the doors opening, quick back around the corner.
Speaker 5 (18:07):
Okay, now we're leaving, But don't forget these things.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
You will get you if you don't get him, Oh worry,
he'll be lost by morning. You have a plan you too.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
Want, right, Les Joys.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
Recognize the man with the ram down hell straighter. Yeah,
I know. Listen, call you follow them, find out where
they go. I don't here to list myself. Okay, meet
you your place out in front right. I woke down
a who's there, Straighter? I forgot something? Hey, you eat up?
(18:44):
Get in there. You can get up those hands and
keep him up. What are you trying to pull on
Steve Granger? Does that mean anything to you? No, that
doesn't mean anything that I had a little ran today
to get rid of me either. She was only fooled
like you were pulling when he slug Frankie Smith and
then framed him for baguary. I don't know anything. Frankie
can identify you, Buster. I'm gonna take you downtown and
you can tell the cops your story if they believe it.
(19:05):
Now wait, America Hat, we're paying a call on police headquarters.
As I spoke, the door behind me was push open
and two shots, saying in the room, hold them through
to the floor, mortally wounded and pulling me with him.
When I got back to my feet, enough time had
passed for the assailant to get to the bronx. I
found one thing, the key in the door I wrapped
(19:25):
in my handkerchief, hoping for fingerprints. It's a check. I
went down into the main hallway of the building and
found cal HENDRICKX just sitting up on the floor. Oh
my head, what happened to you? Cal On? They must
have got wise to me. I came down the steps
round at a corner and blam, I caught it and
it mustter smelled something when I saw you. They got
you out of the way and they went back upstairs,
unlocked the door and shut the handy man. Oh it's great.
(19:45):
Did you get anything out of it? Yeah? I won't
do any good now he's dead. I don't think any
statement I'd make would stand up. That's that. Yeah, it
comes a homicide crew with a handful of questions. After that,
I want to go down to the I got a
key with fingerprints. I hope. We told the homicide men
(20:06):
our story. They promised to get out of pickup on
pell Straighter and Leela Wren, a pickup that wouldn't do
much good because they'd obviously out of by themselves. Then
we went to the police lab. We got an interesting report. Well, Steve,
what the lab boys tell you if the key had
the print of a thumb and forefinger, cow oh good,
better than you think. The prince are those of a
woman's Leela Ren. Who else's now we need as a
(20:28):
paraffin test down on Straighter and Leela Wren and we'll
know which one shot their mug pal and maybe Frankie
Smith will be out for Christmas if the police pick
up that path. You and I won't wait for that
old boy. You know, We're going down to that warehouse
and get the syndicate records. That way we can force
their hand. God Jackie, nice night pro murder. He cut
(20:55):
that out places right ahead to the sign bar easton Gumps.
How are you gonna get it? Here's the doors. We
can't wait for somebody to unlock it for us one.
But hey, you are mister Hendricks, was it? Why do
(21:18):
we start? I can make out what looks like an
office over there. Yeah, and there's a light code. Want
me to put it? Well, we got to lose two
fighting cases. Yeah, find anything, Take a look, records of
(21:38):
gambling takes, operations of different places, straight the signature all
over everything. Yeah, I look, and I ran the signature.
We've got hurt too. If we can only get cranky
Smith out of the clink, what about that I don't know.
Answer went up, Yeah, what do you want?
Speaker 4 (22:02):
I want you to leave those rickets alone. If you do,
frank will be free an hour.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
You've got him. Yeah, I'll do as you ask. I
told Cal what had happened. We agreed that I would
be in my office in an hour, But first he
and I went uptown to the thirty fourth Street building
where Leila Rand really lived. I left Cal behind with
(22:30):
instructions to wait five minutes and then come up.
Speaker 5 (22:34):
Come in, Granger, put your hands in sight.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
You were waiting for me?
Speaker 5 (22:39):
Huh, certainly I've had a man on you ever since
you got away from my little plan.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Howevery move you've made? Now what you got to go?
Just like you shot your mug helper? Why not? Where's
Trader in the kitchen?
Speaker 5 (22:54):
The out a second, Frankie day, I'll tell you drop it?
Speaker 4 (23:05):
You drop it straighter?
Speaker 2 (23:06):
You well, friends, that's the story. I'll be back to
wrap up the case in just a minute. Oh el
Hendrix had crashed through the door when pelle Strader turned
(23:27):
on in the newspaper man lifted in through the shoulder.
We took him both down a headquarters, told our story
and saw Frankie Smith released from custody. It was five
in the morning. The next time we met was in
Frankie Smith's apartment. Here you and cal certainly make a
good team. Greety, I had a lot of lucky breaks. Oh,
by the way, the police Parafan Strada and Lila Wren.
That charming lady is going up for murder. She shot
(23:48):
the guy who was saw the meal. She's only dead.
It looked like she was even straight as Botts Straighter
is in deep too. Those syndicate records. Plus the bail
bond broker is yelling if got him but hot, plenty hot.
At least we did what Steve said out to We
got you out for Christmas. Eve. Hi, hello little man?
What are you carrying that package?
Speaker 3 (24:07):
My Christmas present to my pop? I decided to give.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
It him now, Holy smoke, what are you're giving him?
Twenty pounds a web?
Speaker 3 (24:14):
No, he always forgets the Sea Freeze cab license, so
this year I get it for There's fifty dollars worth
of pennies in that package.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
Well, how do you like that? I'll tell you, Frankie
that was my son. I like it fine. Steve Granger again,
you've just heard one of the most interesting cases in
my files. I'll have another one for you, so be
around next time.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
Welcome back. Overall, a decent episode. It's not deep at all.
There's no search eating through the chronicles of ten cents
Bohemian kings. It's just a typical Granger case, but at Christmas,
with Granger delivering a kid's best present his dad, a
(25:11):
very simple, enjoyable tale. I will say that it was
a little weird that Leela wran bothered to drug Granger.
She wasn't trying to kill him and he was leaving anyway.
I mean, was she trying to fulfill something that's in
the Femme fatale union contract?
Speaker 2 (25:30):
Also for old.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
Time radio fans, I think her name was way too
close to the name of Leela Ransom, the on and
again off again girlfriend of the great Yolder Sleeve. But
other than that, a decent Granger episode. Well, now it
is time to think our Patreon supporter of the day,
(25:52):
and I want to go ahead and think Greg Patreon
supporter since April of twenty twenty, currently supporting the podcast
at the Shawmus level of four dollars or more per month.
That will do it for today. Our Christmas programming continues
on other podcasts On the Old Time Radio snack Wagon.
(26:13):
Our Christmas episode is posted tomorrow we'll have our final
Amazing World of Radio Christmas special. We will be back
in three weeks with another episode of Danger with Granger
with encores the next two weeks, but join us back
here tomorrow for a non holiday related episode of The
(26:38):
Big Story where.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
They identification on the dead man yet Hudge.
Speaker 6 (26:44):
It's a garage mechanic named Carl Andrews.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
Anything else? What do you mean any more information I
can use for a story? Love question?
Speaker 6 (26:53):
According to everything I read, newspaper reporters and private detectors
are real bright guys. They always kept to the criminals,
single handed professional cops just to dope with no clovisor one.
So why don't you get your own information?
Speaker 2 (27:08):
Frankly, I wouldn't know how. I've never captured a criminal
in my life, and you probably think you could. I
know very well I couldn't.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
I hope you'll be with us then in the meantime.
Send your comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net,
follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us
out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com slash, great detectives from Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam graham Son and all
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