June 26, 2025 • 35 mins
Today's Mystery: An experiment reveals how the diamond got out of Rachel Verinder's cabinet. But where is it now?
Original Air Date: April 23, 1948
Originating from Chicago
Starring: Sherman Marks as Gabriel Betterridge; Arthur Sedgewick as Sergeant Cuff; Charles Mountain as Franklin Blake, Jonathan Hull, Dick York, Donald Gallagher, Boris Aplon, Marvin Peisner
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Give us a call at 208-991-4783
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Original Air Date: April 23, 1948
Originating from Chicago
Starring: Sherman Marks as Gabriel Betterridge; Arthur Sedgewick as Sergeant Cuff; Charles Mountain as Franklin Blake, Jonathan Hull, Dick York, Donald Gallagher, Boris Aplon, Marvin Peisner
Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Jennifer, Patreon supporter since April 2025
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
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 the concluding episode of The Moonstone.
But first, I do want to encourage you, if you're
enjoying the podcast, to follow us using your favorite podcast software.
(00:51):
And I do want to encourage you, if you've not already,
to check out my ebooks. All I needed to know
I learned from Dragonet and all I needed to know
I learned from Colombo. Each examines the careers and history
of seven great fictional detectives and policemen, and life lessons
that can be learned from them. They are available where
re fine ebooks are sold, or as audiobooks through audible
(01:13):
dot Com or the Apple Store now from April twenty third,
nineteen forty eight. From World's Great Novels, Here is The Moonstone,
Part four the.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
World's Great Novels.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
Before the publication of The Moonstone in the middle of
the last century, Wilkie Collins had already won fame as
one of the ranking novelists of his day. He is
best remembered, however, for The Moonstone, which brought him special
recognition as a writer who concentrated on a dominant motif,
which he developed by the introduction of strange and unexpected element.
(02:01):
The National Broadcasting Company now presents in a series of
books that Live the fourth and final episode of The
Moonstone by Workie Collins, one of the world's great novels.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
I Gabriel Betteridge, how steward Miss Rachel Verinder, I myself
witnessed the experiment to determine whether Franklin Blake was indeed
the person who had stolen the Moonstone. In one respect,
the experiment had been a success, and in another a
complete failure, for under the influence of a drug which
(02:46):
had been administered him. In the experiment, Franklin Blake had
risen from his bed and had taken the piece of
crystal supposed to represent the long missing diamond Moonstone from
the drawer of the Indian cabinet. All this, mind you,
was exactly as Miss Rachel Verinder, its owner had observed
him to do the night a year before, when the
(03:08):
jewel itself had disappeared. But this time, overcome by the
effects of the drug, he had dropped the Moonstone on
the floor and collapsed. The first time However, he had
walked from the room and out of Miss Rachel's sight,
still carrying the moonstone. Well being drugged, Mister Blake had
no memory of either act. So what he had done
(03:30):
with the gem after leaving Miss Rachel's room on that
night a year ago was still a mystery, and it
was a harassed, worried Franklin Brake who met soon after
with mister Bruff, the Verander family lawyer.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
Let me.
Speaker 6 (03:45):
Let me say first of all, mister Blake, that I'm
sorry the experiment turned out no better than it did.
Speaker 7 (03:52):
I was willing to try anything, anything to prove to
Rachael that I was not consciously to blame for the
disappearance of the moonstone. At least the experiment was successful
in that Rachel and I are soon to be married.
Speaker 5 (04:05):
Oh good. I am grateful to Wes R. Jennings for
his experiment.
Speaker 7 (04:09):
That I cannot rest until the moonstone is found and
all possible suspicion removed from the.
Speaker 6 (04:13):
Name I I might as well tell you what I
told Ezra Jennings. I have my own theory in regard
to the pleasant whereabouts of the moonstone.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
Oh, you have a.
Speaker 6 (04:25):
Theory supported by fact or rather by facts which cannot
be disputed. Go on, mister Broun, The moonstone is in
possession of the bankers of a notorious money lender, a
man who calls himself mister Septimus Luca. Oh yes, Sartan
Kaff spoke of him in connection with the suicide of
(04:46):
Rosanna Spearman. He is ostensibly a dealer in gems and
objects of art and has long been established in London. Yes, yes, however,
his most successful dealings have been conducted with thieves Swindler
and Charlatan's.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
But actually, mister Broth.
Speaker 7 (05:03):
What proof have you that the moonstone now reposes in
mister Luca's special bank.
Speaker 6 (05:06):
Well, now, first, let me point out that he's been
the subject of considerable attention on the part of the
three Indians who appeared here a year ago in what
was obviously an attempt to seize the moonstone.
Speaker 5 (05:20):
Yes, yes, I heard about that.
Speaker 7 (05:22):
Luca complained to the police that they had been hanging
about his shop and asked protection against them.
Speaker 6 (05:26):
Oh yes, yes, but perhaps you didn't know this, And,
believing that his professional services were in demand, the worthy
mister Luca tells me he paid a visit to a
strange London address. He was conducted into a handsome apartment
by an apparently most respectable gentleman, who then withdrew. Then
(05:49):
suddenly Luca was overwhelmed from behind by assailants, assailants he
never even saw and searched. But certainly these ruffians, the
three Indians or whoever they were, didn't expect to find
the moonstone on mister Luca's person. I hardly think so.
But they did take something from him.
Speaker 5 (06:08):
What was that? A receipt?
Speaker 6 (06:10):
A receipt, yes, one which acknowledged that on that very
day mister Luca had deposited with his private bankers are
valuable of great price.
Speaker 7 (06:20):
But if these men took a receipt for this valuable
why didn't they go to the bank and claim it.
Speaker 6 (06:24):
Oh because they're too clever, too cunning to expose their
hand in such fashion.
Speaker 5 (06:29):
Oh no, no, mister Blake.
Speaker 6 (06:32):
These men, and I believe they were the same, three Indians,
merely wish to ascertain the place where the moonstone is
being kept.
Speaker 5 (06:40):
What do you think they'll do next?
Speaker 6 (06:42):
They'll wait, I'll wait until such time as the illustrious
mister Luca will have to come to the bank and
remove the Moonstone and hand it over to his client.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
When will that be?
Speaker 6 (06:52):
The moonstone was stolen a little more than a year ago,
and now it's a well established custom that valuables left
with private bankers are redeemed before the year has elapsed.
Speaker 7 (07:01):
Then any day now Luca will go to the bank
to get the moonstone, and the three Indians will certainly
make another attempt to get it from him.
Speaker 6 (07:08):
They'll either try to take it from mister Luca himself
or the person to be hands it over, in short,
the person who stole the moonstone.
Speaker 7 (07:18):
And if we discover this person, I will have been
be indicated and my Conston's cleared.
Speaker 8 (07:22):
Correct, mister Blake, we must act quickly.
Speaker 5 (07:25):
Here's what we'll do. We'll have a watch.
Speaker 6 (07:27):
Put on mister Septimus Luca. Then when he goes to
the bank to withdraw the moonstone, we shall be on hand,
even though we must reckon with the three Indians themselves.
I tell you, Gabriel, this is the last desperate throw
(07:49):
of the dice. And if we don't play the game
bold lays skillfully and with ever a resource in our command,
we will lose. And this time for good.
Speaker 8 (07:56):
No no, no, no, no, my.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
Boy, this is a time of a peace, Robinson Crusoe,
which I am.
Speaker 7 (08:02):
Sorry, Gabriel, but I'm not much interested in what your
mister Crusoe would have to say on the subject of patience.
Speaker 5 (08:07):
I'm tired of death, of waiting.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
H There's a great deal you could learn from Robinson Crusoe.
Speaker 7 (08:13):
I have an idea I could learn much more from
another person, a living person.
Speaker 8 (08:18):
Have you anyone particular in mind, mister Brake.
Speaker 7 (08:21):
Yes, the finest police officer that England ever had, Sergeant
cuff Old.
