February 18, 2025 • 25 mins
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This episode was first broadcasted through the Armed Forces Radio Service (AFRS).
This episode was first broadcasted through the Armed Forces Radio Service (AFRS).
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Good evening.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Cream.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
This is how a Galloway opening the doors at the
Mystery Playhouse to night our stage will be taken over
by you know, thank them and a huge wall. We
get a chuckle or two and an excellent mystery story
from Inner Sanctum post rain. We're at your door at
the host.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
I'll open the door too, good evening, friends of Aona,
thank him welcome, Come right in. It's room enough for everybody.
As a matter of fact, the more bodies the better.
(01:09):
Don't be surprised by the gloom at our new paint
job in black so the blood stains won't show. And
our friends, draw up your chairs, dim the lights, and
listen to a story designed to freeze the spine and
set the.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Teeth on it.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
It was written by Michael Sklar and Richard Manoth and
it's called The Confession.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Our star is Santa Sortiga, who plays the role of Alex.
The last thing I remembered was the gunshot, the thought
up the bullet, and the burning pain in my stomach,
and everything got black. When every gained consciousness, my impression
(01:55):
was a blinding whiteness. There. Don't try to move, mister Sturgis,
where am I this is the emergency ward of the
general Hospital. I felt no pain, just an overall numbness
and a desire to sleep. Am I going to die? Yes?
(02:22):
How much time? Have I got? A couple of hours? Doctor,
and I I want to make confession. I want to
confess to murder. I told the doctor about the money,
(02:42):
and I know she was much younger than I. She
thought because I owned a little drug store, I must
be prosperous, and I suppose that's why she married me
in spite of the difference in our ages. But there
wasn't any money for fun and nice clothes, so she
became restless. But I loved her and I did my
(03:05):
best until the other night. The drugs.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
Twelve o'closs going to close up alex.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Another just like an old man chasing pennies, never getting
anything out of life. You reasonable, dear. I'm trying to
make a living for her. Is this your idea of
a living?
Speaker 4 (03:29):
Is this what you promised me before we were married.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
I know it's not what you deserve, Lenore, but some day, Oh, you.
Speaker 5 (03:35):
Make me sick.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
That must have been crazy when I married you. I'm
going to say something I've had on my mind for
a long time, Alex. Rather than go on.
Speaker 5 (03:44):
This way, I prefer to be dead.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
Look at you.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
I don't have to put up with you. I'm still young, Alex.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
There it was.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Out in the open. An old man with money would
have been acceptable, but because I had no money, he
was going to read me. I wanted to plead with her.
I would have gotten down on my knees. But before
I could say anything, in the street door and the
man stumbled into the store.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Help me quick, I'm wos.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
I helped the man to a chair. If he'd been
shot on the chest and the front of his coat
was covered with blood. His breathing came high. Bullet my
chest touched me up. I'm only a pharmicist.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
You need a doctor, call doctor general.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
No, I don't want to need doctor. I want you
to help me. Is it because doctors must report bullet wounds?
Is that why you want a doctor? But my reason,
I got plenty of door. I'll give you five hundred
dollars to take care of me. I better called the police. No, lady, no, look, mister,
take care of me. Keep it quite. I'll give you
a thousand thousand dollars. Let me see the money. Here's
(04:54):
a thousand dollars pill, but I got plenty more for
No helped me take him into the back room. I'll
take myself. You get busy and wipe the blood off
the floor. No, no, you can't wipe up the blood.
Do what I sail in? Aw? Okay, So I'm looking
(05:15):
for a certain medicine among these bottles. Stopping stop bleeding. Sorry,
I'll be ready for you soon.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Or enough?
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Did you get the floor clean?
Speaker 5 (05:27):
How is he?
Speaker 2 (05:28):
He's in bad shape a week from loss of blood. Alex.
You haven't done anything for him yet. Be quiet. You've
been in here five minutes, and it looks like he
was before, Alex. You're storing Alex had him lay there,
(05:49):
but he's dying. I know Alex called the police. Are
you going to let him die? Yes, that's a I
hadn't murdered. I didn't shoot him. It's not my fault
if he dies, Lana, He's got money, thousands of dollars.
No one knows he came here. This is our chancellor.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
No, what do you mean?