Speaker 5 (08:26):
Sergeant Cuff, yes.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
But he went into retirement when he left his last year.
Now his only concern is his garden of roses.
Speaker 7 (08:34):
I know, I know, but I eventually hasn't forgotten the Moonstone.
I'll wager that he's still smarts from his failure to
recover it. But to get him out of a happy retirement,
I do. Mister Brake, where are you're going to send
a telegram to Sergeant Cuff asking that he meet me
in London immediately?
Speaker 5 (08:59):
You ask a great deal, mister Blake. Among my beautiful roses,
I find peace and serenity, whereas before I only ne lies,
deception and skull duggery.
Speaker 7 (09:17):
Then I cannot induce you to reenter the case. Sergeant Cuff,
what's that you said, mister Blake. Sargeant Cuff, will you
help me apprehend the criminal who stole the Moonstone?
Speaker 5 (09:34):
Yes, mister Blake, I will. Oh, thank you, Sargeant. It's
just occurred to me that I'll enjoy my roses ever
so much more when I finally laid the ghost of
the Moonstone to rest. I think I'll begin with our
money lending friend, mister Septimus Luca.
Speaker 9 (10:00):
My Sergeant Cafew are most persistent. It is indeed a
pity you've retired from active police work.
Speaker 5 (10:08):
Mister Luker. I've emerged from retirement time again a police officer. Oh,
just as.
Speaker 9 (10:13):
You'd begin to cultivate the art of leisure that is
so desirable, you know, and the laugh of me. I
can't understand what would induce you to neglect those beautiful
roses in.
Speaker 5 (10:25):
Darking the moonstone, mister Lucre.
Speaker 9 (10:29):
Moonstone again, Well, I just can't comprehend your interest in
such a bobble.
Speaker 5 (10:35):
A most valuable bobble, mister Lucer.
Speaker 9 (10:38):
But it would seem to me there are other things
just as valuable to be sure, don't you think so,
Sergeant good heavens man, you have to sit there eyeing
me as if I were some.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Reptile a lizard.
Speaker 5 (11:00):
Well, now you mention it, mister Luca, there is a
certain resemblance.
Speaker 9 (11:04):
Now you're insulting. You know you're insulting, don't you insulting?
Speaker 5 (11:10):
Mister lucre. I'm merely following your.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Advice with What are you talking about.
Speaker 5 (11:15):
About cultivating the art of leisure?
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Ye? Stop whistling that in full tune? Good de vicious?
Do you intend the city all die with your mouse fuckered.
Speaker 5 (11:35):
Up into a whistle?
Speaker 9 (11:38):
Stop it, sergeant, stop it, please, Sergeant cuff.
Speaker 5 (11:45):
Please, yes, mister Luca.
Speaker 9 (11:49):
Ah, I would like you to stop whistling, that is,
if you wouldn't really mind.
Speaker 5 (11:57):
May I ask a few questions, mister Luker.
Speaker 9 (12:00):
I'll answer your questions, that is, to the best of
my ability.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
That's much better, mister Luca. Now I wish to know
how you came into possession of the Moonstone. Well, a
certain person.
Speaker 9 (12:15):
For the time being, I'll call that person X if
that's agreeable to.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
You, sir, Yes, for the time being.
Speaker 9 (12:23):
This is our began about a year ago on the
evening of the twenty third of June, X came to
me with a diamond such as I'd never seen before. First,
I was asked, would.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
A buy the diamond?
Speaker 5 (12:37):
And your answer it was no.
Speaker 9 (12:40):
Then I was asked, would I undertake to sell it
on commission and to.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Pire some down on the anticipated result?
Speaker 5 (12:49):
X as for an advance on the sale of the moonstone?
Speaker 2 (12:52):
That is correct, sir?
Speaker 5 (12:53):
And what was your answer to that proposal? I've no answer.
Speaker 9 (12:57):
Instead, I asked a question of melne. I said to X,
how did you come by this duel?
Speaker 5 (13:05):
Yes?
Speaker 9 (13:06):
Well, X began a story, a perfectly preposterous story.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Ohh, that just won't do, I said.
Speaker 9 (13:14):
I then ranged for our servant and instructed him to
show my guest to the door.
Speaker 5 (13:18):
What happened then? Oh well, then.
Speaker 9 (13:21):
X, saying a different tune, and told me what I
believed and still believed to be the true story. It
seems that X was in great financial difficulties, that a
large sum of money was needed to make restitution and
so prevent exposure. Yes, I could well understand that such
(13:43):
a situation is not infrequent among my clients.
Speaker 5 (13:46):
So I imagine, yes.
Speaker 9 (13:49):
Well, therefore I agreed to accept the moonstone in pawn.
Speaker 5 (13:54):
And how much did you advance to X well.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
In all some of twenty thousand pounds.
Speaker 5 (14:00):
So far, so good, mister Luker. And now tell me
how did the moonstone come into the possession of X?
Was that information revealed you?
Speaker 9 (14:07):
Yes, Sergeant Cuff, it was the moonstone was given to X.
Speaker 5 (14:13):
What, mister Luker, In all my years of experience as
a police officer, I've never heard such an absurd and
utterly ridiculous thing. Nevertheless, Sir R, speak the truth. I
warn you once and for all, mister Luker, that you're
in a perilous position. You were trafficking and stolen goods admitted.
Speaker 9 (14:28):
Again, I repeat, the moonstone was given to X.
Speaker 5 (14:31):
Mister Luker, I order you to disclose the identity of
this person X instantly.
Speaker 9 (14:36):
Shad you have me, Sergeant Cuff, I would indeed be
a great fool if I did not know my rights.
I believe that my client ex spoke the truth, and
I respect the truth. You cannot alter my position, and
I'll challenge your authority to do so, Sergeant Cuff.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
Good Dy, it was a completely bewildered Franklin Blake who
faced Sergeant Cuff in the office of mister Bruff, the lawyer.
Speaker 8 (15:17):
He collapsed weekly in a chair and said.
Speaker 7 (15:20):
Sergeant, this news you bring now is the sheerest fantasy.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
Do you mean to say this?
Speaker 7 (15:25):
Luca Fellow actually told you that the moonstone was given
to this ex person.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
He did, mister Blake, and he convinced me that he
believes it to be the truth. I think mister Bruff
here is well acquainted. Receptor, Miss Luker. What's your opinion?
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Uh?
Speaker 5 (15:39):
I know this much about him.
Speaker 6 (15:41):
He likes to stand on safe ground, and when he does,
the devil himself can't shake him.
Speaker 5 (15:46):
There's only one thing left to do. Then keep up
out vigil at the bank. I presume, mister Bruff, you
have mister Lucer under the closest observation. I have, Sergeant
the man you have watching him? Is he dependable?
Speaker 6 (15:57):
Sergeant Cuff, Young mister Goosebrey is the most dependable man
I know, and he can outsmart the cleverest fox that
ever around the course. Gentlemen, this is my man Gobred.
Speaker 8 (16:10):
How do you?
Speaker 5 (16:11):
Oh? What is it? Goesbred?
Speaker 10 (16:13):
Mister Luca has just left his own in Lamberth in
a cab. Say, and two men were.
Speaker 5 (16:17):
With him, and they're on their way to the bank.
Speaker 10 (16:18):
I bet, I'm sure I talked to the cab driver
before they came out of the house to the bank, then.
Speaker 7 (16:23):
Gentlemen, and it's a big enough bank, Mister bro hope
we don't lose mister Luker in the crowd. Sure I
not a sign of the three engines, miss, they're lucky
in one of the bank vaults, Sergeant Coff.
Speaker 10 (16:42):
Sir, Yes, mister Lucas still in the bank. Told one
of the guards I had a message for the blighter.
I did, he said, mister Luca was still back there
in the inner chamber.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Good lad Owl knows about a bit.
Speaker 8 (16:55):
More quick as lightning, that boy, Sergeant cop.
Speaker 5 (16:59):
Look over there, a tall docsil Yes, yes, I've been
observing him. Perhaps the three Indians not daring the venture
in the bank are using him as their spy right parts.
But I'm much more interested in that short stubs fellow
over there, one in the gray suit.
Speaker 8 (17:16):
Yes, I see the man. He seems quite nervous.
Speaker 6 (17:19):
Too, I'd wage you to give me he's waiting for
mister Luca to come out.
Speaker 10 (17:24):
Yes, goosebray, what is it, mister b Mister Lucas on
his way out of the inner chamber.
Speaker 6 (17:29):
Yes, here he can stand with the two plain clothesmen,
one on each side.
Speaker 8 (17:34):
Looks the man in the gray suit is moving toward them.
Speaker 5 (17:37):
Here they come. Good, We close in on them. Keep
her shopping. That fool got in my way just as
I was leaving the bank.
Speaker 7 (17:48):
Yes, and I'm sure I saw mister Luca pass something
over to the.
Speaker 5 (17:50):
Man in the gray suits.
Speaker 8 (17:51):
I'm sure I did do.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
The man in the gray.
Speaker 5 (17:54):
Suit is getting away. He's running. Let us throw there,
let us through, make a way. I'm last better in
a gray suit.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
The thief. Stop him, Stop thief.
Speaker 7 (18:22):
Well, it looks as though we've lost our friend mc
gray suit.
Speaker 6 (18:25):
We would have had him, mister Blake, if that infernal
cart hadn't gotten in our way.
Speaker 5 (18:30):
Slow down, driver, there's a little course for hate now.
Speaker 7 (18:35):
And now we'll never find the moonstone of the man
who stole it. It looks to me as though we
finally come to the end. Sargeant Cuff, no happy end.
I'd say, I'll get you where Cabby, where is.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
The woman in the great shake. It's going into the
chemist shop.
Speaker 5 (18:52):
It certainly stopped the car, all right, gentlemen into that
chemist shop right, oh, well right behind your sergeant, now
the way all right, you in the gray suit me mesa, yes,
you hand it over and be quick about it.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
End it over.
Speaker 7 (19:14):
Don't play the idiot with us. We want the moonstone.
We mean to have it.
Speaker 5 (19:17):
What moonstone man? We saw mister Luca pass you with
something as you were leaving the bank. Give up the
diamond this minute.
Speaker 10 (19:24):
Mister Luca didn't give me any diamond. He he just
gave me his card. I asked him for it.
Speaker 8 (19:31):
Who eat it is?
Speaker 5 (19:33):
Well?
Speaker 10 (19:33):
Yes, for some time I've been trying to see him
on a very important business matter. I've got a chance
to see him in the buying today, so I approached.
Speaker 5 (19:41):
I don't believe this sight and such him. Oh you know,
I think I'm going to He's fainted.
Speaker 7 (19:58):
Sergeant Cuff, pardon my sending for you early in the morning.
I wanted to thank both you and mister Bruff here
for your efforts yesterday.
Speaker 5 (20:05):
Not at all. Oh, we're only sorry. Our efforts to
run successful. Obviously the man in the gray suit had
been planted to mislead it. It couldn't be helped.
Speaker 7 (20:15):
But the moonstone is still missing. So long as it
is I cannot fully clear my name. Now, my boy,
I took the moonstone. Rachel saw me take it, and
then on the night of the experiment, I was seen
to go through the act of stealing it again.
Speaker 5 (20:27):
You took it, yes, but you did not steal it.
Speaker 7 (20:29):
Now, But it's all the same, so Rachel knows I
didn't take it of my own volition. Still it isn't found.
For yesterday's dismal failure at the bank, I've become wholly discouraged.
I'm ready to give up a search. I'm going away
for a long time.
Speaker 5 (20:44):
Oh nonsense, my.
Speaker 8 (20:45):
Boy, Goodsebury, mister Bruff, I found our men.
Speaker 5 (20:49):
Found him, you say, found who? Why?
Speaker 10 (20:52):
The tall dark sailor, of course, the one with a
big black beard we saw on the bank yesterday. I
followed him while the rest of you were chasing after
a little fat man in the gray suit, because I
saw mister Luca and something to him.
Speaker 5 (21:05):
There's something in that small colors, goes Brie, and it
isn't cottonwheel.
Speaker 10 (21:09):
And then the sailor ailed a cab and I held
on behind it and let it pull me along. Oh,
I don't run dreadfully fast.
Speaker 5 (21:17):
I did.
Speaker 10 (21:18):
And then the cab stopped at the tower wharf, and
Asilo went in and spoke to the steward of the
rock of ham boat. Why did the sailor want to
go aboard and sleep on his berth overnight as the
ship was to take.
Speaker 5 (21:28):
Off the next morning? Ah, go on, Well, the.
Speaker 10 (21:32):
Steward said he couldn't sleep on that their boat because
it was being cleaned. So the sailor stopped at an
eating house in the neighborhood for a bite. And while
he was inside, I noticed a very strange, peculiar looking
man righting around outside.
Speaker 5 (21:48):
With this man fine and looking. Have you been an
Indian for example?
Speaker 8 (21:52):
Why yes, mister coffee dead lock that way, go on,
go on.
Speaker 10 (21:56):
The sailor came out of the eating house and then
went to the Wheel of Fortune teven and has a room.
He was shown upstairs and immediately retired for the night.
And then then the man who looked like an Indian
came along, and soon he went upstairs.
Speaker 5 (22:09):
Did he take a room for the night, Oh no, sir,
He slipped upstairs, and soon there was the most horrible
rumpus going on.
Speaker 10 (22:16):
The landlord called mister Indian, who is now pretending to
be drunk and throw him out on the street.
Speaker 5 (22:21):
This was last night, you think, Yes, sir, gentlemen, I
believe the case of the Moonstone is about to come
to an end. Come along, we leave for the Wheel
of Fortune tavern. You know it's most peculiar. Should be
walking to speak to the sailor, Sir. I've been trying
to arouse him all morning. His room is just down
(22:44):
all a bit, you say. He instructed you to call
him at seven this morning. Yes, and it's long passet
now it is the room white locked from the inside.
Fetch your cotton to landlord. We'll have to break in there.
(23:07):
There all right, gentlemen, we may enter.
Speaker 4 (23:10):
Now.
Speaker 11 (23:17):
Look at him, poor sailor, all stretched out there on
the bed like he was having a fit.
Speaker 8 (23:22):
And there's always all wide and staring, and the poor man.
Speaker 5 (23:26):
He's having no fit. He's dead. Sent for the police, Yes, sir, Yes, sir.
What happened was he? Yes, mister Blake. It's a murder,
murdered by suffocation. I dare say they used a pillow,
they sergeant, Who do you mean the three Indians, mister Brade?
Speaker 10 (23:48):
But sir, if the room was locked, how did they.
Speaker 5 (23:51):
Get in look up there or.
Speaker 10 (23:55):
Trap door in the ceiling.
Speaker 8 (23:57):
Oh, those clever blighters.
Speaker 5 (24:00):
Well, mister Blake, do you recognize the sailor? Recognize him? Sergeant?
Why no? Come closer, stand here beside his bedside, examine
his features carefully. I don't know him. You should. He's
the man to whom you gave the moonstone, to whom
(24:21):
I get shut and cuff. You're mad.
Speaker 7 (24:24):
I never saw this sailor in my life. I never
gave the moonstone to this sailor, mister Blake. I didn't
say you gave the moonstone to this sailor. I merely
said you gave it to this man.
Speaker 5 (24:33):
But a moment ago you said, I, mister Blake, I
refer to your cousin, mister Godfrey Ablewhite.
Speaker 7 (24:39):
But this sailor is not my cousin. And besides, I
never gave the moonstone to Godfrey abel White.