Speaker 2 (06:13):
I'm going to let him die, take his money and
then get rid of his body. They still. I stooped
and went through his jacket There was a wallet containing
a few one dollar bills and the driver's license, which
(06:35):
I handed to Lenore.
Speaker 5 (06:38):
His name is James Kirk.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
He lives in Hillsborough. His pockets were crammed full of
bills of large denominations. Leanor watched fascinated as I counted.
How much is it, Alex a little over seventy eight
thousand dollars. We're rich, Leno, I'm fright. There's nothing to
be afraid of. All we have to do now is
(07:01):
wait until he dies and get rid of the body.
Do you need me to help you? No, I can
manage alone. This body is heavy. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Through the door.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Oh he's still alive. What are you going to do now?
It's dangerous to wait here until he dies? Anyway, What
difference does it make. He'll be dead when he goes
into the water.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
No, no, no, it's murder.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
What you like? We're going too far now to stop.
You wait in the car. I'm going to carry him
to the edge of the pier and drop him over
the side this car. I wanted Kirk's body. Thinking at
(08:15):
the water, I knew the current of the bay would
carry it out to sea. One doesn't picture a middle
aged druggist, committing a perfect crime. But I felt sure
that I had done it if I had Kirk's money,
and it seemed that no one could connect this debth
to me. I rejoined Leonard and the car started for home.
(08:38):
After I'd riven for a few minutes, I noticed she
was strangely quiet. What's the matter to nothing? Nothing at all?
Something struggling you? What is it? Nothing? You act as
though you're afraid of me. No, you are afraid of me. No?
(09:00):
Oh why I never saw you act this way before.
Something's happened to you. You're different or nonsense? Don't you
feel an adlex You're a murderer at aw You wouldn't
even wait.
Speaker 5 (09:12):
Until he was dead.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Listen to whatever I did, I did for your sake.
How long the money for you so you could be happy?
How can I be happy with this this thing hanging
over us? We've had breakfast the next morning in absolute silence.
(09:35):
Then Lena went to open the store while I wrapped
the money in a parcel, took it to the bank,
placed it in my box in the safe deposit for
No one paid any attention to me, although the bank
was swarming with police detectives, from the bank, I went
directly to the drug store and found a man there waiting.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Yes, Bigot, is my name, Mark Bigot.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
What can I do for I am an insurance company detective,
mister Sturgess. I'm investigating the first National bank rubbery for
my company. I want you to tell me everything you
know about that robbery. He was a big man, but
(10:30):
not fad, this detective, and although he didn't appear to
be very intelligent, he had a look of cunning. His
clothes were rumpled, and he rolled an unlit cigar around
in his mouth as he spoke. Suppose you start from
the beginning, sturges. There's nothing to talk about, Biggot. I
(10:51):
don't know anything about the robbery. You don't, Eh, No,
I don't. Why should you come here annoying me with
silly questions. I'll tell you why I am here, sturges,
and then maybe you'll see you way clear to talk.
You know, the bank was robbed last night, and the
cook got away with better than seventy eight thousand dollars. Yes,
the night watchman was shot. He's in a coma now,
(11:11):
But before he was shot, he shot one of the crooks.
What does that have to do with me. I am
coming to u, Sturgis. I'm a slow man, but I'm thorough,
which is more than you can say for the highness
bulls and the police force. Take those highness bulls. They
didn't spot the trail of blood that wounded Crooked left
when he ducked on the alley behind the bank. Funny
(11:34):
thing they clean missed it. But I noticed it, Sturgis.
I followed it through the alliance, straight up the street.
And here's another peculiar thing. The trail ended right smack
at the door of this drug store. Are you prying too?
Until mikes four, Sturges, I said, I'm not a fancy
pants detective, but here's how I figured it. This yegg
(11:57):
was wounded, so he came in here and asked you
to fix him up, which you did. In exchange, he
gave you a nice big piece of the tape to
keep your mouth shut. Am I right, Stages, You're one
hundred percent wrong. If you were smart, you talk now
and save yourself a lot of grief. I've got nothing
to tell you suits yourself, Sturges, but here's my business
card in case you change your mind, you can reach
(12:18):
me the hotel Empire. By the way, the company is
offering a five thousand dollars reward for the return of
that money. I'm not interested. Good day, Okay, it's your
next stages.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
I'll be seen.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Two And if I've heard what he said, he knows
I should have thought of the blood outside. How can
you stand there next? Look calm about it? You knows.