Speaker 5 (24:44):
Oh, yes, you did. The experiment proved you did almost,
I should say, for had the experiment been carried but
one step forward, we would have learned the truth. What
do you mean. On the night of the experiment, the
drag which had been administered was too strong, and overcame
you too soon. I don't understand. On the night the
(25:04):
moonstone disappeared, you went to the Indian cabinet under the
influence of the drug and took the moonstone from the drawer.
That is right. But then you returned to your room,
still under the effects of the drug. Godfrey Ablewhite, your cousin,
had the room.
Speaker 8 (25:20):
Next to yours, yes, sir, I remember, and in.
Speaker 5 (25:24):
Your delirium, and because you were oppressed by worry over
the responsibility of the moonstone, you must accord to him.
He entered your room. You then handed it over to
him for safe keeping. A natural enough association of ideas.
Since your father owned the bank in Frizzing Hall where
you had originally deposited the diamond, you gave the moonstone
to mister Ablewhite. Now, mister Bruff tells me that recent
(25:48):
investigation shows mister Ablewhite was leading a double life, and
in order to secure funds for his indiscretions, he had
mismanaged a trust fund. Desperately needing money to stave off exposure,
Godfrey Ablewhite took the moonstone and said nothing. But Godfrey
wouldn't do a thing like that, my own cousin. And
(26:10):
when he realized that no one knew he had the moonstone,
he pondered to mister Septimus Luker. So Godfrey was ex exactly.
I'm sure all of this is true, but Luca knows
the straight of it, and we will verify my deductions
through reference to him. Later. Yesterday your cousin redeemed the moonstone.
The three Indians followed him here to this inn, murdered
(26:30):
him and made off with the moonstone, as you can
see by the empty wooden jewel box that stands by
his bed. Well, yes, but.
Speaker 7 (26:37):
This sailor with the long black beard cannot be my cousin,
Godfrey abl White.
Speaker 5 (26:41):
But he is mister Blake. Shall I strip him of
his disguise and his beard and prove it to him? There? Oh,
do you believe me? Now?
Speaker 8 (26:55):
It is Godfrey cousin, Godfrey Ablewhite.
Speaker 4 (27:09):
Mister Luca did verify Sergeant Kuff's deductions in every particular.
And now the moonstone is gone, and with it its
evil curse, the yellow diamond, burdening our lives of tragedy,
would never return again, that I know. Or from mister Mirthwaite,
that eminent authority and Oriental customs, we received news of
(27:32):
a strange event recently transpiring in the Katiawa province of India.
Speaker 11 (27:38):
I saw thousands of natives prostrating themselves in holy reverence
before the shrine of their sacred forearmed God. Suddenly, like
the voice of the wind moaning at night, a great
cry went up, no expression of sorrow, but rather one
of great exaltation.
Speaker 5 (28:00):
Or on the brow of their sacred.
Speaker 11 (28:01):
Moon God gleamed once again in all its dazzling brilliance.
The Great Yellow Diamond The Moonstone.
Speaker 3 (28:29):
The Moonstone, by Wilkie Collins is one of the World's
Great novels, brought to you each week by the NBC
University of the Air. Listen next week to the first
episode of a three part treatment of Kidnapped by Robert
Lewis Stevenson, and remember that your local public library can
be a constant source of information and entertainment. To add
(28:49):
to your enjoyment of this series, we recommend the Handbook
of the World's Great Novels, which you may obtain by
sending twenty five cents to World's Great Novels Post Office
Box Thirtyation Jay, New York, twenty seven, New York Post
Office Box thirty Station Jay, New York, twenty seven. The
(29:14):
Moonstone was adapted for radio by Robert Saxon. The music
was composed by Amo Suderstrom, and the orchestra was directed
by Bernard Burkewist. The entire production was under the direction
of Homer Heck. Arthur Sedgwick was featured as Sergeant Cupp
and Charles Mountain as Franklin Blake. Mister Bruff was played
by Donald Gallagher, Gabriel by Sherman, Marx, Luker by Jonathan Hole,
(29:36):
Gooseberry by Dick York, Mister Merthwake by Boris Aplon, the
Man in the Gray Suit by Marvin Pisner, and The
Landlord by Ted Lysz.
Speaker 5 (29:45):
This is John Conrad.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
This program comes to you from Chicago and is a
presentation of the National Broadcasting Company and its affiliated independent stations.
Every three minutes, someone in this country dies of cancer.
This terrible disease strikes one out of every two families.
(30:10):
You can help in the fight against cancer. The American
Cancer Society needs money to finance research, establish clinics and
detection centers where cancer can be diagnosed and treated early.
Speaker 5 (30:21):
Give generously.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
You may be protecting someone you love. This is NBC,
the National Broadcasting Company.
Speaker 1 (30:38):
Welcome back. If you're curious to hear World's Great Novels
treatment of kidnap, we are actually playing that over at
the Amazing World of Radio as part of our Summer
of Robert Lewis Stevenson. We have the first two parts posted,
with the final episode coming out next Wednesday. As to
(30:59):
The Moonstone itself, I think that it really wrapped up
in a satisfying way. Even if we didn't get an
apprehension of the criminals, we did have closure provided and
peace of mind to both Franklin Blake as well as
Sergeant Cough and I think that as an adaptation, this
(31:22):
production did a great job capturing everything that made the
novel great, as well as discarding some elements that really
would not have carried over as well, such as the
caricature of Drusilla Klack, who was a very annoying narrator
in the novel for several chapters, and really nothing is
(31:46):
lost from the core story by her not being included,
which does show that her presence in the novel was
just a bit of a digression, albeit a very very
long one. I will say that Wilkie Collins did choose
some interesting names for this final section. You got Gooseberry,
(32:06):
that's certainly one. Then we have Septimus Luker, a bit
on the nose for a money lender, although I'm of
the age where that does sound like it might have
been a name of a character from the Transformer's cartoon.
And yes, we did get to hear Dick Yorke, best
remembered as the first Darren on Bewitch, but who also
(32:30):
spent a few years in Chicago radio at the start
of his career, going back to the time when he
became the lead on the radio sitcom That Brewster Boy.
But again, I hope you enjoyed this adaptation. Now let's
go ahead and thank our Patreon supporter of the day.
And I want to thank Pat, Patreon supporter since September
(32:51):
twenty twenty, currently supporting the podcast at the rookie level
of two dollars more per month. Thanks so much for
your support, Pat, And that'll do it for today. If
you are enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your
favorite podcast software. And if you're enjoying the podcast on YouTube,
be sure to lock the video, subscribe to the channel,
(33:12):
and mark the notification bell, all those great things that
help YouTube channels to grow. Next Thursday, we will have
one final correction episode. But join us back here tomorrow
for yours truly, Johnny Dollar Ware.
Speaker 12 (33:28):
I'll show you and tell you everything I know. Oh,
our living quoters down this car.
Speaker 5 (33:36):
Yeah, I remember.
Speaker 12 (33:37):
After you and mister Swarm left us yesterday, Leon and
I went to work immediately to replace the rocket fuel
additive we had lost in the accident you investigated. Yes, Oh,
if only i'd paid attention when he told me about
the man he'd seen in Fort Myers the day before,
But we were so busys.
Speaker 5 (33:53):
Wait a minute, what man?
Speaker 12 (33:55):
Someone he'd known in Europe during the war, A man
he's suspected of now working for Well, for those who'd
like to sabotage our go on, doctor, Look, mister dollar
this is my room, and this right next to it
is Layons shot.
Speaker 5 (34:13):
Great Scott.
Speaker 12 (34:13):
Yes, there must have been a terrible struggle.
Speaker 5 (34:17):
And doctor, this looks like blood on the floor. Now
what happened?
Speaker 12 (34:21):
Well, it was early this morning, before dawn. I heard
voices in here. At first I thought Leon was shouting
in his lead, but then he began to call for help,
and I heard the furniture being knocked about.
Speaker 5 (34:32):
Well, didn't you come in here.
Speaker 12 (34:33):
Something had been shoved against my door. This table, I
couldn't open it. Then I heard the shot. I heard
Leon scream with pain, then another shot. Oh terrible, terrible.
Speaker 5 (34:44):
Come on.
Speaker 1 (34:45):
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.
(35:05):
This is your host, Adam Graham signing off.
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 the concluding episode of The Moonstone.
But first, I do want to encourage you, if you're
enjoying the podcast, to follow us using your favorite podcast software.
(00:51):
And I do want to encourage you, if you've not already,
to check out my ebooks. All I needed to know
I learned from Dragonet and all I needed to know
I learned from Colombo. Each examines the careers and history
of seven great fictional detectives and policemen, and life lessons
that can be learned from them. They are available where
re fine ebooks are sold, or as audiobooks through audible
(01:13):
dot Com or the Apple Store now from April twenty third,
nineteen forty eight. From World's Great Novels, Here is The Moonstone,
Part four the.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
World's Great Novels.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
Before the publication of The Moonstone in the middle of
the last century, Wilkie Collins had already won fame as
one of the ranking novelists of his day. He is
best remembered, however, for The Moonstone, which brought him special
recognition as a writer who concentrated on a dominant motif,
which he developed by the introduction of strange and unexpected element.
(02:01):
The National Broadcasting Company now presents in a series of
books that Live the fourth and final episode of The
Moonstone by Workie Collins, one of the world's great novels.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
I Gabriel Betteridge, how steward Miss Rachel Verinder, I myself
witnessed the experiment to determine whether Franklin Blake was indeed
the person who had stolen the Moonstone. In one respect,
the experiment had been a success, and in another a
complete failure, for under the influence of a drug which
(02:46):
had been administered him. In the experiment, Franklin Blake had
risen from his bed and had taken the piece of
crystal supposed to represent the long missing diamond Moonstone from
the drawer of the Indian cabinet. All this, mind you,
was exactly as Miss Rachel Verinder, its owner had observed
him to do the night a year before, when the
(03:08):
jewel itself had disappeared. But this time, overcome by the
effects of the drug, he had dropped the Moonstone on
the floor and collapsed. The first time However, he had
walked from the room and out of Miss Rachel's sight,
still carrying the moonstone. Well being drugged, Mister Blake had
no memory of either act. So what he had done
(03:30):
with the gem after leaving Miss Rachel's room on that
night a year ago was still a mystery, and it
was a harassed, worried Franklin Brake who met soon after
with mister Bruff, the Verander family lawyer.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
Let me.
Speaker 6 (03:45):
Let me say first of all, mister Blake, that I'm
sorry the experiment turned out no better than it did.
Speaker 7 (03:52):
I was willing to try anything, anything to prove to
Rachael that I was not consciously to blame for the
disappearance of the moonstone. At least the experiment was successful
in that Rachel and I are soon to be married.
Speaker 5 (04:05):
Oh good. I am grateful to Wes R. Jennings for
his experiment.
Speaker 7 (04:09):
That I cannot rest until the moonstone is found and
all possible suspicion removed from the.
Speaker 6 (04:13):
Name I I might as well tell you what I
told Ezra Jennings. I have my own theory in regard
to the pleasant whereabouts of the moonstone.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
Oh, you have a.
Speaker 6 (04:25):
Theory supported by fact or rather by facts which cannot
be disputed. Go on, mister Broun, The moonstone is in
possession of the bankers of a notorious money lender, a
man who calls himself mister Septimus Luca. Oh yes, Sartan
Kaff spoke of him in connection with the suicide of
(04:46):
Rosanna Spearman. He is ostensibly a dealer in gems and
objects of art and has long been established in London. Yes, yes, however,
his most successful dealings have been conducted with thieves Swindler
and Charlatan's.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
But actually, mister Broth.
Speaker 7 (05:03):
What proof have you that the moonstone now reposes in
mister Luca's special bank.
Speaker 6 (05:06):
Well, now, first, let me point out that he's been
the subject of considerable attention on the part of the
three Indians who appeared here a year ago in what
was obviously an attempt to seize the moonstone.
Speaker 5 (05:20):
Yes, yes, I heard about that.
Speaker 7 (05:22):
Luca complained to the police that they had been hanging
about his shop and asked protection against them.
Speaker 6 (05:26):
Oh yes, yes, but perhaps you didn't know this, And,
believing that his professional services were in demand, the worthy
mister Luca tells me he paid a visit to a
strange London address. He was conducted into a handsome apartment
by an apparently most respectable gentleman, who then withdrew. Then
(05:49):
suddenly Luca was overwhelmed from behind by assailants, assailants he
never even saw and searched. But certainly these ruffians, the
three Indians or whoever they were, didn't expect to find
the moonstone on mister Luca's person. I hardly think so.
But they did take something from him.
Speaker 5 (06:08):
What was that? A receipt?
Speaker 6 (06:10):
A receipt, yes, one which acknowledged that on that very
day mister Luca had deposited with his private bankers are
valuable of great price.
Speaker 7 (06:20):
But if these men took a receipt for this valuable
why didn't they go to the bank and claim it.
Speaker 6 (06:24):
Oh because they're too clever, too cunning to expose their
hand in such fashion.
Speaker 5 (06:29):
Oh no, no, mister Blake.
Speaker 6 (06:32):
These men, and I believe they were the same, three Indians,
merely wish to ascertain the place where the moonstone is
being kept.
Speaker 5 (06:40):
What do you think they'll do next?
Speaker 6 (06:42):
They'll wait, I'll wait until such time as the illustrious
mister Luca will have to come to the bank and
remove the Moonstone and hand it over to his client.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
When will that be?
Speaker 6 (06:52):
The moonstone was stolen a little more than a year ago,
and now it's a well established custom that valuables left
with private bankers are redeemed before the year has elapsed.
Speaker 7 (07:01):
Then any day now Luca will go to the bank
to get the moonstone, and the three Indians will certainly
make another attempt to get it from him.
Speaker 6 (07:08):
They'll either try to take it from mister Luca himself
or the person to be hands it over, in short,
the person who stole the moonstone.
Speaker 7 (07:18):
And if we discover this person, I will have been
be indicated and my Conston's cleared.
Speaker 8 (07:22):
Correct, mister Blake, we must act quickly.
Speaker 5 (07:25):
Here's what we'll do. We'll have a watch.
Speaker 6 (07:27):
Put on mister Septimus Luca. Then when he goes to
the bank to withdraw the moonstone, we shall be on hand,
even though we must reckon with the three Indians themselves.
I tell you, Gabriel, this is the last desperate throw
(07:49):
of the dice. And if we don't play the game
bold lays skillfully and with ever a resource in our command,
we will lose. And this time for good.
Speaker 8 (07:56):
No no, no, no, no, my.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
Boy, this is a time of a peace, Robinson Crusoe,
which I am.
Speaker 7 (08:02):
Sorry, Gabriel, but I'm not much interested in what your
mister Crusoe would have to say on the subject of patience.
Speaker 5 (08:07):
I'm tired of death, of waiting.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
H There's a great deal you could learn from Robinson Crusoe.
Speaker 7 (08:13):
I have an idea I could learn much more from
another person, a living person.
Speaker 8 (08:18):
Have you anyone particular in mind, mister Brake.
Speaker 7 (08:21):
Yes, the finest police officer that England ever had, Sergeant
cuff Old.
Speaker 5 (08:26):
Sergeant Cuff, yes.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
But he went into retirement when he left his last year.
Now his only concern is his garden of roses.
Speaker 7 (08:34):
I know, I know, but I eventually hasn't forgotten the Moonstone.
I'll wager that he's still smarts from his failure to
recover it. But to get him out of a happy retirement,
I do. Mister Brake, where are you're going to send
a telegram to Sergeant Cuff asking that he meet me
in London immediately?