I tell you take call of yourself in an awe
if you only suspect and his suspicions aren't worth two
cents unless you can produce evidence. Believe me, we've got
nothing to worry about. I was cocky, then two cocky.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
I know I was right.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
I was a changed man. That money I put iron
into my spine. Then that afternoon I got the first
of the phone calls.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Hello, Surgier drug Store.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
It is Western Union calling. I have a telegram for
mister Lex Sturgis.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
This is speaking.
Speaker 4 (13:20):
Will you accept the message over the telephone?
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Mister yes, yes, of course.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
Message ray as follows plays money in an envelope and
marriage to Fox number eleven General Post Office. Don't fail
to act as instructive because your future depends on it
at all. It's all mister Sturgis. There is no signature.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Thank you bye.
Speaker 4 (13:48):
It was better not.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Having a detective snooping around, but now it's telegram. Don't
take any more chance. Does alexend the money? Alex, I'm fighting,
Miss Ranald. Calm yourself. It's a perfect clear what happened.
One of the bank robbers came with the kirk as
far as the store. He must have been frightened away
by the police. Now he's using this method to get
the money, but he won't get it. Why what are
(14:10):
you going to do. I'm gonna put a water blank
paper in an envelope and mail it to that post
office box. Then I'll stand watch at the post office
and see who claims it.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
And then that.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Money means everything to us. Leno, I've already killed one
man for it. If necessary, I'll commit another murder. I
placed blank strips of paper in an envelope and mailed
the envelope to that post office box. The next morning,
I went to the post office and stood near the
(14:40):
window waiting for someone to come along and claim the
envelope and box number. Eleven hours past, I got hungry.
My legs began to shake from exhaustion. I couldn't leave
that spot I meant to stay there until you're waiting
here for Sturgis. The voice cut through my thoughts. I
looked up was killing the policeman. He was suspicious that
(15:02):
clerk noticed you hanging around and called for a cop.
It's nothing, Kelly. I I arranged to meet my wife here.
She's late. I saw your wife to the drug store
window as I came up the street. You must have
forgotten all about your appointment. You had better get back
to the store stairs. I couldn't stay there after that,
(15:24):
I walked around the block. When I came back, the
policeman disappeared. I entered, went to the window, asked clerk
if anyone had claimed the mail in box eleven. He nodded.
The letter was gone. I planned to discover the identity
of Kirk's confederate. That failed. There was nothing to do
(15:45):
but go back to the drug store. It was empty.
I felt a sense of danger as soon as I entered,
so I closed the street door quietly walked to silent.
I got to the door in the back room to
Wassel nos Te. Hello, Hello Empire Hodel, connect me with
(16:12):
mister Biggest, Yes, mister Mott Figgurt, Hang up, Hang up,
the receiver. You were calling that detective suppose I was
what of it? You were going to tell him about
the money. You were going to double cross.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
Me for the reward.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
You're so smart, Alex. What are you going to do
about it? No, don't you understand. I don't want the
money for myself. I took it for you, to give
you the things that will make you happy. Big hearted,
undelfish Alex, what are you laughing at? I'll tell you
why you took that money, Alex. You thought you could buy.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Me with it.
Speaker 5 (16:54):
When you're wrong.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
I wouldn't stay with you if you had all the
money in the world. Who would you leave me after
all that happened.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
I'm packing up right now.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
No, you can't stop me.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
I love you.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
I did my best to hold you. I can't have you.
No one else will have you. What do you mean, Alex,
stay away from me. I'm going to kill you. I'm
going to kill you, my darling. She's dead. Oh man,
(17:44):
kill the thing they'll love. I've killed you all and
all empty, drained all emotion. I buried her body in
the center of the duckster. I was even a bit glad,
but it ended in this fashion and now and all.
Speaker 4 (18:09):
Would be with me.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Wherever I says was ended, I was wrong. I found
no peace for the very next morning Frigt came to
the bus morning, Sturgeons. Nice morning, isn't it. What do
you want? Just stopp by to have a chat? Sturgis,
But giving a lot of thought to the first National
(18:32):
Bank robbery. You know that my watchman came out of
his comber this morning.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
Why tell me about it?
Speaker 2 (18:37):
I thought you might be interested. Here is an angle, Stages.