Speaker 5 (08:59):
You ask a great deal, mister Blake. Among my beautiful roses,
I find peace and serenity, whereas before I only ne lies,
deception and skull duggery.
Speaker 7 (09:17):
Then I cannot induce you to reenter the case. Sergeant Cuff,
what's that you said, mister Blake. Sargeant Cuff, will you
help me apprehend the criminal who stole the Moonstone?
Speaker 5 (09:34):
Yes, mister Blake, I will. Oh, thank you, Sargeant. It's
just occurred to me that I'll enjoy my roses ever
so much more when I finally laid the ghost of
the Moonstone to rest. I think I'll begin with our
money lending friend, mister Septimus Luca.
Speaker 9 (10:00):
My Sergeant Cafew are most persistent. It is indeed a
pity you've retired from active police work.
Speaker 5 (10:08):
Mister Luker. I've emerged from retirement time again a police officer. Oh,
just as.
Speaker 9 (10:13):
You'd begin to cultivate the art of leisure that is
so desirable, you know, and the laugh of me. I
can't understand what would induce you to neglect those beautiful
roses in.
Speaker 5 (10:25):
Darking the moonstone, mister Lucre.
Speaker 9 (10:29):
Moonstone again, Well, I just can't comprehend your interest in
such a bobble.
Speaker 5 (10:35):
A most valuable bobble, mister Lucer.
Speaker 9 (10:38):
But it would seem to me there are other things
just as valuable to be sure, don't you think so,
Sergeant good heavens man, you have to sit there eyeing
me as if I were some.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Reptile a lizard.
Speaker 5 (11:00):
Well, now you mention it, mister Luca, there is a
certain resemblance.
Speaker 9 (11:04):
Now you're insulting. You know you're insulting, don't you insulting?
Speaker 5 (11:10):
Mister lucre. I'm merely following your.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Advice with What are you talking about.
Speaker 5 (11:15):
About cultivating the art of leisure?
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Ye? Stop whistling that in full tune? Good de vicious?
Do you intend the city all die with your mouse fuckered.
Speaker 5 (11:35):
Up into a whistle?
Speaker 9 (11:38):
Stop it, sergeant, stop it, please, Sergeant cuff.
Speaker 5 (11:45):
Please, yes, mister Luca.
Speaker 9 (11:49):
Ah, I would like you to stop whistling, that is,
if you wouldn't really mind.
Speaker 5 (11:57):
May I ask a few questions, mister Luker.
Speaker 9 (12:00):
I'll answer your questions, that is, to the best of
my ability.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
That's much better, mister Luca. Now I wish to know
how you came into possession of the Moonstone. Well, a
certain person.
Speaker 9 (12:15):
For the time being, I'll call that person X if
that's agreeable to.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
You, sir, Yes, for the time being.
Speaker 9 (12:23):
This is our began about a year ago on the
evening of the twenty third of June, X came to
me with a diamond such as I'd never seen before. First,
I was asked, would.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
A buy the diamond?
Speaker 5 (12:37):
And your answer it was no.
Speaker 9 (12:40):
Then I was asked, would I undertake to sell it
on commission and to.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Pire some down on the anticipated result?
Speaker 5 (12:49):
X as for an advance on the sale of the moonstone?
Speaker 2 (12:52):
That is correct, sir?
Speaker 5 (12:53):
And what was your answer to that proposal? I've no answer.
Speaker 9 (12:57):
Instead, I asked a question of melne. I said to X,
how did you come by this duel?
Speaker 5 (13:05):
Yes?
Speaker 9 (13:06):
Well, X began a story, a perfectly preposterous story.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Ohh, that just won't do, I said.
Speaker 9 (13:14):
I then ranged for our servant and instructed him to
show my guest to the door.
Speaker 5 (13:18):
What happened then? Oh well, then.
Speaker 9 (13:21):
X, saying a different tune, and told me what I
believed and still believed to be the true story. It
seems that X was in great financial difficulties, that a
large sum of money was needed to make restitution and
so prevent exposure. Yes, I could well understand that such
(13:43):
a situation is not infrequent among my clients.
Speaker 5 (13:46):
So I imagine, yes.
Speaker 9 (13:49):
Well, therefore I agreed to accept the moonstone in pawn.
Speaker 5 (13:54):
And how much did you advance to X well.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
In all some of twenty thousand pounds.
Speaker 5 (14:00):
So far, so good, mister Luker. And now tell me
how did the moonstone come into the possession of X?
Was that information revealed you?
Speaker 9 (14:07):
Yes, Sergeant Cuff, it was the moonstone was given to X.
Speaker 5 (14:13):
What, mister Luker, In all my years of experience as
a police officer, I've never heard such an absurd and
utterly ridiculous thing. Nevertheless, Sir R, speak the truth. I
warn you once and for all, mister Luker, that you're
in a perilous position. You were trafficking and stolen goods admitted.
Speaker 9 (14:28):
Again, I repeat, the moonstone was given to X.
Speaker 5 (14:31):
Mister Luker, I order you to disclose the identity of
this person X instantly.
Speaker 9 (14:36):
Shad you have me, Sergeant Cuff, I would indeed be
a great fool if I did not know my rights.
I believe that my client ex spoke the truth, and
I respect the truth. You cannot alter my position, and
I'll challenge your authority to do so, Sergeant Cuff.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
Good Dy, it was a completely bewildered Franklin Blake who
faced Sergeant Cuff in the office of mister Bruff, the lawyer.
Speaker 8 (15:17):
He collapsed weekly in a chair and said.
Speaker 7 (15:20):
Sergeant, this news you bring now is the sheerest fantasy.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
Do you mean to say this?
Speaker 7 (15:25):
Luca Fellow actually told you that the moonstone was given
to this ex person.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
He did, mister Blake, and he convinced me that he
believes it to be the truth. I think mister Bruff
here is well acquainted. Receptor, Miss Luker. What's your opinion?
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Uh?
Speaker 5 (15:39):
I know this much about him.
Speaker 6 (15:41):
He likes to stand on safe ground, and when he does,
the devil himself can't shake him.
Speaker 5 (15:46):
There's only one thing left to do. Then keep up
out vigil at the bank. I presume, mister Bruff, you
have mister Lucer under the closest observation. I have, Sergeant
the man you have watching him? Is he dependable?
Speaker 6 (15:57):
Sergeant Cuff, Young mister Goosebrey is the most dependable man
I know, and he can outsmart the cleverest fox that
ever around the course. Gentlemen, this is my man Gobred.
Speaker 8 (16:10):
How do you?
Speaker 5 (16:11):
Oh? What is it? Goesbred?
Speaker 10 (16:13):
Mister Luca has just left his own in Lamberth in
a cab. Say, and two men were.
Speaker 5 (16:17):
With him, and they're on their way to the bank.
Speaker 10 (16:18):
I bet, I'm sure I talked to the cab driver
before they came out of the house to the bank, then.
Speaker 7 (16:23):
Gentlemen, and it's a big enough bank, Mister bro hope
we don't lose mister Luker in the crowd. Sure I
not a sign of the three engines, miss, they're lucky
in one of the bank vaults, Sergeant Coff.
Speaker 10 (16:42):
Sir, Yes, mister Lucas still in the bank. Told one
of the guards I had a message for the blighter.
I did, he said, mister Luca was still back there
in the inner chamber.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Good lad Owl knows about a bit.
Speaker 8 (16:55):
More quick as lightning, that boy, Sergeant cop.
Speaker 5 (16:59):
Look over there, a tall docsil Yes, yes, I've been
observing him. Perhaps the three Indians not daring the venture
in the bank are using him as their spy right parts.
But I'm much more interested in that short stubs fellow
over there, one in the gray suit.
Speaker 8 (17:16):
Yes, I see the man. He seems quite nervous.