The watchman says, the robbery was pulled by only one man,
one single cook, and he was shot. Nice angle, isn't it?
Because yes, it gave me a new idea, Sturges. I
am no Sherlock Holmes, but I figure it this way.
That crook came in here and asked you to fix
him up. We've gone through this before. I'm going to
take it a little further, Sturges. The crook asked you
(18:59):
to fix him, but you've got to peak at all
that money, so you let him die. I took the
money and disposed to the body. How is that very clever?
Can you produce the body? No, the police haven't been
able to locate it. But I'm not discouraged. Sturges. Those
harness bulls aren't very smart. I don't find that body,
and when you do, I'm an insurance company, Dick sturges.
(19:22):
I want that seventy eight thousand dollars. And I find
that body, I'll come around here and you'll cough it up.
I've told you before, I know nothing about that robbery.
All the money, I've got what to do. Hood you're along, Okay,
Sturgis along, Hello, Urgis drugstore with an union calling.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
I have a telegram to mister Alex Sturgis.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
This is he's speaking.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Read it to me.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
Please, my message read this follows perceived your letter contents,
not what request suggest you'll be instructions, same box, not
a post off.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Final Is there a signature? I hung up. My head
was really out of the confusion. In my mind. One
thought emerged. The night watchman had said Kirk had no
confederates in the bank robbery. There for the person sending
me the telegram must be Kirk. The salt water of
(20:23):
the bay must have revived of her. Kirk was still
a liar. I found Kirk's wallet on the shelf welllenor
I had placed it the night all This began from
the driver's license, I copied his home address. I waited
till after midnight. I drove to Hillsboro, where I found
Kirk's apartment in an old tenement building. The door was
(20:45):
un locked. I drew out my gun and entered. I
meant to kill Kirk. I had to kill him. The
living room was empty, no one was in better. I
turned walk back to the living rab the gun. Stages,
(21:05):
Stop the gun, quicker, and not take many chances with you.
How did you know? How did I know you were
going to come here? Stages, Sit down in that chair
by the table, and I'll tell you. You sent the
top Yes, I sent them. Hugh got me to think
that Kirk was still alive. That's right. And you followed
me here you trailed. HiT's all clear, now, isn't it, Sturges.
You take two and two and added up and it
comes out four. Now, where's the money? The money? We're
(21:27):
going to cut out the couch, stop, Sturges. I'm want
that money. Nowhere is it. It's in the medicine jar
on a shelf in the back room of the drug store.
All right, let's go, Sturges. First, you'll give me the money.
Then I'll take you down the police headquarters. We drove
to the drug store. I led him into the back room.
(21:48):
I knew exactly what I was going to do, and
one of the shelves was a bottle of hydrochloric acid.
Bigger thought it was the bottle containing the money. I
reached up the bottle and flung the prainting lip put
into a scale.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
I'm blinded, monk, you for this stood, if I can.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
Only see you?
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Where are you?
Speaker 3 (22:07):
Sto stair?
Speaker 4 (22:09):
Just where are you?
Speaker 2 (22:10):
I was puddled against the wall. He stood between me
and the doors, screaming in pain, firing his gun blindly.
The first three shots missed, but the fourth ball struck
me in the stomach. Wore the last thing I remember
his biggest running out of that room, shouting for help.
(22:32):
I lost consciousness soon after. When I came to, I
found myself here in this hospital. You know the rest
of the story. That's your confession, Eh, that's my confession.
Did you get all right down on paper? Mister Bigger
got every word of it down there? You How did
you get here? I thought I had to prodcast. You
(22:54):
thought you blinded me permanently. But I don't have of
the stuff, get into my eyes and do any real then.
Speaker 5 (23:00):
Oh no, he's dead, biggot.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
I've seen a lot of funny cases in my time
that but this speechs them all. He is a man
who commits murder to get a lot of stolen money.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
For his wife.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Then he kills his wife, and finally he gets killed
himself and the money the money is safe and sound
in the bank, safety posit both.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
Oh what a pity, except thirty yes, biggert S molked
him out just like a poor fish smoked sturgery.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Well, thank you, mister host, for a very enjoyable performance
of the Concession the Night's Mystery play House presentation. We'll
be hearing from you again in the near future.
Speaker 4 (24:14):
Creep.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
Until next time, there's this hut a galloway closing the
doors of the Mystery Playhouse and reminding you to sleep tight.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
Good night.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
This is the Armedforces Radio Service.
Good evening.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Cream.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
This is how a Galloway opening the doors at the
Mystery Playhouse to night our stage will be taken over
by you know, thank them and a huge wall. We
get a chuckle or two and an excellent mystery story
from Inner Sanctum post rain. We're at your door at
the host.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
I'll open the door too, good evening, friends of Aona,
thank him welcome, Come right in. It's room enough for everybody.
As a matter of fact, the more bodies the better.
(01:09):
Don't be surprised by the gloom at our new paint
job in black so the blood stains won't show. And
our friends, draw up your chairs, dim the lights, and
listen to a story designed to freeze the spine and
set the.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Teeth on it.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
It was written by Michael Sklar and Richard Manoth and
it's called The Confession.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Our star is Santa Sortiga, who plays the role of Alex.
The last thing I remembered was the gunshot, the thought
up the bullet, and the burning pain in my stomach,
and everything got black. When every gained consciousness, my impression
(01:55):
was a blinding whiteness. There. Don't try to move, mister Sturgis,
where am I this is the emergency ward of the
general Hospital. I felt no pain, just an overall numbness
and a desire to sleep. Am I going to die? Yes?
(02:22):
How much time? Have I got? A couple of hours? Doctor,
and I I want to make confession. I want to
confess to murder. I told the doctor about the money,
(02:42):
and I know she was much younger than I. She
thought because I owned a little drug store, I must
be prosperous, and I suppose that's why she married me
in spite of the difference in our ages. But there
wasn't any money for fun and nice clothes, so she
became restless. But I loved her and I did my
(03:05):
best until the other night. The drugs.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
Twelve o'closs going to close up alex.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Another just like an old man chasing pennies, never getting
anything out of life. You reasonable, dear. I'm trying to
make a living for her. Is this your idea of
a living?
Speaker 4 (03:29):
Is this what you promised me before we were married.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
I know it's not what you deserve, Lenore, but some day, Oh, you.
Speaker 5 (03:35):
Make me sick.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
That must have been crazy when I married you. I'm
going to say something I've had on my mind for
a long time, Alex. Rather than go on.
Speaker 5 (03:44):
This way, I prefer to be dead.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
Look at you.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
I don't have to put up with you. I'm still young, Alex.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
There it was.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Out in the open. An old man with money would
have been acceptable, but because I had no money, he
was going to read me. I wanted to plead with her.
I would have gotten down on my knees. But before
I could say anything, in the street door and the
man stumbled into the store.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Help me quick, I'm wos.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
I helped the man to a chair. If he'd been
shot on the chest and the front of his coat
was covered with blood. His breathing came high. Bullet my
chest touched me up. I'm only a pharmicist.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
You need a doctor, call doctor general.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
No, I don't want to need doctor. I want you
to help me. Is it because doctors must report bullet wounds?
Is that why you want a doctor? But my reason,
I got plenty of door. I'll give you five hundred
dollars to take care of me. I better called the police. No, lady, no, look, mister,
take care of me. Keep it quite. I'll give you
a thousand thousand dollars. Let me see the money. Here's
(04:54):
a thousand dollars pill, but I got plenty more for
No helped me take him into the back room. I'll
take myself. You get busy and wipe the blood off
the floor. No, no, you can't wipe up the blood.
Do what I sail in? Aw? Okay, So I'm looking
(05:15):
for a certain medicine among these bottles. Stopping stop bleeding. Sorry,
I'll be ready for you soon.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Or enough?
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Did you get the floor clean?
Speaker 5 (05:27):
How is he?
Speaker 2 (05:28):
He's in bad shape a week from loss of blood. Alex.
You haven't done anything for him yet. Be quiet. You've
been in here five minutes, and it looks like he
was before, Alex. You're storing Alex had him lay there,
(05:49):
but he's dying. I know Alex called the police. Are
you going to let him die? Yes, that's a I
hadn't murdered. I didn't shoot him. It's not my fault
if he dies, Lana, He's got money, thousands of dollars.
No one knows he came here. This is our chancellor.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
No, what do you mean?
Speaker 2 (06:13):
I'm going to let him die, take his money and
then get rid of his body. They still. I stooped
and went through his jacket There was a wallet containing
a few one dollar bills and the driver's license, which
(06:35):
I handed to Lenore.