Speaker 6 (17:19):
Too, I'd wage you to give me he's waiting for
mister Luca to come out.
Speaker 10 (17:24):
Yes, goosebray, what is it, mister b Mister Lucas on
his way out of the inner chamber.
Speaker 6 (17:29):
Yes, here he can stand with the two plain clothesmen,
one on each side.
Speaker 8 (17:34):
Looks the man in the gray suit is moving toward them.
Speaker 5 (17:37):
Here they come. Good, We close in on them. Keep
her shopping. That fool got in my way just as
I was leaving the bank.
Speaker 7 (17:48):
Yes, and I'm sure I saw mister Luca pass something
over to the.
Speaker 5 (17:50):
Man in the gray suits.
Speaker 8 (17:51):
I'm sure I did do.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
The man in the gray.
Speaker 5 (17:54):
Suit is getting away. He's running. Let us throw there,
let us through, make a way. I'm last better in
a gray suit.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
The thief. Stop him, Stop thief.
Speaker 7 (18:22):
Well, it looks as though we've lost our friend mc
gray suit.
Speaker 6 (18:25):
We would have had him, mister Blake, if that infernal
cart hadn't gotten in our way.
Speaker 5 (18:30):
Slow down, driver, there's a little course for hate now.
Speaker 7 (18:35):
And now we'll never find the moonstone of the man
who stole it. It looks to me as though we
finally come to the end. Sargeant Cuff, no happy end.
I'd say, I'll get you where Cabby, where is.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
The woman in the great shake. It's going into the
chemist shop.
Speaker 5 (18:52):
It certainly stopped the car, all right, gentlemen into that
chemist shop right, oh, well right behind your sergeant, now
the way all right, you in the gray suit me mesa, yes,
you hand it over and be quick about it.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
End it over.
Speaker 7 (19:14):
Don't play the idiot with us. We want the moonstone.
We mean to have it.
Speaker 5 (19:17):
What moonstone man? We saw mister Luca pass you with
something as you were leaving the bank. Give up the
diamond this minute.
Speaker 10 (19:24):
Mister Luca didn't give me any diamond. He he just
gave me his card. I asked him for it.
Speaker 8 (19:31):
Who eat it is?
Speaker 5 (19:33):
Well?
Speaker 10 (19:33):
Yes, for some time I've been trying to see him
on a very important business matter. I've got a chance
to see him in the buying today, so I approached.
Speaker 5 (19:41):
I don't believe this sight and such him. Oh you know,
I think I'm going to He's fainted.
Speaker 7 (19:58):
Sergeant Cuff, pardon my sending for you early in the morning.
I wanted to thank both you and mister Bruff here
for your efforts yesterday.
Speaker 5 (20:05):
Not at all. Oh, we're only sorry. Our efforts to
run successful. Obviously the man in the gray suit had
been planted to mislead it. It couldn't be helped.
Speaker 7 (20:15):
But the moonstone is still missing. So long as it
is I cannot fully clear my name. Now, my boy,
I took the moonstone. Rachel saw me take it, and
then on the night of the experiment, I was seen
to go through the act of stealing it again.
Speaker 5 (20:27):
You took it, yes, but you did not steal it.
Speaker 7 (20:29):
Now, But it's all the same, so Rachel knows I
didn't take it of my own volition. Still it isn't found.
For yesterday's dismal failure at the bank, I've become wholly discouraged.
I'm ready to give up a search. I'm going away
for a long time.
Speaker 5 (20:44):
Oh nonsense, my.
Speaker 8 (20:45):
Boy, Goodsebury, mister Bruff, I found our men.
Speaker 5 (20:49):
Found him, you say, found who? Why?
Speaker 10 (20:52):
The tall dark sailor, of course, the one with a
big black beard we saw on the bank yesterday. I
followed him while the rest of you were chasing after
a little fat man in the gray suit, because I
saw mister Luca and something to him.
Speaker 5 (21:05):
There's something in that small colors, goes Brie, and it
isn't cottonwheel.
Speaker 10 (21:09):
And then the sailor ailed a cab and I held
on behind it and let it pull me along. Oh,
I don't run dreadfully fast.
Speaker 5 (21:17):
I did.
Speaker 10 (21:18):
And then the cab stopped at the tower wharf, and
Asilo went in and spoke to the steward of the
rock of ham boat. Why did the sailor want to
go aboard and sleep on his berth overnight as the
ship was to take.
Speaker 5 (21:28):
Off the next morning? Ah, go on, Well, the.
Speaker 10 (21:32):
Steward said he couldn't sleep on that their boat because
it was being cleaned. So the sailor stopped at an
eating house in the neighborhood for a bite. And while
he was inside, I noticed a very strange, peculiar looking
man righting around outside.
Speaker 5 (21:48):
With this man fine and looking. Have you been an
Indian for example?
Speaker 8 (21:52):
Why yes, mister coffee dead lock that way, go on,
go on.
Speaker 10 (21:56):
The sailor came out of the eating house and then
went to the Wheel of Fortune teven and has a room.
He was shown upstairs and immediately retired for the night.
And then then the man who looked like an Indian
came along, and soon he went upstairs.
Speaker 5 (22:09):
Did he take a room for the night, Oh no, sir,
He slipped upstairs, and soon there was the most horrible
rumpus going on.
Speaker 10 (22:16):
The landlord called mister Indian, who is now pretending to
be drunk and throw him out on the street.
Speaker 5 (22:21):
This was last night, you think, Yes, sir, gentlemen, I
believe the case of the Moonstone is about to come
to an end. Come along, we leave for the Wheel
of Fortune tavern. You know it's most peculiar. Should be
walking to speak to the sailor, Sir. I've been trying
to arouse him all morning. His room is just down
(22:44):
all a bit, you say. He instructed you to call
him at seven this morning. Yes, and it's long passet
now it is the room white locked from the inside.
Fetch your cotton to landlord. We'll have to break in there.
(23:07):
There all right, gentlemen, we may enter.
Speaker 4 (23:10):
Now.
Speaker 11 (23:17):
Look at him, poor sailor, all stretched out there on
the bed like he was having a fit.
Speaker 8 (23:22):
And there's always all wide and staring, and the poor man.
Speaker 5 (23:26):
He's having no fit. He's dead. Sent for the police, Yes, sir, Yes, sir.
What happened was he? Yes, mister Blake. It's a murder,
murdered by suffocation. I dare say they used a pillow,
they sergeant, Who do you mean the three Indians, mister Brade?
Speaker 10 (23:48):
But sir, if the room was locked, how did they.
Speaker 5 (23:51):
Get in look up there or.
Speaker 10 (23:55):
Trap door in the ceiling.
Speaker 8 (23:57):
Oh, those clever blighters.
Speaker 5 (24:00):
Well, mister Blake, do you recognize the sailor? Recognize him? Sergeant?
Why no? Come closer, stand here beside his bedside, examine
his features carefully. I don't know him. You should. He's
the man to whom you gave the moonstone, to whom
(24:21):
I get shut and cuff. You're mad.
Speaker 7 (24:24):
I never saw this sailor in my life. I never
gave the moonstone to this sailor, mister Blake. I didn't
say you gave the moonstone to this sailor. I merely
said you gave it to this man.
Speaker 5 (24:33):
But a moment ago you said, I, mister Blake, I
refer to your cousin, mister Godfrey Ablewhite.
Speaker 7 (24:39):
But this sailor is not my cousin. And besides, I
never gave the moonstone to Godfrey abel White.
Speaker 5 (24:44):
Oh, yes, you did. The experiment proved you did almost,
I should say, for had the experiment been carried but
one step forward, we would have learned the truth. What
do you mean. On the night of the experiment, the
drag which had been administered was too strong, and overcame
you too soon. I don't understand. On the night the
(25:04):
moonstone disappeared, you went to the Indian cabinet under the
influence of the drug and took the moonstone from the drawer.