Speaker 5 (06:38):
His name is James Kirk.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
He lives in Hillsborough. His pockets were crammed full of
bills of large denominations. Leanor watched fascinated as I counted.
How much is it, Alex a little over seventy eight
thousand dollars. We're rich, Leno, I'm fright. There's nothing to
be afraid of. All we have to do now is
(07:01):
wait until he dies and get rid of the body.
Do you need me to help you? No, I can
manage alone. This body is heavy. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Through the door.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Oh he's still alive. What are you going to do now?
It's dangerous to wait here until he dies? Anyway, What
difference does it make. He'll be dead when he goes
into the water.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
No, no, no, it's murder.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
What you like? We're going too far now to stop.
You wait in the car. I'm going to carry him
to the edge of the pier and drop him over
the side this car. I wanted Kirk's body. Thinking at
(08:15):
the water, I knew the current of the bay would
carry it out to sea. One doesn't picture a middle
aged druggist, committing a perfect crime. But I felt sure
that I had done it if I had Kirk's money,
and it seemed that no one could connect this debth
to me. I rejoined Leonard and the car started for home.
(08:38):
After I'd riven for a few minutes, I noticed she
was strangely quiet. What's the matter to nothing? Nothing at all?
Something struggling you? What is it? Nothing? You act as
though you're afraid of me. No, you are afraid of me. No?
(09:00):
Oh why I never saw you act this way before.
Something's happened to you. You're different or nonsense? Don't you
feel an adlex You're a murderer at aw You wouldn't
even wait.
Speaker 5 (09:12):
Until he was dead.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Listen to whatever I did, I did for your sake.
How long the money for you so you could be happy?
How can I be happy with this this thing hanging
over us? We've had breakfast the next morning in absolute silence.
(09:35):
Then Lena went to open the store while I wrapped
the money in a parcel, took it to the bank,
placed it in my box in the safe deposit for
No one paid any attention to me, although the bank
was swarming with police detectives, from the bank, I went
directly to the drug store and found a man there waiting.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Yes, Bigot, is my name, Mark Bigot.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
What can I do for I am an insurance company detective,
mister Sturgess. I'm investigating the first National bank rubbery for
my company. I want you to tell me everything you
know about that robbery. He was a big man, but
(10:30):
not fad, this detective, and although he didn't appear to
be very intelligent, he had a look of cunning. His
clothes were rumpled, and he rolled an unlit cigar around
in his mouth as he spoke. Suppose you start from
the beginning, sturges. There's nothing to talk about, Biggot. I
(10:51):
don't know anything about the robbery. You don't, Eh, No,
I don't. Why should you come here annoying me with
silly questions. I'll tell you why I am here, sturges,
and then maybe you'll see you way clear to talk.
You know, the bank was robbed last night, and the
cook got away with better than seventy eight thousand dollars. Yes,
the night watchman was shot. He's in a coma now,
(11:11):
But before he was shot, he shot one of the crooks.
What does that have to do with me. I am
coming to u, Sturgis. I'm a slow man, but I'm thorough,
which is more than you can say for the highness
bulls and the police force. Take those highness bulls. They
didn't spot the trail of blood that wounded Crooked left
when he ducked on the alley behind the bank. Funny
(11:34):
thing they clean missed it. But I noticed it, Sturgis.
I followed it through the alliance, straight up the street.
And here's another peculiar thing. The trail ended right smack
at the door of this drug store. Are you prying too?
Until mikes four, Sturges, I said, I'm not a fancy
pants detective, but here's how I figured it. This yegg
(11:57):
was wounded, so he came in here and asked you
to fix him up, which you did. In exchange, he
gave you a nice big piece of the tape to
keep your mouth shut. Am I right, Stages, You're one
hundred percent wrong. If you were smart, you talk now
and save yourself a lot of grief. I've got nothing
to tell you suits yourself, Sturges, but here's my business
card in case you change your mind, you can reach
(12:18):
me the hotel Empire. By the way, the company is
offering a five thousand dollars reward for the return of
that money. I'm not interested. Good day, Okay, it's your
next stages.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
I'll be seen.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Two And if I've heard what he said, he knows
I should have thought of the blood outside. How can
you stand there next? Look calm about it? You knows.