That is right. But then you returned to your room,
still under the effects of the drug. Godfrey Ablewhite, your cousin,
had the room.
Speaker 8 (25:20):
Next to yours, yes, sir, I remember, and in.
Speaker 5 (25:24):
Your delirium, and because you were oppressed by worry over
the responsibility of the moonstone, you must accord to him.
He entered your room. You then handed it over to
him for safe keeping. A natural enough association of ideas.
Since your father owned the bank in Frizzing Hall where
you had originally deposited the diamond, you gave the moonstone
to mister Ablewhite. Now, mister Bruff tells me that recent
(25:48):
investigation shows mister Ablewhite was leading a double life, and
in order to secure funds for his indiscretions, he had
mismanaged a trust fund. Desperately needing money to stave off exposure,
Godfrey Ablewhite took the moonstone and said nothing. But Godfrey
wouldn't do a thing like that, my own cousin. And
(26:10):
when he realized that no one knew he had the moonstone,
he pondered to mister Septimus Luker. So Godfrey was ex exactly.
I'm sure all of this is true, but Luca knows
the straight of it, and we will verify my deductions
through reference to him. Later. Yesterday your cousin redeemed the moonstone.
The three Indians followed him here to this inn, murdered
(26:30):
him and made off with the moonstone, as you can
see by the empty wooden jewel box that stands by
his bed. Well, yes, but.
Speaker 7 (26:37):
This sailor with the long black beard cannot be my cousin,
Godfrey abl White.
Speaker 5 (26:41):
But he is mister Blake. Shall I strip him of
his disguise and his beard and prove it to him? There? Oh,
do you believe me? Now?
Speaker 8 (26:55):
It is Godfrey cousin, Godfrey Ablewhite.
Speaker 4 (27:09):
Mister Luca did verify Sergeant Kuff's deductions in every particular.
And now the moonstone is gone, and with it its
evil curse, the yellow diamond, burdening our lives of tragedy,
would never return again, that I know. Or from mister Mirthwaite,
that eminent authority and Oriental customs, we received news of
(27:32):
a strange event recently transpiring in the Katiawa province of India.
Speaker 11 (27:38):
I saw thousands of natives prostrating themselves in holy reverence
before the shrine of their sacred forearmed God. Suddenly, like
the voice of the wind moaning at night, a great
cry went up, no expression of sorrow, but rather one
of great exaltation.
Speaker 5 (28:00):
Or on the brow of their sacred.
Speaker 11 (28:01):
Moon God gleamed once again in all its dazzling brilliance.
The Great Yellow Diamond The Moonstone.
Speaker 3 (28:29):
The Moonstone, by Wilkie Collins is one of the World's
Great novels, brought to you each week by the NBC
University of the Air. Listen next week to the first
episode of a three part treatment of Kidnapped by Robert
Lewis Stevenson, and remember that your local public library can
be a constant source of information and entertainment. To add
(28:49):
to your enjoyment of this series, we recommend the Handbook
of the World's Great Novels, which you may obtain by
sending twenty five cents to World's Great Novels Post Office
Box Thirtyation Jay, New York, twenty seven, New York Post
Office Box thirty Station Jay, New York, twenty seven. The
(29:14):
Moonstone was adapted for radio by Robert Saxon. The music
was composed by Amo Suderstrom, and the orchestra was directed
by Bernard Burkewist. The entire production was under the direction
of Homer Heck. Arthur Sedgwick was featured as Sergeant Cupp
and Charles Mountain as Franklin Blake. Mister Bruff was played
by Donald Gallagher, Gabriel by Sherman, Marx, Luker by Jonathan Hole,
(29:36):
Gooseberry by Dick York, Mister Merthwake by Boris Aplon, the
Man in the Gray Suit by Marvin Pisner, and The
Landlord by Ted Lysz.
Speaker 5 (29:45):
This is John Conrad.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
This program comes to you from Chicago and is a
presentation of the National Broadcasting Company and its affiliated independent stations.
Every three minutes, someone in this country dies of cancer.
This terrible disease strikes one out of every two families.
(30:10):
You can help in the fight against cancer. The American
Cancer Society needs money to finance research, establish clinics and
detection centers where cancer can be diagnosed and treated early.
Speaker 5 (30:21):
Give generously.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
You may be protecting someone you love. This is NBC,
the National Broadcasting Company.
Speaker 1 (30:38):
Welcome back. If you're curious to hear World's Great Novels
treatment of kidnap, we are actually playing that over at
the Amazing World of Radio as part of our Summer
of Robert Lewis Stevenson. We have the first two parts posted,
with the final episode coming out next Wednesday. As to
(30:59):
The Moonstone itself, I think that it really wrapped up
in a satisfying way. Even if we didn't get an
apprehension of the criminals, we did have closure provided and
peace of mind to both Franklin Blake as well as
Sergeant Cough and I think that as an adaptation, this
(31:22):
production did a great job capturing everything that made the
novel great, as well as discarding some elements that really
would not have carried over as well, such as the
caricature of Drusilla Klack, who was a very annoying narrator
in the novel for several chapters, and really nothing is
(31:46):
lost from the core story by her not being included,
which does show that her presence in the novel was
just a bit of a digression, albeit a very very
long one. I will say that Wilkie Collins did choose
some interesting names for this final section. You got Gooseberry,
(32:06):
that's certainly one. Then we have Septimus Luker, a bit
on the nose for a money lender, although I'm of
the age where that does sound like it might have
been a name of a character from the Transformer's cartoon.
And yes, we did get to hear Dick Yorke, best
remembered as the first Darren on Bewitch, but who also
(32:30):
spent a few years in Chicago radio at the start
of his career, going back to the time when he
became the lead on the radio sitcom That Brewster Boy.
But again, I hope you enjoyed this adaptation. Now let's
go ahead and thank our Patreon supporter of the day.
And I want to thank Pat, Patreon supporter since September
(32:51):
twenty twenty, currently supporting the podcast at the rookie level
of two dollars more per month. Thanks so much for
your support, Pat, And that'll do it for today. If
you are enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your
favorite podcast software. And if you're enjoying the podcast on YouTube,
be sure to lock the video, subscribe to the channel,
(33:12):
and mark the notification bell, all those great things that
help YouTube channels to grow. Next Thursday, we will have
one final correction episode. But join us back here tomorrow
for yours truly, Johnny Dollar Ware.
Speaker 12 (33:28):
I'll show you and tell you everything I know. Oh,
our living quoters down this car.
Speaker 5 (33:36):
Yeah, I remember.
Speaker 12 (33:37):
After you and mister Swarm left us yesterday, Leon and
I went to work immediately to replace the rocket fuel
additive we had lost in the accident you investigated. Yes, Oh,
if only i'd paid attention when he told me about
the man he'd seen in Fort Myers the day before,
But we were so busys.
Speaker 5 (33:53):
Wait a minute, what man?
Speaker 12 (33:55):
Someone he'd known in Europe during the war, A man
he's suspected of now working for Well, for those who'd
like to sabotage our go on, doctor, Look, mister dollar
this is my room, and this right next to it
is Layons shot.
Speaker 5 (34:13):
Great Scott.
Speaker 12 (34:13):
Yes, there must have been a terrible struggle.
Speaker 5 (34:17):
And doctor, this looks like blood on the floor. Now
what happened?
Speaker 12 (34:21):
Well, it was early this morning, before dawn. I heard
voices in here. At first I thought Leon was shouting
in his lead, but then he began to call for help,
and I heard the furniture being knocked about.
Speaker 5 (34:32):
Well, didn't you come in here.
Speaker 12 (34:33):
Something had been shoved against my door. This table, I
couldn't open it. Then I heard the shot. I heard
Leon scream with pain, then another shot. Oh terrible, terrible.
Speaker 5 (34:44):
Come on.
Speaker 1 (34:45):
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.
(35:05):
This is your host, Adam Graham signing off.
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