I tell you take call of yourself in an awe
if you only suspect and his suspicions aren't worth two
cents unless you can produce evidence. Believe me, we've got
nothing to worry about. I was cocky, then two cocky.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
I know I was right.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
I was a changed man. That money I put iron
into my spine. Then that afternoon I got the first
of the phone calls.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Hello, Surgier drug Store.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
It is Western Union calling. I have a telegram for
mister Lex Sturgis.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
This is speaking.
Speaker 4 (13:20):
Will you accept the message over the telephone?
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Mister yes, yes, of course.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
Message ray as follows plays money in an envelope and
marriage to Fox number eleven General Post Office. Don't fail
to act as instructive because your future depends on it
at all. It's all mister Sturgis. There is no signature.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Thank you bye.
Speaker 4 (13:48):
It was better not.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Having a detective snooping around, but now it's telegram. Don't
take any more chance. Does alexend the money? Alex, I'm fighting,
Miss Ranald. Calm yourself. It's a perfect clear what happened.
One of the bank robbers came with the kirk as
far as the store. He must have been frightened away
by the police. Now he's using this method to get
the money, but he won't get it. Why what are
(14:10):
you going to do. I'm gonna put a water blank
paper in an envelope and mail it to that post
office box. Then I'll stand watch at the post office
and see who claims it.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
And then that.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Money means everything to us. Leno, I've already killed one
man for it. If necessary, I'll commit another murder. I
placed blank strips of paper in an envelope and mailed
the envelope to that post office box. The next morning,
I went to the post office and stood near the
(14:40):
window waiting for someone to come along and claim the
envelope and box number. Eleven hours past, I got hungry.
My legs began to shake from exhaustion. I couldn't leave
that spot I meant to stay there until you're waiting
here for Sturgis. The voice cut through my thoughts. I
looked up was killing the policeman. He was suspicious that
(15:02):
clerk noticed you hanging around and called for a cop.
It's nothing, Kelly. I I arranged to meet my wife here.
She's late. I saw your wife to the drug store
window as I came up the street. You must have
forgotten all about your appointment. You had better get back
to the store stairs. I couldn't stay there after that,
(15:24):
I walked around the block. When I came back, the
policeman disappeared. I entered, went to the window, asked clerk
if anyone had claimed the mail in box eleven. He nodded.
The letter was gone. I planned to discover the identity
of Kirk's confederate. That failed. There was nothing to do
(15:45):
but go back to the drug store. It was empty.
I felt a sense of danger as soon as I entered,
so I closed the street door quietly walked to silent.
I got to the door in the back room to
Wassel nos Te. Hello, Hello Empire Hodel, connect me with
(16:12):
mister Biggest, Yes, mister Mott Figgurt, Hang up, Hang up,
the receiver. You were calling that detective suppose I was
what of it? You were going to tell him about
the money. You were going to double cross.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
Me for the reward.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
You're so smart, Alex. What are you going to do
about it? No, don't you understand. I don't want the
money for myself. I took it for you, to give
you the things that will make you happy. Big hearted,
undelfish Alex, what are you laughing at? I'll tell you
why you took that money, Alex. You thought you could buy.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Me with it.
Speaker 5 (16:54):
When you're wrong.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
I wouldn't stay with you if you had all the
money in the world. Who would you leave me after
all that happened.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
I'm packing up right now.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
No, you can't stop me.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
I love you.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
I did my best to hold you. I can't have you.
No one else will have you. What do you mean, Alex,
stay away from me. I'm going to kill you. I'm
going to kill you, my darling. She's dead. Oh man,
(17:44):
kill the thing they'll love. I've killed you all and
all empty, drained all emotion. I buried her body in
the center of the duckster. I was even a bit glad,
but it ended in this fashion and now and all.
Speaker 4 (18:09):
Would be with me.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Wherever I says was ended, I was wrong. I found
no peace for the very next morning Frigt came to
the bus morning, Sturgeons. Nice morning, isn't it. What do
you want? Just stopp by to have a chat? Sturgis,
But giving a lot of thought to the first National
(18:32):
Bank robbery. You know that my watchman came out of
his comber this morning.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
Why tell me about it?
Speaker 2 (18:37):
I thought you might be interested. Here is an angle, Stages.
The watchman says, the robbery was pulled by only one man,
one single cook, and he was shot. Nice angle, isn't it?
Because yes, it gave me a new idea, Sturges. I
am no Sherlock Holmes, but I figure it this way.
That crook came in here and asked you to fix
him up. We've gone through this before. I'm going to
take it a little further, Sturges. The crook asked you
(18:59):
to fix him, but you've got to peak at all
that money, so you let him die. I took the
money and disposed to the body. How is that very clever?
Can you produce the body? No, the police haven't been
able to locate it. But I'm not discouraged. Sturges. Those
harness bulls aren't very smart. I don't find that body,
and when you do, I'm an insurance company, Dick sturges.
(19:22):
I want that seventy eight thousand dollars. And I find
that body, I'll come around here and you'll cough it up.
I've told you before, I know nothing about that robbery.
All the money, I've got what to do. Hood you're along, Okay,
Sturgis along, Hello, Urgis drugstore with an union calling.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
I have a telegram to mister Alex Sturgis.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
This is he's speaking.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Read it to me.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
Please, my message read this follows perceived your letter contents,
not what request suggest you'll be instructions, same box, not
a post off.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Final Is there a signature? I hung up. My head
was really out of the confusion. In my mind. One
thought emerged. The night watchman had said Kirk had no
confederates in the bank robbery. There for the person sending
me the telegram must be Kirk. The salt water of
(20:23):
the bay must have revived of her. Kirk was still
a liar. I found Kirk's wallet on the shelf welllenor
I had placed it the night all This began from
the driver's license, I copied his home address. I waited
till after midnight. I drove to Hillsboro, where I found
Kirk's apartment in an old tenement building. The door was
(20:45):
un locked. I drew out my gun and entered. I
meant to kill Kirk. I had to kill him. The
living room was empty, no one was in better. I
turned walk back to the living rab the gun. Stages,
(21:05):
Stop the gun, quicker, and not take many chances with you.
How did you know? How did I know you were
going to come here? Stages, Sit down in that chair
by the table, and I'll tell you. You sent the
top Yes, I sent them. Hugh got me to think
that Kirk was still alive. That's right. And you followed
me here you trailed. HiT's all clear, now, isn't it, Sturges.
You take two and two and added up and it
comes out four. Now, where's the money? The money? We're
(21:27):
going to cut out the couch, stop, Sturges. I'm want
that money. Nowhere is it. It's in the medicine jar
on a shelf in the back room of the drug store.
All right, let's go, Sturges. First, you'll give me the money.
Then I'll take you down the police headquarters. We drove
to the drug store. I led him into the back room.
(21:48):
I knew exactly what I was going to do, and
one of the shelves was a bottle of hydrochloric acid.
Bigger thought it was the bottle containing the money. I
reached up the bottle and flung the prainting lip put
into a scale.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
I'm blinded, monk, you for this stood, if I can.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
Only see you?
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Where are you?
Speaker 3 (22:07):
Sto stair?
Speaker 4 (22:09):
Just where are you?
Speaker 2 (22:10):
I was puddled against the wall. He stood between me
and the doors, screaming in pain, firing his gun blindly.
The first three shots missed, but the fourth ball struck
me in the stomach. Wore the last thing I remember
his biggest running out of that room, shouting for help.
(22:32):
I lost consciousness soon after. When I came to, I
found myself here in this hospital. You know the rest
of the story. That's your confession, Eh, that's my confession.
Did you get all right down on paper? Mister Bigger
got every word of it down there? You How did
you get here? I thought I had to prodcast. You
(22:54):
thought you blinded me permanently. But I don't have of
the stuff, get into my eyes and do any real then.
Speaker 5 (23:00):
Oh no, he's dead, biggot.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
I've seen a lot of funny cases in my time
that but this speechs them all. He is a man
who commits murder to get a lot of stolen money.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
For his wife.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Then he kills his wife, and finally he gets killed
himself and the money the money is safe and sound
in the bank, safety posit both.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
Oh what a pity, except thirty yes, biggert S molked
him out just like a poor fish smoked sturgery.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Well, thank you, mister host, for a very enjoyable performance
of the Concession the Night's Mystery play House presentation. We'll
be hearing from you again in the near future.
Speaker 4 (24:14):
Creep.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
Until next time, there's this hut a galloway closing the
doors of the Mystery Playhouse and reminding you to sleep tight.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
Good night.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
This is the Armedforces Radio Service.
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